2023 December Issue

December 2023 // Vol. 31

FULL STEAM

AHEAD

For the Winner of this Year’s Creativity Award

PRICING STRATEGIES THAT WORK Bundling For The Win!

FAMILY TIES

Four Generations Help This IL Center Thrive

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Contents

December 2023 | Vol 31.12

Publisher’s Column

6

2023 IBI CREATIVITY AWARD

18

BY STEPHANIE DAVIS

12

Family Series

ONE FOUR-TUNATE FAMILY

BY DANIEL ELLMAN

14

Pricing

BUNDLING FOR THE WIN

BY TRAVIS HARPER

18

Cover

2023 IBI CREATIVITY AWARD Full Steam Ahead!

Online Only

BY MIKE FERNANDEZ

22

Booze and Bites

THE FOOD TRUCK PHENOMENON

BY MIKE FERNANDEZ

24

www.bowlingindustry.com Read these top stories exclusively online

Digital Marketing

MAXIMIZING YOUR MARKETING CHANNELS

BY CAREY TOSELLO

Daily Process Verification

BY KEGEL

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Stephanie Davis

stephanie@bowlingindustry.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Natalie Davis-Fernandez

natalie@bowlingindustry.com

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Mike Fernandez

mike@bowlingindustry.com

CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis Daniel Ellman Mike Fernandez Travis Harper Patty Heath Monique Simpson Carey Tosello

EDITORIAL

Jackie Fisher

fisher@bowlingindustry.com

Patty Heath

patty@bowlingindustry.com

OFFICE MANAGER Roxanne Damask

roxanne@bowlingindustry.com

1850 San Marco Rd // Marco Island, FL 34145 stephanie@bowlingindustry.com

www.BowlingIndustry.com // HOTLINE: 239.235.7864

4 IBI December 2023

A daily task every operator should be doing is making sure their lanes have been properly conditioned. While many operators have switched to an automated lane conditioning machine, it is still necessary to check and make sure the machine has accomplished what it was supposed to. Kegel gives a few ways an operator can guarantee their lanes have been conditioned properly and it only takes 10 minutes!

RFID vs Magnetic Stripe Game Cards: Which is Better for Your Arcade Business?

BY AMUSEMENT CONNECT Card systems are an essential part of the arcade business today. These systems can either make or break a customer’s experience at your establishment, so it is important to understand the different aspects of these systems before installing one in your center.

Amusement Connect explains the difference between RFID and magnetic stripe game cards and which type might be better for your arcade.

REAL PEOPLE

REAL STORIES

REAL RESULTS

EDGE STRING – THE #1 CHOSEN STRING MACHINE BY PROPRIETORS.

40%

7

18

REVENUE FROM LEAGUE PLAY

LEAGUES

LANES OF USBC APPROVED EDGE STRING PINSPOTTERS

The feedback from our bowlers on the USBC-Approved EDGE String machines has been tremendous.

Switching to EDGE String machines is the best decision I have made as a proprietor… it’s a performance machine, and we love it!”

Rick Novak

Owner Royal Family Bowling Center Watch the full interview with Rick Novak:

Publisher’s Column

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

I

t’s that time of year again! Time to present the annual IBI’s Creativity Award to a bowling center or bowlinganchored family entertainment center. Last year’s winning center was Huikko's Bowling and Entertainment Center in Buffalo, MN, which won for creating a unique stream of revenue. For those of you who missed that story, you can read the December 2022 issue online.

NOW, ON TO THE 2023 CREATIVITY AWARD!

This year’s award-winning center is chock full of creativity and magical experiences, as you can see from our cover image. A landmark since 1952, this New Jersey center touts itself as a true one-stop family fun center with something for everyone ages 2 to 102. Boy, are they right! Built on a foundation of fun and exceptional experiences, this center offers its community a place to socialize, celebrate, and come together. Without further ado, the IBI team would like to send a huge congratulations to DiDonato's Family Fun Center in Hammonton for earning IBI’s 2023 Creativity Award. The next time we’re in New Jersey, we’ll stop by for a ride on the rails.

As we close out this calendar year, we look ahead to maximizing business in 2024. A significant number of households are grappling with tighter budgets and becoming even more discerning with extra spending. Many centers are reporting a softening in sales over the past few months. If your business is experiencing the same, you are not alone.

Travis Harper takes on the topic of pricing and how bundling your offers can provide high perceived value for guests. The subject of marketing with platforms your center owns is another valuable and timely topic tackled by Carey Tosello.

In our family series this month, we look to the Kuna family in Illinois. Four generations of Kunas operate Raymond’s Bowling and Entertainment Center in Johnsburg. Part of the 6 IBI December 2023

family’s success might be their ability to have the different generations come together for all big decisions. Combining ideas from younger family members on the latest trends with the experience of older generations is a winning formula that keeps this center thriving.

Be sure to head over to www.bowlingindustry.com for IBI's exclusive online-only content. Card systems are an essential part of an arcade business, but which ones are right for your arcade? Amusement Connect explains the difference between using magnetic stripe game cards and RFID cards.

Looking to the lanes, the topic of properly conditioned lanes is addressed by our friends at Kegel, who provide a few ways to ensure lanes are done right in just 10 minutes.

As we finish another year and holiday season, I feel blessed to be a part of this incredibly warm and fun industry. From all of us at IBI, we wish you a healthy, heartwarming holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Let us know if your center has exciting news to share with the industry!

•

– Stephanie Davis, Publisher & Editor stephanie@bowlingindustry.com

PS: Don’t forget to sign up for the $30,000 giveaway.

Register each month for your chance to win at www.bowlingindustry.com

Take a sneak peek at our training platform.

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HOT TOPICS from 2023

DON’T MISS THE MOST POPULAR TOPICS FROM 2023 These topics have had very high engagement on IBI online throughout the year.

Head over to www.bowlingindustry.com to explore this content!

Cameron Linder, CEO of Western Bowling Proprietors Insurance, explains how to prevent the Number 1 cause of fire inside your bowling center.

Consumers follow social media influencers in their community, hoping to find local events, new products, and activities. Read how you can work with an influencer in your community and how it can benefit your center.

Everyone is familiar with vending machines but maybe not so familiar with micro-markets. AVS Companies explains how to decide between vending machines or a micro-market for your bowling center or FEC.

Progressive operators around the country are tapping into the live music scene. Read how centers in Colorado, California, and Montana transformed spaces to accommodate the live music crowd and the benefits they have seen since.

In Pennsylvania, there is a beloved bowling tournament called the Dutchman Bolony Tournament. It is a family-run tournament that brings over 1,000 teams to their centers to compete. Read how the tourney is celebrating its 75th year.

