Post by: kidlost2000 on February 19, 2011, 05:37:18 PM
Anyone else hear that starting next season the Ebonite family will be releasing fewer bowling balls?
Something along the lines of 1 high performance release per season from Track and Hammer, and 2 high performance releases from Columbia and Ebonite. Along with fewer releases in the mid and lower performance categories.
Sounds like a nice idea that should work until they release a HP ball that tanks like a Mission 2.0 or Pure Physics, at that point I would imagine they would be forced to throw another release out there instead of going all or half a season with a ball that can't be given away. Still, will be curious to see if this works.
Be good, or be good at it.
Post by: Metal_rules on February 20, 2011, 06:55:30 AM
i just attented a ebonite seminar. what they told us is starting the fisical year for 2011/2012 they are going to spred the ball releases around. instead of most of the balls being released for the ball expo, they are going to scale back, and just release balls on a more timely issue, along with working with all brands on releases under thier umbrella.
Post by: TheDude on February 20, 2011, 11:41:47 AM
believe it when i see it.
Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shops
LaSalle, Quebec-Located inside Pont Mercier Lanes.
Keep them honest!
Ebay store updated very often: http://stores.ebay.com/gumby3170?refid+store
Post by: bowlingnut76 on February 20, 2011, 03:56:12 PM
phew about time....to damn confusing with all the releases back to back under 4 brands....probably why went back to big b...but income tax money comes in might try either ransom or vital energy
Nothing hits like a hammer
Buddies pro shop...The place all bowlers shop
PAVLINKOSPROSHOP....STEVE AND DAVE TOP NOTCH GUYS IN SOUTH JERESY
Post by: jls on February 20, 2011, 05:04:15 PM
Mission 2.0 and Pure Physics Tanked???
I didn't know that...
Both sold well for us...
And now it's a war out there between the Taboo, the Mission Domination/250K and the World Beater...
Nice job Ebonite...
jls
Post by: kidlost2000 on February 20, 2011, 07:06:44 PM
Yep, Mission 2.0 was replaced in less then two months of release by the $250K/Domination. (think it was already mentioned on here in less then a month)
Pure Physics was so bad the head of Columbia had them scratch the whole line and redo the ball with something new.(Ransom)
Ebonites words not mine.
So I will be curious to see if one of the "one or two" release HP balls per year tanks what will happen. Couldn't imagine letting it ride the whole season and killing sales.
Be good, or be good at it.
Post by: bowlingnut76 on February 21, 2011, 06:45:23 AM
i know they test thier products but not undr extreme conditions imo... also pull balls out of second run of balls also test balls under extreme conditions....but if they do test them under extreme conditions then why do we experince ball death....18 months in development this shouldnt happen be unacceptable to me....good think im not ceo people would be in deep doo-doo
Nothing hits like a hammer
Buddies pro shop...The place all bowlers shop
PAVLINKOSPROSHOP....STEVE AND DAVE TOP NOTCH GUYS IN SOUTH JERESY
Post by: completebowler on February 21, 2011, 07:23:48 AM
They did however say that this attempt will be very risky and they will need the pro shops to help them with sales and marketing since there won't be the "ball of the month" hype that helps drive sales on top end.
Instead of releasing most of their products at Bowl Expo they will be focused on HP releases at the beginning of the season and then a couple more in February.
They also talked about the fact that it will be imperative that they produce balls that have performance, looks, and longevity. If a ball is terribly ugly it won't sell. If the ball doesn't hook and hit like the competitors it won't sell. And if it dies after 30 games it won't sell.
It will be a heavy lift to accomplish all of this and it will take an industry wide effort but I applaud the mindset they have regarding this new strategy. Hopefully those of us in the pro shops back them up on this. That's the only way it will work imo.
ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
IBPSIA MEMBER
WALLED LAKE MI
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
IBPSIA MEMBER
WALLED LAKE MI
Post by: jls on February 21, 2011, 02:37:31 PM
Did not know that the 2.0 was discontinued... The original Mission has been discontinued...Here sales of the 2.0 were strong... And according to my Dist... The 2.0 has not been discontinued...
Now as for the Domination/250K,,, I don't think you will need to be worrying about them being "tanked" They are selling well, right along with the World Beater and the Infection... And with NO rebates...
jls
Edited by jls on 2/21/2011 at 3:40 PM
Post by: kidlost2000 on February 21, 2011, 02:46:23 PM
I didn't say anything was discontinued, I said replaced.
I also did not mention sales for the 250K or the other new releases tanking. I did say that under the new sells model if a ball does tank, will they stick with the new sells model or hurry to try and replace the ball with a new one to prevent a loss of sells.
Be good, or be good at it.
Post by: jls on February 21, 2011, 02:57:03 PM
Kid, I wouldn't say that the 2.0 was replaced by the Domination...Every year at this time Ebonite releases a new HP ball...Last year at this time it was the Mission...
And according to what was said at the seminar, the Mission was the ball of the year and the 2.0 was 3rd...
So if anything, the Domination is replacing the original Mission... Which had a great run...And is indeed a "hall of fame" type of ball...
Now as for their new plans to cut back...They did indeed say that if they felt they needed another new release, they would...But they were going to try to stick with the new scaled back plan...
jls
Post by: john rambo on February 21, 2011, 03:12:01 PM
I wonder why they plan on cutting back?? Storm/Roto Grip currently has no plans on cutting back releases. I do know that across the board Storm and Roto Combine to out sell Ebonite International maybe they just can't compete anymore
Post by: john rambo on February 21, 2011, 03:16:03 PM
I would bet that the aquisiton of Track,Hammer,Columbia a few years back is starting to take it's toll on Ebonite. I mean they had to pay Barnes' Columbia contract which was the highest paid contract ever by a ball company and now the economy sucks, just think all of the marketing of the 4 brands and all of the different staff players that they would have to support it's all costs!
Post by: EboKnight on February 22, 2011, 10:15:47 AM
NOPE, Mission 2.0 was 3rd in ball of the year votes (first Mission won) for the entire year with only 2 months of sales to back it.
So, definitely not a flop.
Matt Williams
Gator Pro Shop: June 04 - Present
Ebonite Staff(3 years)
www.Ebonite.com
www.GatorBowling.com
Post by: EboKnight on February 22, 2011, 10:22:17 AM
cut backs are due to major overlapping problems between all 4 companies and cost effectiveness.
there should never be a Mission Dom, 916AT, Taboo, and World Beater all out in a few month span. It wont happen again. They are helping smooth out sales in shops. Especially since they arent available on the the 3 biggest online websites anymore. THANK YOU EBONITE for that.
no company should have to put out 6-8 balls per season (that's insane to keep up with as a pro shop operator).
as long as its a good and longer lasting product it will sell (the new covers are definitely longer lasting IMO.
Matt Williams
Gator Pro Shop: June 04 - Present
Ebonite Staff(3 years)
www.Ebonite.com
www.GatorBowling.com
Edited by EboKnight on 2/22/2011 at 11:24 AM
Post by: stopncrank on February 22, 2011, 11:20:09 AM
Problem is, how are all 4 brands(who are marketed as seperate companies) supposed to survive? If all four are supposed to be seperate entities, how are they expected to survive without a well rounded lineup? Sounds to me like there may be some consolidation somewhere down the road between these four brands.
Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....
Post by: jls on February 22, 2011, 11:35:01 AM
Triple AAA+++ to that sir...
Kinda sorta thought the ball sold well here...
Now as for any of their new stuff "tanking"... Not seeing that at all...
The World Beater, the Infection and the Dom/250K all are doing well....
jls