Author Topic: Can bowling be a successful business? (Read 3162 times)

ben300bowl · « **on:** September 30, 2003, 03:53:46 AM »

I am debating running bowling for a business. Can anyone that has or is running a bowling center help me out on the facts and konw how to be successful.

ben300bowl · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:38:25 PM »

Do you own your own bowling center?
What in your opinion keeps people coming back.
Even league bowlers coming back.

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:39:35 PM »

Bowling, the game, will sell itself. As a proprietor, you just need to keep a good looking, well-maintained place (including proper lane maintenance) and do enough advertising or marketing to create awareness. The most successful centers I know of operate on the following theory: leagues provide steady cash flow, so create and nuture leagues Sunday nights through Thursday nights, and Friday and Saturday are event nights -- cosmic or neon bowling, open bowling, Birthday parties (Sunday afternoons too). Keep a game room, a reasonably priced grill and bar (i.e., don't price refills on your soda pop so that's its cheaper to buy a bottle from a machine) and make your place a family place (keep a reign on rowdies). If you do that, you can make money.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

ben300bowl · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:43:08 PM »

Thanks Phillip on your upbeat response. I am really excited to be able to own a bowling center one day. It sure is expensive though. Do you know ways that can make it easier on just a normal Joe starting off on one of these things.

HamPster · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:49:12 PM »

I'd HIGHLY recommend calling Ron Hopper, the guy that owns the center I work at. A couple extra things he has is a bar that's part of the building, a go kart track, and mini golf. Of course a nice arcade will generate cashflow, especially on cyber bowling nights. If you make it nice enough to rival the arcades at malls and other places, they'll just come to the bowling alley an hour or two before cyberbowling instead of hanging out at the mall first. Vending machines are a must. Ron runs a HELL of a place here. He cares about keeping things nice and in working order. If you'd like to call him up and talk to him sometime, just message me and I'll give you the number. Lol, now as far as a pro shop, that all depends on how big the city is, and how cheap you can afford to sell stuff AS WELL as the quality of the work done. Of course that's probably an intelligence insulting statement, but sometimes the most overused and trite statements are the most worthwhile.
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HAH! I don't know ANYBODY now!

Being in adult leagues teaches you many things.

1. You're not on top anymore, but there are a lot more people that suck worse than you do now.

2. The myth about the youths having an easier shot is NOT TRUE. I'd have an entire ring collection if it was.

3. Drunk adults are a lot funnier than drunk youths.

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:52:50 PM »

quote:
Thanks Phillip on your upbeat response. I am really excited to be able to own a bowling center one day. It sure is expensive though. Do you know ways that can make it easier on just a normal Joe starting off on one of these things.

I haven't worked in a center in some years, even with guys offering me jobs relatively often. What I would do is to get some industry mags, find successful managers and proprietors just outside of the area you will be competing in (or anywhere else for that matter) and ask them what works for them. Read the industry mags for marketing tips. Do your research. And make sure you don't take over a disaster -- a place that has been poorly maintained and which has loads of competition from nearby lanes. That is a recipe for a very long, very hard lesson for a beginner.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

ben300bowl · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2003, 07:56:33 PM »

I could use any help you can offer. What is Ron's number. I don't know if I would have a pro shop at first but I think eventually the bowlers will need that from me. I have never been in a bowling alley that didn't have a pro shop. It does sound like you have to be able to run it like a second business. I think a good restaurant and bar would help in bringing money in. Especially in a town that lacks in that category.

Doggie the Dog · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2003, 12:30:09 AM »

Good thing you brought up Ron Hopper- I remember him from his days running Sunset Bowl(he grew up in that center)- he eventually sold it to AMF and it went downhill from there, it closed about 7 years ago.

He also managed NKC Pro Bowl after he sold Sunset.

Good bowling proprietor and overall bowling individual.

Also the owners of Park Lanes, Ranch West, Ranch Bowl, Incred-A-Bowl(KS), and Lunar Bowl in MO know what they're doing being successful with what they have.
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Sometimes ya get chicken salad
Sometimes ya get chicken -----

Edited on 10/1/2003 0:44 AM

HamPster · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2003, 02:08:16 AM »

Ahh, I guess it was a good thing! Yeah, West Ridge Lanes here in Topeka resembles Park Lanes and Lunar Bowl (so I'm told as far as Lunar Bowl, I've been to Park once or twice before) very closely. Ron's doing an awesome job with the alley, real class act that knows what he's doing. I don't know his office number, but the alley number is 273-3333. He's there nearly every week day, and also for a little while on Saturday mornings and afternoons. As far as the pro shop, we're a seperate business from the bowling alley, we just rent space and operate inside the bowl, so essentially the only difference is that Ron doesn't own the shop itself. I'd say that trying to find someone to own and operate any pro shop you might have would probably be in your best interest, rather than just sticking an employee in there. It serves a number of purposes. First, it's just another added hassle and liability (mostly financially) when you're already going to have enough to do. Second, anyone that depends on the shop for income absolutely must do a good job and be very customer minded, because their income depends on it, rather than again, having an employee in there that might be dedicated to the work, but still is in there for the paycheck. I know I'm probably not explaining this well, but we're the only pro shop in town that is not alley-owned, and we're also the most prominent. Whether or not that's just a coincedence, I'm not totally sure, but from what I've seen, it seems to work out better.
--------------------
HAH! I don't know ANYBODY now!

