Author Topic: are ball sales really down (Read 2517 times)

bowlerdawg · « **on:** January 28, 2009, 01:22:59 PM »

I was at a different pro shop today
talking shop and he said the bowling ball industry is hurting in bad way.

are your sales up or down for NIB @ your B&M shop
have the mojority of ball sales gone the internet ?
are used balls getting all the action these days ?
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member : F.O.S.

pin shredder @ the sawmill

im on a magic carpet ride

jls · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2009, 04:28:15 PM »

quote:
The difference between shops that are hurting and the shops that are surviving is Money Management, the Smart shops that Socked away cash before the big Econo-colapse are doing fine, the other shops that did not save for rainy days are the one's hurting, the industry as a whole is down but I'm seeing signs that the economy is starting it's slow rebound, in 3 or 4 months, life will be back to normal I hope!
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Seahawks Fan! I don't hate other NFL teams, just their Fan's!

The reason sales are down is that the WHOLE economy is down. Everyday more and more people are losing their jobs.

The fact that sales are down or that pro shops are hurting is not because they were stupid, it's because the whole F-ing enonomy of the world is in the toilet.<<<<< It was in all the papers.

Record high gas prices for almost 2 years had a little to do with it.
And then you may have heard about the stock market, it went down!!!!!!!!!!!

So please, don't paint this picture that only pro shops are hurting.
Now show me a business that isn't hurting.

Now you sound like a coffee drinker to me, Just how many did Star Bucks lay off yesterday, and how many more stores are closing? Was it because Star Bucks is stupid and didn't put anything away for a rainy day?

You hate pro shops don't you???
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jls

« **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:42:16 PM »

Our sales are down. They haven't stopped, but it's at least 10-15% less than a year ago at our busiest shop, and even more at the other two.

I agree with jls in that it's a reflection of the economy as a whole. Right now, even the people who have decent jobs are somewhat afraid to spend, and they're "looking over their shoulder" wondering if their employer needs to downsize and lay people off in order to stay in business.

Bowling is recreation for most of us. People NEED their recreation during stressful times, so if they start cutting back with their recreation dollars it's because they are genuinely uncertain about how the struggling economy will affect them over the coming year or so. Let's all hope for the best this year.

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

bowlerdawg · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:15:12 PM »

lost mine right before thanksgiving
wife's company is cutting about 15 % of their 56,000 workforce

economy is in the pisser

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member : F.O.S.

pin shredder @ the sawmill

im on a magic carpet ride

jls · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:13:02 AM »

quote:
Our sales are down. They haven't stopped, but it's at least 10-15% less than a year ago at our busiest shop, and even more at the other two.

I agree with jls in that it's a reflection of the economy as a whole. Right now, even the people who have decent jobs are somewhat afraid to spend, and they're "looking over their shoulder" wondering if their employer needs to downsize and lay people off in order to stay in business.

Bowling is recreation for most of us. People NEED their recreation during stressful times, so if they start cutting back with their recreation dollars it's because they are genuinely uncertain about how the struggling economy will affect them over the coming year or so. Let's all hope for the best this year.

--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

Notclay, some people on this site are clueless. They just love to come on and type their B.S. For this person to say something that stupid, is just unbelievable.

Every day we are hearing about record loses for business' and more and more layoffs. According to that coffee drinking geek, the reason ball sales are down and pro shops are hurting is because we didn't stash away cash. What an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!

So I guess the CEO's of every corp. are also idiots.
The only people I know of making money are the oil companies. Exxon had record profits again!!!!!

Like you said, our customers are made up of people who work real jobs, and they are worried about losing them. So of course they have pulled back on spendng in all areas.

It's real clear to me, so many people on this site just want things for nothing. And the fact that they have been able to buy balls at the same if not lower price then honest pro shops. Has completely turn so many of them against pro shops. And they now feel that on a $200 sale if a pro shop makes a gross of $70, he is a bandit. Yet this people EXPECT TO GET PAID at their jobs. And as one can plainly see, at their jobs they spend much of their day on BR.COM. While on the clock. At least us pro shops that come this site, are on our own time!!!!!

And these keyboard pounders expect to get paid big bucks, yet knock auto workers or all union workers, because they get paid to much for being a screw shooter.

One more thing, league bowling is probably at an all time low!!! Ball sales have been on the decline since about 1998. So pro shops today are facing several problems. Loss of league bowlers, more and more pro shops have opened in bowling alleys in the last 10-15 years. Most are converted Broom Closets!!!! And then of course the internet!!!!!

