A Conversation with the Founder of Kids Bowl Free
Over the past few months, we have explored different promotion ideas to attract more customers to your bowling center. Today, I sat down with the founder and creator of Kids Bowl Free, Bruce Davis.
Bruce is one of my close friends, and I am also fortunate to have had him as a career mentor for many years. His energy has no end, and his lifelong passion for bowling has fueled some of the industry’s most innovative approaches to inspiring future generations of bowlers.
Jim: Tell us a bit about your background in the industry.
Bruce: I grew up around my family’s ...
My all-time favorite pricing structure
We have discussed pricing options in the past here in this blog, but today I would like to discuss my all-time favorite pricing structure: the 2-for-5 option (two games for $5).
The spring and summer months are a great time to test your market. I’m never a fan of “going cheaper” for the sole sake of reducing prices. However, I am a huge proponent of bundling packages together in a way that gives your customers great value and helps drive business into your centers. This type of bundling structure will always be a win-win for your bowling center.
The 2-for-$5 ...
Gaining an edge through PR tools
Today, we want to talk about an easy technique to drive attendance for your bowling center’s major events. Yes, we’re talking about press releases.
Now, before you say, “Jim, I run a bowling center, not a political campaign! Why do I need a press release?”, let me just point out that press releases are an easy and effective tool to drive attendance to your center, garner goodwill and appreciation in the community, and put your bowling center on the map.
The first thing to understand is what a press release is. Simply put, a press release is a short news ...
Using video to take your marketing to the next level
When it comes to your marketing strategy for your bowling center, have you considered using digital videos? I recently came across the article below from WordStream, and I highly recommend that you take a moment to read through it. Online videos are one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your bowling center and to help drive traffic.
If you are interested in learning more about how online videos can take your center’s marketing to the next level, feel free to reach out to me. Ten Pin has custom videos for your bowling center, and we would be happy to help you ...
Testing different pricing models
I’m fortunate to live in a Great Lakes state, where we enjoy all four seasons. And when spring and summer months arrive in Michigan (and many other states), business general slumps, no matter what you do.
Once you accept that the seasonal shifts will cause different ebbs and flows with your business, you can set realistic goals and even experiment and try new things.
One of the most important areas where you can experiment is with your pricing. People are always price-sensitive, but these days, my experience has shown that customers are even more “time-sensitiv...
Curb appeal is real
Want an easy way to grow your business? Take a step outside and take stock of what prospective customers see.
There is a lot to say about curb appeal. The exterior defines the interior. And yes, prospective clients are judging the book by the cover, so to speak.
With springtime just around the corner, now is the ideal time to get a jumpstart on your spring cleaning.
You may be surprised to learn that enhancing your curb appeal will not require an endless supply of cash. In fact, the majority of the curb appeal projects only require a little elbow grease and a ...
Do charitable organizations present a business opportunity?
Bowling and charitable work to raise awareness for autism and for those with disabilities. Surprising combination? Not at all!
Bowling centers offer a variety of opportunities for proprietors to integrate their own personal charitable passions with their businesses. You may not have considered it before, but charitable work presents an incredible opportunity to grow your business and build your community support while promoting your brand.
My own interest in combining charity with business development comes from a very personal circumstance. My son, Jimmy, is ...
Get organized
Bowling centers are thriving this time of year with league play in full swing, birthday parties, field trips, and other outings creating a constant flow of customers.
But the downside of being that busy is that it leaves little time for office work or for organizing.
Maybe you are a master of organization and have won awards for your organizational systems. If so, skip this blog post. But for the rest of us who need some help getting systems in place (or maybe just need some help getting motivated to tackle our organizing needs!), here are some of the tricks I have ...
A feel-good approach to your customer service
One of the 1980’s most iconic TV shows, “Cheers,” has a valuable lesson for every industry – the value of customer service. “Cheers” ran for a total of 275 episodes, spanning eleven seasons, and the show centered on the lives of a Boston bar’s patrons. The repeat customers at the bar continued to go back to Cheers not because of the menu, but because of the true sense of community, where, as the theme song mentions, “everybody knows your name.”
If you want to make your bowling center more of a feel-good locale that attracts repeat customers, there are ...
What size shoes?
Customer service is one of the few areas where focusing too much on “efficiency” can be detrimental to your business.
It may seem paradoxical, but it’s true. Customer service is not about the numbers. It’s about the people and the customers’ experience. Sure, it would be quicker to greet all of your customers at the front counter with a simple question “Shoe size?” But the less efficient greeting that encompasses making the person feel comfortable with the pricing structure, the setting, and even the “bowling vernacular,” are all good investments into ...
