Help promote business for your local rinks

[rsfaze]

I have been doing this and I can't honestly say it has helped at all but its worth the 5 mins I spend if that. I am sure most of you have myspace. Each session I skate which is between 3-4 sessions a week I post a myspace bulletin about the session place time and something to maybe get interest back to the old skaters. I make skating a ice breaker now with all of my co workers.

[brikkee]

I would say give the parents some thing to do while there kids skate other than just the snack bar.Maybe add a slot machine or keno because gambling seem to be what most adults like to do.

[MANY_SkatingDave]

Hi FSFaze, Brikkee,

Originally Posted by rsfaze

I have been doing this and I can't honestly say it has helped at all but its worth the 5 mins I spend if that. I am sure most of you have myspace. Each session I skate which is between 3-4 sessions a week I post a myspace bulletin about the session place time and something to maybe get interest back to the old skaters. I make skating a ice breaker now with all of my co workers.

I like your attitude and encouragement of others.

Getting adults to skate again or the first time is difficult. I say this after years of trying to get adults who are at a skate session with their children "Join" their kids and the few other adults on the floor. Even ones that do come back on the floor are soon gone after a few sessions. Too many other things to do.

Even great adult skaters that I have invited to adult night are almost No Shows.

Brikkee might have an idea by redesigning the skate rink or the skate session in some way. Now I want the adults to eventually come out and skate, and keep on bringing their kids back with them to also skate, so I don't think game machines are the way. I thought about a reading corner since many moms bring the young kids then eventually learn the "Drop them off" technique. Particularly difficult for adults is participating in teen skate nights.

Keep the ideas flowing.

Yours in Skating, MA/NY Dave

P.S. The only problem with my idea of Rink Session redesign is the decline of skating and the money flow into the rinks. Most rinks are doing horrible staying in business and maintaining or improving their rinks due to lack of money.

[sk84luv]

Originally Posted by rsfaze

I have been doing this and I can't honestly say it has helped at all but its worth the 5 mins I spend if that. I am sure most of you have myspace. Each session I skate which is between 3-4 sessions a week I post a myspace bulletin about the session place time and something to maybe get interest back to the old skaters. I make skating a ice breaker now with all of my co workers.

This is an excellent idea! Let's get more people involved in the world's best sport!

[CARTchamp]

In some places its not the adults that dont want to skate, it's the rinks that don't want the adults to come and skate.

[Daisydoo]

Originally Posted by brikkee

I would say give the parents some thing to do while there kids skate other than just the snack bar.Maybe add a slot machine or keno because gambling seem to be what most adults like to do.

You know, I don't live near a roller rink but I do live near a few ice skating rinks. What one ice skating rink does while kids are learning is have an adult class at that same time on the other side of the rink. They told me (when I was inquiring about adult classes) that they have quite a few adults that take the class to keep them occupied for that hour class their kids have. Coupled with the fact that again they are not standing around, they are there for their kids and getting an exersize and social hour themselves.

[rsfaze]

edit. the owner was on vacation opps

[NaNaDo]

[

[shop4skates]

Many rinks in this area are adding free wifi hotspots so parents can work on their laptop computers online while their kids have fun. I think it is a great idea. The parents love it.

[ncsk8rgirl]

I am a member of a mothers group that has about 800+ members in my area. I talked the mgr at my rink in to letting us have a rollers & strollers session each month. We get a private session during the day & they get more business. He said that since we started doing this his business went up about 15%-20%

I think once the adults actually get out there and remember how fun it is, they will come back. The trick is to get them in the door to begin with. Our moms have a BLAST when we go and it carries over to other moms (and dads too) who have not thought about skating in years. Word of mouth is awesome!

[shop4skates]

Encourage them if they aren't already for these kinds of sessions to include coffee and pastries either in the price or for an additional fee for the parents.

It is working at other locations.

[ncsk8rgirl]

Originally Posted by shop4skates

Encourage them if they aren't already for these kinds of sessions to include coffee and pastries either in the price or for an additional fee for the parents.

It is working at other locations.

If I remember correctly, you own or operate a rink in the ATL?

We have a sister site in the Atlanta area. They have almost 1000 members. It might be a good idea to have a session for them.. PM me if you would like me to have them contact you... I know they are interested.

