CONTENTS
VOL 23.1
6 SHORTS
26 BUSINESS
• Brunswick’s Kurt Harz retires • Reflections on Bent Peterson • Imply shows off new products at IAAPA • QubicaAMF under control of Qubica legacy partners By Patty Heath
A Relevant Renovation How Rich Glomb stayed relevant (and profitable) to his demographics. By Fred Groh
10
34 WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME Service Businessman Cameron Linder explains his view on the different meanings of ‘service.’ By Cameron Linder
The Fundraising Dynamo! At the tender age of nine, avid bowler and animal lover Abbigail Hickman founded Pins for Pets.
38 CENTER STAGE A Bowling Homecoming
By Jackie Wyckoff
QubicaAMF Worldwide chairman of the board and proprietor Pat Ciniello donates lanes to his alma mater Monmoth University.
16 SPECIAL FEATURE Steady-State
By Fred Groh
Remembering Twelve Strike’s first 25 years. 20
42 TRADE SHOW All Fun and Games
20 COVER STORY
A look at the 2014 IAAPA expo.
Be Our Guest
By Fred Groh and David Garber
Doug Lipp, a former Disney corporate executive, shares lessons for employee training from one of the world’s most powerful brands.
46 REMEMBER WHEN Space: The Final Frontier of Bowling?
By Fred Groh
Star Trek By Patty Heath
48 Classifieds 38
4
IBI
January 2015
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David Garber garber@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
10 FUNDRAISING
By Fred Groh
THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
53 Datebook 54 Showcase
CONTRIBUTORS David Garber Fred Groh Patty Heath Cameron Linder Jackie Wyckoff
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
12655 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 888-424-2695 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2015, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
GOODWILL CENTRAL
SHORTS
6
IBI
In 2014, IBI acknowledged the efforts of centers serving their communities and supporting charitable organizations. The events below were some that capped the end of the year and helped start off the New Year. The Coastal Empire Special Olympics held a bowling tournament at Frames N’ Games in Savannah, GA. Students got the chance to show off their bowling skills and have some fun. One parent said children with special needs have no limits. The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation hosted its first bowl-a-thon to “strike back at cancer” and raise money for pediatric cancer patients. The event was held at Brunswick Zone in Deptford, NJ, which donated the pizza, drinks, shoes and balls. Indianapolis Colts star wide receiver Ty Hilton teamed up with Strikes for Kids to host a charity bowling event benefiting four local high school seniors. Expo Bowling Center in Beech Grove, IN, hosted, with all proceeds going toward college scholarships. Santa held his second annual Bowling with Santa at Tri-County Bowl in Jerseyville, IL. Besides a nice visit with Santa, everyone enjoyed bowling and the kids got goodie bags as an extra treat. NBA champion and former NY Knicks guard Trent Tucker hosted an All-Star Celebrity Bowling Event, benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Frames, New York City, was the venue and guests included NBA stars Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, and Scottie Pippen. Football made its presence known with NY Giants Super Bowl stars Michael Strahan and Eli Manning. The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, MA, has promoted a T&G Santa Fund for 76 years, working with its readers and companies gathering donations to help buy toys for children in need in central Massachusetts. Children 12 and younger who would otherwise not receive any holiday gifts are eligible to receive at least two toys each. This year, a senior league of women, all over the age of 65, who used to bowl in other leagues but “dropped out,” joined in the cause. The Dropouts, who bowl every Thursday morning at Colonial Bowling Center in Worcester, MA, pooled their funds to help this worthy cause. Raising the Woof Bowling Party was held at Rose Bowl Lanes in Marshfield, WI. It was a fundraiser to support Marshfield Pet Shelter. The Greene Community Health Foundation hosted its fifth annual Bowling for Babies fundraiser at Beaver-Vu Bowl in Beavercreek, OH. The focus of this year’s event was to raise awareness of the issue of infant mortality through education about safe sleeping practices and sharing the value of breastfeeding for newborns and infants. Airport Plaza Bowl in Bethalto, IL, hosted Strike Out Cancer benefitting the Relay For Life which was sponsored by Computer Specialists. What is your center doing? Email Patty Heath at heath@bowlingindustry.com.
January 2015
Imply Debuts New Products at IAAPA Imply, headquartered in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, introduced its reinvented MiniBowling and licensed games based on the Flintstones cartoon characters at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, FL, in November. With compact lanes and enhanced designs, MiniBowling offers six themes: Pop Art, Pub, Retro, Hipster, Space, and Bowling Classics. To complement the players’ area, a colorful range of sofas, tables, and lighting effects adds to the comfort and enjoyment. “The compact lanes make the game much easier. It is a new approach to the bowling experience, focused on family entertainment,” said Imply CEO Tironi Paz Ortiz. In addition, Imply has joined forces with the licensing division of Warner Bros., creating new and exclusive games with some of the most popular characters from The Flintstones. “Bamm Bamm Strike” and “Yabba Dabba Doo!” IAAPA visitor tries out are its new game IMPLY’s latest attraction. releases.
Happy Birthday to a Retro Original! Ball Square Bowling, an 8-lane candlepin center, in Medford, MA, celebrated 50 years in business. Owned and operated continually by the Foster family— Herbert Sr. and Jr. (Butch)—it is an original “original.” There have been no renovations made, just a wellmaintained operation. Photo: The Somerville Happy birthday! News Weekly, William Tauro
SHORTS
QUBICA LEGACY PARTNERS ACQUIRE FULL OWNERSHIP OF QUBICAAMF Just when you thought the bowling world had settled down, QubicaAMF Worldwide (QubicaAMF), one of the largest manufacturers of bowling products, is shaking things up once again. The company announced that the Qubica legacy partners—Roberto Vaioli, Luca Drusiana, Emanuele Govoni, Guido Sorba, Pat Ciniello, Frank Mascadri and Rich Albright—have finalized a transaction with Bowlmor AMF to acquire Bowlmor’s ownership in the company. After nearly a decade since the creation of QubicaAMF, the company will operate under a single private ownership. Since its founding in 1993, Qubica has installed equipment on over 35,000 lanes in more than 50 countries. Emanuele Govoni, former CEO of Qubica Worldwide and QubicaAMF Chief Marketing Officer, will serve as the CEO of QubicaAMF. Pat Ciniello, former president and chairman of Qubica Worldwide and president of QubicaAMF Worldwide, LLC, will be the chairman of the board. “With this transaction, we are going back to our roots, and believe we are positioning our company, and the entire bowling industry, for a new era. We are extremely honored after 20 years of experience in this great industry, to now have the opportunity to take the legendary AMF brand, along with Qubica, to the next level,” stated Govoni. Ciniello added, “QubicaAMF is uniquely positioned, and fully dedicated, to continue on the path of delivering the most innovative, high-quality products to make our customers more profitable and make bowling a fun and top-of-mind entertainment destination to attract millions of new consumers.”
8
IBI
January 2015
SHORT SHORTS
SHORTS
New Home for New Center Consulting TouchDesk III management systems and TouchScore3 are in a new home for building, testing and repairing scoring components. The new 2,240-square-foot facility, located in Auburn, MI, has two floors which will allow New Center Consulting, Inc. to keep production and warranty in a separate location from its used parts inventory, currently located in the metro Detroit area.
Techno Geeks Beware No matter where you turn, people can be seen with heads lowered over their extended connective tissue, their cell phones. Well, listen up. A new study published in the journal Surgical Technology International analyzed the amount of time the average person spends bent over his phone and the impact it has on the spine. The average person spends two to four hours a day hunched over to read, text or watch videos; teens and younger adults spend even more time in this position. When the head tilts, it puts pressure on muscles in the neck. This can cause poor posture or worse—damage to the spine resulting in wear and tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries. Here is a visual to conjure every time you look down at your cell phone: looking down at a cell phone is like putting a 60-pound weight on a person’s neck. An even better visual? It is equal to four adult-sized bowling balls!
A Grand Gesture Gone Awry In Cinderford, Gloucestershire, UK, Grandpa Graham Wildin had an idea to add pleasure to his family’s frequent visits. He removed 9,000 tons of soil on his property and built a wonderland of entertainment which included two lanes of bowling, a 16-seat cinema, squash courts, a private casino and a bar. It also boasts indoor tennis and badminton courts and a 25-foot, three-story doll’s house. At the beginning of the construction, he was under the impression that no permission was necessary. However, as things progressed, that was not the case. All it took was one disgruntled neighbor and the council officials declared that, on closer inspection, the building breaches planning laws and have ordered him to return the land to its original state. “This is my family home, all my children and my grandchildren come to visit. It’s the place they all go.” Wildin is appealing the decision and the council has said it is looking for a workable solution.
