Did any room have a better 2008 than 2007?

[iusedtoberich]

I'm not a room owner, just an enthusiast who wants to see business turn around. All the rooms in my area seemed to be hit very hard this year. Just from personal observation of the amount of tables going and people in the room I'd estimate business is down roughly 50% in my area (NE).

Did some areas of the country do better this year compared to last?

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

No one is replying, I thought for sure Manwon would chime in.

 

[highrun55]

Not here in SE P

SE Pa that is,
I have been off about 45% for 6 months, thank goodness my landlord iis working with me.


highrun55

 

[Fatboy]

I know a room owner here in Vegas thats down by 1/3, and I know a room owner in LA who has about the same drop-off, Pool is dead on the West Coast anyways so they are really getting hurt. One ownes the building the other has a cool landlord.

I know in my buildings were working with some teanats now, its not a typical market so lessor/lessee relationship days are over, now its more of a implyed partnership because everyone is hurting so bad, it mitigates losses for both lessee and lessor as everyone is in the same sinking boat. Not bad for a guy who ant spell, huh??? but that's the currrent market conditions,

any landlord that wont work with a pool room b/c of their size is not smart and with all the retailers failing there will be ALOT of cheap rents real soon on big spaces-anchor stores in strip malls etc. This will take alot of pressure off pool rooms in general. this will help pool make sense as a biz again, now we just need particatation.

 

[poolcuemaster]

My home room here in Matthews NC just moved into a new building after 30 plus years in another building, it was a big expense up front. It has 20 9 ft tables 2 barboxes and a snooker table compared to 12 9 fters and 3 barboxes before the move. Buisness has been outstanding from day 1 and the new kitchen is selling great food at above medium prices. I'm paid to run a Friday night tourney and I turn players away most weeks as I only take the first 32 and play it on 8 to 10 tables.--Leonard

 

[cueandcushion]

Our pool is off slightly. Last thing our sport needs right now is a lot more pool rooms. This is an adjustment period that is necessary for the long term survival of the sport. The massive expansion of rooms in the late 80s led to the lack of and decent profits once the novelty of pool wore off for a large % of the masses. We are struggling but other rooms around us will fold first. I am sure we will get some of that income. We have been up the past two months as other rooms/bars around us cannot keep the tables recovered. Cannot afford repairs or other tell tale signs of struggling. I am optimistic about our room. Not enthusiastic at this point yet...but optimistic. Tonight I had 13/ 17 tables going at one point. That is wonderful for a Monday.

 

[Quesports]

IMO if there is one it is in the Southeast region of the country. Of course their may be no one. It has been one of the worst years for so many small businesses.
2009 may not be much better sadly..

 

[cuetime]

I had two rooms in Massachusetts. I had to close one of them down at the end of 2008. I'm desperately struggling with the other one. The only thing keeping me going is the bar and food. There is only one other room within a 20 mile radius of mine.
Fortunately, my landlord has worked with me as well. If you're leasing, take advantage of the times. Few new businesses are starting up and landlords don't like vacant buildings.

 

[Banker Burt]

House Pro

My name is Bart Mahoney. I am the teaching pro at Hardtimes Billiards in Sacramento.

I feel for all businesses and employees and an unsure future. At the same time, I have a very deep passion for our sport and want all room owners to succeed.

When I am not giving lessons at Hardtimes, I run a building contracting company with my two adult sons. As strange as this may sound, my lessons are up and we have more work than we can handle in construction.

After experiencing the brief recessions in the 80's and 90's and now this one, it occurred to me why my work always increases. There are many details as to why (and by all means not wanting to toot my own horn) but here is a brief explanation. Hopefully it will stir your business expertise.

My grandfather told me that if you want to get ahead in this world, go backwards. If you read between the lines of this statement it may answer your need for more business.

In my experience, successful pool rooms are built on education (about the game). If you were a bowler and kept throwing the ball in the gutter you would go to the counter, ask for a lesson from the house pro or... quit. If you were a golfer and kept hitting the ball in the water, you would get a lesson... or quit.

My point is - most pool rooms do not have a professional teaching pro. Key word, professional. This is not to say that a playing pro is the answer. Playing and teaching are two completely different skills. This is not to say that there are not people who are good at both (which does help) but even a person with basic fundamental knowledge of the game, the rules, etc. can be groomed to assist people at your room.

Advertise lessons, seminars, any education component will interest the general public. Even during tough times people still want to go out and have a good time. Right? You have customers, so maybe helping them get better at the game will improve your business. This philosophy is working at our room.

If you were to consider this educational approach, the most important aspect is the skills of the teaching pro. If you do not have a good teacher in your area, hire one and fly them in for a weekend. Advertise, book in advance, fill the house.

