Publisher’s COLUMN
LOOKING DEEPER AT WHAT WORKS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Stephanie Davis stephanie@bowlingindustry.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Natalie Davis-Fernandez natalie@bowlingindustry.com EDITORIAL Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com OFFICE MANAGER Roxanne Damask roxanne@bowlingindustry.com CONTRIBUTORS Sheryl Bindelglass Stephanie Davis Jackie Fisher
T here’s something about a business story that starts with 248 people saying no and a grand opening that turns into a grand closing. You pretty much have to keep reading. That’s where this month’s cover story starts. Before Dig World opened, Jacob Robinson pitched his idea to 248 investors who said no. He believed families would want to operate real construction equipment together. Convincing others was another story. Eventually, someone said yes, and Dig World opened in Katy, Texas. Families showed up ready to climb into real excavators and heavy equipment. The problem was that Dig World wasn’t quite ready for them. Within days, Jacob temporarily closed, fixed what wasn’t working, and tried again. That very public rough start could have ended the business. Instead, it became part of the playbook. Today, Dig World has national partners, a Shark Tank appearance under its belt, and plans to expand. But the best part of the story is what Jacob learned from all those no’s, the mistakes that followed, and listening to what guests actually wanted. THE PRICE TAG ISN’T THE COST That idea carries into decisions that look much simpler on paper, like choosing between two pieces of equipment. And this isn’t a case for automatically buying the more expensive option. Sometimes, cheaper really is the smarter choice. The question is what happens after the purchase. Repairs, downtime, replacement parts, lost product, and operating costs can change the math pretty
PRETTY ISN’T ENOUGH Another place where what you see isn’t necessarily the whole story is your website. Is yours working as hard as you are? A website has some pretty specific jobs to do for your business, but many centers may not be getting everything they could from theirs. Carey Tosello of eBowl.biz and Zach Boulanger of Bowling Marketing Solutions have decades of experience building websites for centers and keeping up with the technology behind them. They share plenty of practical advice, including what makes a site easier for search engines and AI to find, what should be happening behind the pretty pictures, and why you should probably be looking at yours from your phone instead of the desktop in your office. BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES You’ll have plenty more to look at in Orlando this month. IAAPA Expo is expanding into a second building, with more than 1,100 exhibitors expected. That’s a lot of ground and a lot of shiny things competing for your attention. Our IAAPA Sneak Peek highlights a few areas we think are worth watching. The IBI team will be there, too, and we’re looking forward to seeing many of our industry friends. If you spot us wandering the floor, please come say hello. There’s plenty more packed into this issue beyond these stories. We
Michael Giacinto Danny Gruening Taylor McGlamery Eileen Schreiner Ryan Vasko Brandon Willey
hope you’ll find a nugget or two to put to work in your center. As always, I’d love to hear what’s working in your operation, what you’re trying, and what you’d like us to explore in future issues. Until next month, thanks for reading, and enjoy the issue!
CONTACT 1850 San Marco Rd. Marco Island, FL 34145 www.BowlingIndustry.com stephanie@bowlingindustry.com
quickly. Michael Giacinto’s "Price vs. Value" article puts real numbers behind those choices, from refrigerators and cabinetry to fryer oil and
ventless cooking equipment. It’s a useful way to look beyond the quote and consider what the equipment needs to do, how hard you’ll use it, and what it will really cost you over time.
The information in this publication is provided for general informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of this information. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Readers are encouraged to seek professional advice before making business decisions.
Stephanie Davis, Publisher & Editor stephanie@bowlingindustry.com
The question is what happens after the purchase.
IBI magazine // November 2026 6
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