Tornado's 1995 U.S. Tour concluded with the $100,000 World Championships in Dallas over Labor Day weekend. All of us at Tornado want to express our appreciation to those distributors who took time off to attend this Special event. We feel that it's important for our distributors to be at these events for a variety of reasons. First of all words cannot express the enor-mity of these events, especially the World Championships. Before you can get your operators excited about foosball you must get excited about foosball. We feel that if you can see firsthand the fire in the players eyes, their desire to win, you will catch on fire as well, and sell some Tornado Foosball tables!
MIDWEST MADNESS
Last year 5 of our top 6 Distributors were in the Midwest, and the trend contin-ues. Thru the end of August, 63% of all coin table sales were in the Upper Midwestern area. I have a theory that I will share with the rest of the country why I think it's happening. When myself or one of our salesmen are in these areas, we're out talking with operators, not sitting in the office, but out on the road, at a loca-tion or at the operator's office. I hope I didn't make anyone mad for telling their secret, that's my theory anyway. Why don't you test it and let me know if it works in your area as well.
TORNADO AIRE SITED IN DALLAS
Tornado's latest addition to it's line of coin op table games (Does two make a line?) was unveiled at the World Champi-onships. Everyone loved it and cannot wait for their first shipments. This table holds the Tornado tradition in every respect. The look of a proven winner, the TORNADO AIRE has the same distinctive brown marble laminate, attractive green playfields, and colorful logo just like our foosball table. It's built Tornado tough, with many operator friendly fea-tures that the players will love as well. Our intention is to support the TORNADO AIRE in the same manner as our foosball table: with National tournaments held in conjunction with our foosball tour-naments, and a league program as well!
In addition to the "STANDARD" TORNADO AIRE, Tornado will be offer-ing an upscale version air hockey table in the spring (or maybe before) with over-head lighting and score display. This unit will come in a variety of colors to fit any decor. Operator friendly, and affordable. A winning combination and a Tornado tradition.
NEW FACILITIES, NEW IDEAS, NEW FACES!!!
Our new plant and offices are ready at last!!! We started moving into our new offices September 12, now we have to go into another room before we bump into someone. We will be setting up our air hockey line in the factory first, once we have that under way, then we will move the soccer line. Our new facility not only gives us the ability to better serve our ever expanding domestic and export sales but gives us the ability to even further expand our product line in the future. For TWENTY-FIVE YEARS Tornado has been known as the "Best little soccer table manufacturer in Texas" but now we can become more, much more. Other lines in the not distant future could range from foosball to air hockey, redemption, pool tables and cue sticks, and virtual reality. What ever the next addition, you can be assured it will carry on the Tornado tradi-tion of operator friendly products that provide a great return on investment.
In addition to new building we also have added a new, old salesman. Larry Davis, Tornado's European sales rep has taken up residence in the Fort Worth area and has staken claim on a new office.
Larry will continue to act as Euorpean Marketing manager and will also assist in domestic sales. Larry brings 10 years of foosball experience with him and will also work extensively with operators and theif Ieague activities.
Steve Murray will share the league duties with Larry and myself. Steve has been heading up the promotions depart-ment for several years, and is now sharing that responsibility with another new face at Tornado, David Radack. David is a na-tive of Dallas, and pro foosball player. He is also a part time student majoring in computer science and marketing. Hey, if you build a new 50,000 sq. ft. facility you've got to have support staff to back it up, right? We're very glad to have both Larry and David around to lend a helping hand. Next time you call, giv'em a howdy, they're both glad to help you with any problems you or your customers might have.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
Thanks again for all your help with this year's Foosball tour in providing ta-bles for these exciting events.
Participating distributors included: H.A. FRANZ, Houston, Texas; COM-MERCIAL MUSIC, Dallas, Texas; CLEVELAND COIN, in Cleveland Ohio, Detroit Michigan, and Indianapolis, Indiana; C.A. ROBINSON, San Fran-cisco and Los Angeles; MOSS DIST., Des Moines Iowa; AMERICAN COIN, Portland and Seattle; BRADY DIST. Char-lotte, N.C.; PIONEER SALES, Meno-monee Falls, Wisconsin; HANSON DIST. Bloomington, Minnesota; MONDIAL DIST., Rochester, New York; and MOUN-TAIN COIN, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS
Most people in tbis industry work long and often times thankless hours. The following group of Distributors took extra time away from their friends and family to attend this year's World Championships, to see the show as well as get a sneak peek at our new air hockey table.
RICH BABICH, Colorado Game EX.
STEVE SHRYACK, Colorado Game EX.
JOHN KLEIMAN, Pioneer Sales
TAMMY SCHMIDT, Hanson Dist.
BLAIR NORRIS, Brady Dist.
ED ROCHE, Mountain Coin
RANDY CESOC, Atlas Dist.
GINO GUINTOLI, Atlas Dist.
PAULA RUSSELL, Southland Dist.
PO CHOW TSUI, Enterprise Resources Hong Kong