8 IBI December 2023

SPARK! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS.

Spark is bowling’s hottest attraction: totally addictive, multisensory, interactive, one-of-a-kind, next-level bowling. See for yourself: Scan the QR code or visit brunswickbowling.com/spark to immerse yourself in Spark, another game-changing innovation from Brunswick.

©2022 Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC. Form #0122-01

Shorts

EXPANSIONS, HAPPENINGS, & NEW BEGINNINGS CALIFORNIA: MONTROSE BOWL opened in 1936 in a city, Montrose, that is ageless.

Owner Robert Grigoryan wanted to keep the past, yet bring the present to the 8-lane center. This nostalgic spot has been used as a set for films and TV shows such as "Pleasantville" and "Teen Wolf." Grigoryan kept the original vibe with the same pink and teal color scheme and the timeless black-and-white checkered tile. He upped the food menu by introducing vegan options, including Impossible burgers and plant-based fried chicken sandwiches.

COLORADO: The city of Monte Vista is in a significant restoration and beautification phase. Many murals have been added to the cityscape. Cheryl Morris painted the "Running Thunder" mural on the side of the STARS AND STRIPES bowling center.

MICHIGAN: There is a new entertainment experience

tucked inside the Cambria Hotel in Detroit. Appropriately named DUCKPIN DETROIT, the new space offers guests the only duckpin bowling in the city. Eight lanes can be rented for private parties and events, as well as open bowling.

SHORTS ACROSS THE POND OHIO:

NEW MEXICO: An FEC in Alamogordo

has reopened a 12-lane center three years after it closed. After the pandemic-era full closure in 2020, it reopened the dining and bar portion in 2021 for a period. Now, combined, the venue will go by the name of SIDEKIXX. It will host bowling tournaments as well as live concerts.

A restaurant/bar in Findlay has added duckpin bowling to its guest offerings. ALEXANDRIA'S bar sells craft beer, cocktails, and pub-style food and hosts live music.

The upper deck is dedicated to pool, shuffleboard, cornhole, and golf games, plus, now, duckpin bowling.

OREGON: Charlie Mitchell bought Bayside Bowl in Portland in 2010; it had 12 lanes. In 2017, he expanded the 25,000-square-foot place to 40,000 square feet, adding eight more lanes, a mezzanine with a full bar, an old-school arcade, and a rooftop bar, including a taco truck and fire pit. Well, success breeds a new site. BROADWAY BOWL is the new sister acquisition, which has ten bowling lanes and a wraparound patio on a green walkway with views of the Portland harbor.

Mitchell's core focus is bowling, and he is encouraged that the new venue will attract a steady following and more league teams and family events.

TENNESSEE: TENN PIN ALLEY in

Columbia is building a mini-golf course. The entertainment center offers 50,000 square feet of attractions, including bowling, an arcade, laser tag, and bumper cars. Now adding mini golf, the center shared, "It's going to be the perfect opportunity for family fun and friendly competition."

10 IBI December 2023

Business

FAMILY TIES

ONE FOUR-TUNATE FAMILY

By Daniel Ellman

Four generations of the Kuna family make bowling and entertainment come to life

R

aymond Kuna may be 88 years old. And he may be in his 46th year as owner of Raymond’s Bowling and Entertainment Center in Johnsburg, IL. But he’s not slowing down.

Why should he? Every day, Raymond gets to come to work and see his family — lots of family.

“We have four generations of my family working here each day,” Raymond said. That includes his two sons, Joe and Steve; his granddaughter, Valerie, who runs the bar and entertainment, along with social media promotions; and two great-grandsons, who run the snack bar and bowling counter.

Raymond himself comes to work for four to five hours a day, six or seven days a week. For him, it’s a labor of love, a love that began almost 50 years ago.

Owen, Caiden, Valerie, Steve, Felicia, Ray and Joe

awkward situations. “We’re all pretty much on the same page,” Raymond said. “We all want to do what’s best for our center.”

Another perk of having four generations in one place is the ability to bring in different views and ideas, as the younger generation is typically more up on the latest trends and social media platforms that help the business thrive.

A WISE PURCHASE

Even the customers get in on the family fun, as they know that the center is run by the Kunas. “We’ve gotten to know so many of our customers over the years and they’ve gotten to know us,” Raymond said. “It makes an even stronger family atmosphere around here.”

“Two of the lanes were shut down so they could scrap them for spare parts, and none of the potential profit centers, like the restaurant and banquet facility, were even open,” Raymond said.

Are there any drawbacks to working together as a family?

Raymond couldn’t think of many. After all, he got to work alongside his wife for 20 years, before she took a step back due to health challenges. Not to mention all the other generations who come to work each day.

Raymond’s foray into the bowling industry began in 1977, when he was working in sales. One of his clients was the owner of a 12-lane bowling center in Johnsburg. But the center was in a very old building, and to Raymond, seemed to be falling apart.

So, he decided to purchase the building and pour his heart and soul into it. He and his wife of 67 years, Felicia, worked hard renovating the center and reopened it as Raymond’s Bowling and Entertainment Center. Eventually, business boomed, with parties, bowling leagues and regulars coming and going every day.

“Things were tremendous for almost 30 years, but we were in a 100-year-old building and the maintenance costs became too much for us to bear,” Raymond said.

He discussed with his two sons, who were helping run the center at the time, if they wanted to shut down operations or open a brand-new center. In 2006, they decided to build a brand-new, 24-lane facility, which included an arcade, sports bar, and other profit centers.

“Joe and I toured the country to pick up on the best ideas we could find for our new center, and we were just thrilled with the way it turned out,” Raymond said.

ALL ON THE SAME PAGE

Today, Raymond’s center is a group effort, with the family coming together to make all the big decisions. And, perhaps surprisingly, that doesn’t usually lead to many disagreements or 12 IBI December 2023

BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY

And he said the family has even become adept at leaving work behind when they leave the center. “We get together as one huge family every Christmas Eve. There’s, maybe, 40 or 50 of us when you add in all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Raymond said. “And work never seems to come up. We’re family more than anything; we support one another and share a deep faith that has helped get us through any pitfalls and setbacks.

We keep that in mind as much as possible.”

PASSING ON THE LEGACY

Perhaps the biggest challenge Raymond has noticed is ensuring that the business stays in the family in the years and decades to come. But, as you would suspect, they have a plan for that.

“Valerie and her sons have already shown interest in carrying on our legacy and keeping this center going as long as they can,” he said, adding that he and his attorneys are drawing up succession plans so she can take over as owner.