KURT HARZ RETIRES FROM BRUNSWICK Brent Perrier, president of Brunswick Bowling and Billiards, announced the retirement of longtime industry leader and Brunswick vice president of capital sales–Americas, Kurt Harz. Harz began his career at Brunswick in 1975 after graduating from Western Illinois University. A rarity in a world that sees many changes, he spent more than 39 years with the company in a variety of sales roles from junior salesman to vice president of capital sales–Americas. “Of all of the outstanding leaders in the history of our company, I dare say that no one has done a better job of serving our customers, serving our fellow team members and exhibiting unwavering devotion and commitment to the Brunswick brand,” Perrier said. “Certainly he deserves his well-earned retirement, but it’s going to be tough to say goodbye.”
SHORTS
PEOPLEWATCHING The Illinois State BPA elected a new slate of officers and directors at its annual fall meeting held in Sandwich, IL, in November. Jeff Johnson, who owns 4 Seasons Bowling Center in Freeport, will take the helm as association Jeff Johnson president for the next two years. Joining Johnson on ISBPA’s 2015-2016 executive committee are Bob Stubler, vice president, Kimberly Stanek-Sims, secretary, and Bill Brennan IV, treasurer. Photo: Lydia Rypcinski, ISBPA
Winners of ISBPA’s special awards for 2014 were announced during the general membership luncheon. Jim Smith, Park Lanes in Loves Park, won the Louis P. Petersen Award, given to an ISBPA member who has devoted a Jim Smith lifetime of service to the sport and industry. Smith began his career at Park Lanes as an instructor and lane maintenance supervisor. After taking a four-year break, Smith returned as general manager and eventually became one of three co-owners of the 32-lane center. Brunswick Bowling and Billiards reconfigures its sales efforts with the promotion of Dan Borgie to vice president of modernization sales–North America. Borgie began his career at Brunswick in 1984, progressing through the sales Dan Borgie ranks to his latest position. Also, John Roush has been promoted to vice president of new center construction–North America. Roush has been with Brunswick since 1994. Both promotions are effective immediately and concurrent with the retirement of Kurt Harz. John Roush
THE BOWLING WORLD SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF BENT PETERSEN Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF World Cup manager, announced a very sad farewell to AMF legend Bent Petersen, 1932-2014. Former executive vice president, Bent died peacefully at home on Nov. 21. A much loved and respected member of the AMF family, he retired from the company in 1998 after 36 years. Bent joined AMF in 1962 in Sweden and was heavily involved in the development of bowling in Sweden and Denmark. From there he moved to Japan, ultimately becoming president of AMF’s operation in Japan and the Far East. Next was the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Europe and the Middle East, followed by a move to the U.S. as president of AMF International based in New York. To round out his global influence, Bent returned to the UK in 1988, handling all bowling sales to countries outside the U.S., and in 1995 was responsible for the development of bowling in Eastern Europe and the Indian sub-continent. Paul Lane, who worked with Bent in Japan, England and New York, shared some comments sent to him regarding Bent’s passing: Nick Keppe, Bowltech UK: “The term ‘icon of the industry’ is ringing in my ears. A very sad day but the memories are many and all of them bring a smile to my face.” Brent Perrier, Brunswick: “Bent was one of the great men of my life.” Len Charney, Len Charney Service Management, Israel: “Sad news. He was responsible for a very special period in my life.” David Trend, BowlingVision UK: “I freely acknowledge that Bent was a huge, positive influence on my life!” Steven P. Mella, ComStar International, Inc., New York City: “Bent and I spent a lot of good times together in our AMF days…a special man! He lived a very full life…can’t imagine he left anything in the bucket. RIP.” Bent is survived by his wife, Julia; children Karin, Jens and Anne Marie; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
IN REMEMBRANCE Edwin Korzen, proprietor of Illinois centers Stardust Bowl in Addison, Hillside Bowl in Hillside and Classic Bowl in Morton Grove, died in his Beverly Hills, CA, home at the age of 83. Bill Duff, executive director of Illinois State and Chicagoland BPAs, shared that Korzen was at one time owner of six bowling centers in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, including the 76-lane Town and Country Bowl in Northlake, IL. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, three children and five grandchildren. IBI
January 2015
9
FUNDRAISING
THE FUNDRAISING DYNAMO! I Avid bowler and founder of Pins for Pets, Abbi Hickman is a fundraising star.
10
IBI
January 2015
By Jackie Wyckoff
n 2013, when the Matt Hickmans of Tracy, CA decided they needed to add a cat to their menagerie, they went to the local animal shelter to choose their new pet. Abbigail Hickman was appalled at the condition of the small shelter. “It was really old and smelled bad because it is right next to the sewage treatment plant,” said Abbi. “I thought I might be able to do a fundraiser to help them, so I combined my love of bowling and animals and came up with Pins for Pets.” It’s not so amazing that an animal lover would want to help the shelter. The amazing part is that Abbi was just nine years old at the time. Her first step was to discuss it with her mom, Sunnee, who said she would help with the project. Then she talked to the center manager where she bowls and he said he would help. She was off to the races at this point. Abbi hoped to raise $1,500 but this adolescent over-achiever ended up with more than $7,500 in cash and goods that first year, and her total in 2014 was more than $10,000. Pins for Pets is designed as a fun bowling event in which people of all ages and skill levels can participate. Attendees pay $10 per person for two hours of bowling during the specified time period. They are encouraged to bring a donation item for the shelter (food, bedding, pet toys, etc.) and participate in the other activities such as the chance drawing. The generous donations of animal food from the 2014 event carried the shelter for the entire year. Never one to rest on her laurels, Abbi’s goal for the February 28, 2015 fundraiser is $15,000. The event is held annually at West Valley Bowl in Tracy, CA. Manager Herb Hunter donates the venue for the event. Abbi said, “Well, we do give him a box of Krispy Kreme donuts.” Sunnee said if they make their goal, as they did in 2014, they compensate the center, although not nearly at the going rate. The center staff comes in to help on their day off and Abbi recruits her friends and family as well. Members of the West Valley Bowl Travel League act as volunteer lane monitors and runners. “Momager” (mom/manager) Sunnee takes care of the books and
FUNDRAISING
At the tender age of nine, avid bowler and animal lover Abbigail Hickman founded Pins for Pets.
full of great items. The silent auction is
The FUN-raising team at West Valley Bowl wh o help to make Pins for Pets so successful.
paperwork and drives Abbi around town to garner sponsors for the event. They sell tables to vendors for $25 each, and the vendors donate a prize for the chance drawing. There is a DJ, clown, face painting, and the Cupcake Lady brings a mobile bakery to the venue and donates a portion of the proceeds. “She is cool,” said Abbi. “She even makes ‘pupcakes’ so you can buy a treat for your dog.” Family friend and fellow bowler family. an km ic Andrew Espino is the official H e Th photographer, graphic designer and webmaster extraordinaire for Pins for Pets. Abbi and Andrew have collaborated on a new logo for 2015, below. Each volunteer receives a logo shirt for his efforts and Abbi’s “staff” has plenty to keep them busy during the event. This year Abbi plans to add a silent auction for the bigger prizes and hopes to add a photo booth if she can find a company to donate one for the day. She writes a letter explaining the event and takes it to local businesses to request donations. In 2014 she visited more than 100 businesses in Tracy. She also writes a letter or email which she sends out. She has garnered donations from the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland A’s, Great America, Marine World and other prominent Northern California venues. According to her momager, she has about an 80% success rate securing donations. Mom drives her around but stays in the car or just inside the door of the business when she goes on her sales calls. Abbi does the rest on her own. One of the ways they distribute the multitude of smaller prizes is the dance-off. The DJ plays a song and calls a dance and the dance winner gets a prize. Abbi is the judge and said, “My science
teacher was so great. She won the Funky Chicken dance. She was doing it all over the lanes.” For the upcoming event, Abbi wanted to do something for the serious bowlers as well as the casual bowler. So she is hosting a youth/adult scholarship tournament to benefit Pins for Pets on the day after the fundraiser. The tournament director will be Mike Hillman, proprietor of Cloverleaf Family Bowl in Fremont, CA and co-founder of the Youth Bowlers Tour. “Abbi charmed me into it,” noted Hillman. “She is a great salesperson.” This all started with Sheldon the cat who found his forever home with the Hickmans. Abbi admits her sister, Madison, “is the real cat whisperer in the family,” and Abbi jokes that she raises money to save animals and Madison, who is active in 4-H, kills them. The lucky Sheldon joins the family menagerie of Jasmine the dog, Rosie the rabbit, Sam and Normie the guinea pigs, Stashey (named for its moustache) the cat, and an assortment of fish and chickens. Abbi fell in love with bowling at age six when dad,
IBI
January 2015
11
FUNDRAISING Abbi getting ready for her television interview.
