NOVOTEL
LONDON WEST
London W6
Wednesday 20 Oct 2010
10.00 - 18.00
Thursday 21 Oct 2010
10.00 - 16.00
Organised by HOWARD & WIKBERG
PROMOTIONS
+44[0]20 7387 2021
Contact Ylva Howard ylva@preview-uk.com
Press Reports
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Preview To Preview 2010 Page 8 of 13 Coinslot Review 2nd - 8th October 2009
“Every year we see decision-makers from all sectors of the industry - including the casino sector - descend on Preview because they know they will get answers, see new products and network, all without having a make a massive investment in time or money.” PHILIP HOWARD, PREVIEW
CUE SPORTS
MILLIKEN The market is now truly global says billiard cloth maker Milliken STANDYSYS
With the market for pool continuing to expand on a global scale, Milliken has seen the popularity of its cost-effective cue sports cloth products go from strength to strength.
The past year has seen billiard cloth manufacturer Milliken move into new markets across the globe where pool is now seen as having the most potential for growth. The Milliken brand is becoming preferred by top pool professionals and tournament organisers worldwide and is already the product of choice for many of the game’s regulators, including the Deutsche Billard Union in Germany.
Not immune from the economic slowdown, the market has taken steps to reduce its costs and Milliken has responded with product variations that enable players to improve their skills without resorting to inferior products.
One measure saw the arrival of Strachan 6811 Pool, which at 86 inches wide, was designed to help reduce the cost of recovering 6ft or 7ft English pool tables. Sold in olive, blue, burgundy, red or purple, it has cut the cost of recovers by around 16 per cent, allowing table manufacturers and operators to gain maximum mileage from their order. And a shorter, dense nap means less frequent recovers.
At the same time, Milliken SuperPro has been upgraded and is now probably the highest-quality worsted American pool cloth on the market. Three new colours - black, beige and spruce - were added to serve the 9ft tables preferred in the US, Russia and many European countries.
And at the cost-driven end of the market, 777 Premier completes Milliken’s English pool offer. Both are made from 100 per cent wool and perfectly meet the requirements of publicans and the smaller table operator.
Despite the growing popularity of pool, snooker remains a key market for the company, which has seen growth in Asia and Europe. China, India and several smaller Far East countries have started to produce players to challenge the old order and this has resulted in a buoyant demand for cloth.
Germany is leading renewed interest in the game in Europe, where the Deutsche Billard Union has become the latest governing body to award Milliken approved status. Perhaps the biggest change in the game for cue sport businesses is World Snooker’s decision to use China’s Beijing Xingwei Star as its new tournament table supplier.
Milliken has enjoyed a long-standing association with Xingwei Star, which has significant influence in Asia. It has designed a table with excellent technical qualities that will now become a familiar feature at televised events around the world, including the World Championships in May.
SAM LEISURE Work hard and make it fun! STAND CH28CHAMPAGNE SUITE
Cue sports, air hockey and table football specialist SAM Leisure will stress the importance of achieving the right mix of fun and good maintenance at Preview 2010.
This year’s Preview exhibition will see SAM Leisure emphasise the fun side of table games and the value of proper maintenance. With difficult trading in the pub and club sector continuing, it is the family and general entertainment venues that can still generate high revenues if the games are attractive enough and fun to play.
The ever-popular Fast Soccer air hockey, now the UK’s bestselling model, will be presented in a mini size for smaller venues, and with a ‘silent’ system top rail. This enables sites with noise restrictions to still offer this perennial money-spinner. The dampened rail also provides random rebound for added excitement. Silent Mini Soccers have proved popular in motorway services, cinema complexes, shopping centres and other areas with open access.
On the pool front, American pool still offers the best opportunity to attract new customers and non-pool players. SAM have recently supplied yet another new, contemporary West London bar situated close to the Preview exhibition with American tables, and will supply other concept bars due to open in the regions later this year.
The Sports Café Birmingham recently re-launched with American pool, with tables aimed at specific groups including ladies pool and UV for the nightclub area. SAM’s new UV cloth reacts and looks like normal cloth but glows in the dark, so that tables can be used for normal play as well as for UV nights. This is perfect for tenpin bowling centres that are operating ‘cosmic’ bowling nights with UV and flashing lights.
Another success in tenpin bowling centres recently has been SAM’s table football tables. The electronic Linares tables have proved that it is not just the continentals that enjoy ‘fussball’, and that table football can earn money as well as encourage bar revenue.
SAM Leisure has built a reputation for tables of quality, innovation and high revenue potential. In tough times, it is tempting to economise on investment and cut corners on maintenance. The company firmly believes that the best machines, properly maintained, return the best income.
SAM Leisure’s Liam Barrett commented “We don’t just design machines - we design the accessories to work perfectly with them. You wouldn’t play tennis with a squash racquet or put diesel in a petrol engine, so always insist on genuine SAM Leisure components. Come and talk to us at Preview 2010 about how our tables can boost your business, and how to keep them returning the figures year after year after year.”
