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YOU CAN'T DO EPIC THINGS WITH ORDINARY SOFTWARE!

Brunswick is thrilled to introduce Sync® Invicta™, a significant new update to the Sync scoring and management system. Sync Invicta keeps guests on-site longer and returning more often. The update also reduces staff intervention, increases guest loyalty, and helps centers attract group events.

Sync is already installed in more than 650 centers worldwide and is widely recognized as the leader in the field. With Sync Invicta, Brunswick takes FEC scoring and management to the next level.

“We used leading streaming services as a model for what we wanted to accomplish at the lanes,” said Scott Meier, Sync product manager. “Those interfaces do a great job of making suggestions of what you might want to watch or do next. In a similar way, Invicta’s Vision™ User Interface helps guests discover new games based on their past playing behavior.”

Invicta’s Vision™ user interface also provides much more information to guests, including how long a game takes to play. If guests have 15 minutes left in lane time, they know which game they can play during that time, leading to a more positive guest experience.

Sync Invicta also clearly explains the rules for each game, leading to less staff intervention and a more positive guest experience. “With these features, Sync Invicta does even more to entice guests to stay on the lanes longer and return more often,” said Meier.

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
Sync Invicta also introduces OpenLane®, a mobile app that increases customer loyalty by making it easier for customers to connect with your center. Open Lane users can sign onto waitlists for bowling, restaurants, or other attractions; track and share scoring achievements; and access specials and coupons. Open Lane joins SyncPassport.com, Sync’s mobile stat-tracking website, as another unique guest-facing feature that today’s guests expect.

“We know how important social media reviews are for centers,” said Meier. “Open Lane encourages guests to post a review on Facebook or Google before they even leave your center. Getting those reviews while guests are engaged is key.”

Open Lane also lets users earn points for various achievements (games played, number of visits, etc.) and can earn cash back, free games, coupons, and other rewards. “There’s a significant depth and breadth to the level of loyalty rewards that guests can unlock with Sync Invicta,” said Meier. “Guests are rewarded not only for spending, but also for interactions such as visit frequency, bowling in a league, inviting others to sign up for Open Lane, and playing Sync games. All of this encourages guests to spend more, visit more, and stay longer.”

A GREAT GAME FOR GROUPS
Back at the lanes, Sync Invicta introduces Rival Rumble, a game designed to encourage participation and engagement across all skill levels. Rival Rumble uses high-resolution, enticing content to allow lanes of bowlers to compete against each other.

“Rival Rumble is a fantastic team-building game for corporate outings, and great fun for families or other groups,” said Meier. “Whether it’s a few friends on two lanes or a group renting the entire center, Rival Rumble offers friendly competition for all skill levels.” To create the ultimate team-building experience, the game automatically presents bowlers with fun and creative individual and team awards at the end of the game, saving the center from having to manually offer awards.

LEAGUE MANAGEMENT, MADE MODERN
LeaguePals, the first and only cloud-based league management software suite, utilizes the latest technology to simplify league management for center staff and bowlers. LeaguePals is integrated into Sync and lets users create leagues, manage rosters, make online payments, and automate accounting. “With LeaguePals, bowlers pay league dues online, leaving more cash in their pockets,” said Meier. “Bowling centers using the software have reported upwards of a 20% increase in bar and concession sales.”

A PROVEN PRODUCT FROM THE INDUSTRY LEADER
Sync is well-established as the industry’s first choice in innovation, guest satisfaction, reliability, and customer support. That’s why it’s installed in hundreds of facilities, including small bowling centers, 60,000-sqare-foot bowling entertainment centers with multiple attractions, and restaurants and large entertainment complexes that don’t even offer bowling.

“Sync is the clear innovator,” said Meier. “At Brunswick, our passion for the bowling industry and the success of our proprietors leads us to continue pushing the limits of innovation. That’s why we release Sync enhancements on a regular basis, oftentimes in response to customer requests for various features. From automated marketing to games to full-service POS and back-office, Sync does it all.”

Watch for the Sync Invicta update, coming soon! And if you don’t have Sync yet, contact Brunswick today to schedule your free Sync demonstration.

LIGHT IT UP WITH SPARK
Spark™ augmented reality bowling took Bowl Expo 2019 by storm! The industry’s first immersive, interactive lane projection technology surrounds the bowler in a mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind experience. Delivering the latest technology and entertainment trends to your lanes, Spark engages every segment of entertainment seekers. Spark’s energy starts at the scoring tablet and flows through the settee area, down the lane to the pins. Spark’s fast, fun, engaging games encourage socialization while letting bowlers choose their own adventures! Spark is software-driven technology and innovation that’s built for tomorrow but delivered today. Seeing is believing.