Being in adult leagues teaches you many things.

1. You're not on top anymore, but there are a lot more people that suck worse than you do now.

2. The myth about the youths having an easier shot is NOT TRUE. I'd have an entire ring collection if it was.

3. Drunk adults are a lot funnier than drunk youths.

TheDude · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2003, 07:28:52 AM »

I'm young from an industry stand point, considering most managers are in there late 30s to early 40s or even older. But the center I work in is open 24 Hours a day and every day of the year as well. Our Downtown location lets us do that and still maintain profitable margins even at 3 am. Something you might want to consider is being open 24 hrs a day on friday and saturday nights. often when clubs and bars/hangouts close people might still want something to do. Second of all, an arcade is great for producing steady income. Ours is very large compared to even most mall arcades. it brings in about 4 to 5 thousand dollars each week in the regular season, and in the summer sometimes up to 8 in a single week! Also we have a very spacious bar( although i will admit it needs a face lift) but it is open from 11 am to 3 am every day of the week. we have video lottery terminals and they cover alot of the bills too. Carrying on, we have a restaurant that is open 24 hrs a day and it always staffed on the weekends with a minimum of 2 people and sometimes up to 8 when we have birthday parties. we on an average weekend will host 15 to up 25 birthday parties on a single weekend! we have 4 theme party rooms. and they also double as rooms for day camps, and special groups that require meeting space. Also one option for the restaurant is to rent the restaurant to a larger chain restaurant, possibly mc Donald or burger king etc... this way you have another big name to place on your sign and kids will prefer a big mac and fries because they know the fries will be good. Plus you can work out a deal with them to provide food for the birthday parties and not have to stress so much. And to add to everything Pool tables are very important! a separate pool hall could be an option, being 18+ you can have more video lottery terminals, and the pool tables can general additional income.

Over all, your space allotted for everything besides lanes should be about half of what the lanes take up, but for us it's half the bowling center. and the pool hall is on the second floor of the building.

Good luck and also always try to be well staffed, with cleaners.
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I am Canadian Dude!

Edited on 10/1/2003 7:41 AM

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2003, 01:53:16 PM »

Just a thought... You may consider looking at existing houses to buy rather than build new. That way you will already have clientele, and more than likely a decent league base that's already generating cash flow. Also, this gives you the added benefit of checking out their books to see how they've been doing financially. A new center would be nice from a technology/equipment standpoint, but it can be difficult to get people involved if there hasn't been anything there.

Not trying to set your mind one way or the other, but something to think about. Good Luck!!

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9-

Why, WHY won't the last one just fall?? It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2003, 02:29:12 AM »

Oh boy, lots to address here...

To the idea of buying a center that is already in place, I'd say no. My opinion that part of the problem with our sport is that it hasn't been "new" for way too long. The excitement of a brand new bowling center will flood your business with customers for a good amount of time. Yes, it is expensive, but in the long run it will be worth it. Bronson Strikeville Lanes is an example to look at in Bronson, MI. They just opened this year. Let's watch them and see how they do.

Somebody already touched on the really important things like keeping up on lane and machine maintenance, cleanliness and overall appearance of the center. Marketing was a good idea too. But none of it means a whole lot without good, friendly people working there who don't hate their jobs. Your employees can hurt you or help you more than any other part of your business. Please keep that in mind.

Many people jump on the "location, location, location" bandwagon, and I'll tell you now, that's the biggest myth since Big Foot. There are exceptions to every rule, so some places just would NOT work out, but I've seen well run centers work fantastically in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between. On the other hand, I've seen poorly run centers run into the ground in even the best bowling markets. In Essexville, MI there are two bowling centers. One only has 24 lanes, but is clean, friendly, and well run all the way around. The other is 48 lanes, corporately owned with poor service. The 24 laner is full every night, with 2nd shifts, morning leagues, and some afternoon leagues. I think the 48 laner has 3 leagues...total. The 2 centers are on the same road...right across the road from each other!!!

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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Edited on 10/2/2003 2:39 AM

MichiganBowling · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2003, 02:34:35 AM »

One more thing. Success is easily duplicated. It would be worth your time to study a successful bowling center, and also to study an unsuccessful bowling center. I mean, if you're willing to spend millions to build a bowling center, then you can afford to pay two people a whole year to work for two bowling centers, and at the end have them compare notes. What bowling center wouldn't love you for that?
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

Author Topic: Can bowling be a successful business? (Read 3162 times)

ben300bowl

Can bowling be a successful business?

ben300bowl

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

Phillip Marlowe

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

ben300bowl

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

HamPster

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

Phillip Marlowe

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

ben300bowl

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

Doggie the Dog

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

HamPster

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

TheDude

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

9andaWiggle

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

MichiganBowling

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?

MichiganBowling

Re: Can bowling be a successful business?