Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/777717
? "Our public skating attendance was declining, yet we had not changed session times, prices or anything directly attributable to the customer experience," said Jeff Theiler, Manager of Everett Events Center in Washington. "So to find out the source of the problem I embarked on an information gathering mission." Theiler's first task was to find out if this was a local or national industry trend. He contacted rink managers in his area to see if they were experiencing the same dip in attendance. He then contacted rink managers from other areas of the country, and the consensus seemed to be that public skating attendance was on par with the previous year. Theiler then asked his frontline staff to provide input on possible causes of the shrinking attendance. 22 R INK MAGAZ INE may/June 2008 are your Rentals a hen rinks experience a significant drop in public skating attendance, rental skates are often the issue. W How Your Rental Skates Can Affect Your Bottom Line Wreck by GREG ANZELC Checklist of considerations when selecting a rental skate line ❑ Are the skates comfortable? ❑ Are they durable? ❑ Are they constructed of quality materials? ❑ Are they reasonably priced? ❑ Do they offer skates specifically designed for all of my customers? Men, women, boys and girls? Hockey and figure? Extended sizes? ❑ Do they offer attractive designs that will appeal to my customers? ❑ Is it a reputable skate manufacturer that stands behind its products? ❑ Is the salesperson knowledgeable, honest and helpful? - Dan Riegelman MIKE DeAEMOND