for Clover.” The dog is a frequent visitor to the center and takes center stage during the fundraiser. “I really love all the animals at the shelter. I wish I could take them all home.” Abbi said they debated having a pet adoption on site as well but decided against it because so many people have animal allergies and ir the off w they didn’t want to make sho nds frie her Abbi (center) and them uncomfortable coming balloon art. ort. to the fundraiser. They plan sp e rit vo fa r ei n practice th her sister Madiso Matt, a once-a-week league bowler, to have a photo collage of Abbi along with first took her to the lanes. She joined her first the available animals at the event this year so league at age seven and joined the prestigious Nor people can see what pets are available for adoption then go to the shelter Cal Travel League at age nine. Currently she to finalize the process. averages around 130, bowls in two leagues a week Tracy is a typical mid-size California Central Valley town. It boasts and often practices just as much. She has amassed agriculture to the west and south as well as industrial development in the over $3,000 in SMART scholarship money already north and east. They are building a new animal shelter which is slated to and has set her sights on attending Wichita State. open sometime before the end of this month. The $5 million-plus project The practical Abbi told us, “The difference between had been on the back burner for several years before the local media got bowling and every other sport at my age is that I wind of Abbi’s Pins for Pets project, which helped to highlight the abysmal can go to a bowling tournament and win money for conditions of the current shelter and drive approval of the funding. college. No other sport lets you to that.” According to animal shelter staff, the new facility will be just under 6,000 (SMART—Scholarship Management and square feet. Because they are working with a shoestring budget, some of Accounting Reports for Tenpins—is a USBC the amenities will have to wait until phase II. This first phase will include program that manages bowling scholarship money 32 indoor-outdoor dog kennels, with a separate area for small dogs and and serves as a clearinghouse for scholarship puppies. The issue of constant loud barking in the old location has been information for USBC members.) addressed by sound-damping acoustic wall panels that will allow for She is not sure if she wants to do a stint as a quieter spaces. professional bowler before going into politics There will be approximately 36 cat cages spread over three rooms, and but she hopes the new PWBA tour is still around they will also have a cat socialization room. The new layout will be more when she finishes college. Those are lofty inviting to visitors and volunteers, which could translate into increased ambitions for someone who hasn’t yet started high adoption rates—something everyone wants, especially the amazing Abbi! school. Her favorite subject is social studies and If you are interested in helping Abbi with her fundraiser, contact Pins for she loves to read; the Twilight series is her current Pets at pinsforpetsbowling@gmail.com, call 209-914-4291, or visit favorite. The pint-sized philanthropist was www.bowlingpinsforpets.com. For more information about the SMART awarded the 2014 American Red Cross Youth program, call 800-514-BOWL or e-mail smart@bowl.com. ❖ Samaritan of the Year and a $1,000 scholarship from the Kohl’s Cares program. Jackie Wyckoff, who started bowling in 1968, is a San Francisco Bay Area native, The Tracy shelter is home to Clover, the live-in avid Giants fan and gourmet chef. She was president of the Bowling Writers Association of America, 2009-2011. Wyckoff has worked and volunteered in the dog. Abbi says, “She is the cutest and sweetest bowling industry since 1972 with jobs including center manager, WIBC president, little pit bull I have ever met. She has skin cancer and writer and promoter for all things bowling. She was a PWBA regional and can’t be adopted so she is the shelter mascot. player, with several state and local titles to her credit. Last year we bought a dog bed and a huge bone 14
IBI
January 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE
By Fred Groh
S
ome companies have a history of storm and upheaval, close calls, lastminute saves. In other companies, as an owner thinking back, you see a steady march forward on pretty even terrain. What stands out in your mind then are the things that contributed most to the mission. That’s how it is for Twelve Strike president Ron Richmond. In the company’s first 25 years, three things stand out—two, if you don’t count his happy marriage to Susiy about eight years ago. But the Richmond family connection to bowling goes back further than the company, about 10 years further, to father Rex’s days as a proprietor. He was a general contractor in Southern California who decided in the late ’70s that bowling would be a profitable business to
16
IBI
January 2015
get into. He wasn’t at all a bowling man but he bought a 20-laner called Crown Bowl in the seaside city of Long Beach and proceeded to work at his two careers for the next 15 years. Not long into proprietorship, he needed automatic scoring. “As the story goes,” says Ron, “and this is only a story,” Rex couldn’t get terms with a certain manufacturer, went looking for another brand, and discovered EasiScor, a now long-gone company in Denver. Whether that much is true or false, Rex did make a deal—for the scoring, that is—and liked it so well he purchased it—the company, that is, and went into his third line of
SPECIAL FEATURE business, supplying his scoring to a Florida capital equipment company (now defunct). When he and the Florida outfit went separate ways, Rex needed a new name for his scoring line. Charles Wood, today as then Twelve Strike’s software developer, doesn’t remember the exact day, “we’re talking 19 years ago. But a perfect game, 12 strikes, ‘That sounds good, draw up a logo,’ so I did.” It was the familiar ‘XIIX’— Roman numerals for ‘12’ and ‘X’ for strike—still in use. Rex closed the bowling center in ’92 because margins were much better in the scoring business. When he passed away in 2003, Ron took over. Fairly soon after that, “I needed cabinets to get made, computer cases and/or other structures that are always needed,” Ron says. “A couple of local businesses weren’t able to supply me with product at a reasonable rate, so I started welding and making brackets and other things I needed.” What began as do-it-yourself became one of Ron Richmond’s highlights of the past 25 years: a full machine/sheet metal shop. Called Fab Metal Shop, it occupies a separate building on the Twelve Strike property in Long Beach. “We can bend, roll, make all kinds of different parts, and we do that for all kinds of different people.” From making parts of the scoring systems, he’s now manufactured parts for C-17 aircraft and wheel hubs for an off-road shop, among many projects. Fab Metal Shop makes every metal casing (pedestal) for Twelve Strike scoring. “Any metal that goes out the building—the pedestals, the brackets that hold the LCDs, the bracket that houses the camera down-lane on the capping, the cabinet that holds all the electronics for the computers—all that is made by Ron,” says company rep
In the back row, left to right are Ron Richmond, James Walters III and Juan Morales. Seated in the front row left to right are Ivan Martinez and Susiy Richmond. Not pictured are Darryl Seals, Charles Wood and Gregg Pasdiora.
Gregg Pasdiora. Richmond’s other highlight of the first quarter-century is the conversion of his scoring from the old DOS operating system to Windows. “Having the Windows system has been a wonderful experience. We can log right into [a customer’s] system [by remote access], see exactly what’s going on, and most of the time fix issues they’re having right on the spot.” Windows is a delight because it enhances customer service, in other words. The Windows OS dates back to around 2005 on Twelve Strike scoring. While it
DRAKESHIRE LANES FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (40 LANES) We congratulate Simon Shearer and Michael Shearer on their purchase of this fine center, and thank Leonard Herman and Jerry Harris for trusting us to handle the sale. We wish them all the best in the future.
Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers, Appraisers & Financial Advisors 28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076
(800) 222 • 9131 Check out our current listings at:
www.SandyHansell.com IBI
January 2015
17
SPECIAL FEATURE wonderful things.” The payoff? “Lower overall cost [and] if I was to disappear tomorrow, they would still be able to maintain their system because it is all offthe-shelf parts.” Ron Richmond is a busy man these days. So busy he had to give up most of the installing he did personally for years. (But he’s tough in holding installers to specifications that standardize the layout, the more easily to handle problems if they arise, Pasdiora comments.) Richmond spends a lot of time in the metal shop, but tells us that’s probably his favorite part of the job. “I really do enjoy taking a raw piece of metal and making something out of it, making it
Ron Richmond at Twelve Strike working in the metal fabrication shop.
was available in consumer PCs long before that, Wood says it was too unstable for bowling scoring, crashing too easily and too often. Other manufacturers may have been using DOS or a proprietary system back then, he volunteers, “but I haven’t looked at the competitors. That’s not what we really do. We just kind of talk to the customers and see what they want, and we add the features they want.” That includes custom programming in some cases. “If [customers] have an idea they let us know and I’ll investigate it with them, and we’ll try and add that feature into their system,” Wood reports. “Usually the custom stuff I’ll leave open enough so if other centers want to use that feature, they can.” It may then become part of the standard product, as was the case with the 40-frame game, now a standard feature with the scoring. “We don’t have big panel meetings,” Richmond confirms. “As Nike would say, ‘We just do it.’ When Juan wants to make a hardware change, he goes ahead and buys different hardware pieces and he finds the one that works the best and that’s the one we usually go with.” Juan Morales is the principal builder of computers at Twelve Strike and handles first-line tech support. Just about everyone in the company has a hand in developing product, says Richmond. Which—unusual in the bowling industry—relies on off-the-shelf components. “Because the last time we got something developed, probably back in ’92, it was a very long, drawn-out, expensive process.” By contrast, “being [at that time] under a DOS platform, we were able to purchase hardware—video cards and/or camera capture cards or those kinds of things— right from the open market. The only thing we had to do was program those items. “There is nothing in the system that I can think of that we’ve developed specifically for us,” Richmond offers. “With the magic of good programmers, we’re able to do 18
IBI
January 2015
Remembering Twelve Strike founder Rex Richmond as he always was, busy.