So this is a real reason while sales are down, not because pro shops didn't stash away cash.

jls

Edited on 1/30/2009 9:56 AM

Pinhammer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:00:17 AM »

Our Sales are not down but they are at a steady norm and the way we have had to survive and keep sales up is to reduce prices on higher end equipment by 10% and on most of our labor cost by 10%. We have been able to offer package deals which has kept our customers returning. I hope all proshop can survive but I know how hard it is to compete with the internet with the economy in the shape it is in. By doing these cuts we have to tighten our belt some and not make large stock purchases on balls and bags. We now wait to make sure we have enough items to order to get free freight. In the past if a customer wanted a ball in a few days we would just order it but now we tell them it will be a little longer or they can pay the freight upfront and we will get it for them asap. Most customers now understand and are willing to work with shops but there are those select few that wont and go get it somewhere else. Good luck to those shops who are having a rough time.

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Roger Carroll
Pinnacle Pro Shop
Clarksville, TN

txbowler · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:33:31 PM »

JLS - I'm curious. What should you be making as a yearly salary for operating a pro shop? The median household income for the US is approx $50,000 a year. Do you feel you should be above or below that line?

Edited on 1/30/2009 2:35 PM

thirtyclean · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:41:30 PM »

Sales in our pro shop were up for 2008, becaase of a few pro shops closing in the area. One thing I notice is that more people getting used balls from other people, and we are plugging and redrilling. We are probably at the mercy of the employers of our best customers though. If they lose there jobs, are sales will reflect that.
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Thirtyclean (Well maybe 29, or 28, most of
the times !)

jls · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2009, 02:27:41 PM »

quote:
JLS - I'm curious. What should you be making as a yearly salary for operating a pro shop? The median household income for the US is approx $50,000 a year. Do you feel you should be above or below that line?

Edited on 1/30/2009 2:35 PM

Above.

Now what do you think the average coffee drinking keyboard pounder that surfs the net while on the job should be making???
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jls

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2009, 02:34:28 PM »

Drevv....

Your vision of the future is different than mine! But I hope you are right!

Could you tell us the signs of the rebound? I'm serious..

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

txbowler · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:18:39 PM »

quote:
quote:
JLS - I'm curious. What should you be making as a yearly salary for operating a pro shop? The median household income for the US is approx $50,000 a year. Do you feel you should be above or below that line?

Edited on 1/30/2009 2:35 PM

Above.

Now what do you think the average coffee drinking keyboard pounder that surfs the net while on the job should be making???
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jls

I think everyone should make whatever the market will bear for their chosen profession. I worked for a pro shop a few years ago and the owner, after expenses, was making $60,000+ a year. Which is above that median salary. I'm just curious since you post about pricing a lot, what you feel is fair compared to the median worker in the US?

sdbowler · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2009, 12:19:07 PM »

quote:
JLS - I'm curious. What should you be making as a yearly salary for operating a pro shop? The median household income for the US is approx $50,000 a year. Do you feel you should be above or below that line?

Edited on 1/30/2009 2:35 PM

I will add one thing to this to make it even more interesting. It all depends on what part of the country you are in. Somebody down south could end up making more then say someone in the midwest. JLS I am not for sure where you are but it sounds like you do a great business and I am glad for you on that. I know from talking to my friend who is in Alabama that they are busy pretty much all year round. In Sioux Falls the summer months the bowling center was a ghost town. Everyone was out golfing, fishing, camping, etc. So to me it all depends on where you live.
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Kyle

laufaye · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2009, 10:35:13 AM »

quote:
quote:
JLS - I'm curious. What should you be making as a yearly salary for operating a pro shop? The median household income for the US is approx $50,000 a year. Do you feel you should be above or below that line?

Edited on 1/30/2009 2:35 PM

I will add one thing to this to make it even more interesting. It all depends on what part of the country you are in. Somebody down south could end up making more then say someone in the midwest. JLS I am not for sure where you are but it sounds like you do a great business and I am glad for you on that. I know from talking to my friend who is in Alabama that they are busy pretty much all year round. In Sioux Falls the summer months the bowling center was a ghost town. Everyone was out golfing, fishing, camping, etc. So to me it all depends on where you live.
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Kyle

Your friend in Alabama basically is the only pro shop in the whole state, Jeff's...
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Laufaye

sdbowler · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2009, 11:57:29 AM »

Yeah he use to work for Jeff but now works for the center. Jeff is doing really well for himself I see.
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Kyle

Author Topic: are ball sales really down (Read 2517 times)

bowlerdawg

are ball sales really down

jls

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bowlerdawg

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jls

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Pinhammer

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txbowler

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thirtyclean

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jls

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LuckyLefty

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txbowler

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sdbowler

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laufaye

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sdbowler

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