[rsfaze]

Can anyone tell me if the rinks they skate at do any type of outside advertisement? I skate 3 times a week at Semoran Skateway in Orlando. Well lets say I use to. The Tuesday night session which went from a Family skate to a Shuffle session back to a Family skate is being canceled due to a poor turn out. The rink wants 120 people there weekly to keep the session going. While I can understand the need for $ to operate I don't feel they did anything to help. Each session they asked us to bring more people. The rink switched gears about 3 times in the past month. Taking the session from a family skate to a shuffle back to a family night without telling anyone. I see no outside advertisement done at all. The rink has been here I think 35yrs from what I have been told so maybe they feel everyone knows they are there.

I find it very sad that I now only have 2 sessions a week to skate. Friday nights which turns into dodge kid and Sunday nights Adult night.

The rink says they have plenty of PTA groups they can book and the reason to cancel the public session. I know there is nothing that can be done about THIS session but I do not want to see the same thing happen to other sessions. I posted the idea about MySpace but the owner doesn't seem to care much about doing this. I guess I could do it on my own without the rink, just don’t want to step on any toes.

[shop4skates]

The rinks have to do what they can to bring in the most money every day they are open. I think it is true that many of them don't do much in regard to advertising.

Myspace properly used can be used to promote events to certain age groups.

To answer a previous question, I do not and have not ever owned a skating rink nor have I ever worked at one. I do have regular contact with rinks around the country that I design and maintain websites for though.

[pastskater]

here is a link to a rink that is promoting up keep in dental health and additional means to bringing them in. anyone else out there with rink and operator(s) helping in the means of making Roller Skating more of a fun and possible new means of entertainment ? Federations should hold a contest for the most geniune means of advertising for promoting skating. All styles accepted. (this way it would cost less)

If so please post...this was a goodie!

http://www.carouselskate.com/rollertoothprogram.html

[pastskater]

again another with many means of expression

http://www.calskate.com/
http://www.calskate.com/schedule.html

West coast in the house!!!

[pastskater]

well, another West coast Drive for more the merrier on skaters:

http://www.skate-express.com/fndrsr.html

Chino, CA in the house
__________________
Satisfaction is when Wealth never runs out.

Pastskater

[pastskater]

another sense of values...

http://www.kingsskatecountry.com/


__________________
Satisfaction is when Wealth never runs out.

Pastskater

[q in sac]

Originally Posted by CARTchamp

In some places its not the adults that dont want to skate, it's the rinks that don't want the adults to come and skate.

That statement is soooo true here in Northern California. But times is changing.

[q in sac]

It's very hard to get those "old school" skaters back. Talking with a number of them 3 major issues comes up: family, work or health. Also, Lack of time and where to go skating are other issues. Here in No Cal, there are a number rinks available but the sessions are not geared to the Adults. The kids bring substantial cash, i.e., soda pop, candy, nachos, etc. Not the adults.

Here is Sacramento, I surveyed a number of former skaters that used to attend Cal Skate in Sacramento and Milpitles (Bay Area) Over 50% of the skaters admit that music and the environment is the major reason they stop attended. So if the music is not "right", people will not come any more.

I started Grown Folks Sk8 in Sacramento in 2007 at Cal Skate in Sacramento. i had to promote this Adult skate with the few adults that attended the regular sessions and the Adult session at San Jose Skate (Aloha). My 1st night I had 89 skaters attend. Which is good, because the skating rink needs a specific number of attendees to break even.

Another problem is that will run into is getting those skaters back. How i do it is via email. After every event I make announcement about a my Nor Cal skater mailing list. So I input them and keep them updated. Also I hit the local hair salons, barber shop, beauty supply store, and independent record stores. I have ok success. Work in progress.

This my advertisement for the next event:

"After your holiday "hooplah" its time to come out and skate. And get rid of that stress and extra pounds.

This Saturday, December 29, 2007 @ Foothill Skate in Sacramento. (Wood floor)
Address: 4700 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Google, Mapquest or Yahoo the address and get directions.
10:30pm to 1:30am, Admission: $10 with skates.
21 and older will be admitted.

Tell a Friend. See U there."

A fellow skater started an Adult Night at Sunrise Rollerland here in Sacramento in 2006. once a month and it has grown. The managers of the skating rink love it, plus the added income to their "bottom line". Now, he has adult night twice a month and avg over 300 attendenes. So, it can be done with the right info.

So I'm in the development stage of a small website with pictures, videos and information on other skating event in No CA.
My goal is to get about 100-125 skater this Saturday.

My suggestion is to ask the rink if they are willing to give you a night to promote an special Adult night. If you need more info you can email me at: grownfolkssk8@hotmail.com