Schedule a live demo with one of our product specialists and see first-hand Spark’s immersive, interactive game play. Light it up!

Q&A WITH TREY BROWN

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? 
My title is Product Manager, but functionally and by education I’m a Project Manager and Biochemist. Currently, my responsibilities for Brunswick are to lead the Lane Care Team in Research and Development (R&D). I’m responsible for chemical formulation, on-lane product testing with Throbot™, coordinating product production and quality control of lane conditioners/cleaners, management of our global chemical compliance, and overall project management for lane machine R&D. 

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU.
I’m an early riser – my day starts at 4 am. I work out and complete projects around the house before I head to the office and start the workday. Once there, I review my calendar and project objectives, arrange my priorities for the day, and then get started on projects. Every day is completely different, ranging from days packed full of meetings for project collaboration, to days spent in the lab working on formulas for new lane conditioners/cleaners, to days spent researching chemical textbooks to become a better formulator, to days spent studying chemical legislature to ensure compliance for our customers around the world. It’s always different. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB? 
No two days are the same in R&D. I’ve worked jobs in the past where the workflow causes you to “zone out” because you are doing the same repetitive task for hours on end. At Brunswick, my work is constantly changing, and fast-paced. What I work on and accomplish today directly affects tomorrow’s agenda. This is a desirable attribute that I’ve come to appreciate while working at Brunswick. 

HOW HAS THE COMPANY HELPED YOU IN CAREER DEVELOPMENT?
Brunswick is a flat organization, meaning that every person is accountable for numerous responsibilities. This is because Brunswick empowers its employees, and allows them to take ownership of their roles. This ownership gives employees the opportunity to innovate, take risks, and grow the company, all of which is encouraged. As a byproduct, when individuals or teams succeed, Brunswick knows exactly who was involved, and gives them more chances and opportunities for success. It’s a symbiotic relationship; as my personal career grows, so does Brunswick, and vice versa. It’s a very unique career opportunity that I have not seen anywhere else.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB?
As negative as it sounds, the job comes with built-in failure. Not all formulas or product ideas are a “grand slam” and able to go into production. But every failure is one step closer to the idea that succeeds. Understanding that failure is part of the process of succeeding was a challenging yet valuable lesson I’ve learned working in R&D at Brunswick. 

IF YOU COULD DO ONE JOB JUST FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 
Any job that brings me outdoors for a day, like a park ranger or adventure/hunting guide.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO RECENT NEW HIRES?
One of my mentors early in my career told me “never trust the experts; become the expert.” Per his advice, I embrace this mentality wholeheartedly. While I do not consider myself an “expert” in anything yet, I trust the process and respect the work ethic required to hopefully earn a title of that magnitude one day. My advice to new hires follows suit: study your craft, become an expert, then make someone outwork you for the title.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTEREST OUTSIDE OF WORK? 
Bowling, fitness and nutrition, cooking, guitar/music, hunting and target shooting, hiking and camping.

WHATS THE FUN FACT ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW?
I was born on a Friday the 13th. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAMS?
Despite moving around a lot as a kid, the one staple team in my life is the Green Bay Packers, as my dad is from Wisconsin. GO PACK GO!

IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A SELF-HELP BOOK, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 
“Embrace the Unknown.”

THE BRUNSWICK MAX 

Brunswick’s MAX is the most advanced lane machine ever created, and an exceptional value at $21,900 (starting base MSRP). It’s refined, intuitive, rugged, and intelligent—everything you could ask for in a lane machine.

REFINED – The improved operator interface features a new 10.4" touch screen with all functions truly at your fingertips.

INTUITIVE – MAX is designed with communication in mind, featuring conditioner pressure, cleaner pressure, power status, and current run time all live on the touch screen, assuring the operator that all functions are operating smoothly.  With its patent-pending conditioner contamination sensor, MAX prevents complications from conditioner contamination. If cleaner is introduced into the conditioner tank (the most common operator mistake), the sensor will shut off all pump functions, allowing for simple and quick correction and preventing contamination of the entire conditioning system.  

RUGGED – MAX features a new, improved vacuum-formed polymer cover that's more  resilient and virtually scratch resistant.  Brunswick is so confident in MAX that all machines come standard with a two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

INTELLIGENT – The combination of the new 10.4" touch screen and 32-bit processor allows MAX to store an industry-leading 50,000 lane patterns to memory and download new or changed lane patterns in seconds. MAX also allows for easy software and firmware upgrades and machine performance monitoring by Brunswick technical support.  

