Barron Games International arcade game distributor ENTREPRENEURS
Anna Zykina Bacorn and Greg Bacorn GRADUATION YEAR
2007 UB DEGREE
BA in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies, International Business and German (Anna), BA in History (Greg) LOCATION
84 Aero Dr. Suite 4, Buffalo, NY 14225 WEBSITE
www.barrongames.com
Anna Zykina Bacorn, BA ’07, and Greg Bacorn, BA ’07, didn’t get along—at first— when they met in a leadership class in spring 2007, their last semester at UB. “We both have strong personalities. We were very independent and constantly butted heads,” Greg remembers. “Halfway through the class, we were forced to do a project, and we realized that we actually worked very well together and had many Anna Zykina Bacorn, BA ’07, and Greg Bacorn, BA ’07, meshed their interests to develop their company, which distributes arcade games worldwide.
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things in common.” The class partnership evolved into a real-world business union when Anna and Greg came up with a great idea for upgrading a popular arcade game product: adding a ticket dispenser to the traditional air hockey table. Anna’s father, an entrepreneur who owns the largest arcade game distribution company in Russia, became a role model and adviser, encouraging the partners to start their own company, Barron Games. Anna, who helped run her father’s international firm, took the lead in writing a business plan. To promote Barron Games, Anna and Greg traveled to trade shows in places like Orlando, Las Vegas, Russia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Colombia. The partners celebrated their first big sale in November 2007. Today, Barron Games builds customized products ranging from interactive photo booths to the QuadAir—a multiplayer air hockey table that Anna, Greg and partners developed. Clients include Buffalo area businesses like Bounce Magic family entertainment center, national chains like Dave & Buster’s and international brands such as SEGA Amusements. Running a business isn’t always easy: Anna and Greg, now married and new parents, often wake up at odd hours to field calls from customers around the world. But the long days—and nights—are worth it. Anna says her achievements are a particular point of pride as a woman in a male-dominated industry. “I would like to think of myself being successful, as I created a prospering business providing outstanding products that bring joy and fun to our customers,” she says. Sometimes, people unfamiliar with Barron Games don’t take it seriously because the owners and company are so young—“new school,” as Anna says. But the firm’s track record of success and quality of products eventually wins clients over. Editor’s note: These stories were originally published in fall 2012 on the university’s homepage and were written by Charlotte Hsu and Cory Nealon, BA ’02, of University Communications; and Jacqueline Ghosen, MBA ’94, of the UB School of Management. www.alumni.buffalo.edu UBTODAY Spring 2013
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