“We’re a family business and one that we’re all incredibly proud of,” Raymond said. “And we’re planning to keep it that way.”

•

Pricing

BUNDLING for the

WIN!

By Travis Harper

Keep Your Sales Warm and Toasty with Package Options

A

re you starting to see a cool-off in sales increases over the past three to five months? If so, you are not alone. Many centers across the country are still waiting to see the sales growth that we have become accustomed to over the past couple of years. Many in the industry have stated that they expect sales to level off this year. Although this is discouraging, leveling off doesn't spell doom for your business.

Consumers are getting squeezed everywhere they turn, and it is starting to impact how much they can spend on entertainment. There are ways that we can take advantage of that. If families are not going to visit your center as often as they once did, we need to get the most out of them when they do visit.

Perception is everything. You all have heard that statement.

When times are tough for our guests, and they are closely looking at every dime they spend, they want the best value for their buck or at least the best-perceived value.

One of the ways we can help keep our sales level or climbing, despite a lower-than-normal guest count, is to find ways to increase our per-experience sales. In other words, we want to find creative ways to get our guests to spend a little more while they are here. How do we accomplish this while at the same time leaving them with the perception that they received a good value? There are several ways you can achieve this, but I would like to concentrate on one for now: bundling.

14 IBI December 2023

e w N y Y p e p a a r !

H THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

LET’S PARTNER IN 2024!

RedemptionPlus.com

Pricing Bundling Your Offerings Into Packages

Our optimal guests come into the building and bowl, eat, drink, and play games. We want them to experience and spend money on everything we offer. From experience, we all know that these optimal guests are somewhat in the minority. We can turn more and more of them into optimal guests by offering bundled packages.

Let’s say that you have done your homework and you have discovered that your average group of four comes into your center and spends $45 while they are there. Maybe they bowl, but they don’t eat, or they eat and play a few games but don't bowl. What can we do to get them to spend $60 to $70 per visit?

Bundling and offering packages with a higher overall price but with perceived value is a proven strategy for increasing your per-experience revenue. Your guests stay longer, spend more, and feel they got the most out of the money they spent.

Put together a couple of options for them to choose from.

Package One can include two hours of bowling, shoes, pizza, and a pitcher of pop. For an additional charge, Package Two includes unlimited pitchers of pop and a $10 game card. You could throw a sharable food item and an additional $10 card for a Package Three option.

Some Things to Keep In Mind:

1. Keep it simple. If you overcomplicate things, you frustrate your guests and lose the perceived value.

Selling Bowling Centers Nationwide

844-923-2695 www.thehansellgroup.com

CONNECTING BUYERS AND SELLERS SINCE 1979 SOLD!

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2. Make it loud. Make sure that everyone is aware of these offerings. Share it on all your social media channels, websites, and other marketing avenues.

3. Make it fun. Get your staff to buy in on the value and show them how to present it to guests. Challenge them. Set goals and or hold contests with something fun as a reward for achieving the goals.

4. Make it repeatable. Offer the guest a coupon on their next package purchase if used within 30 days.

If you look at what you offer, your costs to provide such packages are minimal: pizza, pop, and game cards. These all come with a relatively low cost of goods sold. Your opportunity costs were already paid when they walked in the door. These packages, when done right, are a win-win for everyone.

As I said in the beginning, this is only one way to increase your per-experience revenue, but it is a good one. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me via email: travis@firstframebowling.com.

•

Travis has 15+ years of center management experience and is currently the operations manager at First Frame Bowling and the midwest representative of the Hansell Group. You can contact Travis at travis@firsdtframebowling.com or (844)923-BOWL (2695).

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Cover Story

FULL STEAM

AHEAD

By Mike Fernandez

Fun is off the rails at DiDonato's Family Fun Center IBI's 2023 Creative Revenue Award goes to DiDonato's Family Fun Center in Hammonton, New Jersey

H

ammonton, NJ, is a small town of just under 15,000 residents nestled between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. We spoke with Christine Dillon, the DiDonato family's third generation to run the alley, to hear how their small-town center makes such a big impression.

DiDonato Family Fun Center has been a Hammonton landmark since 1952, growing from a 4-lane bowling alley to a true "one-stop" family fun center with something for everyone ages 2 to 102.

"My grandfather, Tip, and his brother, John, started this place in 1952, and they quickly expanded to eight lanes with food and then 18 lanes by 1958. My father helped run it for a long time, and now I've been given that responsibility," Christina Dillon explains, "In 1966, the center had a massive fire, and we rebuilt it into what it is today."

Fast forward to 2023: DiDonato's Family Fun Center is a busy 26-lane center that has emerged as a community destination, 18 IBI December 2023

bringing magical experiences to tens of thousands of guests year after year. This unique center employs a five-star chef, pastry chef, full-time artist, and fabrication specialist. The creativity of this family and center is exceptional!

Off The Rails Entertainment

Built in 2016, the most magnificent feature of DiDonato's Family Fun Center is likely the Rolling Railway, their signature locomotive train that's specially made for driving guests through grand holiday spectacles created by the family each year.

Cover Story by the train, The Pin Deck is where you go for everything sweet! Our professionally trained pastry chef creates boozy milkshakes, seasonal sundaes, and hand-dipped ice cream. It's all homemade right here on the property," Christina explains.

Their expansive menu brings a colorful compilation of treats to life, ranging from strawberry shortcakes to apple pie nachos.

"My father built a train for the local Halloween Parade down the Bellevue main street," Christina says, "and it was such a hit. Eventually, he decided it should always be running at our center. From there, it naturally grew pretty quickly."

Staffing The Magic

Christina values her staff and speaks glowingly about how much she respects them. Every mention of a staff member was immediately followed by applause several times. This might explain how, in a town of 15,000, this center has gathered so much knowledge and expertise. Their team features much of the DiDonato family: a five-star sous chef, a professionally trained pastry chef, a full-time fabrication specialist, and a large enough team to cater to the tens of thousands of guests visiting each year.

The magic starts at Halloween with the spooky, cobwebcovered Trick or Treat Train.

The train meanders through a creepy town modeled after the movie Halloween Town. A corn maze, a friendly witch, and a pumpkin patch round out the family fun.

The Magical Holiday Express, however, is the biggest hit.

"About 25,000 people visit yearly to enjoy the train ride through our millions of Christmas lights in Holiday Village,” says Christina. “In Santa's Workshop, you can take pictures with Santa, meet the elves, and share stories with Mrs. Claus. Of course, we've got warm cookies ready as well."