To learn more click here.

THE BRUNSWICK CLOUD MAKES IT EASY TO PREPARE A 12-MONTH MARKETING PLAN 

All business owners need a financial plan for the future. That’s why you and your team sit down each year to reflect on the past year’s budget and make plans, goals, and adjustments for the upcoming year.? In much the same way, your team should be planning for the next marketing year as well. The process is similar: review the previous year, plan for the next year, and pivot and adjust along the way.

Having a 12-month plan allows your team to create measurable goals, stay on the same page, and be proactive instead of reactive. Once this year’s plan is developed, it will be easier year over year to implement similar marketing efforts. As we head into the new year, now is the perfect time to put together your 12-month marketing plan.

Start by reviewing your objectives and thinking about your main business goals for 2020. It’s also crucial to know your budget for marketing and where you’re going to focus your spending to maximize your ROI.? Then you can appropriately lay out a strategy to help those areas grow.

Are you hoping to attract more league bowlers?  Increase birthday party revenue? Drive food and beverage sales for guests already in the center? Some goals might be seasonal, such as league building or holiday-driven special events. Others might require attention throughout the year. Once you finalize your goals, write them down and assign each goal to a quarter or multiple quarters.?The table below provides an example of objectives assigned to dates throughout the year.


Now that goals have been identified, it’s time to reverse-engineer to determine when the appropriate marketing efforts should begin. A marketing campaign for winter leagues will require a 4-to 6- week lead time for marketing. Planning ahead promotes being proactive instead of reactive. We know the holidays that are coming up, we know the leagues that are about start, and we know the events that lie ahead.?Our customers should too.

If you want to increase your birthday party sales during the highest-volume months (September – November), marketing efforts need to begin in the summer. Promotion of company holiday parties can begin as early as summertime. (Many businesses book their company parties that far out.)

Knowing when to start a given marketing strategy is imperative. It allows enough time for your campaign to gain momentum and enough traffic to bring awareness to what you’re promoting. Most centers don’t allow enough time for a campaign to pick up steam and end up with a lower turnout than hoped for a promoted event.

All of this means your marketing materials and concepts should be finalized one or two quarters in advance of the start of your campaign. One of the most powerful features of the Brunswick Cloud is the ability to plan ahead and let the Cloud go to work for you.? 

Creating your 12-month marketing plan is easier than you might think when you use Brunswick Cloud.? Case in point: use Brunswick Cloud’s Custom Campaign Manager to create monthly emails for the entire year. Brunswick Cloud lets you tailor colors, imagery, and links to support your center’s brand. Take full advantage of the 50+ pre-built campaigns provided in Brunswick Cloud to promote holidays, upcoming events, and promotions on birthday parties, food & beverage, happy hour and more. Once you establish your goals and calendar, you can schedule each campaign digitally in Brunswick Cloud, allowing campaigns to turn on and turn off according to your schedule.

With a 12-month marketing plan, you’ll be strategic, planned, and prepared with campaigns to support your fiscal goals. Let Brunswick Cloud help you start 2020 knowing you’re ready to make it a great year! Rocky Bush, Managed Marketing Specialist, can help you get started. Contact her at rocky.bush@brunswickbowling.com today.

HOOK ZONE IS THE SAFER LANE CLEANER 

Brunswick stands alone as the technology leader in bowling products, and development of lane cleaners is no exception. Many popular cleaners on the market are pH-based, using decades-old technology. Although adequate as cleaners, they can be dangerous. Products with extremely high levels of alkalinity are caustic and can cause tissue damage with exposure.  Armed with this knowledge, Brunswick has developed a full line of modern cleaners that offer center owners safer and more effective methods to clean their lanes.

Introducing Hook Zone, the newest addition to Brunswick’s lane cleaner product line. Hook Zone concentrated lane cleaners pave the way for a new class of cleaners that allow bowling centers to remove all pH hazards from daily lane cleaning.

Utilizing a highly effective, 100% liquid formula, Hook Zone Concentrated Lane Cleaner is a fast-acting, solvent-driven cleaner that leaches the conditioner from the lane surface, leaving a squeaky-clean lane. Hook Zone can be paired with any lane conditioner on the market. Because it’s concentrated, Hook Zone is cost-effective, offering a dilution ratio of up to 16:1 in the case of Hook Zone Super Concentrate.