into a shape that was hidden inside. That’s very similar to the scoring system,” he reflects, like “when a customer calls up and asks for a feature and we look at it and say, ‘We can do that.’ Like the 40frame game.” ❖
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
COVER STORY
20
IBI
January 2015
COVER STORY
d Groh By Fre
I
values behind Disney University, four requirements for successful training, in the Disney view: an innovative outlook, organizational support for training, knowledge to impart, and entertaining methods. ✴✴ ✴ The Walt Disney Company is a $46 billion enterprise (sales) employing 175,000 worldwide, according to a Forbes report last May. Yet Lipp maintains that the lessons to be learned from Disney University work just as well for a 16-lane bowling center with a dozen employees. “Everything is applicable. It’s just [that] in a smaller business every [employee] represents much more impact on the bottom line, or the guest experience, because the odds are [better] that a paying guest is going to come in contact with [them]; they have that much more of an opportunity to make an impact.”
n 1973, just 20 months after the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, the company faced a severe problem. Doug Lipp, who rose at Disney to become head of the employee training team at Disney corporate headquarters, calls it a crisis. Employees were exhausted, having looked after almost 11 million customers in just the first year. Operations were relentlessly proceeding 24/7/365 without a sign of seasonal slowdown. The economy was softening. Necessary layoffs increased the stress on those who remained. Opportunities for career advancement had slowed. The annual turnover rate stood at 83%, which compared to the service industry average then of 55%. Dick Nunis, a driving force behind the company’s training program, called a meeting of divisional vice presidents. Underscoring the seriousness of the occasion, he set the meeting in a cramped, unpainted space in Cinderella’s Castle left over from construction—the iconic building for visitors to Disneyland in California and now at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World as well. Attendees had to reach the space by climbing a narrow staircase or riding a construction workers’ elevator. Out of a series of weekly meetings that followed, the Disney training program—called Disney University—morphed from a traditional role of orientation programs, handbooks and newsletters into a program for employee “development, communication, and care,” writes Lipp in Disney U (McGraw-Hill, 2013). The book is his insider’s, highly detailed look at “How Disney University develops the world’s most engaged, loyal, and customer-centric employees,” as the sub-title of the book reads; few would dispute that description. Two years after that first meeting, mission accomplished. Turnover Doug participates in the Donald Duck 50th Birthday Party Quacking Contest. rate was down to 28%. Retention was up from a miserable 17% to 72%. Doug won the contest while Wayne Allwine (right), the voice of Mickey Mouse, It was a spectacular reaffirmation and extension of the four cardinal and Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck, look on in amusement. IBI
January 2015
21
COVER STORY Successful employees have to “buy into” a company’s goals and methods, as every business owner knows, but Disney U aims at more. Employees need to “live” the values, Lipp says. “‘Living it’ is when it becomes part of your culture,” he explains. “When I would do orientation programs for cast members [Disney employees], we would talk all day about teamwork and cleanliness and friendliness. Okay, they see it, that’s fine, but Doug Lipp (L) at Disneyland Japan ‘I’m not sure I buy it yet.’” construction site in 1981. When new hires were then taken to the theme park, they would see senior executives picking up the occasional piece of trash or stopping to chat with customers, even though that was obviously not part of the executive’s job. “‘Oh! I buy it. That’s cool,’” Lipp mimicks the employee’s reaction he saw repeatedly. “Over time, after I’ve left the University and the glow of that has worn off, I see over and over again cast members, supervisors, managers doing all the
Doug Lipp started at Disney with a six-month internship as part of his last year at California State University Long Beach. Working in the Disney training division, called Disney University, he helped put together training programs for small companies that didn’t have the budget or resources to hire their own trainers. Wanting to be a YMCA director and lead international exchange programs with high school and college kids, Lipp was minoring in Japanese. After he graduated in 1978, he was off to Japan for two years of grad school and to immerse himself in the language. Meanwhile, Disney closed a deal with its Japanese partner for the building of its first international theme park, Tokyo Disneyland. Returning to the U.S., Lipp was snapped up by Disney to work here with Japanese managers who were going to be running the Tokyo park. Then he was tapped by Jim Cora, head of the Tokyo project, for a rigorous six-month management intern program for future leaders of the company, and a few months after he finished that, Cora told him, “We’re going to Japan. Help me open up the park over there.” “In an international project, you wear lots of hats,” Lipp said when we talked with him. “Everybody did a lot of different things. I helped with the hiring and training of 4,000 Japanese, helped set up the Disney University [in Japan], helped babysit and helped relocate 250 American ex-patriots and their families.” He laughed. “You do what you’ve got to do to get the park up and running.” That included a year in Japan after the park opened and doing quality control on the training program there, the first international version of Disney University. Today Lipp consults with Fortune 100 companies and travels internationally, sharing the lessons he learned at Disney University. He is the author of eight books, of which Disney U is the latest. We spoke to him after he keynoted this year’s Bowl Expo. 22
IBI
January 2015
Doug worked in many different positions at Disney as he moved up the corporate ladder. In 1981 he worked as a pirate.
things I’ve been taught to do. So when I walk across the park and I see a piece of trash I just pick it up. I don’t even think about it. Then I’m living it.” ✴✴ ✴ “Living it” begins with the first meeting between a job applicant and the Disney people. “Hire right, train right, treat right,” Lipp says, reciting a mantra, “and how are you going to get the right people on board if you’re just putting them in an interview? So Disney [has an] experiential interview process where you weed people out—help them weed themselves out—by giving them the honest feedback of what this company is all about, how much work it actually is. “If you’re going to create the happiest place on earth, you know that some folks are going to come in having had a bad day, whether they’re a fellow cast member or a guest. If you have a short temper, if you can’t deal with that, you’re not going to make it. If cast members who don’t come into direct contact with guests have a surly attitude toward each other, ultimately that’s going to wind up on stage [before the public].” “So,” says Lipp, “it really doesn’t matter if they’re day-shift, night-shift, on stage, backstage, Disney hires for people that have [a] team approach, want to help other people,
COVER STORY other-centered, and,” he emphasizes as we talk, “they’re all about producing a great show”—what the company is presenting to the public. “Hire attitude and train skills” is the Disney method because attitude is a “non-negotiable” value for the business Disney does, Lipp states. The lesson for small businesses: look for the “core, fundamental drivers” of your business that need to be conveyed to customers and to employees; once you have clarity of mission, you have a start on looking for specific traits in employees that will help you Disney was a magical place for Doug to fall in love with achieve that mission. One more thing is needed: an his future wife (and Disney candy maker), Pam, 1984. idea of how you’re going to “roll out” the training. Lipp means the training methods you will use. He calls himself “a huge proponent” of training hands-on, where “people can see, smell, hear, touch, use all of their senses.” New Disney hires get plenty of it when they move into the field for on-the-job training in their specialties. It’s rigorous. “If I’m a McDonald’s, I train my store managers in the restaurant and I have them flip burgers and I purposely make a machine break down. I’m going to throw as many curve balls at them as I can. If I want to train my employees on how to deal with somebody who walks up to the counter and slams down the product they’re upset with, I’m going to practice that over and over again in role-plays so that when they get out in the real world they know how to deal with it.”
Doug's business has taken him around the world. He poses with Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) executives at their sports club with his wife, Pam, in 2013. 24
IBI
January 2015
As his reference to role playing suggests, Lipp is emphatic that a limited budget needn’t-and shouldn’tderail a good training program. “Maybe it’s five minutes in every staff meeting devoted to role-play. Maybe it’s that pre-shift huddle, that quick touch-base with an employee every hour for the first few hours that he’s on a job every week for the first four weeks— there are so many ways to roll it out. What are my standards? What do I want to see replicated on the job? There are as many ways to do it as there are stars in the sky,” he says, invoking the cardinal Disney U value of taking an innovative approach in training. “But I firmly believe in experiential training,” he continues. “And making it enjoyable, engaging and fun is always appropriate, regardless of the technological challenges the trainees are facing,” recalling another Disney University core value, training that’s entertaining. Some companies aren’t ready for training, Lipp notes. Spending money on it would be a waste for them. First you need the clarity of mission he’s mentioned and SOPs—standard operating procedures—in place. If not, you don’t know what you are training for and there is nothing to train employees in—you fail in another of the fundamental values of Disney U: having something important to impart. Training goals should be quantifiable, Lipp adds. Turnover rate is a useful metric for a company the size of Disney, but even in a small business, “If it’s important enough to do, it should be measurable to some extent. You could say to a trainee, ‘We strive to establish eye contact and acknowledge people when we get within 10 feet.’ Some organizations use that rule. They’ll say, ‘At 15 feet or 10 feet or five feet, you nod or smile or “good afternoon” or “good morning”.’” Just as important, what is trained at the training location must be “supported on the front line by supervisors or managers. What’s taught is not countermanded as soon as people go into the field, and the people that are doing the training know what’s going on in operations so they’re not operating in a vacuum. “And everybody needs to go through training.” Even the CEO, as Michael Eisner was surprised to discover when he joined Disney in the 1980s. Strong organizational support
COVER STORY for training, the fourth core value of Disney U. ✴✴ ✴ While Disney University is a training program, it is not merely where employees go to prepare for a job routine. “That’s not good enough,” Lipp quotes Disney U founder Van France. “Training needs to instill a spirit, a feeling, an emotional connection. Training means creating an environment of thinking and feeling,” France said. At the same time, like any business, Disney wants consistency. Ensuring both is the role of the Disney training program. “[Disney University] is the company’s conscience regarding the Disney brand,” Lipp quotes a Disney HR specialist. “It is responsible for As the keynote speaker at Bowl Expo 2013, Doug inspired attendees to setting the ‘big picture’ to ensure a consistent delivery of product.” practice the art of hospitality. Lipp draws a parallel to quality control. “If a quality control group “It goes back to when does training is at the end of the production line, their efficacy is going to be limited. If they’re woven begin and end,” Lipp reflects. “It never into the culture of that production line from engineering all the way through the final step really does end if it’s part of the culture, of production, quality is going to be much higher.” being done every single day, because Woven into Disney culture, Disney U is holistic in its orientation, detail-minded in its people [are] living it.” ❖ operation, and immersed in Disney tradition. It teaches the same. Employees learn to be all about “good show,” think nothing of picking up occasional trash, and never lose sight of the Disney Way that company policy and people keep vital all around them. Fred Groh is a regular contributor to Bowling centers, observes Lipp, “are getting more and more complex.” What a bowling IBI and former managing editor of proprietor needs to think about in that environment if he wants to make changes for the magazine. better employee performance, and wants the changes to stick, is whether his supervisor, his manager, he himself are living the change he wants to see, every single day.