The train is also in service during Easter. The Easter Eggspress delivers families to an Easter-inspired mini-town, where kids hunt for Easter eggs and get lost in a spring hedge maze. Photo opps and tea with the Easter Bunny in the charming schoolhouses and chapels dotting the property are a must for all the kids.

Full Freight on Food and Beverage

If a magical railway isn't enough, DiDonato's food and beverage offerings will put the experience over the top. "The Alley Bar and Grill is our heightened dining experience," Christina explains. "We've got a wonderful five-star chef on staff who makes everything from scratch, from our fries to our sauces. He creates wonderful plates, from filet mignon and seared ahi tuna to hand-breaded chicken wings and homemade ranch."

Little did we know Christina's dad, Stephen, was on the phone, too. He introduced himself at the end of the call, adding, "My daughter always gives me a lot of the credit. But she is the driving force. She's doing an amazing job.”

•

LESSONS

The restaurant’s popularity receives a helping hand from the center's consistent marketing, and a lack of local fine-dining competition provides another ample opportunity. Highdefinition pictures of their offerings are strategically placed throughout the website; even on the reservation page, you'll find evidence of their mouthwatering plates on the lanes.

"Hammonton is the blueberry capital of the world,” Christina tells us. “So, we're currently featuring blueberry mojitos and blueberry Bellinis. The holidays bring Jingle Bell Mojitos and Cotton Tail Martinis!" The Pin Deck is DiDonato's delicious dessert capital. "Accessible from inside the lanes or out

"My father taught me to give back to the community and treat our staff like family, so we've created a really happy and fun environment," Christina says. "A lot of it is family. My grandfather comes in to check on business every morning.

My dad is here 24/7. You'll find my mom helping Santa in the winter and my brother scooping ice cream in the summer.

We're lucky to have such an outstanding team supporting us so we can provide this incredible experience."

from

DAD

Christina Dillon, with her grandpa Tip and father Stephen

* This a tight-knit community. When you're doing business in a community like this, you've got to give back. * If you're not growing, you're dying! * If you're going to be in business, you've got to be there and be involved. Know your staff, know your customers and be present. * Treat your staff like family. We're a family-focused business, so it's even more critical here.

IBI December 2023 19

Booze and Bites

The

By Mike Fernandez

FOOD TRUCK PHENOMENON

T

he food truck industry attracts tens of millions of followers nationwide, with businesses often inviting the most popular trucks to drive in new traffic. How can your bowling center benefit?

THE POPULARITY

“Our flavor was A Taste of Florida: Cuban food, cajun food, an assembly of dishes from the best parts of the state. For Mojo on the Go, our specialty was ‘lechon,’ the Latin-American recipe for juicy, garlicky, and citrusy roasted pull pork. Of Tony Fernandez

The phenomenon of food truck popularity is well known; from the ages of 14 to 18, I was working in one — my dad’s! So, we interviewed the owner (and my father) of Mojo on the Go, Tony Fernandez, to find out what bowling operators need to know when considering inviting food trucks to their centers.

From 2016 to 2021, the food truck industry experienced an average growth of 9.9% yearly, and the trend isn’t slowing down.

In 2011, there were 8,677 different food trucks in the U.S. In 2023, over 34,000 trucks are serving unique and tasty dishes to guests across all demographics. It’s currently a $1.5 billion industry.

DARN GOOD FOOD

Food trucks are the most direct line to the heart of our nation's rich food culture. You'll find authentic foreign recipes and unique twists on traditional plates. One truck owner might specialize in their Peruvian grandmother's ceviche that she made each weekend while raising them in Lima. At the same time, one next door has mastered the art of consistently creating crispy, juicy smash burgers.

22 IBI December 2023

course, Cuban Mojo sauce was the key ingredient for us,” Tony tells us. “We also had options that got people talking, like freshly smoked brisket, blackened gator tail, and bourbon frog legs.”

Food trucks require lower entry costs than brick-and-mortar restaurants but higher competition in taste. To start a successful restaurant, you must run a business like any other.

To run a competitive food truck, you must be a chef in mind, body, and soul before even investigating the idea.

"Issues like permits, overhead, and staffing still exist. And having a kitchen that can pack up and go isn't easy. But really, that final dish being handed to the customer is where a truck owner's blood, sweat, and tears go," Tony explains.

Booze and Bites FINDING THE RIGHT TRUCK

Your center may have been established in town for a long time but hasn't gotten hold of a newer, younger crowd. You may be starting or have some recent renovations to show off. Hosting a food truck or two at your center has proven to be a fantastic way to be seen by the local community.

"Your best bet on getting started is joining your local food truck Facebook pages. That's where you'll find the next events and the trucks people are talking about," Tony says. "The hosts are often responsible for things like sanitation and security, depending on how many trucks they invite. If you're having a few trucks come out, you'll also want to check with your city to see if you need special event permits.”

Tony Fernandez, Everglades National Park 2012

When promoting the new idea to the public, Tony says, "In addition to your social media campaign, check out each truck's followers on social media! Trucks are always posting their schedules so that followers know where to find them, and you want to make sure the most amount of people are seeing your center's name. If you're going through all this work, you want to partner with a business that can deliver."

MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!

Tony tells us, "Go big or go home! Often, we'd show up to a business, and we weren't the only thing going on. There was often live music or ticket raffles where customers could win something from the business. If it were a late event, they'd break out a projector and host a movie night. You could also invite small crafters or other small business booths; companies pay YOU to be part of your event! To ensure customers return, consider offering a small lane discount for anyone's next visit to the center."

If you’ve got a big parking lot or grassy area on your property, using food trucks could be a profitable avenue for your center!

Celebrity Andrew Zimmerman and Tony Fernandez 2015

BOOZE While you might see a drop in your own food operation’s revenue for the day, there is one beaming benefit to having mobile kitchens on the lot: beverage sales!

Food trucks can’t offer alcoholic beverages due to the wheels.

Often, event planners or hosts will put up a tent next to the food truck and serve drinks. By keeping it simple with domestic beers and one generic cocktail, you can guarantee that customers will still stop inside your center to order the good stuff!

•

Mike Fernandez is a freelance contributor on all things regarding food, booze, and fun. Growing up in his family’s restaurant business fueled his passion for good eats and tasty treats. By day Mike works in business development for IBI, by night he scours south Florida for the latest trends in food, drinks, and recreation.

