Home Leisure is Hip Again

By Keith Loria store quickly with the top items,” Graven says. “We closed the

COVID-19 has rocked our industry but the good news is that people seem to be shopping in record numbers and many are turning to billiard and gaming tables, plus other fun activities.

Perhaps Gunnar Graven, president of Louisville, Kentucky-based C.C. Steepleton said it best when he noted “home leisure is hot” and it’s expected to remain strong through the holidays and into 2021. C.C. Steepleton is also seeing strong sales from the outdoor

“We’re finding that once the pandemic began, people started investing and spending money in their homes like never before,” he says. “They are finishing basements, creating man caves, putting products we offer that they want to fill them with.”

The store had to close down at the beginning of March, but kept its webpage operating and saw an influx of interest from those shopping online. “We have everything on our web page that drives them into the showroom to purchase, and my customers come in knowing exactly what they want and get in and out of the showroom for two weeks, but thanks to online and working the phone, we were able to make special appointments and still sell before we opened back up.”

new additions on, and the cherry on top of all that are the fun leisure category, with everything from playsets to basketball nets to trampolines selling well. But it’s the billiard, ping-pong and gaming tables that have really skyrocketed.

“I believe all the money we are seeing spent in our space is what people would have been spending on travel, I truly believe that,” Graven says. “In the past five years, what has hurt our business is that people have decided to go to Disney or take a cruise instead of buying game tables. Now, all that money is coming back to us.”

STAYING BUSY

Chris Kuntz, president of RAM Game Room, based in Milton, Ontario, notes he’s as busy as he’s ever been

As a wholesaler in the recreation industry, the company works with retailers in both Canada and the U.S., and offers billiard lighting, game room furniture and a wide assortment of products perfect for indoor or outdoor recreation.

“One of the things we’ve seen pick up is home bars, which have really picked up since this all started, as people are adding to their homes,” he says. “We sell fun items for the home and since no one is traveling now, people want to buy things that make them happy for their rec rooms and man caves.”

The company noticed a big uptick in sales in late March, when people stopped traveling and the stay-at-home orders became the norm.

“As soon as people were put on lockdown, online sales took off,” Kuntz says. “Once retailers started to open back up, we saw a big jump in brick-and-mortar sales as well. In October, it was gangbusters and everyone is selling more than they even thought they would. We don’t anticipate it slowing down any time soon.” Mike Klein, president of Peters Billiards, a retailer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, expects to see strong demand for anything for the home this holiday season, including rec room items, sofas, sectionals and theater seating.

“People realize that they will be spending more time at home and want to make it as enjoyable as possible,” he says. “Billiards, shuffle board and electronic games such a pinball have been very strong. It’s a great activity for family, and they are spending more time together.”

Not only are people not making plans for upcoming travel, but many may have budgeted for a spring or summer vacation that they didn’t take, so therefore, Klein shares that they are spending that discretionary money on items for their home.

“It’s good that people are rediscovering the joy of having games they can play together,” he says. “Or, if they watch movies or TV together, they want a comfortable place to lounge, so sofas, sectionals and theater seating has also been very strong.”

His best marketing tip during this time is to reach out to existing customers who have bought in the past and remind them they are still open and have great items for people to enjoy.

“We have over 60 years of experience in our market, and we get repeat customers as well as second- and third-generations coming to us for their home leisure needs and wants,” Klein says. “In addition, we have increased digital advertising, as many people are spending more time on screens, so we feel we can reach them there.”

Shane Bouchard, owner of Maine Home Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, is cautious about getting too excited about what he’s seeing.

“It’s definitely not a bad season, but I’m measuring my excitement right now,” he says. “We did really well through COVID early this year, and I’m hoping people are not spent already with buying home recreation products. I’m stocking for a slightly better than normal holiday season.”

Since March, darts have been one of the store’s biggest sellers.

“We have sold hundreds of dartboards and a ton of dart-related accessories,” Bouchard says. “I think because it’s a relatively inexpensive game and doesn’t take up the space of many of the others.We have also done very well with the Boss Toss Game.They have been at the BCA Expo the last few years and we just picked them up last year. I can’t keep them in stock right now.”

And of course, pool tables both new and used, have been going out the door steadily as well and Maine Home Rec-

reation’s pool table service is booked out three weeks with several jobs a day.

“COVID has definitely created a demand for home gaming,” Bouchard says. “Those of us with strong e-commerce sites and/or a good presence on eBay, Amazon, etc. were able to sell right through. Our e-commerce went from 20 to 25 packages a day to more than 80, and we added over 100 items in the last few months based on demand.”

Darla Preiss, owner of Pacific, Missouri-based Franklin Billiard Company, says the store offers plenty of fun games for the family to enjoy. She notes people need something to do with family and friends and there’s no reason to believe things won’t continue to stay strong as we move into the winter months when people go outside even less.

“I expect to continue seeing purchases being made on pool tables, ping-pong tables, shuffleboard tables and dartboards and dart supplies,” Preiss says. “It seems like everyone is updating or turning their basements or game rooms into their personal sanctuary. They want to know they have an area that they can play pool or throw darts – especially the league players who want to keep up their game or create their own personal leagues with close friends. The client wants to know they have a place to entertain friends and family instead of nothing to do at home.”

Plus, with many people working from home and the majority of kids doing virtual school, that makes for a lot of hours inside looking for something fun to do. “That’s why it’s important to have a game room, man cave or sanctuary for all of the family to escape to for peace and quiet or just a great game,” Preiss says. “COVID has put the spotlight on ‘what do we do with everyone home so much of the time?’ since you can’t go out to dine or play in pool or dart leagues. Everyone is rethinking their homes.”

Since fall, the store has seen a rise in dartboards and dart supplies, as well as strong interest in the ping-pong conversion top that sits on top of the pool table.

Preiss has also spent a lot of time since the pandemic talking with customers about maintenance on their game tables and helping them choose what’s best for them.

“I help educate the clients about maintenance on their existing tables or walk them through what to look for in a used table and what items might need maintenance such as the cloth, cushions and pockets,” she says. “We say we help them create memories one pool table, shuffleboard or dartboard at a time.”

Franklin Billiard Company has been just as busy with service work due to people sitting at home looking at their outdated entertainment room, that unfinished basement or the ugly carpet and dreaming about something new.

“Plus, in this market, clients are upsizing, downsizing or rightsizing their homes and want to take their tables with them or just get a new one,” Preiss says. “We try to stay front-of-mind by being active on social media, letting people know we are here to service them to find their perfect pool table, shuffleboard or dartboard so that they can create those memories.”