i'm in the same boat with keeping inventory levels. i cant really keep anything on hand, i use ace mitchell also and they are very good for me. i provide the ordering and worst case scenario the product is here in 2 days tops. most of the time its overnight.  i would try to keep plastic balls in stock and maybe 1-3 mid to high end balls.  word of mouth is huge so i might go to one of your centers high end bowlers and give them a ball and tell him the deal is to spread the word that you know what your doing...good luck with your shop

We also mostly stock 15 lbs. only, with some 14s.  The only exception is in the entry level reactive balls and the polyester balls, which we sell quite a bit of in the 10 and 12 pound balls.

I would suggest spending some time out in the center when leagues are going to introduce yourself and offer to watch any league bowler and offer help or tips with their next ball selection.  Most bowlers enter the shop and are baffled as to which balls are best for playing the outside (drier) boards versus one that will allow them to play a little deeper.  They just see a bunch of round balls that are different colors and prices.

If you'll spend 10 minutes on the lanes with them, they will see that you're committed to helping them get the right ball for THEIR game, instead of what works for "Joe Cranker".  They really do want to be "sold" but only when they are convinced that they will get the "red carpet" treatment, whether they spend $130 or $230.

One more observation: Most of the twenty-somethings are just starting out in life and can't spend the money for new equipment as easily as someone who is a little more established in their careers, etc.  Take good care of all your customers, but get to know all of them instead of just your buddies, so to speak.

BrunsNick has said before that he has asked his friends not to hang out in his shop because it has to be a place of business. I have seen it happen at our shop, when it's full of people,(customers or not) sometimes a person who would have normally come in and asked some questions, will stay away because they are insecure about their ball knowledge and will just "come back another time", or try another shop, etc.  Greet them and make them feel like they are the only thing that matters at that moment, and you'll have a repeat customer for years to come.  Good luck.




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notclay

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah

"The problem is no that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." ~ Theodore Rubin


Edited on 7/27/2007 3:29 PM

First thing I would do is put a big sign on the front saying under new management!  We stock what ever sells.  By that I mean know your customer base.  I order a lot of 10 12 and 14 pound tropical storms.  We go through a large amount of WD's, Maxims and TZones in every weight from 6 to 15 pounds.  A top of the line ball may sit for a while unless we run a special.  Last year we ran Morich Awesome Hooks $199.95 including drilling, slug and inserts.  Buy from someone that has free shipping if you buy over $500 at a time.  We turn our merchandise fast enough to be able to buy $500 at least.  

Smash49
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Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with Bowlers Slide Sock.  The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
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www.strikingcatbowling.com

The center I use to work at we would stock very little. If a ball came out that we thought would sell fast we would stock it. At that time it was the Ti Messengers from Columbia we kept 4-6 on hand to sell them. We would keep maybe 6 different balls on hand to show a difference between them. Sioux Falls has been a Storm and Columbia market for many years so we would make sure that we kept a few items from each of them on hand. Since myself and a few others that worked there also used Track a lot back then we kept a Track ball on hand as well. But we did a lot of special orders. We had two set days that we would order so we could try to place a larger order to save on shipping. If it was something we would need right away the call was placed to get it on the way.
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Brunswick
Kyle

Thanks again guys for all of the great advice.  Our center mostly favors Hammer, with Storm not too far behind.  I myself have always been a Track fan, and while I don't wanna push anything just because I like it, I do generally have more knowledge about Track equipment than some others.  On a side note, anybody have good results with a distributor other than Ace Mitchell...
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Matt Fields
12 In A Row Proshop
Leisure Lanes
Pulaski, VA

We always had good luck with Anchorman sales in Kansas City.

We could order by 3:00 PM and get it the next day.  

But they are a little far away for you.

You should be able to find a distributor near by that can deliver in business day or two at most.  

My local pro shop operator keeps up 4 small shops or service stations in the region, serviced on a daily basis. He also has not really much space in his showroom, but has the current, most frequent models in 15lbs. on display. Order is normal, though. Anyway, one good marketing tool he uses is a simple catalogue poster next to the showroom which is loacted at the bowling alley's entrance - the whole assortment of frequent and unfrequent stuff with official prices, inlucding entry level packages and the like. Plus the hint at the shop's website and that almost anything can be ordered.

I think this list with some nice pictures is a major tool to tell potential and frequent customers what's available at the moment, despite limited space and stocks, and I think it also attracts entry level players who think about their first set.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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