Trade Partners
Trade partnerships set new standards for our industry and ourselves. One-sided partnerships are notoriously short-lived. The bowling industry has seen its share come and go. Ebonite International’s reputation for understanding and addressing the needs of distributors, pro shops, bowling centers and bowling center mechanics is as much of who we are as the products we produce. Our distribution policies are clear, concise, fair and protective of our customers. Pricing and program integrity are as integral to our core values as the quality of our products is to our customers.
World Class Customer Service
The expansion of our field sales force now ranks the Ebonite International sales force as one of the largest in the industry. Size and scope mean nothing, however, unless those people are the best. We know they are. Our sales force is a rare breed of passionate individuals who appreciate that their primary job is to understand, create growth and solve the problems of their customers.
Our in-house customer service team is newly expanded and equipped with the industry’s most comprehensive information system to ensure prompt, accurate ordering and distribution. Of course, those same friendly voices you know and love are still at work from our Hopkinsville office to Denver, Colorado. How could we replace the best customer service team in the world? We couldn’t.
Leading Edge Field Marketing Programs
Supporting the success of these partnerships are field marketing programs that are intended to enhance our brands’ acceptance and boost the product sales of our trade partners. In the early 1990s, Ebonite International pioneered new product seminars for pro shops and distributors. Now, we continue to lead the industry with our patented Demo Days program. Demo Days have revolutionized the way our trade partners involve the bowler in the buying process, allowing consumers a chance to try new products before they buy.
Ebonite International was also the first company in bowling to recognize the importance of in-store merchandising. As a result, our Striking Effects Pro Shops continue to maximize merchandising and its impact upon pro shop sales and profitability.
We’re not stopping there. We are committed to building new relationships and promoting greater brand loyalty from pro shop owners and consumers alike.
Growing The Sport
We place great emphasis on growing the sport and the future of bowling. Ebonite International knows the success of the entire industry is directly related to the growth of the sport. Our commitment to growing the sport is focused on four principal initiatives: new market development; elevating the profile of the pro tours; developing bowler education and training programs; and supporting youth bowling.
New Market Development
Future growth requires looking beyond conventional bowling venues. Look at the explosive growth of our Fun Ball category. We saw the potential to grow the spare ball market and found the perfect hook with our fun balls. Then we pushed ourselves to think even further outside the box by partnering with powers outside the bowling industry. For example, our Budweiser®; consumer product line has helped us capture a huge untapped market in addition to being named the 2000 Anheuser-Busch®; licensed product of the year.
Elevating the Profile of the Pro Tours
Pro tours represent the best foot forward of the sport of bowling to the public at large. We select great players to represent our brands, people who like us are committed to working hard at being the best. This allows us to fill the gaps in tour events, create excitement and heightened awareness of the tour itself.
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard. Cara Honeychurch. Leanne Barrette. Kelly Kulick. Jason Couch. Tommy Jones. Michelle Feldman. Doug KY Mika Koivuniemi. Jason Queen. Their names and faces have become instantly recognizable to our audiences through ongoing tour promotion activities including tailgate parties, media challenges and training camps.
Bowler Training and Education
Ebonite bowler training and education programs give bowlers the benefit of our expertise as well as our products. Better bowler education means better satisfaction at all skill levels. Even as a new initiative of Ebonite’s, we are utilizing the latest equipment and techniques including our CATS lane systems to help ensure results.
Pre-season training camps give future pros practical advice on skills ranging from proper form to media relations, and bowlers love us for it. Our most recent PWBA camp drew attendees from across the country to our Galaxy Lanes center in Columbia, Tennessee. Enhancing bowler knowledge ultimately enhances their satisfaction.
The Advancement of High School and Collegiate Bowling
Our promotion of bowling as a mainstream sport reaches far beyond the bowling centers and pro shops of the world. Ebonite International and other members of the Ebonite family work quietly behind the scenes to promote bowling among future consumers. Currently, Ebonite pro Carolyn Dorin-Ballard is the industry’s spokesperson for high school bowling, while Ebonite pro Kim Terrell is the industry’s spokesperson for collegiate bowling, which only recently became an NCAA sanctioned sport for women.
Growing the sport of bowling is more than a goal. It is an accomplishment that is taken seriously and shared by all who work here. When it comes to building the future of our industry, Ebonite’s commitment speaks for itself.