It might not suit everybody in the pool table industry but the current economic crises in Britain have brought a strong euro against the pound which is helping the Oldham based pool table manufacturers, Simply Pool, to maintain full order books as a result of their increasing trade with European countries. Simply Pool's sales director Bob Underhill said: "Our tables go into France and so it is rather difficult for us to say which other countries they reach. We send a mixture of coin-operated and domestic tables and we just keep on making them for the customers to sell".
One disappointment for Simply Pool in an otherwise happy European market is that table sales in Italy were very low. About a couple of years ago the company appointed an Italian agent and initial sales were promising. But the promise has not been maintained. However with full order books and a generally satisfactory home and European market Underhill was not grumbling.
One of the less recognised facets of the success of Simply Pool has been its willingness to help out recognised organisations by supplying tables for their competitions. The company had hardly been formed when, in the year 2000, it provided the tables for the first E&UKPF championships to be held in Bridlington. Players liked the new tables but the late Tom Gilvarry, always a cautious businessman, said operators needed tables that they could use for at least 10 years. He reserved judgement on the Oldham based company's products. Next year, nine years later, Simply Pool tables will again appear in Bridlington at the European Blackball Association's Masters' event. I am sure my old friend Tom would have been generous in his praise. Bob Underhill believes his company's policy of support for quality tournaments is working well. His views. he contends. are reflected in full order books.
The choice of Simply Pool tables for the Bridlington tournament does not imply criticism of the SAM tables provided in recent years. But Ross McInnes is now vice-chairman of the EBA and he and his fellow professionals have long been admirers of Simply Pool tables.
Will you be visiting the InterGame Expo?
- 13 - 16 January, 2009
IMA - Germany - 27 - 29 January, 2009
International Gaming Expo - UK - 11 - 13 February, 2009
EAAPA - Russia - 17 - 19 February, 2009
Gaming Expo Belgrade - Serbia - 03 - 04 March, 2009
AmEx 2009 - Dublin - Ireland - 11 - 13 March, 2009
ASI - Las Vegas, USA