My grandfather's advise is relative to retaining customers. Offer them a good product and most importantly, teach them how to use it (education). Combine this with the sport, which is a great inexpensive pastime...

It would cost a little money, but them consider what you have already invested in your business.

Small investments in the right stock, regardless of the times, can pay dividends. It is not the time to fear losing, but rather a time to protect all of your hard work.

If you would like to speak with me in more detail, about me or this philosophy, please call Hardtimes at 916-332-8793. They will put you in touch with me as I am not an employee, rather and independent contractor servicing their educational needs for their business (the sport).

Please respond if you wish, but because there are many important details about how I operate it would be difficult to discuss on this forum.

"Wishing you the very best in life"

 

[manwon]

I'm not a room owner, just an enthusiast who wants to see business turn around. All the rooms in my area seemed to be hit very hard this year. Just from personal observation of the amount of tables going and people in the room I'd estimate business is down roughly 50% in my area (NE).

Did some areas of the country do better this year compared to last?

I have said this before and will say it again, I have not seen any down turn for my pool room.

 

[Cass]

It seems to me that Bart has the right attitude in promoting the SPORT of Billiards first in his home room. If room owners would promote Billiards first instead of poker,lotto,alcohol they would see a difference in participation.
The alcohol can support itself without advertising it,Poker pulls people off the pool tables. If you put the same effort in promoting Pool in your local area as you may in drink specials & poker , I feel your business should increase.

 

[Big C]

Most golf courses have teaching professionals on the staff. They teach private lessons and conduct weekly clinics for beginners. Pool rooms could take a lesson from this.

 

[Banker Burt]

PGA vs. Pool

Most golf courses have teaching professionals on the staff. They teach private lessons and conduct weekly clinics for beginners. Pool rooms could take a lesson from this.

Exactly. When I started playing golf (at age 10, the same age I started playing pool) there were many different junior tournaments each year. This was in the 60's and seemed that every course had an event for juniors with teaching seminars. It was the same in high school, but now I also had a coach.

The only event for the young pool player is a once a year regional qualifier with a junior national and world event.

When I stopped playing golf in the late 80's due to injuries, I was the assistant golf coach at California State University, Sacramento.

As a golfer, the opportunities were endless. As passionate about pool as I was about golf, is why now as a pool player I want to share and help the sport through education.

Again the possibilities are endless. One poster on this thread called me yesterday and we had a great sharing of knowledge about how this could work for his business. By the end of the conversation it was obvious that it would be near impossible to fail at building a stronger customer base (if done correctly).

On the other hand, through the years I have heard from a few room owners that they don't want a bunch of teenagers in their room. My only comment is, "Did you ever think that these teens grow up to be adult?"

The polls show where some 50 million people play pool at least once a year. My teaching pro philosophy is to use this market base and increase the number of times a year that people play.

Think of the BEF Junior Nationals, and if every room in America had qualifiers. Now think of the parental support, these young players becoming adults and the future of owning a pool room.

IMHO - It must start with the room owners taking the reigns and creating a house pro entity in their business plan. Thus, stabilizing the sport, and in the process their business.

Is this a realistic possibility? Some may think this is just some post about ideology. On the other hand it can be proven as fact with the ten years in operation at Hardtimes.

Just trying to help...

 

[steveharn]

Contractor hit nail on head!

I really believe that getting young people involved is the key. I was just thinking today when one of our landmark restaurants announced it was closing that to convert it into a room where high school teams could compete on certain nights would certainly draw a good turnout. Not many kids get to play high school sports anymore so I'm sure there would be alot of interest for kids and parents too. Feed 'em and entertain 'em. I believe it might work.

 

[billyjack]

I really believe that getting young people involved is the key.

I agree! I was introduced to the game as a High School Intramural Sport at an all-male Catholic school. An enterprising, co-operative room owner gave the school a greatly reduced rate from 3PM to 5PM, a normally slow time at the hall. Without that experience I probably would not be playing the game today, 40 years later. Our local room buys ads in local High School sports programs in the form of a discount coupon. If you serve alcohol your age limits are defined by the state. If not, you definitely need to expose the younger clientele to the game.

Bill

 

[The_Don]

Our Pool Room outside of Atlanta was about 10% up in Sales from 07 through October but we finished strong with Nov & Dec UP 40%. The first Quarter is 33% UP from this point last year. However our Pool Rental and Retail Sales is up only 14%. Our main increase has been through the bar. As I remember after 9/11, bar sales increase during stressful times. We've also been putting more focus on food, bar, and other forms of entertainment (POKER, foosball, etc. . .). We threw Football parties every Sunday and our super bowl party this year was 4x what it was last year.