The current economic downturn … is being felt in all business sectors, but especially within those industries functioning in an integrated global economy. As such, it is essential to consider both micro (organizational) and macro (larger external) variables that impact the success of the smaller entrepreneur.

Primary internal influences include:

• The pricing platform — whether products are sold at a high, moderate or lower level.

• Commitment to quality — how extensively customer service is supported.

• Investment in satisfaction — is the customer seen as a one-time buyer or as, potentially, a lifetime buyer?

Key outside influences include:

• Consumer confidence — the optimism level of buyers and their willingness to spend.

• Inflation — the price of services or goods.

• Trade — manufacturing and other production concerns.

If a company’s management remains aware of internal and external variables, and continuously strives to define the setting in which they operate, both large and small changes can be made to compete more effectively. Further, this type of diligence will put the organization in a better position to make adjustments that improve profitability when times are challenging. This orientation is encompassing and objective — it requires an honest monitoring of the marketplace. And, those that make the commitment to become more alert to its fluctuating dimensions enjoy the advantage of recognizing signals earlier than those who simply let the market evolve around them.

Billiard stores are no longer retail enterprises alone, they are transitioning into specialty purveyors. The product isn’t a game table, it is an avenue for entertainment and relaxation. Customers therefore must be seen as significantly more important than one-time transactions. They must be viewed as individuals who can be cultivated over a lifetime of buying. These are individuals who may learn to distinguish quality as they enhance their level of play. As they become more financially stable and strive to acquire for higher-end products, it is likely they will return to those who have cultivated their loyalty.

By building a greater understanding of how the market operates, owners have the potential to strike up a new level of interaction with their clients. They can watch for economic change with more certainty and less fear, and seize the opportunity to capitalize as conditions begin to indicate recovery.

While the world economy searches for ways to reaffirm its strengths, on a local level businesses can use this time to become more astute. Operating proficiency comes from recognizing and leveraging strengths, and this may be accomplished at minimal cost if the entrepreneur looks deeply and innovatively at ways to improve.

Techniques to employ this larger understanding of operations, and to develop a more proactive orientation, will be addressed at the 2009 BCA Expo. “Strategically Competing During Challenging Economic Times” will be presented on June 25, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

This article was contributed by Dr. Gillian Silver-Rodis, a faculty member at the College of Southern Nevada, Dr. Silver-Rodis holds a Ph.D. in organizational leadership and is a well-regarded speaker on a variety of integrated marketing communications topics, including the marketing environment, consumer behavior, promotion and experiential marketing.

Johnny Archer and Allison Fisher ... the most dominant male and female pool players of the past 15 years, have been elected for induction into the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Hall of Fame in voting conducted by the United States Billiard Media Association (USBMA). Archer, 40, and Fisher, 41, will be honored at the BCA International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo in Las Vegas, June 23, and will be formally inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame on October 22, 2009, during ceremonies at the Chesapeake Marriott in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Archer is a four-time world 9-ball champion and winner of 25 pro tour titles, while Fisher is a three-time world 9-ball champion and winner of 53 Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) Classic Tour titles.

Archer joined the pro tour full-time in 1986, but it was six years before he won his first tour title, the 1991 Sands Regency Open. The following year, Archer won five titles, including the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World 9-Ball Championship.  Archer would go on to win 12 Professional Billiard Tour (PBT) titles over the next four years, including two of his four world crowns (back-to-back PBT World 9-Ball championships in 1993 and 1994). Archer once again won the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in 1996. In all, Archer has won more than 60 tournaments. He has also been a member of Team USA in the Mosconi Cup 12 times.

“This is really a great honor,” said Archer. “The Hall of Fame has the greatest players in the world, and to be in the same group with them is a blessing. The biggest thrill will be having my father there in October when I get inducted.”

Fisher was born Feb. 24, 1968, in Peacehaven, Sussex, England. She began playing snooker at age seven and won her first title at 15. In a dozen years playing professional snooker, Fisher won 18 titles, including 12 world championships (four of those in doubles competition). She moved to the United States in September 1995 to try her hand on the WPBA Classic Tour, and promptly won two 9-ball titles in three months. Fisher won an astounding 20 Classic Tour titles in the next four years. She also won the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in 1996, 2001 and 2002.