IBI December 2023 23

Digital Marketing

MAXIMIZING Your

MARKETING CHANNELS

A

By Carey Tosello

s 2023 ends, most centers have seen excellent numbers this year. It is always better to make changes to your operation from a position of strength and not from desperation. Take stock of what you are doing now to keep a steady stream of new customers coming through the door. You want to get them hooked on bowling now while business is good. Waiting until you see a drop in traffic can make it more challenging to fix, and you will have less cash flow to pay for increased marketing.

The problem with each of these is that you need to own them.

Zuckerberg, Musk, Gates, or the CCP can change the rules at any time or turn off each of these. Don't get me wrong, we have achieved GREAT results for centers using targeted digital marketing. It can be the most effective and cost-efficient way to reach the exact audience you are looking for. I highly recommend using digital tools, but as we saw in the Pandemic lockdowns, those with email and text lists were able to recover faster without spending dollars that they did not have.

HOW WILL YOU REACH PEOPLE ABOUT BOWLING IN 2024?

WORK WHAT YOU OWN!

Let’s review some of your options: Old school methods of TV and radio are what we call ‘shotgun’ marketing. Please spread the message to as many people as possible, and I hope some of them are interested in what you are selling. It could be more cost-effective as you spend a lot of your marketing dollars reaching people with no interest in bowling. Note that I did not include direct mail in this category. Yes, it is an 'old school' method, but it is used less than in the past. This makes your use of it stand out IF you have an excellent list to target.

Social media like Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and others can all be used to target exactly the audience you are looking for.

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Websites, email, and text are all platforms that you own.

No one is going to take away these tools; your list and your website belong to you. Having a website that makes a great first impression is vital to Google searches of your business. Your website is the first thing that future customers will see. Make sure it is current, with great graphics, and has a well-designed flow to make navigation easier. If you last did a major website refresh in the last five years, now is the time to do that!

DATA MATTERS!

Building your lists – text and email – is the best insurance against a business change. The time to create that list is now while business is good, and you can use your website and Facebook contests to gather data. Make it easy for customers to hand over their email, phone, and address, and they will.

NOT ALL PINSET TERS ARE

CREATED EQUAL! The all-new Boost ST isn’t equal to other string pinsetters—it’s in a class by itself. Boost’s USBC-certified design incorporates advanced sport technologies to elevate performance, safety, operational efficiency, and the bowler experience. Combining the 360 Controller’s future-forward engineering with professionalgrade construction, Boost is the only cloud-enabled string pinsetter ready to evolve and adapt with your business well into the future. Compatible with any major scoring system, and even better with Sync. · BRUNSWICKBOWLING.COM/BOOST-ST-STRING-PINSETTER ·

©2023 Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC. Form #0523-04

Digital Marketing The ones that do are your highest priority targets, as they have already told you they are interested! Many providers will deliver email campaigns and text blasts to your list. The first step is to build your list and then engage with one of these services to deliver your message regularly. As a bonus, you can use your email list to create custom audiences on Facebook and Instagram to deliver ads to those people. This is a terrific way to stay in front of your best customers and prospects while maximizing your marketing dollars.

What will these services cost you to implement? Email campaigns and text messaging depend on the size of your list, but you can expect to spend a couple hundred dollars a month on email and less than that on text blasts. Running effective Facebook- and Instagram-targeted ad campaigns can be done for as little as $300-$500 per month. The results will surprise you – in a good way!

2024 is right around the corner, and with the proper planning, it will be a very productive year for your business.

Focus on the marketing channels you own and watch the results roll in!

•

Carey Tosello Former Proprietor // Founder, eBowl.biz & BowlRx.com

TARGETED BOWLING MARKETING R E AC H I N G T H O U S A N D S DA I LY T H R U D I G I TA L C H A N N E L S - D R I V I N G T R A F F I C F O R YO U !

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Online Reservations

Wait! Wait!

DON'T HANG UP!

By Monique Simpson

3 Ways You Could Be Losing Sales

I

t's a challenging economic environment for businesses these days, and bowling proprietors are faced with the challenge of adapting to changing trends and customer preferences. Generating sales is crucial to stay in business, but did you know that there are three ways that you're losing business without even realizing it?

First, if your sales funnel leads to a 'Call Now' action, you should reconsider relying on this option. This strategy worked well in the past, but this is no longer working today. This is because today's consumers are no longer willing to call a number to make a purchase or inquire about a service you're offering. Most consumers loathe having to call unnecessarily when a simple click will do.

Make it easier for your customers to book a party or event with you by offering a 'Book Now' button on your website and social media pages.

A second way you're losing sales today is a mismatch between when people want to book and when staff can take their call. This is because there's a disconnect in communication due to not having staff members answering the phones 24/7, not responding to voicemail messages quickly enough, playing phone tag, not collecting/recording the details of the party or event accurately, etc. This can lead to frustration and cause potential customers to look elsewhere. With a self-service automation system, you're not relying on staff members to respond immediately to customers wanting to book a party or event at your venue because customers can do this themselves.

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Finally, the third way you're losing sales today is you lack an instant gratification option, leaving time for them to change their mind. This happens when they have to wait to hear back from you about a booking they want to make or something that they're thinking about further on in the future that's not quite concrete yet. Consumers these days are used to instant gratification, so every moment of delay can cost you a sale.

Online booking will help you get past these hurdles by offering clickable purchases and various options to your customers, helping you get money in the bank now or further down the line. The quicker you can fulfill a customer's needs, the less likely they are to abandon the idea of hosting their event with you.

Customer expectations have shifted towards convenience and immediacy. To avoid losing sales, businesses must adapt by providing user-friendly digital options, matching availability with demand, and offering instant gratification options. By addressing these common problems, bowling centers can stay competitive and capture the attention of today's consumers. In modern sales, success hinges on meeting customers where they are and providing the seamless experiences they crave.

•

Monique Simpson is Marketing Manager at Partywirks.

REAL PEOPLE

REAL STORIES

REAL RESULTS

UPSELL FOOD AND DRINK—EASILY MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR GUESTS TO SPEND MORE IN YOUR CENTER. Food and beverage sales can contribute 30% or more of total revenue.

Conqueror Web makes it easy to make your sales go up.

Its innovative F&B functionality lets you effortlessly provide relevant menu choices at just the right moment as part of the online reservation process. The unique abililty to provide ‘smart’ F&B suggestions based on the web offer selected increases overall average ticket price. Your guests will love the experience—and you’ll love the results.

To learn more visit:

Food and Fun Review

READY FOR THE BPAA SUMMIT IN NEW ORLEANS? Food and Fun Await in the Big Easy

I

By Carey Tosello

f your travel plans take you to New Orleans for the annual January meeting, get your appetite ready for a culinary experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Step away from your usual diet and delve into excellent seafood, Creole dishes, and fun cocktails! Creole is a style of cooking originating in Louisiana, which blends West African, French, Spanish, and Native American influences.

