Small town business ideas: Organization of the billiard club

Business version of: Organization of the billiard club

By the turn of the century in Russia opened too many billiard. The market is satisfied, and the least successful schools were closed. The development of this segment of the entertainment will continue through the big clubs as well as moving billiard in entertainment centers.

6 years back in a St. Petersburg cafe sat firm mature respectable men. They really wanted to play pool. But the places that correspond to their ideas about this game in town simply is not there. "Why not open a restaurant, where in accordance with the evenings will be allowed to not only just a cup of coffee, but also play a couple of parties?" - Thought they were. About any business at that time had nothing to do as well as speech. I wanted open institution for its own sake as well as familiar, such as billiards fans. all ended what is now a billiard room "for their" has turned into one of Russia's largest institutions - entertainment center based on a billiard club "leader" almost under control of the company, "Fora-Billiards .

The history of "Leader" is illustrative. In this case, in the same time (one in this case, barely used, someone in this case - later), most businessmen were interested in billiards and open institution for themselves, which further evolved into a lucrative business. Pioneers of the market to catch a wave and just barely, just barely ahead of the peak popularity of billiards, to secure a leading position. In our time to find its niche in the market pool is becoming increasingly difficult, as competition forces sacrificing profitability. However, nothing is impossible in fact, in order to open a billiards club right now, not sure. Important - choose the right place and define the concept of institution.
Doublet to Cart
Billiard Club in details

The volume of investments: from 100 up to 250 thousand dollars, depending on the quality of tables, the service level, availability of additional services, the area of the premises.

Investments in the finishing of 1 square. m Turnkey with view of the equipment: from 400 until 800 dollars.

The average area of the billiard-room: 250-500 square meters. m

Payback: 6 months - 2 years depending on the successful location and concept.

Profitability: 40-50%.

Hour's worth of games: 150-300 rubles in Moscow.

Cost of tables: for the sake of the pool - 1,5-3 thousand dollars to a "pyramid" - from 2 until 7 thousand dollars.

Dictionary of Phrase and Efron has claimed that his homeland - China, only in Europe, first notice about billiards refers to the XVI century. It turns out, is Charles IX in the famous St. Bartholomew's Night (August 24, 1572), played billiards. Mention of this entertainment are found as well as in the plays of Shakespeare. Originally billiards played with two balls with special sticks on the table with six luzami mounted hoop resembling croquet gate.

Over time, billiards improved, to the XVII century reached its peak of popularity in Europe. In Russia, the game was brought under Peter the Great, only widespread, it was only just in the XIX century. During the rule of fashion for all the French nobles played preferably in the carom, but in the middle of the century, then that seems a factory in St. Petersburg, master chief Freiberg created in Russia for a table shestiluznogo "Russian billiards, at the peak of popularity was" Russian Pyramid. Knowingly Gaev in The Cherry Orchard "to the place and not to the place sports a billiard word" doublet into a corner "," red in the middle "and the like. Fashion!

Victory of the Soviet domination of bourgeois recognized billiards game and did not welcome the interest of workers to such a pastime. Then the game was rehabilitated. In addition, as well as leaders, not excluding Stalin, billiards is even complaining.

By the beginning of new era pool in Russia was difficult to name the mass enthusiasm, but by the late nineties, everything changed. In urban areas began to open new clubs, began improving the pool as a sport, there were specialized circles, the fun came to sports channels, is avid players began to set the table near his home. In addition to the traditionally popular Russian billiards pool accustomed (in the masses - "American") as well as English snooker, but the professionals prefer cannon (so-called. Artistic billiards).

To increased interest in billiards were allowed to earn good money. As a result, formation of a new business niche place literally before our eyes. In the absence of competition, the first investors to dictate the prices of services, ensuring a very high margin. But competition is growing rapidly.

Russian billiard capital, in addition doubt remains of St. Petersburg. "Peter is ahead of Moscow, as if according to the number of tables, so as well as according to the number of billiard clubs," - says the manager of an adult billiard firm Zeus Andrei Afanasiev. In other regions of the pool has developed significantly less. But the greater the opportunity for investors.

Obtain reliable estimates of market size pool in Russia so far does not seem possible. It is far not the largest segment of the outdoor business in the field of entertainment, but employers are not rushing to dwell on personal income. But it is important to continue still an open question about that now, in fact, calculate the billiard, just now - of course not.

