Ok, as some of you may know, or maybe not, I own a Proshop in Southeastern Kansas just south of Wichita. I took over the proshop and signed a one year contract on December 12, 2006. (meaning im there till december 11, 2007)

The bowling alley i am in has a lot of league bowlers and has various leagues every night. My hours of operation are as follows:

Monday 5-7 (the one night i bowl league)
Tuesday 5-8:30
Wednesday 5-8:30
Thursday 9-noon (senior league) and  5-8:30
Friday  5-9
Saturday 9-noon (juniors)

I believe that that covers every league except one small womens league during the day on wednesday.

The trouble i am having is, one, getting customers into the shop, and two, getting said customers to purchase something.
I have worked at this bowling alley for 2 years prior to taking over the shop so i feel have a good sense of what goes on and i definately know most league bowlers.

I believe my biggest problem is my age. I am 19 years old and, not to sound cocky, i know what i am doing. I have been to a week long jayhawk class, a powerhouse clinic and i have participated in an IBPSIA HOTS seminar. I have the certificates displayed in easy view in my proshop.

It appears to me as though the bowlers see a "kid" and think... who is he and what does he know about bowling?

My prices are also very reasonable/low side. For a blank drill i charge 30 for plastic and 40 for others (grips, but not slugs, included). For a full plug and redrill i charge 25 plus grips/slugs. The pricing on my balls and other equip is also very low compared to surrounding areas. For example, a proshop in wichita that i know the owner and am friends with charges 219 drilled for the TNV. In my shop, i have the TNV for 184 drilled. Thats 35 dollars cheaper, as is the case on most of my goods.


I guess my request is, if anybody has been in the situation i have been in or think they know something to get people in the shop... please tell me. Any suggestion at all will be greately appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

PS. i dont think its the summer months causing this, it has been a going thing for about 2 months.

You didn't mention how good a bowler you are.

That can affect attitudes also!

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..

To echo what Briley said, why such short hours on the weekend?  Or what about during the week during the day.

Most league bowlers, aren't going to drill up a ball before/during their league.  

Also, think about who the clientele is.  I know that I bowl with a lot of cops, and "blue collar" guys.  Well, a lot of them have to work 2nd or 3rd shift and therefore would rather visit a pro shop during the day or on the weekend.  

With my work schedule, it's almost impossible for me to get to the pro shop during the week, I get 99% of my stuff done on Sundays.  I'll hang out if I have nothing else to do and most Sundays, the shop has steady customers from 1-5.
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What are you gonna do?  Beat me with your Jesus stick?