This city is full of great places to eat, but here are several of my favorites: GW FINS – Local seafood featuring some unique preparations and a big wine list www.gwfins.com IRENE’S – Upscale Italian in an elegant dining room with a piano bar. I have eaten my way through Italy, and this place is spot on. www.irenesnola.com COMMANDER’S PALACE – featuring haute Creole cuisine and whimsical Louisiana charm. www.commanderspalace.com DAKAR NOLA – new to the NOLA scene, this eatery is getting big reviews. Senegalese tasting menu featuring seafood with an African flair. Where else can you try Senegalese food? For the serious foodie, plan on a two- to three-hour dining experience. www.dakarnola.com For a unique cocktail experience, be sure to stop in at The CAROUSEL BAR. Offering guests a pleasant, subtle rotation around a world-class cocktail bar every 15 minutes. www.hotelmonteleone.com/entertainment/carousel-bar

For more casual dining, try one of these:

As with most restaurants these days, reservations are a must if you want to get into the best venues.

Using Yelp or Trip Advisor can help you find exactly the dining experience you are looking for. If the restaurant doesn’t have at least four stars, I won't waste my time (or appetite) there. Read a few reviews to get a feel for the good and bad before booking. It could be a bad review related to slow service, which might not be a big deal to you. Plus, you can often find the best item on the menu when you see it mentioned in reviews multiple times.

Events / Music

If you are looking for some great NOLA music, forget Bourbon Street. All the cool cats hang out on Frenchmen Street nowadays.

Start the night with the Frenchmen Art Market, New Orleans' only daily night-time art market featuring original art and handmade goods by local artists. The market is open late, so you can re-visit after hitting the clubs.

Then, move on to some fabulous live music at three of my favorite clubs: THREE MUSES: www.3musesnola.com - a small joint that has big-time musicians THE MAISON: www.maisonfrenchmen.com - a big place that is always hopping

Atchafalaya – A Creole cottage in a residential neighborhood. Brunch — served on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — includes a build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar! www.atchafalayarestaurant.com

THE SPOTTED CAT: www.spottedcatmusicclub.com - Jazz, Blues, Funk and more

Bacchanal – Off the beaten path and away from the crowds.

Casual outdoor vibe with live music and happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. www.bacchanalwine.com

The NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM is one of the best museums in the country. You can easily spend several hours there. www.nationalww2museum.org

Willa Jean - For breakfast or lunch, it's southern style.

The Saturday and Sunday brunch is an experience! www.willajean.com ACME – for oysters, jambalaya, gumbo, and more. www.acmeoyster.com/french-quarter Two things that everyone visiting NOLA must try:

• Muffulettas at Central Grocery. www.centralgrocery.com

• Beignets from Café du Monde. www.shop.cafedumonde.com/beignets

• DO NOT LEAVE TOWN WITHOUT TRYING BOTH!

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If you want to get up close and personal with a gator, check out a SWAMP BOAT TOUR! www.louisianaswamp.com/new-orleans-tours/airboat-swamp-tours In case you don’t get enough great food on your own, try a three-hour walking tour: www.destination-kitchen.com Feedback on your favorite eateries is always welcome. Drop me a line (carey@eBowl.biz) or stop by the eBowl.biz booth at the Summit and let me know how you did. Bon Appetit!

•

Carey Tosello is a former proprietor, founder of eBowl.biz & BowlRx.com, an adventure traveler, and a serious foodie.

FINAL EVENT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 5:30 PM

MARDI GRAS WORLD

We invite you to join us at Mardi Gras World for a fun-filled night.

Come party where the magic is made! The Float Den is an enormous space, full of huge colorful floats and larger-than-life props that will put you in the mood to celebrate.

We will then transition to the Grand Oaks Mansion, which is an indoor replica of an antebellum mansion. Throughout the night, interact with Mardi Gras themed entertainers, listen to a traditional New Orleans Jazz band, network with your fellow members, all the while enjoying Cajun cuisine and cocktails. Final event is included with full registration.

Transportation will be provided to and from the final event. �dditional tickets are $99 each*

PREFERRED VENDOR LIST Apparel EXPERT HOSIERY

Customer Service

919.799.7707

www.funtimefootwear.com support@experthosiery.com

Expert Hosiery is a premiere supplier of high-quality socks to Bowling Centers & FECs. We pride ourselves in lifetime relationships. Socks variety includes White Bowling Socks, Glow Socks, Theme Socks & Custom Logo Socks. Our Customers are our best Testimonial! For orders, call, email or order online 24/7.

LAYMON HUGHES HOSIERY

Sharon Hughes

256.845.1034

www.laymonhugheshosiery.com laymonhughes@bellsouth.net

We supply socks to all types of family entertainment centers. Custom logos are available, and there is no minimum required.

Arcade Distributor AVS COMPANIES

Sales Department

847.439.9400

www.avscompanies.com sales@avscompanies.com

Providing best-in-class arcade and vending equipment with decades of unparalleled service. AVS Companies is the trusted choice for world-class amusement solutions.

BETSON ENTERPRISES

Sales Department

800.524.2343

www.betson.com/bowling Sales@betson.com

Betson offers a full assortment of arcade and vending equipment and has the largest inventory selection of new & used games and parts.

PLAYER ONE AMUSEMENT GROUP

Sales Department

416.251.2122

www.winwithp1ag.com GetAnswers@WinWithP1AG.com

At Player One Amusement Group, we specialize in the sourcing and distribution of quality amusement and vending equipment for both commercial and retail customers. We provide end to end Total Solutions, from the design and planning of the space, to equipment selection, to best practices for merchandise and redemption counters. Each business is unique so P1AG customizes the appropriate services to meet your business needs.

Architecture Design DYNAMIC DESIGNS

Howard Ellman

248.644.7275

www.dynamicdesignsinc.net Info@dynamicdesignsinc.net

Interior & Exterior Design – New Concept Development – Planning & Consulting – Architecture – Theme Design – Re-imagining of Existing Facilities

US DESIGN LAB

Gary Smith

231.343.5317

www.usdesignlab.com gary@usdesignlab.com

US Design Lab is an award-winning consulting, design & marketing firm specializing in bowling and family entertainment centers. The company works with new investors and existing proprietors like you to bring your dreams to reality. With over 40 years of industry experience and successful projects of all sizes, US Design Lab has helped design, develop and provide branding & marketing material for dozens of businesses in the US and internationally.