Hook Zone lane cleaners provide these advantages:

• Water-based, non hazardous cleaner  
• Premium performance  
• For vacuum lane cleaning only 
• Purple color to aid in mixing ratio verification  
• User-friendly, near-neutral pH 
• Can be readily mixed with isopropyl alcohol to aid in cleaning on humid days

CONGRATULATIONS TO RICK BARBERA ON HIS
50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH BRUNSWICK!

Rick Barbera, Brunswick’s worldwide electronics business manager, recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with Brunswick Bowling. We asked Rick to reflect on his long career in the bowling business.

HOW DID YOU START IN THE BOWLING INDUSTRY? 
It was my first job when I was 16 years old.  My dad was the manager of a Brunswick-owned center in Connecticut and I started as a lane attendant, which was called a prom/porter at that time. Because I played sports in high school, I couldn’t get an after-school job. The bowling job didn’t start 
until 6 pm, so I could go right after practice.

LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST 50 YEARS, WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER?
Getting my first assignment as a general manager (GM) in 1976; winning eight Brunswick Executive Awards for Sales Excellence; and in 1996, winning the Presidents’ Award as the top-performing GM in the Brunswick Retail Group. 

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK? 
I truly love the job that I do. I know that through our product offering and my experience I can help a proprietor be successful in their business. 

WHAT'S THE KEY TO BEING A GREAT EMPLOYEE?
I think it is important to LISTEN.  Understand what both your external and internal customers need and respond to those needs.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF IF YOU HAD KNOWN YOU'D BE STAYING IN THIS BUSINESS FOR SO LONG?
Develop relationships.  As a GM, I believe I had a good relationship with my employees and with our customers. Today as I help others, it is important that they trust me, and the way you develop that trust is to establish a positive relationship. Credibility is crucial. If you lose that, you will not be successful.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN YOUR CAREER AND HOW DID YOU ADAPT TO THE CHANGE? 
The change in the business model has been the biggest challenge. It was a challenge understanding that change when I ran centers, and it’s challenging helping long-term proprietors understand that the business has changed. The center service model has changed, and employees need to change. And change is hard!

AMONG THE PEOPLE YOU'VE WORKED WITH, WHO DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
I have been fortunate to have had some great mentors during my time. It started with Warren Bradley in 1973, who gave me my first management opportunity and supported me as I grew in the job. He taught me how to run a center. In more recent times, Rick Heim (currently with Spare Time Texas) and Don MacBrayne (currently with The Summit in Colorado) have been great leaders and two people I admire and respect. They have both validated and emphasized the importance of treating people well in order to be successful.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WORKING FOR BRUNSWICK AND WHY YOU'VE STAYED THIS LONG? 
Certainly in 50 years there have been both good and difficult times. In the end we have been good to each other. I think I have brought good value and work ethic to the company and our customers, and Brunswick has given me a career that has taken me around the world and has created some great lifelong friendships.  

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS OUTSIDE OF WORK THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?
I’m on the road more than 150 days a year, causing my wife Amy to kid that I don’t live at home anymore. We recently celebrated our 38th anniversary, and my family is what I am most passionate about. I have three sons and six grandchildren, and while I don’t get to spend enough time with them, they are certainly my passion. And I love to play golf!

BRUNSWICK EXCLUSIVE: HUNDREDS OF HOOD COLORS AND FINISHES, POWERED SEATING, AND NEW BALL RETURNS! 

450+ COLORS AND FINISHES: CENTER STAGE HOOD AND RACK 

• Introducing the industry’s first high-pressure laminate hoods in a practically limitless selection of colors and finishes 
• There’s something to match any aesthetic, at little to no additional cost! 
• Answers proprietor requests for hoods that match today’s more sophisticated style

SHH! SURFACE FOR SMALL AND STANDARD BALL SIZES ARE WHISPER-QUIET

• Center Stage™ small and standard ball returns feature a whisper-quiet track
• Clean, modern design, updated engineering, and added durability
• Ideal for VIP rooms or your whole center
• Choose the small ball return with Brunswick’s Duckpin Social™, the brand-new amenity
  that delivers all the advantages of bowling in less space 

THE INDUSTRY'S ONLY CLUSTER SEATING WITH CHARGING PORTS AND 450+ COLORS AND FINISHES

• Center Stage™ Swing & Swivel is the only cluster seating offering optional USB charging ports
• Coordinate with your center’s décor: bentwood seats available in a virtually endless selection of finishes and colors
• New seats feature a modern, curvy, inviting design
• Comfy, cozy plastic bucket seating available in three colors
• Keep your center neat and tidy with no furniture to rearrange at closing time

SYNC ONE: A REVOLUTIONARY WAY FOR CENTERS TO DRIVE PROFITS AND KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY

If you're upgrading to Sync? and Brunswick Cloud hardware or building a new center, Sync OneT eliminates your biggest challenges: capital constraints, scoring and hardware obsolescence, increased business complexity, and the financial risks associated with large IT purchases.  

