Pro Shop Stuff

K

kmg

www.RockawayBilliards.com
Silver Member
Hey! I'm a room owner looking to start up a proshop. Right now I have a very minimal number of items.

As players & consumers, what items and price points would you most want to see in a proshop. Specifics would be excellent!

Thank you so much for your time & help!

Karen
 
that looks like a very neat room you got there! my humble advise would be to go with as high a quality on ques and other items as your situation can handle, or maybe find an established cue dealer/maker in or out of the area to put cues out. i see places who puts out cheap cues & cases and that way invites the non serious people.

jmho
 
The most important thing to me in a pro shop, and the thing that I spend money on the most often, is quality, reliable tip installation. I want a variety of tips to choose from and I want to know that the person using tools on my cue will not damage it. Price is less important than quality in this matter. In terms of products, I suppose you have to stock at least a few of all the little stuff like bridge heads, chalk and chalkers, gloves, rulebooks, tip tools, and hand chalk even if you don't sell much. There will be one customer that wants that one thing right now.
 
Cue holders, tip shapers, joint caps and other small things that most players need but end up paying more in S & H than the item is worth.
 
longhair said:
The most important thing to me in a pro shop, and the thing that I spend money on the most often, is quality, reliable tip installation. I want a variety of tips to choose from and I want to know that the person using tools on my cue will not damage it. Price is less important than quality in this matter. In terms of products, I suppose you have to stock at least a few of all the little stuff like bridge heads, chalk and chalkers, gloves, rulebooks, tip tools, and hand chalk even if you don't sell much. There will be one customer that wants that one thing right now.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more about the tip installation, and for me it has to be with a lathe, and I don't want any scars on my ivory ferrules...Tom
 
Tip work is essential. I found that selling cues in the one to three hundred dollar range was my best market. I don't like to sell cheap junk cues (you know the $50 ones). They just come back with an unhappy customer attached.

Also inexpensive cue cases are a must. $20 to $50 range. a few nicer ones for up to 75 or 80 is okay too. You won't sell many $500 cues or $200 cases. That's a very small market.

You will sell books and videos (DVD's)! Lots of them. A couple of tip tools is all you need. Small boxes of chalk sell too. Of course, you already know your own customers help themself to your Master chalk. It's part of the cost of doing business.

Pool mags just sell okay. Like Billiards Digest and Inside Pool. I wouldn't take more than five a month of either one. Oh and one other thing. POOL GLOVES! Maybe the best seller in the whole showcase.
 
The more you can provide for your regular customers in so far as cue work the better. I used to put tips on for my regulars and charge them a minimal fee, like $5 or $10. And I would clean up their shaft (and butt also if necessary). NO CHARGE! They always got their cue back looking primo! The regulars are your bread and butter. They come in almost every day, and spend money on the tables, and help make the place look busy. An empty poolroom is a turn off for new customers.

I also provided free in-house storage for my regular's cues. That way they don't have to lug their cues around. They were right there waiting for them when they came in. Again, NO CHARGE! I want them to come and play pool with me, and not decide to go somewhere else. I make them feel welcome in any and every way I can. Without them, I have no business, and I know it. And I look out for my regulars too. If a hustler comes in, I will tell them to be careful. That's usually enough. I may play the guy myself. Once my regulars see me playing him, they know he is a good player.

And I don't do any serious gambling with my customers. We may play some friendly 10 or 20 dollar One Pocket (and I spot them), but nothing big. If you beat them out of any money, you have lost a customer. Not a good move.

These are a few things I've learned in 30+ years in this business.
 
I have to agree...

olauzon said:
that looks like a very neat room you got there! my humble advise would be to go with as high a quality on ques and other items as your situation can handle,

jmho
Click to expand...

Karen,

I have to agree, Quality over Quantity and "balance" your pro shop with your room.


longhair said:
The most important thing to me in a pro shop, and the thing that I spend money on the most often, is quality, reliable tip installation. I want a variety of tips to choose from and I want to know that the person using tools on my cue will not damage it. Price is less important than quality in this matter. In terms of products, I suppose you have to stock at least a few of all the little stuff like bridge heads, chalk and chalkers, gloves, rulebooks, tip tools, and hand chalk even if you don't sell much. There will be one customer that wants that one thing right now.
Click to expand...


When I was back in Washington St. the club I went to had 14 tables upstairs, 4 downstairs, 5 shuffleboard tables, 6dart boards, pinball and airhockey. TV's everywhere and on Sunday's and Monday's It was a PACKED HOUSE with pool tourneys and Football or Baseball games going crazy...

AND, a small display case selling junk cues and a couple of small accessories on the bottom shelf. And this place wasn't a place that supported just 'bangers' although we had our share..this place also ran tourneys 4times a week that would regularly have full fields of 64 and every week it was a toss up between about 20 different guys/gals for the top 5 positions. And it there wasn't a tourney going on there we at least a couple of of ring 9ball games going. Some Good players.

AND, there was no where to get your cue worked on. There was one guy who had a broom closest he used to store his tip repair stuff in. He did good work but I'm telling you..the place has SO much Potential. If you needed a tip or your shaft cleaned up you had to give it to 'Larry' and he'd take it home for a few days or put in the broom closet until he had a chance to do it...between his gin and tonics...

They would also store your cue for you under the counter behind the bar but it was pretty much open for anyone to get their cue on their own....Mine disappeared. Can't let them get their own cue... Or they just might not 'get their own cue', if you know what I mean.

But, definitely, if you can work it out... store cues... People won't come to your club, pick up there cue and head off to another club. :D

Looks like you've got a first rate room going there. If you decide to put some chalk accessories in your shop, look me up. Imho, we've got the highest quality stuff on the market and a Great margin for you to work with without having to buy a truckload.

Good Luck in growing your business.

Doug
 
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