Billiards Pool Table Articles & Tips

Running the Table

Ya got business, folks, right here in River City with a capital "B" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool.

Business is brisk, in fact, for Western Slope Billiards, a Grand Junction firm that sells, installs, moves and repairs pool tables.

"This year has been amazing." says Connie Carpendale, co-owner of Western Slope Billiards with Rick Bellin.

Carpendale attributes success to a number of factors. There's the increasing popularity of pool as a leisure and family activity due in part to television coverage of competition. Then there's the trend in residential construction to larger homes that can accommodate pool tables. A growing number of upscale homes are built specifically to include billiards rooms. Moreover, a lot of people moving to the Grand Valley bring their pool tables with them and hire the business to set up the tables.

It also helps, she says, that Western Slope Billiards sells top-quality Olhausen pool tables and has developed a reputation for top-quality installation and repair services.

Even the new location for the business in downtown Grand Junction has helped in providing additional visibility. "Sales have increased since we moved downtown." Western Slope Billiards in one of the oldest pool table and equipment suppliers in the area. Carpendale and Bellin purchased the operation in 1990 from Carbondale's brother, who started the business in 1986.

Carpendale staffs the store, answering telephones and assisting customers. Bellin moves, installs and repairs pool tables.

Carpendale says Bellin not only is passionate about his work, but he's also a perfectionist. "He's so thrilled about pool tables. He just loves his work."

Wester Slope Billiards is an authorized dealer for Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing. The California-based company makes the pool tables used for professional play. Other models have received top ratings from Consumer Digest magazine.

In addition to manufacturing a variety of models ranging from ornate to modern, Olhausen also offers four table sizes and a wide range of hardwoods, finishes and cloth colors.

The tables also come a range of prices, starting at about $2,200. Mid-range models sell for around $3,500.

All of the tables share some common characteristics, though, including Italian slate and the company's Uniliner slate support area and Accu-Fast cushions.

Carpendale says she assists customers with the process of selecting just the right pool table to match their budgets, the size of the room in which they'll put the tables and their personal tastes. "I want them to have exactly what they want."

The tables are constructed to customer specifications at the factory in Poway, Calif., then disassembled and shipped out. The tables are usually ready for installation in about two weeks.

Carpendale says business at Western Slope Billiards is about evenly divided between sales and service.

The company offers a wide range of services for all brands of pool tables, including disassembling, moving and setting up tables as well as replacing pool clothes and cushions. The company also handles complete restorations.

It takes skill and knowledge to set up a pool table so that the playing surface is absolutely smooth and level, Carpendale says, adding that Bellin is a perfectionist. "He works hard at getting that table perfect."

Western Slope Billiards sells and services pool tables throughout the region. While areas outside the Grand Valley, particularly mountain resorts, used to account for most of the company's businesses, that's no longer the case, Carpendale says.

Western Slope Billiards recently sold and installed 13 commercial pool tables in a new venue in Grand Junction called Bank 8.

Demand remains strong to install new pool tables and repair existing tables in homes as well, she says.

There's typically a slowdown during the summer months before business picks back up in the fall in preparation for Christmas.

But that hasn't been the case this year, Carpendale says.

It keeps Carpendale and Bellin busy, with a capital "B" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool.

Phil Castle - Business Times

Article Source: www.thebusinesstimes.com

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