IBI
January 2015
25
BUSINESS
Welcome
Home
How to give a traditional center a new lease on life without buying the moon.
Photos by Shawn Smith, Strike Photo, Joelton, TN.
26
IBI
January 2015
Rich Glomb, the man behind the look.
By Fred Groh hen it comes to surviving in an upscale market, bowling has it figured out pretty well. You put in a boutique module, upgrade the F&B, maybe turn yourself into an FEC. But suppose you don’t have the demographics to justify it. No boutique for you, no FEC. Rich Glomb did want to upscale, and he made night-and-day changes in Merri-Bowl when he bought the Livonia, MI house last year. But it may matter more what he changed it to. There was no question he was going to renovate. The 40-lane center (built 1962) was “tired,” the 36-year industry veteran sums up. The list of problems was long: carpet he figured was about 15 years old, original Formica on the reception desk (and carpet on the sides), 12 loudspeakers over the lanes but all of them blown, mini bar blocked from service to the meeting room, no storage room, bare cinder block walls, everything painted shades of purple except the bright orange meeting room. On top of that, in this bowling state par excellence, no less than seven bowling centers operate within five miles or so of Merri-Bowl. Livonia, a city of 95,000 with the midpoint of household income at $69,000 (U.S. Census, 2008-2012), isn’t poor. But still, seven centers. Glomb liked the prospects anyway. He had a vision. g g g He says he fell in love with the game way back, partly because he’s a musician. “You’re always trying to duplicate shots and stay in a rhythm [in bowling], and music is all about rhythm and consistency.” He cleaned tables and the parking lot at his uncle’s
W
BUSINESS center in the West Palm Beach, FL area and got good enough at the game to make the West Palm Beach and American Junior Bowling Congress halls of fame. He worked in the pro shop, at reception, and (limited, of course) in the bar. All in all, growing up bowling. When he went to work, it was for BRC (Brunswick) at their Florida center in Melbourne. In five years, operating out of several centers in the state, he specialized in forming bowling clubs representing local companies. He had “some success” with BRC, he says—Glomb tends to understate. He floored 38 teams in less than his first month on the job. In succession, he quit Brunswick, formed his own company, and went through south Florida building merchant bowling clubs. He signed on to head sales and marketing for a center a few miles outside West Palm Beach, joined Joe Schumacker as director of sales for Schumacker’s chain, and ended up as general manager of Don Carter Lakewood Lanes for five years, putting a Proprietor of the Year award from BPAA on his mantle in 1999. In 2002, the sun set in Florida. Glomb moved to Michigan and took on oversight of five centers for the Great Lakes Bowling Centers chain. Through center broker Sandy Hansell he met Jerry Anderson, who hailed from Michigan and works in Texas oil. Anderson “was always interested in owning a facility but he didn’t have the expertise,” so the two formed a partnership. When Merri-Bowl was broached by Hansell, Glomb liked the idea. Merri-Bowl was just a couple of miles from one of the Great Lakes centers he was overseeing, Cloverlanes Bowl. Cloverlanes wouldn’t be a competitor, however. “Completely different demographic.” And he had been friends with Merri-Bowl owner Mark Voight for a long time. “Mark and I openly share things that are going on in our marketplace. We have a good ethical working relationship. I also know that Mark’s numbers are going to be true. He’s not going to sugar-coat them.” The numbers showed nine consecutive months of improvement over the prior year after Voight made management and marketing changes. “When I walked into the center, I felt a different aura, a different spirit. It was uplifting. There was a good positive energy. “I saw a great potential because I know the market quite well. I believed that if we could transform this [center] and give the bowlers what we as a bowler would want in a classic bowling center, I would be able to retain my bowler base and in year two, grow my bowler base.” Glomb and Anderson closed the Merri-Bowl deal last March 28. The same day, Glomb convened his core staff. Two weeks later, he had met with all his league officers— the house is more than 50% leagues. All of it to learn
Stepping inside the center (left page), customers find the reception counter across from a cheery electric fireplace ($350 from Home Depot) and leather chairs ($100 each from an outlet store for home goods), above. Color scheme in Astro Carpets pattern correlates with laminates on the side of the reception counter. Wood-look flooring above is heavy-duty commercial vinyl, cleans with a wet mop; about 140 square feet were $400.
what they wanted and expected to see under his management. From his staff, “I got such a mixed bag, a lot of ‘I’m not sure.’ I got some pushback.” The bowlers were fairly skeptical. No matter. Glomb had vision enough for everyone. g g g ‘Warm’ is the first word he uses to describe what he had in mind from the start. He’s not moved by the look of corrugated tin, cement or rusted metal—the industrial look currently fashionable in high-profile bowling venues. “The industrial look, although it’s interesting, it leaves me a bit cold. I feel cold. I don’t feel like I want to be there for a longer period of time. In our industry, now that the smoking ban has been around since 2008 [in Michigan], proprietors say all the time [about their bowlers], ‘When they get done, all they can do is high-tail it out; they can’t wait to get out.’ I wanted to create that desire to stay.” He also wanted high-end. “Because I know that when I walk into a Brunswick Zone, a Lucky Strike, the Emagine theaters, when you go to their concierge desk and you have black granite countertops, and you go to a fancy restaurant and you’ve got smoked-glass entryways—it just makes you feel better.” Glomb could hardly have had better schooling for his warm-andupscale vision. While he went to college he worked as a waiter in the main dining room at the ne plus ultra Breakers hotel in West Palm Beach for three years, and just across the street at the posh Royal Poinciana Playhouse for four as assistant maître d’ and captain. He was taking care of some of the richest people in the world, he says. Occasionally he worked in their homes and on their yachts as a private cook. “The expectation that these people have really is nothing different than my bowlers, but my bowlers have been so accustomed IBI
January 2015
27
BUSINESS to having something less that they’re okay with it. From tableside dining [to] cooking flambés, the presentation—and everything you do for your guests—sets you apart from your competitor. I wanted to give [the bowlers] a really good experience each and every time they walk in.” g g g “What if we give you a beautiful room—gorgeous French doors, open up the quickie bar to where it’s functional, give you full multi-media, smart TVs and hand-held microphones and its own sound system and multiple lighting capabilities. What if you had that?” Glomb had asked his staff at the meeting, spelling out his vision for the meeting room. They’d like it! For one thing, they’d be a lot more comfortable telling people there’s a charge for using the room. They got all of it. And more, all over the center. In order of Glomb’s seven priorities for the renovation: “First thing, all the bathrooms [had] to go. My
The main bar. Renovation removed half-walls that separated the seating area from the bar to open up the space. In photo below, chairs featuring a faux suede fabric were $88 each from a furniture store. At the right of the photo and against the wall is jukebox that downloads music from the Internet. About 20 genres can be selected by the proprietor. “We eliminated some genres, made it family-friendly. We have it tied into our main sound system out through the concourse and the bowler’s area, as well as the bar. When we’re not using the Bowling Music Network and somebody wants to come in and hear specific songs, they can put money in the jukebox. We can customize [a] party and make it flow.”