Many cafes in what place sometime in the far corner stands a billiard table, where visitors can play a game or two. This billiard room? Hardly. In collapsible objects near the subway on an equal side by side slots and one or two billiard tables. This, apparently, as "it will not last forever." In addition, all major self-respecting entertainment and shopping malls there as if at least a little table to pool. That's too close to the truth. Plus specialized clubs, the exact number is unknown.

In the end, have to operate with only the most general information only. It is estimated that only in Moscow, of course 4200 with a view to the pool tables as well as around 3500 - for Russian pyramid. Accurate data according to the St. Petersburg course not, just exactly indirectly - the total number of tables in the city already has exceeded 10 thousand. What now concerns the number of clubs, in this case operating in Moscow until two hundred specialized pool, but in St. Petersburg - is stronger than 250. "Other regions are still lagging behind that of metropolitan cities, and in the near future and they will be a boom to improve pool", - said CEO of the Fora-Billiards "Paul Tinets.
And sport and recreation

On the market billiard clubs conveniently separated according to type of premises they occupy. Above all, this institution at the in-built and attached premises on the ground floors of residential buildings or in separate buildings. How to position a small club with twenty-six tables. Other Format - billiard in the commercial and entertainment centers. Such clubs can occupy the area until 500 square meters. m and conclude from 15 up to 50 tables (in rare cases - a hundred more, as if the clubs "Leader" or "Pulkovo-3"). Variation 3 - billiard in the hotel and rest homes. How to position a small institution with three or five tables.

Another method of classification is based on the analysis of concepts. In this case, there is a sense to talk about commercial (recreational) sports and elite (closed) clubs.
Commercial Club is aimed at mainstream customers, so that now most often included in the concept as well as other entertainment. Therefore, to entertainment clubs include a large number of institutions located in the entertainment and shopping centers, also similar to those particles, which is located on the first floors of houses. Here is the actual range of additional services likely to be arbitrary. In big cities except bowling, as though the situation there is children's rooms, Q-ZAR, a huge number of non-cash slot machines, air hockey, a little food court concepts, but at times again as well as a nightclub with a disco. Call such institutions "billiard" is permissible only together with an impressive stretch. Rather, it is full-fledged entertainment centers, a basis which is taken billiards.

In the specialized pool set of services is limited to a small area of the club, so besides the bar with light food in such establishments may be located slot machines and table to air hockey.

Sports clubs, which, by the way, Russia has not so many, different from commercial establishments room. If in the entertainment billiard come everyone in this case in the sports clubs are going to athletes as well as amateurs. In addition, they constantly held various competitions among professionals and amateurs.

A distinctive line of sports clubs - the use of expensive and high quality equipment. Because an experienced player easily distinguish the "curve" cue from the "smooth", but really fun on a battered table, broken balloons and a fortiori can not be. These clubs require an impressive investment return on any merely on only tournaments is very difficult. That's why in an attempt to improve profitability

owners of such establishments are often mixed format of sports and entertainment club. Nothing wrong with that of course not. As a playground facility operates during daylight hours as well as according to weekdays, but in "prime time" (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) is transformed into a commercial club with high quality equipment that it will attract additional customers.

Closed or elite clubs - a special format billiard. Log in them, as if the position is covered with a view to visitors "from outside", but any table in such institutions is located in a separate, isolated room. Other means to cut off unwanted guests - the high cost of games (ranging from one until three thousand rubles per hour) that it allows users to filter out even without the participation of well-trained guards.

- "Elite Clubs positioned as institutions with a view to a consistent layer of customers, - said Andrei Afanasiev (" Zeus "). - The peculiarity of such institutions - providing exclusive and expensive services, often far from having no analogues in other clubs in the city.

This is the most expensive relative to the initial investment institutions. In addition, in the case of entertainment club customers are allowed to bring good location and abundant advertising, but in sports - high quality tables, so the elite club directly involves the private investor familiarity with future players. As the situation - very wealthy.