It's never been easier to get ahead. Brunswick has lowered the upfront costs of Sync by more than 75 percent. Now, centers can operate the industry's fastest-growing scoring and management system for $99 or less per lane per month.

Sync One is a monthly subscription that bundles everything a bowling center needs to operate, in an all-in-one platform. Sync One delivers: 

• Sync? PrimaT, the industry's only cloud-based scoring, management, and point of sale system, and the OpenLaneT loyalty app
• Enterprise-level automated marketing via the Brunswick Cloud  
• Scoring and management hardware (tablet bowler consoles, display controllers, peripheral controller, server, switches, and cabling)
• Lifetime software upgrades including new features, functionality, games, and graphics
• Lifetime equipment warranty 
• 24/7 Brunswick Technical Support
• Only $99 per lane for up to 20 lanes ($25 for each additional lane)

Sync One provides the quickest and easiest way for operators to enjoy all the proven benefits of Sync scoring and management, including increased dwell time, repeat visits, F&B and group sales, guest satisfaction, employee efficiency, lane utilization, and cost control. Sync One helps centers streamline operations, lower risk, and drive profits through great guest experiences.

Unlike a lease or finance program, Sync One provides ongoing hardware, software, and support with no additional costs for upgrades and no payout required at the end of the lease. Centers can now upgrade to Sync Prima without liens or personal guarantees. Subscriptions are an operating expense, providing a tax shield benefit to operators.

Sync One provides frequent updates, with new features rolled out several times each year. "Updates are automatic with no additional fee, making it easy for proprietors to stay up to date without surprise spending," said John Roush, Brunswick vice president of capital equipment sales - North America. "New releases help drive revenue increases and control costs with new entertainment, efficiency improvements, enhanced marketing automation, and additional management capabilities."


Learn more about Sync One or schedule your Sync demo today.

Q&A WITH ABBY DEMAET

What does your job entail?
I am a Lane Care Technician and Chemist for Aftermarket R&D. You'd come to me with questions regarding lane cleaners and conditioners, or the lane machines. I also work on with chemical compatibility, polymer selection, experimental design, and the sharing of cute dog photos.

How long have you worked for Brunswick?
Close to two years now. 

What is the most interesting thing you have discovered working for the bowling industry?
I'm most fascinated by the "invisible playing field" the oil creates on the lane. I had never considered that where and how the oil sits determines so much about the game, and that players are expected to adjust their game based on something that's not easily seen.  

What energizes you at work?
Coffee and chemical fumes! And interacting with out-of-the-box thinkers.

What led you to this career?
A distaste for repetitive work. My background is in pharmaceuticals, but upon graduating I realized that grinding Ibuprofen everyday wasn't for me. I landed an interview here and was drawn by the relaxed and creative environment.

What is your customer service mantra?
 "Every person has something to teach you." I find that through helping others, I always walk away with new knowledge.

Are you a bowler?
Not a good one! But I have been able to stop using bumpers since I got hired.

What''s one thing most people don''t know about you? I'm a proud dog mom of a whippet rescue puppy!
 

Formula 45T Lane Conditioner 

Formula 45 is designed with one main goal - satisfying FEC center customers. Stable bases and a new additive allow Formula 45 to lay out faster than  any conditioner presently on the market while providing the most predictable pattern transition bowlers deserve. Formula 45 can be used in all Brunswick Direct+ systems as well as all other wickless machines.  Formula 45 is not recommended for use in wick-style machines.  
Formula 45 outstanding performance at an affordable price.

Technical data

• Viscosity: 45.0 cps        
• Packaging: 4 each one-gallon jugs per case.  
• Performs best on low to medium friction surfaces
• Easy to clean
• ThroBot tested
• 100% silicone free
• Brunswick part number: 62-860161-004

• To provide a safe and stable product for our customers
• Low lubricity
• Create a conditioner at an affordable price designed for today's FEC centers
• Mild odor and not offensive