NEKOOSA — A local business that got its start as a hobby has reached worldwide status.
Jacoby Custom Cues, Nekoosa, makes about 2,000 pool cues a year, and about 10 percent of those go to overseas customers.
Representatives from one of its customers, Keith Andy Co. Ltd., Okayama, Japan, took a 26-hour trip to visit the local cue shop. Jun Shimizu and Jun Moriyama, spent Wednesday observing how the cues are made — and squeezed in meals at local restaurants and a casino before they were scheduled to return to Japan today.
The trip was specifically to visit Jacoby’s, which makes a line of cues for Keith Andy Co., said Abbie Clark, who handles marketing and sales for Jacoby and is its business office manager.
Shimizu said his business is looking to expand his own custom cue line and was interested in learning more about the cue-making equipment. Keith Andy also buys cues from Jacoby and sells them under the Japanese company’s name.
“We actually sell cues all over Europe, China, Japan and South Korea,” Shimizu said.
Pool used to be quite popular in Japan, but interest has waned in the past few years, as the game of darts gains popularity.
“But there still is a big market for cues,” Shimizu said.
Japan is just one of the overseas markets for the Nekoosa company’s products, said Brandon Jacoby, vice president and son of the company’s president, Dave. Customers and dealers visit regularly, from throughout the United States and the world.
The Japanese businessmen were especially interested in the CNC machine that previously was used to make vehicle transmission parts but that Jacoby Custom Cues altered to create pool cue components.
“They want to build a machine themselves to build their own cues,” Brandon Jacoby said.
While pool is played the same in Japan as it is in the United States, other countries play different forms of the game, Jacoby said. Those games require different types of cues.
Pool became more popular in Japan after the release of “The Color of Money,” a 1986 film starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, Jacoby said.
It’s not just the different games that require different cues — body types also are factors.
“That all plays a part in the design of the cue,” Jacoby said.
The reputation of the local company, which has fewer than 20 employees, has extended beyond the nation’s boundaries, Jacoby said.
“Now we’re to the point we’re really sought after,” Jacoby said. “We have always stayed focused on just wanting to build a better product, and it’s worth it, I guess.”
It also was worth the 26-hour trip to visit the Nekoosa company, said Shimizu, referring to his second visit in about 10 years.
“I saw a lot of machines, thanks to Brandon,” said Shimizu, who has been in business 16 years. “I see how it works. We need to buy equipment to produce more cues in a more efficient way.”
Dave and Brandon Jacoby traveled to Shimizu’s shop about four years ago.
“We have a good relationship,” Shimizu said.
Jacoby Custom Cues, Nekoosa, makes about 2,000 pool cues a year, and about 10 percent of those go to overseas customers.
Representatives from one of its customers, Keith Andy Co. Ltd., Okayama, Japan, took a 26-hour trip to visit the local cue shop. Jun Shimizu and Jun Moriyama, spent Wednesday observing how the cues are made — and squeezed in meals at local restaurants and a casino before they were scheduled to return to Japan today.
The trip was specifically to visit Jacoby’s, which makes a line of cues for Keith Andy Co., said Abbie Clark, who handles marketing and sales for Jacoby and is its business office manager.
Shimizu said his business is looking to expand his own custom cue line and was interested in learning more about the cue-making equipment. Keith Andy also buys cues from Jacoby and sells them under the Japanese company’s name.
“We actually sell cues all over Europe, China, Japan and South Korea,” Shimizu said.
Pool used to be quite popular in Japan, but interest has waned in the past few years, as the game of darts gains popularity.
“But there still is a big market for cues,” Shimizu said.
Japan is just one of the overseas markets for the Nekoosa company’s products, said Brandon Jacoby, vice president and son of the company’s president, Dave. Customers and dealers visit regularly, from throughout the United States and the world.
The Japanese businessmen were especially interested in the CNC machine that previously was used to make vehicle transmission parts but that Jacoby Custom Cues altered to create pool cue components.
“They want to build a machine themselves to build their own cues,” Brandon Jacoby said.
While pool is played the same in Japan as it is in the United States, other countries play different forms of the game, Jacoby said. Those games require different types of cues.
Pool became more popular in Japan after the release of “The Color of Money,” a 1986 film starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, Jacoby said.
It’s not just the different games that require different cues — body types also are factors.
“That all plays a part in the design of the cue,” Jacoby said.
The reputation of the local company, which has fewer than 20 employees, has extended beyond the nation’s boundaries, Jacoby said.
“Now we’re to the point we’re really sought after,” Jacoby said. “We have always stayed focused on just wanting to build a better product, and it’s worth it, I guess.”
It also was worth the 26-hour trip to visit the Nekoosa company, said Shimizu, referring to his second visit in about 10 years.
“I saw a lot of machines, thanks to Brandon,” said Shimizu, who has been in business 16 years. “I see how it works. We need to buy equipment to produce more cues in a more efficient way.”
Dave and Brandon Jacoby traveled to Shimizu’s shop about four years ago.
“We have a good relationship,” Shimizu said.
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