30
IBI
January 2015
partner and I talked about this extensively. We had a choice. We could put a brand new parking lot in, new road sign, do a facelift on the building, recoat the dome, and make the building look fantastic. But inside, the touchy-feely things that the customers [experience] are still going to be the old tired thing.” And following in priority after the restrooms: the meeting room and carpeting the center; painting; bowler seating; reception desk and main bar; HVAC; and games. Construction began May 5. Glomb and his wife, Chrissy, made all the major design decisions. His experience in West Palm Beach was joined by hers—assisting in household management in the wealthy homes where Rich worked, and 10 years as a dealer at Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget in Las Vegas when the property was one of the world’s top casino hotels. While Glomb says he didn’t want to “skimp,” he wasn’t opposed to “shopping.” Red leather chairs flanking a fireplace across from the reception desk were from an outlet store and 40 lanes of Frameworx seating were bought used (“Frameworxtype seating works best for competitive bowling”). In one detail after another, the final selections at Merri-Bowl were “to make it feel welcoming” (fireplace and club chairs), “very upscale” (dark laminate flooring and doors), “inviting, comfortable, relaxing,” “beckon you” (the colors), and “warm.” In two words (ours): homey and friendly. MerriBowl’s design brings “home” to the customer. All told, the renovation (phase I) finished Sept. 8, over-budget about $40,000. Total spent: a little under $270,000. Work is scheduled to resume this summer (phase II), with a target spend of $100,000. Glomb will level the floor, eliminating a step-down; install new scoring; fix the parking lot; do some roof work, siding work, and paint the exterior. Also in the plan, “blowing up the bar,” rebuilding it and adding a covered, three-season patio for dining and beverages. Bowlers tend to be “apprehensive,” Glomb believes. “‘Okay you did this nice thing one time.’ Our goal is to do something for our bowlers every year. It’s going to be really important that we do something that’s going to again earn their trust going forward.” He looks ahead to the day, probably in three years, when “everything is pretty much new and in good shape.” After that, “doing something” will
BUSINESS Glomb approached the graphic arts departments at local high schools for the masking design, offering $500 for the department and $100 for the student whose design was used. He told the schools he had no theme in mind—“I [didn’t] want to handicap the students by giving them a box they [had] to work in”—but thought it would be “cool” if something of the Motor City could be worked in. “There is no way I could turn this down,” Glomb says of design by Adam Huber of Novi High School in nearby Novi. It’s printed on the plastic film used for banners. (Hurried application for grand re-opening in August left some bubbles under the film, which have been removed.)
require less unless major up-scaling occurs. So far, customers are “very pleased.” Business gross two months after completion of phase I, when we talked, was up about 1.5% over last year. More telling probably is the reaction of customers returning after a long time away. “Just amazed,” says Glomb. About his prospects, he ventures, “I believe our business is going to grow. We want to remain humble people, be able to listen to what our bowlers are saying, to our guests, and provide them with really good service. I believe if we do those things, we’re going to be rewarded with repeat business frequently and that will allow us to grow.” To proprietors wanting to give their centers new life without having to spend big,
owners who want to impart a friendly, homey look after the fashion of Rich Glomb, he would be gratified to see it. “If it works for me and I can help some other proprietor to do it, let’s keep the game of game of bowling rolling. No pun intended. But maybe there is.” ❖
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
Eliminate rental shoes, increase profits and enhance your customers bowling experience
• Bowl in your own shoes. •Great for parties & events. Your customers will enjoy bowling in their own street shoes. Our research revealed they would even bowl more often! Bowling Buddies Shoe Covers come in 3 sizes that will fit 97% of all shoe sizes. Visit our website to purchase a sample box and give them a try.
WWW.BOWLINGBUDDIESSHOECOVERS.COM
1-855-COVERS-0 Patent Pending: 61-642.067
32
IBI
January 2015
WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME
Service Businessman By Cameron Linder
I
remember my last day of service in the Air Force—I sat down and untied my boots, officially for the last time. It felt strange, not leaving them out to be unceremoniously put on the next week. As I put the boots in the closet I thought, “Should they even go here? They’d be more out of the way in the guest room closet.” Ten years of wearing the uniform of my country, six years of active duty service—summed up in a short going-away luncheon at a Buffalo Wild Wings—the only tokens of that service being a commander’s coin, commendation medal, and two framed posters. But I didn’t feel unappreciated; I felt I never had the opportunity to do enough worth appreciating. When you come out of the military, everyone thanks you for your years of service. I never felt as if I was offering service. In my estimation, the Air Force never called me to serve in the truest sense. I know what people mean when they say “thank you for your service,” and I agree with them. Whether you deploy or spend your entire career in an office cubicle, you’ve still committed, unequivocally, to going where they tell you: to put your life in the pathway of a bullet or drive your vehicle in the proximity of a roadside bomb. Mentally, you accept that those are places you might go. Mentally, you accept that you may not come back from where they send you. But that’s the honor of the uniform: its committed selflessness and sacrifice. Some serve more than others, but the ground truth of one’s time in uniform is this: you’ve agreed to die for your country if asked to. I’m proud of my time in uniform, but in my new career— wearing the uniform of insurance broker—I actually feel like I’m serving. The slacks and polo shirt may seem benign, inglorious, or undignified—particularly compared to a crisply pressed uniform. To go from Captain Linder, USAF, to smooth-talking, save-you-money paper-pusher may seem like a turn to the dark side to some. In many people’s eyes insurance salesmen are just like lawyers or mortgage bankers: 34
IBI
January 2015
WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME all should start residing at the bottom of the ocean. My father has been an insurance broker for more than 40 years, serving nearly 150 California and Oregon bowling centers for the past two decades. Growing up, I never really wanted to go into the insurance business. It wasn’t because I didn’t like working for my father—our relationship is amazing—it’s that I wanted to do everything on my own. I didn’t want anyone to think that I hadn’t earned my success. I remember coming home on Air Force leave and going on a few insurance appointments with my father before I joined his business. This to me was the turning point: I saw the relationships he had with bowling center proprietors and I knew I wanted to do the same thing he did. These men and women weren’t clients or customers. They were mentors, confidants, and close personal friends. They called him when they were in trouble because they trusted him to take care of them. And my dad called them just to see how they were doing! I remember sitting with my dad and Bill Mossontte at lunch one day. Bill owns several bowling centers in the Los Angeles area and has been a good friend and mentor to my father for a decade. Bill is one of the most principled, honest, and shrewd businessmen you’ve ever met. I listened to my father and Bill talk and I saw the mutual respect and admiration they have for one another. I couldn’t help but be impressed. This wasn’t just a cold transaction of money and paper that occurred every November. It was the annual renewal of a friendship based on trust, integrity, and mutual admiration. I had heard the stories of the lengths my father had gone to for bowling centers in California to fight off opportunistic claimants. If it took hiring a private investigator out of my dad’s own pocket to interview scared witnesses at 2 a.m. after a gang shooting, my dad did it because he cared about the proprietor enough to protect him against an unfair claim. I watched my father’s relationships with bowling proprietors and all I saw was service. Their frustration was his frustration, their heartache was his heartache, and their fight was his fight. I decided to join my father in business because becoming a self-employed insurance broker is not a cessation of my public service, but a continuation of it. My own experience working with bowling center proprietors in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado has only confirmed my views. My own experiences have shown me that Bill Mossontte, while exceptional, wasn’t actually that unique. Almost every bowling center proprietor I meet is of the same caliber. They have tremendous ethical standards and they care for their employees from the bottom of their hearts. Business is about making money—of course—but it’s more than that to the proprietors I’ve worked with. It’s the personification of their identity, their pride, their honor, and their integrity. I can’t help but respect that and feel honored to serve such dedicated, high-quality people. I don’t think it’s limited to bowling proprietors, either. To be a good businessman is to be a public servant. Regardless of whether enough money is coming in, they commit to continue the company. They commit to paying their employees, paying their taxes, paying for rent, utilities, and yes, insurance. The difference between an employer and an employee is that the employee is guaranteed a stable, predictable paycheck so long as the company exists and the employee does a good job. The businessman receives no such guarantee. Far from it: most small businesses spend years losing money 36
IBI
January 2015
before they ever break even. Many fold, unable to meet the costs. It takes incredible courage to start and stick with a business. Don’t ever forget that point: to be a businessman takes tremendous courage. When you own a business, you either succeed or you fail—end of story. You don’t have the option of a golden parachute. It’s all or nothing. So you put your literal blood, sweat, and tears into starting, building, or expanding your business because it’s about whether you succeed or fail: whether you fail your family, who look to you to provide; whether you fail your employees, who rely on your paychecks to buy the food to feed their families; whether you fail your customers, who enjoy a few hours of fun in a bowling center; or whether you fail your community, who look at your business as a landmark in the area. Business people are the ultimate moral beings. They must have Courage, but they must be Temperate, too, so they do not take reckless risks. They must be Prudent—excellent in what they do and methodical in their means. They must be Just—price-gouging is a recipe for short-term success and long-term failure and we all can relate to the terrors of working with an unjust boss. They must be Faithful or else gain the reputation of a cheat or a liar. They must have Hope that will keep them going through the dark, penniless times. And they must have Love: love for what they do, love for their product, love for their customers, and love for their employees. Without these seven classic virtues in balance, a businessman will stumble, falter, and one day fail. I became an insurance broker because I wanted to work with such people. Being a businessman who helps other businessmen is public service that I will forever be proud of. I’m blessed to find so many hard-working, ethical, fair-dealing businessmen in the bowling industry. It’s an honor to fight for them, just as it was an honor to serve my country. The businessman deserves a place in our imaginations as a hero; something to aspire to and someone to emulate. He may not risk his life like a soldier, fire fighter, or police officer; but he sure does dedicate it. ❖
Cameron Linder is currently the president of Western Bowling Proprietors Insurance (WBPI), L.J. Linder & Associates Insurance Services. He served as a captain in the United States Air Force. He can be reached at (800) 200-9998.