Attractions CREATIVE WORKS

Russ Van Natta

317.834.4770

www.thewoweffect.com sales@thewoweffect.com

We create powerful emotions through immersive attractions like laser tag, mini golf, escape rooms, VR, and more. We help you get customers off the couch and into your venue with experiences they can’t get anywhere else.

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PREFERRED VENDOR LIST Automatic Scoring NEW CENTER CONSULTING

Glenn Hartshorn

www.newcenterconsulting.com ghartsho@yahoo.com

248.375.2751

Touch Score – A truly revolutionary scoring upgrade for legacy systems.

STELTRONIC SCORING

Sales Department

www.steltronicscoring.com Info@steltronicscoring.com

800.942.5939

The world’s leading independent automatic scoring manufacturer since 1980.

Capital Equipment/Supplies BRUNSWICK BOWLING PRODUCTS

Michael Postema

www.brunswickbowling.com Info@brunswickbowling.com

231.343.2043

The leader in the bowling industry for over 130 years, Brunswick Bowling provides products, services, and industry expertise for new and existing bowling centers.

QUBICAAMF Sales Department 804.569.1000

www.qubicaamf.com info@qubicaamf.com

QubicaAMF is the world’s largest manufacturer of bowling and mini bowling products. With our innovative products, we will help our customers fully unleash that potential to extend the bowling population, to reach the younger generations, to increase their spending, frequency of visits—and your revenue.

Cashless Technology INTERCARD Sales Department 800.732.3770

www.intercardinc.com Sales@intercardinc.com

Intercard introduced cashless technology to the amusement industry and has been leading the way for 30+ years. Cashless systems from Intercard increase customer spending and satisfaction and boost revenues by up to 30% at entertainment centers worldwide.

SEMNOX SOLUTIONS

Sales Department

610.400.8901

www.semnox.com Sales@semnox.com

Semnox’s online cashless payment systems – a one stop solution for your entire bowling center operations.

Consulting and Management FIRST FRAME BOWLING

Mike Monroe

844.923.2695

www.firstframebowling.com mikebowl44@gmail.com

First Frame Bowling was born out of a need for banks looking for someone to manage centers that they were forced to take over but has evolved over time to be the full-service consulting firm that it is today.

TRIFECTA MANAGEMENT GROUP

Bruce Nussbaum

818.879.7100

www.trifecta-mg.com Inquiries@trifecta-mg.com

TMG helps operators and new business entrepreneurs bring their business to the next level. We have best-in-class professionals in operations, team development, sales and marketing, culinary and technical, with expertise sharpened in our own operations. So, whatever your opportunity or challenge, we can help.

TURFWAY ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT

David Wallace

859.285.7111

www.turfwayentertainment.com dwallace@turfwayentertainment.com

Full service consulting company within the family entertainment industry focusing on business new starts, expansions, modernizations and health checkups of existing centers. A dedicated team of professional operators including operations, marketing, branding, culinary and bar services to allow a seamless approach for your needs.

IBI December 2023 33

PREFERRED VENDOR LIST Food/Beverage SLRRRP SHOTS

Trent Killian

www.slrrrp.com tkillian@slrrrp.com

877.988.8673 ext. 5

The world’s most award-winning gelatin shots. SLRRRP’s pre-made gelatin shots are made with premium alcohol and plant based ingredients. With a variety of exceptional flavors and colors, here’s no better way for guests to celebrate at your center!

Furniture VENUE INDUSTRIES

Sales Team

www.venueindustries.com sales@venueindustries.com

855.558.3683

Venue Industries is a commercial furniture manufacturer in Tampa, FL. Specializing in custom furniture design, Venue Industries can provide furniture for your entire facility. From bowling sofas, to restaurant seating –– Venue Industries can provide anything you might need for your bowling center or family entertainment center.

Insurance BOWLING CENTER INSURANCE

Bob Langley

864.527.1145

www.bowlingcenterinsurance.com robert.langley@bbrown.com

Helping You Is What We Do Best!

30 years’ experience working with over 300 centers across the country. Amusement, & Entertainment Centers of all sizes , Bowling, Movie Theaters, Roller Skating, Axe Throwing, Go Karts, Mini Golf & More! Property ,General Liability, Liquor Liability, Wind/Hail, & Workers Comp. Our Parent Company is the 6th largest broker in the US ,which affords us many diversified markets for insurance quotes. Call or email us today to get started!

TILTON, THOMAS & MORGAN INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

W. Tyler Compton

866.233.0266

www.ttminsurance.com tcompton@ttminsurance.com

Tilton, Thomas & Morgan Insurance Professionals has been insuring bowling and family entertainment centers for over 40 years. We support many state and national organizations, including many state bowling associations and the BPAA. Through our years of experience and working with hundreds of proprietors across the country, we have developed a specialized program to ensure our clients have the correct coverages at a competitive price. We love insuring FUN, so call us today to see how we can help you!

WESTERN BOWLING PROPRIETORS INSURANCE

Cameron Linder

800.200.9998

www.wbpiprogram.com contact@wbpiprogram.com

WBPI is the largest bowling center insurance program in the nation with more than 35 years of experience and 400 insured centers. Exclusively endorsed by eight state bowling proprietors associations, our staff of insurance partners and professional bowlers provide staff training, insurance education, advocacy, and business advice. No one fights harder for you! Contact us today for a competitive insurance quote!

Lighting/Sound DECIBEL STUDIOS

Guy O’Hazza

310.693.5165

www.decibel-studios.com guy@decibel-studios.com

Decibel Studios is an innovative global technology solutions company that designs, engineer, installs, and maintains custom controlled audio, video, lighting, show control and special effects systems, including augmented and virtual reality, 3D and 4D interactive theaters, for various entertainment, corporate, hospitality, retail and institutional groups.

DFX SOUND VISION

Mike Bovino

800.555.5280

www.dfxsoundvision.com info@dfxsoundvision.com

Your FEC specialists creating extraordinary experiences by providing dynamic audio, video, lighting and automation services and integration that elevate communication and give your entertainment center that WOW factor.

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PREFERRED VENDOR LIST Marketing BBBI/KIDS BOWL FREE

Andy Vasko

877.841.4590

www.kidsbowlfree.com Andy.Vasko@kidsbowlfree.com

At BBBI our goal is to create new customers and profits for bowling centers through our time tested Kids Bowl Free Summer Bowing Program and our new League Development System featuring Fun Bowling Leagues for all ages.

BOWLING LEADS

Zach Boulanger

844.468.4144

www.bowlingleads.com Zach@bowlingleads.com

We help bowling centers find new leads and turn them into raving repeat customers with our done for you automated marketing system.

