Every person that answers this is probably going to have a different answer. So much of this is going to depend on how many other shops are in your area, how well the area is economically and the size of the center that the shop is located in.

Salem, Ohio is where my shop is located. I have a Freestanding shop, so my business model is different because of not being in a bowling alley.

I sell about 20-30 balls/month plus some internet business as well. Almost everything I sell is Track/Columbia, probably 90% or more, with an emphasis on Track.

My repeats are very good because it is my belief that for someone to go to someone who is not in a pro shop must have faith in him or at the very minimum likes the job that is being done.


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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF

The proshop I use to work at was at a 24 lane center (the smallest in the city) but had the best reputation for measuring and drilling. The shop was independently owned and operated.  

Repeat business was 70% of our sales.

We probably sold 50 to 60 balls a month, that includes plastic to high performance.

We would probably plug another 30 a month and have 10 blank drills.  

TTT... Removed questions concerning prices.
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The bowling gods said "let there be strikes" and then there was Dyno-Thane!

Where is your shop located? --  Tell City, Indiana, a town of about 8,000, in a 20 lane house.

What is your average number of balls sold each month?  --  I would say 125 balls per year.  The amount varies widely, with the heaviest volume coming from Christmas through April, and almost nothing during the summer.

Do you have a good repeat customer base?  --  Most of the bowlers in our center buy their balls at my shop.  The nearest competing shop is about 50 miles away.  We price our drilling for internet balls very high ($75), so probably a dozen sales a year are lost to other shops that charge less.  Most of our bowlers buy a ball every three years.

Do you get more sales with entry level or mid-high performance range balls  --  Roughly 60% of our sales are plastic balls to our junior bowlers and beginning ladies.  20% are midrange balls to the better juniors and ladies and beginning men, and 20% high performance.

In summary, we are a typical small house shop.  Not a big profit center, more of a service to our bowlers.  Since I'm retired and don't need any extra $$ to survive, I consider the pro shop a hobby.  The bowling center owns the shop and sets prices (with my input).  We only carry a very small inventory, mostly of plastic balls.  We can get any ball that Classic Products stocks in three days.  I normally spend one night per week at the shop, and take appointments at any time I don't have a conflict.  I also bowl in two leagues, and will do some work before or after the league time.  --  JohnP