CENTER STAGE
h d Gro e r F y B
of alum y s e t r u o c , r e t n e c bowling w e n a s a h y it s llo. r ie e iv in C t a P ) F M A a ic Monmouth Un b u board of Q e h t f o n a m ir a h c d (an emories come back When you were a standout player (and president) of the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference, topping it with a 196 average in the days of rubber balls and less-than-party lane conditions. When four years in the TKE fraternity gave you lifetime friends, two of them buds on the five-man Conference team from the school. When you were getting set for wedding vows in your senior year, and serving as “Teek” (TKE) house chairman, and winding up your last semesters for a BS in business. Then you remember. “A lot of fond memories and fraternity brothers and friends I’ve had for over 40 years. A great time, great experience,” said Pat Ciniello, chairman of the board of QubicaAMF Worldwide. “It was a growth period for me socially and education-wise and one that I cherish.” So when your alma mater, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, gets in touch seeking a donation, you’re more than happy to give it. The deal was that the school would provide space in the old gymnasium
M
Lisa and Pat receive thanks from the representative of Monmouth University. 38
IBI
January 2015
and do the build-out. Ciniello would supply complete QubicaAMF bowling packages for four lanes. The project seemed to take forever. “It was like a two-year process by the time we got all the approvals. It had to be approved by the board of directors and the president of the university, then they had to go through zoning,” where there were issues. But last Oct. 10 during homecoming weekend, Ciniello cut the ribbon to open the Ciniello Family Bowling Center, flanked by his wife, Lisa, and their son, Marc. It’s the first appearance of lanes on campus, a permanent home for the school’s NCAA women’s team who had to practice at one or another off-
Lisa and Pat cut the ribbon on the new lanes.
CENTER STAGE
Lisa and Pat express their gratitude to Monmouth University.
A group shot on the new lanes, with many of the TKE brothers.
campus center before. In the evenings, the lanes are open for rec play to all Monmouth students. Karen Grygiel, director of women’s bowling at Monmouth, who runs the team and now oversees the facility, says a “strong vision” will be driving the future for the venue. “We want to add technologies so we can provide camps and clinics and educate everyone about the sport, whether they’re a brand new beginner or they’re competing at the elite level and want to fine-tune their skills,” the enthusiastic coach reports. “The goal is to educate about bowling no matter what level you’re at and keep people hooked on bowling.” While the university men’s team was disbanded four of five years ago, a small group of new students are seeking re-approval from the student government for a club varsity program, she adds. They could be floored in the spring semester next year and creating a play schedule and making travel plans by summer. Excited men and women bowlers attended the opening ceremony in company with members of Ciniello’s fraternity, old and new. It felt like a reunion. “I hadn’t seen some fraternity brothers in over 40 years,” he said happily. “They came over, plus the young fraternity members came with family members. The place was packed.” Ribbon-cutting guests reassembled afterward at a local restaurant for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. What was supposed to be an hour-anda-half party ended up as three hours of renewing old ties and celebrating. Bowling is the convivial sport. Does Ciniello think people who like bowling are more inclined to join a fraternity? He pondered for a moment. “Yeah,” he ventured, “because [a fraternity] is a team, it’s a brotherhood, I would think they would be. [Bowling] is how I got involved with Teek. Mickey, whose father owned a bowling center in New Jersey, was a Teek member and bowled on the team and invited me to pledge.” Koby, who became the third Teek musketeer on the Monmouth Conference team, soon joined the fraternity as well. At the homecoming and ribbon-cutting, “both of them were there. We’ve stayed in contact since–I graduated in ’67, so figure it out,” Ciniello laughed. “Bowling intercollegiately was phenomenal. I bowled for three years, from freshman to junior.” The fourth year he had to decline; just too busy. “I still could go back and bowl one more year, right? If I go to graduate school?” He laughed again.
We thank Gary Brown, director of collegiate and youth tournaments for USBC, for background for this story. ❖
Pat takes the ceremonial first shot.
40
IBI
January 2015
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
TRADE SHOW
CASTING AN EYE ON IAAPA
M
ore than 25,000 attractions industry owners and managers swelled the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) expo, Nov. 17-21. The largest industry event for FECs and proprietors of water park, theme park, party rental and other attractions of interest to bowling owners, this year’s event drew attendees from about 100 countries, according to convention organizers. The expo included four days of trade show. Pre-show education featured the customary two days’ “Rookies and Newcomers” orientation, together with a tour of Fun Spot America, an Orlando amusement park, Nov. 15-16. More than 60 hours of education included social media marketing, managing emotionally charged situations, expectations of disabled customers, and an HR best practices symposium, among others. Profit-center presentations covered laser tag, inflatables, and F&B plus other areas. And a presentation on coming to grips with change was wheeled by the Three Amigos, whose inaugural FEC leadership convention is set for next month. It was previewed in December IBI. ❖
Flooring adventure with Omega Carpets. QubicaAMF showcased Suite Spot, a mini bowling suite that includes choice of theme and furniture.
Innovative patterns at their booth maintained full speed ahead for Flagship Carpets.
Speed, color and light all came together in” ColorCRUSH” compact arcade game at the Creative Works booth.
The sign of fun laser times. Where else but at the Lasertron booth? Art Attack presented Rush laser tag and Shankz blacklight mini golf. 42
IBI
January 2015
TRADE SHOW
The game was afoot with UNIS’ sci-fi arcade challenge “Armed Resistance.” Intercard’s North American sales manager Jason Mitchell with Intercard’s CEO Scott Sherrod.
Built-to-scale (and full-size) bowling installations were on offer from Infinity Bol and Crunch Tech.
Astro Carpet showed designs to keep bowlers and their feet happy.
Laser Blast displayed a range of laser systems from simple to ultra-high tech.
“Brew Buck’it” from Coast to Coast Entertainment is a claw/crane game where adults can snag beer-type bottles.
Who else but The Joker? BPAA’s Bart Burger (left) accepted a check from NAIR, presented by Gregg Pasdiora.
Funovation offered physically and mentally challenging laser mazes.
Visual Sports’ multi-sport simulator includes hockey, golf, baseball and more. IBI
January 2015
43
REMEMBER WHEN
‘
1960s B
eam us up, Scotty!’ How many of you can recall the characters and events of the TV series, Star Trek? Captain Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Lt. Uhura and, of course Doctor McCoy and Engineer Scotty. Without pause, many of us can conjure their images and the stories surrounding them over the three years during the 1960s when the show was on television. In 1975, Paramount Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with Ballantine Books, published Star Trek Blueprints, drawn by Franz Joseph Designs. Depicted down to the finest detail, these drawings show every aspect of the exterior and interior of every deck on the USS Enterprise. Allow us to direct your attention to Deck 21—food preparation center and bowling alley. Yes, the esteemed crew of the USS Enterprise had regulation bowling lanes with seating for 83 to observe the fun. ❖
46
IBI
January 2015
REMEMBER WHEN
IBI
January 2015
47
CLASSIFIEDS MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black Light/Traditional/Pro Putter. 202 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC board repair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fast turnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service 5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054 Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695) Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon) E-mail: wb8yjf@sbcglobal.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers. •One week turnaround on most orders. •New locks All types •Used locks 1/2 price of new
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751.
All keys done by code #. No keys necessary.
E-mail: huff@inreach.com CALL TOLL FREE
1-800-700-4KEY Orange County Security Consultants
SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. Get Redline Foul Lights at www.joystickscoring.com or call Werner @ (888) 569-7845. Sold exclusively in Canada by JD Bowling Services (800) 346-5781. Home of Bowlingtrader.com, your FREE buy & sell site. MISC: Rebuilt Brunswick power lifts $750, “as is” $550; 20 factory A2 pinsetters, $500/ea.—must take all; original Anvil dot and arrow panels; 30 AMF HPL lanes, full, approach, pindeck; Phoenix lane machine $3500; reconditioned Gloss Boss $2500; 24 lanes AMF Excel scoring; plastic AMF capping; AMF bumper/gutter; 30 ea. 27” granite-cased Steltronic monitors $50 or all $1,000; wood lanes. COMPLETE LANE PACKAGES. (719) 251-1616.
EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Call (608) 764-1464.
NEW ITEM AMF Chassis Plug Access Door. Easy access to work on chassis plugs. $9.99 ea. Nationwide AMF service. Visit TheBowlDoctor.com or call (608) 381-9276. 48
IBI
January 2015
CLASSIFIEDS
ARE YOU A FAN OF BOWLING? www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
IBI
January 2015
49
CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER WANTED Don't miss your chance to grow with an Industry Leader! Looking for Experienced, Service-Oriented General Managers for our U.S. bowling retail center locations. Please check us out at www.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.com for more details on our current openings. Act Now! Apply Today!
SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchange your tired or damaged chassis for an upgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted and ready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround. Lifetime guarantee. References available. CHASSIS DOCTOR (330) 314-8951.
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576 AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK
BUY
SEL L
Danny & Daryl Tucker
Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com
www.tuckerbowling.com SERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • Frameworx NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849
291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940
on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com 50
IBI
January 2015
CENTERS FOR SALE NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS: 8-lane center, full-service kitchen & bar with large Beer Garden plus 3 bdrm/2bath apartment. Business & real estate. Reasonably priced. Contact Curtis for pics and more information. (316) 806-7744. OKLAHOMA: 16-lane center with laser tag, arcade, snack bar, lounge. Only game in town. Must see—fully remodeled & beautiful. Needs a bowler to build very potential business. Owner will carry to viable investor. (719) 215-1616. GEORGIA: Busy 32-lane center, real estate included. Great location in one of fastest–growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 years new with all the amenities. Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751. TENNESSEE: Recently remodeled 16-lane Brunswick A2 center with AS-90 scoring, Large game & billiard room. 3 party rooms. Full-service snack bar w/ pizza oven. Opportunities available. Includes RE – lease or purchase. Would like to move quickly. Phone Curtis @ (501) 580-1452. NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/ large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two large State employment facilities nearby. High six-figure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com. LARRY DOBBS APPRAISALS. (214) 6748187. Bowlingvaluations@yahoo.com.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
CLASSIFIEDS
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
IBI
January 2015
51
CLASSIFIEDS Felix Erickson Co., Inc. Strike Zone © Family of Lane Products Strike Zone© Next Generation LC 5 gal case $105 Envi-Cide II Disinfectant Shoe sparay 12/15 oz $87.95 Solve-It © Orange Foam Cleaner 12/18 oz $69.95 FESI Solve-IT © Ball Wheel Liner 22’ $90 NEW RM 107 Rubber/Cork Wheel Liner $29.95/Roll 070-006-757S Smooth Dist. Belt w/ lacing $35 ea. 000-024-604 Gray Ball Lift Belt $195 ea. Exclusive Phenolic Kickback Plates Front F128D 16” x 33” $88 ea. Rear F129 19” x 23 3/4” $88 ea. NEW F131T 16” x 40” $125 ea. All plates include screws and instructions 800-445-1090 (F) 609-267-4669 festrikezone.com Resurfacing - Repairs - Supplies - Synthetics
CENTERS FOR SALE SOUTHWEST KANSAS: Well-maintained 8lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant. Includes business and real estate. Nice, smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full-service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net. NEW YORK, Lowville (home of QubicaAMF pin production): new, established 12-lane QubicaAMF center with all amenities including soft-serve window, state-of-the-art kitchen, bar & arcade. 16,640 s/f building with parking 150+. (315) 376-3611 or (315) 486-4325. MISSOURI (east of Kansas City): 8 lanes. Excellent building. Divorce forces sale. All offers considered. (816) 415-9186.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
52
IBI
January 2015
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE TEXAS: 24-lane center with limited competition and good upside. Building & equipment in good condition. Real estate included. Owner retiring. Ken Paton (503) 645-5630. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One of the top five places to move! Remodeled 32lane center. Good numbers. $3.1m gets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828) 253-0362. EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-lane Brunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thru liquor store in small college town. Also, 3 apartment buildings with 40 units, good rental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701) 430-1490. NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s, Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game & pool rooms. See pics and info @ www.visitcolby.com or contact Charles (785) 443-3477. 16-lane center in Southern Colorado mountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge. Paved parking 100+ vehicles. Established leagues & tournaments. $950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155.
DATEBOOK
JANUARY 2015 11-15 BPAA Bowling Summit Hyatt Regency San Antonio San Antonio, TX (800) 343-1329 www.bpaa.com/bowlingsummit
20-22 Foundations Entertainment University Phoenix, AZ Randy White (816) 931-1040
FEBRUARY 12-16 Brunswick Training GS-Series Pinsetter Maintenance Muskegon, MI (800) 937-2695, Option 2 www.brunswickbowling.com/ service-support/training
2-8 USBC Masters Tournament Ashwaubenon Bowl Green Bay, WI (800) 514-BOWL (2695) bowlinfo@bowl.com www.bowl.com/Masters
19-23 Brunswick Training Vector Scoring Maintenance Muskegon, MI (800) 937-2695, Option 2 www.brunswickbowling.com/ service-support/training
21 Washington State BPA 50 Anniversary Gala Hyatt Regency Hotel Bellevue, WA Greg Olsen (206) 762-6752 www.wsbpa.com
MARCH 9-13 Brunswick Training GS-Series Pinsetter Maintenance Muskegon, MI (800 937-2695, Option 2 www.brunswickbowling.com/ service-support/training 16-20 Brunswick Training Vector Scoring Maintenance Muskegon, MI (800) 937-2695, Option 2 www.brunswickbowling.com/ service-support/training 24-26 AAMA-AMOA Amusement Expo Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV www.amusementexpo.org IBI
January 2015
53
SHOWCASE KEG SPACERS
Alcohol Controls offers keg spacers which allow you to stack kegs securely and to tap both the top and bottom. Keg Spacers will double the floor space in your walk-in and help you keep your cooler organized and efficient. Now available for all sized kegs, even the slim “torpedo” kegs. Learn more about this popular product at AlcoholControls.com or call 800-285-BEER (2337). Type in coupon code BOWLMEOVER for 10% off the already discounted web prices.
INDOOR GOLF SIMULATION
Visual Sports Systems, Inc. is the leading provider of custom-built, interactive golf and multi-sports simulators. The VTrack and SwingTrack technologies provide the most realistic in-home golf and sports experience. The specially designed systems fit seamlessly into centers and homes. With 13 games available on one system, visual sports simulators will provide year-round entertainment. For more info call 905-883-4461 or visit www.visualsports.ca.
GOT FRUIT FLIES?
EBN Services’ Fruit Fly BarPro is becoming a celebrity by completely eliminating nasty infestations including cockroaches, spiders and moths for up to four months. It has been tested and proven to be 100% effective across the country and is now approved by the EPA for sale in every state. A do-ityouself product which is safe and odorless. Watch it work at YouTube/Fruit Fly BarPro or, for more information, contact EBN at 888-435-6289.
SCORING REPAIRS & UPGRADES
New Center Consulting, Inc.’s Touch Desk III and Touch Score 3 received a big response and many new customers at Bowl Expo due to its increased capabilities, new features, affordable options, and expanded tech support. The goal is scoring repairs and upgrades in “piecemeal” fashion to save expense and offer additional support. The lowest-cost path to new scoring. The new Tech Support hotline is 239-244-9464; new Tech Support email is Help@TouchScoreSupport.com. Additional info can be found at 248-375-2751. 54
IBI
January 2015
MANAGE TIME-BASED PLAY
Intercard introduces CronusPlay wearable technology. About the size and weight of a wristwatch, CronusPlay is worn by customers, eliminating the need for colored wristbands to manage time-based play at amusement venues. The device has a visual alert, is reusable, can manage multiple time slots, and is compatible with Intercard’s iWave Reader. For more information visit www.intercardinc.com.
GET IN SYNC
Sync™ is Brunswick’s revolutionary new scoring and management system, coming in 2015. Sync is all-new to its core. Built from the ground up with the fastest and smartest performance and featuring management tools, a sophisticated marketing feature and an enhanced bowler experience, Sync aligns what happens on the lanes with what goes on behind the front desk and in the back office. It is one streamlined, easy-to-use system. Make way for Sync. Info at www.brunswickbowling.com/the-one.
PIN MARKETING
Here’s a new twist on leaving a business card or flier. Next time, think a bowling pin. Develop a marketing plan around a specialty pin which shows off your center and is a reminder that your center is the go-to place for parties and events. For info on “Leave a Pin, Plan a Party” promotion, contact Dave Sapp, Done-Rite Pins and Capital Equipment at 800-222-2695 or davesapp@donerite.com.
LANE CONDITIONER
It used to be when choosing a lane conditioner, a center would have to decide what it wanted: a durable lane conditioner that could withstand aggressive high–tech balls or a lane conditioner that was pinsetter–and house–ball–friendly. With Kegel’s Fire and Ice there is no compromise. They have it all. For more information or to request a free sample, please visit www.kegel.net.