EBOWL.BIZ & BOWLRX.COM

Carey Tosello

541.549.0999

www.eBowl.biz Carey@eBowl.biz

Digital marketing for bowling: BowlRx websites, Facebook for bowling, and more.

THE KAPLOE GROUP

Fred Kaplowitz

516.359.4874

www.kaploegroup.com fredkaplowitz@gmail.com

The ultimate marketing and management company for your leisure, entertainment, or recreation business. Professional consulting and coaching available.

Online Reservations ALLEYTRAK

Chris Behling

815.519.9843

www.alleytrak.com Chris@alleytrak.com

AlleyTrak is the complete lane reservation and management system designed specifically for bowling alleys. Manage your recurring events, leagues, parties, packages, along with many other features AlleyTrak has to offer. Save time by allowing guests to make reservations online 24/7.

PARTYWIRKS Sales Department 877.345.4012

www.partywirks.com sales@partywirks.com

Partywirks is more than an online booking software company for parties, events, lane reservations and leagues for your bowling entertainment center. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-manage multi-function system encourages upselling, helps generate future interest, and also allows your visitors to inquire, invite, share, learn, sign waivers, and shop online.

Party Supplies and Novelty Products SIERRA PRODUCTS

Shelly Berry

800.900.7695

www.noveltybowlingstuff.com sales@noveltybowlingstuff.com

Sierra Products is your exclusive source for bowling parties, including party favors, supplies and novelties. Bowling birthday party supplies include bowling pin sipper bottles, mini bowling pin candy containers, bowling coin banks, bowling party cups, napkins, novelty souvenir cups and much more. Most of our items can be personalized with your company’s logo, phone, website, etc.

Promotional Products FEC PROMO TOOLS

Sales Department

239.389.9583

www.fecpromotools.com FECpromotools@gmail.com

Bringing marketing and guest experience tools to life! Choose from our selection of predesigned products or work with our team to customize a product line for your business.

IBI December 2023 35

PREFERRED VENDOR LIST Redemption Supplies A&A GLOBAL INDUSTRIES

Sales Department

800.638.6000

www.aaglobal.com Sales@aaglobal.com

A&A Global is the premier distributor of novelty toys, candy, plush, and merchandiser kits for the bulk vending and amusement industries. We take pride in producing fabulous products that keep our customers – and their customers – coming back. With hundreds of new items added to our inventory every week, we have something for everyone.

BMI MERCHANDISE

Sales Department

800.272.6375

www.bmimerchandise.com Sales@bmimerchandise.com

BMI’s extensive product line features the trending themes, licenses and brands driving amusement play. We bring our customers a constantly changing mix of the finest electronics, novelties and toys – priced right.

FUN EXPRESS Sales Department 800.228.8884

www.funexpress.com Orders@funexpress.com

Fun Express is a leading B2B supplier of toys, novelties, giftware and premiums. We feature more than 40,000 items in our product line that range from traditional favorites to the trendy picks of today. We are pleased to offer the best value and product variety in the industry.

SURESHOT REDEMPTION

Corporate Sales

888.887.8738

www.sureshot-redemption.com Sales@sureshot-redemption.com

Sureshot Redemption is your best source for redemption prizes and retail merchandise. Sureshot is the complete package with excellent product selection covering all key categories, excellent customer service, very competitive pricing, and superior quality merchandise. Our newly enhanced website makes ordering easy with capabilities to access your invoices, tracking information and EPLs for each order online. For more information, call or email us now and join the Sureshot Family!

REDEMPTION PLUS

Mike Tipton

888.564.7587

www.redemptionplus.com Smile@redemptionplus.com

Products that perform. Services that simplify.

Training TRAINERTAINMENT

Beth Standlee

817.886.4840

www.Trainertainment.net Beth@trainertainment.net

Fun Training – Serious Results.

Virtual Reality VRCAVE Alex Rossol

780.577.9655

www.vrcave.ca/ibi sales@vrcave.ca

vrCAVE produces premium VR escape room products suited for any bowling alley or FEC looking to add VR as an option to their establishment. They work with companies of all sizes, help with the headset installation, and provide the software and technical support.

36 IBI December 2023

Classifieds

NEW Print & Digital Opportunities • Print & Digital Magazine Delivered Monthly • Digital Newsletter Delivered Monthly • Website Exposure Through Content Marketing Opportunities and Lead Generation System • E-Send Distribution Offered on a Limited Basis • Specialty Print & Mailing Services • Marketing Consultation and Special Promotions • Joint Venture Opportunities

For Sales and Unique Marketing Partnerships, contact Natalie Davis | 239.821.2534 | Natalie@BowlingIndustry.com

SIMPLIFY YOUR ACCOUNTING & GROW YOUR BUSINESS Powerful Reports

Find out what lanes are used how often, how much each lane is bringing in revenue, the average amount of food and drink sold per lane and more!

Live Dashboard Data

Access to-the-minute income from your phone, tablet or computer.

Simple Integrations

Easily integrate with Quickbooks, Intercard, and Conqueror Authorized Dassle Distributor

www.BowlingIndustry.com

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GET FEATURED IN

IBI is on the lookout for stories to share with our readers.

Email stephanie@bowlingindustry.com for potential story ideas and features. // Hotline: 855-415-7517 IBI December 2023 37

Classifieds EDUCATION & TRAINING PRO SHOP TRAINING. Classes always forming.

Jayhawk Bowling Supply (800)255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE 215 N. Harris St, Tulia, Tx 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 425-3771

NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. J ayhawk Bowling Supply. (800)255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.

EXPERIENCED MECHANIC NEEDED FOR 32 LANE CENTER Great opportunity in the Tampa Bay area 8270 AMF Pinsetters // Salary and benefits determined by experience E-Mail resume to manager@oakfieldlanes.com or Call Tammy Jacobs @ (813) 681-4783

MECHANIC WANTED GREAT OPPORTUNITY Experienced Bowling mechanic wanted. Bowling center in northwest NJ offering Highly Competitive pay & benefits. Run your own shop. Replacing Retiring mechanic, willing to make smooth transition for our 26 lane center & full service restaurant. Only 3rd mechanic since 1959 for our very stable, family business. Email resume to rob.plenge@comcast.net or Call Rob 908-763-1192 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

38 IBI December 2023

SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measure Ball Repair.

Jayhawk Bowling Supply.

(800)255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com

Our Business is Building Bowlers

& DELIVERING THEM TO YOUR CENTER

Have your best spring and summer ever!

Join the Kids Bowl Free program www.kidsbowlfree.com/centers

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