“It’s wonderful to be recognized like this,” Fisher said. “I had a great career in snooker as well, but was never recognized for it. I’ve had a great career in 9-ball, and this is the icing on the cake. Being recognized among the greatest players is something that is there forever. It’s a great honor.”

Voting was conducted by the USBMA Hall of Fame Board, which consists of USBMA members, elected at-large members and living members of the BCA Hall of Fame. Induction is awarded to the player named on the most ballots. A second player is elected if he or she is named on more than 70 percent of the ballots. Archer (82%) and Fisher (75%) both easily topped those requirements. The next closest vote-getters were Filipino stars Jose Parica (25%) and Francisco Bustamante (18%).

To be eligible for consideration in the Greatest Player category, a player: a) must be 40 years old by Jan. 1 of the year of their induction; b) must have a professional playing career of at least 10 years; and c) must have recorded significant achievements in U.S.-based events.

BCA annual Board of Directors ballots … were distributed the week of May 25, 2009. All Manufacturer/Distributor (Category 1) and Room Operator (Category 3) members — current as of April 1, 2009 (90 days prior to the election) — were issued a ballot.

Please take the time to vote! Completed ballots must be returned to the BCA offices (in the envelope provided with the ballot) by Friday, June 19, 2009, or may be hand-carried to the BCA Annual Membership Meeting at the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 24, 2009.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) ... held its annual “Challenge the Stars” fundraiser on May 12, 2009, during the 9th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship and BCA Pool League (BCAPL) National 8-Ball Championships in Las Vegas. Pros, amateurs and fans helped raise almost $5,300 to help academic scholarships, “Pool In School” and other junior billiard programs.

Among the pros that graciously donated their time to play on the 7’ Diamond tables were champions like Rodney Morris, John Schmidt, Allison Fisher, Kelly Fisher, Jeanette Lee, Rafael Martinez, Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, Kim Shaw, Jasmin Ouschan, Shawn Putnam, Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, Sarah Rousey, Adam Smith, Scott “The Shot” Smith, Dawn Hopkins, Angelina Paglia and Laura Smith. The challengers were from among the thousands of amateur league players and fans attending the championships.

Billiard enthusiasts attending the benefit also participated in the silent auction and raffle made possible by the generous donations from almost 30 individuals and industry contributors. Included in the long list of donors is John Rousseau, PoolDawg.com, McDermott Cue Mfg., OB Cues, Viking Cue Mfg., Cuestix International, Chalkeys by Ken, Frank’s Center, Predator Products and RT9 Design, just to name a few. Diamond Billiard Products and BCAPL provided the pool tables and arena for the festivities.

A team of two dozen dedicated volunteers helped to make this event successful, including Tim Thompson, Billy Joe Stephenson, Turk Brown, Joanne Bostrom, Jane Clark, Keven Engelke, Brent Johnson, Alexis Brown, Dave Merrill, and many BCAPL referees. Dawn Hopkins, Melissa Herndon and John Leyman shared the task of Master of Ceremonies. A comprehensive list of all who came together to support the future of billiards through junior programs is available on the BEF Web site at billiardeducation.org.

For more information about the BEF, please visit billiardeducation.org or contact Laura Smith at 303.926.1039 or e-mail laurasmith@billiardeducation.org.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) ... recently announced that a segment on junior billiards, including highlights from the WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships, aired on Teen Kids News on May 28, 2009.

Junior pool players from across the globe gathered in Reno, Nevada, for the 2009 World 9-Ball Championships. Teen Kids News featured footage from the event and highlighted the BEF’s Pool in Schools program. North American teen pool phenoms filmed included Brittany Bryant, Austin Murphy, Braden Murphy, Briana Miller and Joshua Newman, as well as the BEF’s Dawn Hopkins.

Teen Kids News offers guaranteed airing on 200 TV stations, reaching more than 91 percent of U.S. households and over five million viewers. In addition, the program is seen weekly in 1,000 locations in 175 other countries and via the American Forces Network. Teen Kids News is also seen in 7,700 schools by an estimated 4.5 million students each week in a special “in the classroom” education feed.