As noted by the central manager of the capital's billiard club "Yard" Christina Doroschuk, most professional players in the Russian billiards did not like the institution at any location next to the pool of young people are: excessively noisy. These clients prefer private clubs. And also why in such institutions are allowed to meet "kata" that play only on denyuzhku.
Sunset snow-white ball

The growth of the billiard market, so dynamically started in the near future is likely to end. The experts of companies - sellers of equipment already noted the correction rate of growth of sales tables, although as well as hoped in this case, what exactly will be a temporary lull. "The market is far from saturation - as if in Moscow, that way as well as in the regions, - says Andrey Afanasiev. - Demand for the game grows, including as well as through regular broadcasts exactly on leading television channels. "

Paul Tinets (Fora-pool ") is similar convinced that now the market of billiard clubs remain still far from being saturated or in capital cities or in the regions:" Look, as if often the TV channels have become a competition in accordance with billiards, fun gaining popularity but the prospect of billiards in the Olympic program will increase the interest again, no less. Of course, this has a positive effect on the business owners of clubs, increasing the flow of customers. " Only Christina Doroschuk ("Yard") added that it remained in the country once again set the base clients are so far away do not go to clubs. For them-so and will have to compete for businessmen! Here are just a real estate market is continuously watching for changes in demand and supply in the segment of street retail space, note the opposite trend.

- Now, billiard really does not enjoy such popularity like few years back, at which time they were in the number of major entertainment venues in different cities. In the bulk of these billiard in the data point - a place where in going so professionals as well as fans of this sport, - says head of commercial real estate to work smoothly together with the clients of Blackwood Alla Glazkov.

According to the deputy head of department analysts and research firms Praedium Alexandra Kadchenko, specialized segment of the billiard clubs oversaturated, as well as data currently is the majority of them are closed. According to the PR-director of Vesco Group Ivan Lyasnikova, the peak of the popularity of billiards in Moscow took place in the initiative in 2000-ies, at a time like the present time their number was reduced with 280-300 in 2001 until the 150-170 in 2007 - m In St. Petersburg, the number of pool remained the same: weak concept closed, new open, because we managed to achieve a zero delta. In the regions, exactly according to experts, the number of pool has grown, but also much slower than before. But the income of owners of billiard clubs gradually tapering off.

Perhaps only a niche in the pool areas and entertainment centers, shopping is still just not up to the end of the rich. However, as noted director of analytics and evaluation UKND Miel-Real Estate Aidar Galeev, in the mall place billiard impractical that way as the main customers of these establishments enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, but the shopping center - a dynamic complex that is difficult to create a measured environment . The opposite point of view is shared by Alexandra Kadchenko: "Further improvements will come at the expense of opening rooms in the foyer of cinemas in the shopping complexes in the bowling club (pool - this is a classic addition to bowling), but similar in the cafes and restaurants.

According to forecasts, more rapidly in many cities of the Russian market for specialized pool shall be satisfied, but investors who want to earn people's interest in skating balls exactly on the table, will be much harder to open new establishments. In our time the same opportunity to get into the car zavershitelny departing train all already left.
Wide pocket

Are there any secret entrance to nyneshniya # only the market? Of course. Immediately make a reservation: in our time to come here with substandard products is still very hard. As noted by Christina Doroschuk, the market is a shortage of good clubs, at the time seemed questionable establishments along with the worn tables and ragged cloth clients yet not interesting. Hence, to save and purchase the old "dead" equipment impractical. Another problem of the market - the markers. "Good but not perfect billiard marker - that's not a good billiard room" - Christina Doroschuk categorical. Among those in many institutions, the markers are working students, which absolutely does not know the rules, the same does not play better than average visitors. In a sort of club of serious customer does not go.

In addition, must be extremely weighted to go to the selection room. Rent prohibitively expensive areas likely to raise serious payback period (lease - one of the key items of expenditure institution), but too cheap (only mean ill-placed) - reduce the flow of customers. Therefore go to extremes in this place does not worth it.

- Located in the heart of the city for billiard absolutely does not guarantee success. Potential customers inexpensive pool is easier to play at a school close to home, only to the elite clubs in the city center it is difficult to arrange parking, - says Aydar Galeev. According to Alla Glazkova provided if the billiard room is positioned as a place for public recreation, in this case, naturally, now that owners need a place on the first line of houses close to the subway or major highways, but if the facility is designed for a narrow circle of professionals, this case, the location will not entertain an impressive role.