Now, this practice is commonplace on the internet, but it was Seybert's foresight that started this approach. The company has been especially successful in customizing cues, particularly in pairing Predator shafts with other cue manufacturer's cues. Today, Seybert's ships product all over the world and is known throughout as a major Internet Billiard Supply Store. 'We didn't know how this would fly,' he says. In addition to Predator, Seybert's sells McDermott, Pechauer, Viking, and Lucasi and a host of other cue lines including some custom cue makers.Īs sales took off, Kreis kept his job at the grocery store for a while before going to work for Tong's tractor dealership. Seybert's sells just about anything billiards-related that can be shipped by common carrier: cues, shafts, cases, chalk, racks, books and other accessories. 1 Predator dealer in the world and has been the number one dealer for a number of years.

Tong had just started selling the newly debuted Predator cues line out of his tractor dealership and once the new line was introduced on their internet site, it proved to be a match made in billiard heaven.

In 1998, Kreis approached Tong about selling cues on the Internet. Once Kreis discovered the internet and the capabilities that were available, he thought, 'What a great medium for catalogs, for marketing and sales.' So I read a few books and built a Web site.' A buddy of mine was a computer guy, and he was bugging me to get a computer and get on the Internet,' he says. 'I was a meat cutter by trade and managed a meat department in a nearby town. Kreis, meanwhile, had discovered computing and the Internet. Tong owned Seybert's Implement Sales & Service, selling farm equipment in the small town of Coldwater, Mich.īecause of his interest in billiards, Tong began selling a few Adams cues from a tiny side room at his dealership. Two pool-shooting buddies playing in the same Local Pool league. Naturally, it was a love of billiards that brought the owners together. The operation even caught the eye of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who cites Seybert's in his book, Business at the Speed of Thought, as an example of how even small businesses can build a big Internet presence.īut, it is their knowledge of billiards, not technological wizardry or a sophisticated E-commerce business plan, that has made Seybert's one of the leading billiard E-tailers in the world. Though its retail store has been successful, Seybert's remains very much an E-commerce phenomenon. While most successful online retailers build their Internet business as an extension of their stores, Seybert's took the road much less traveled: using its successful E-commerce Web site as a springboard to opening a brick-and-mortar store. As evidenced by their Web site ' these guys (and gals) know the game. Although the company's path to success is anything but common, its winning strategies shouldn't come as a surprise. Seybert's Billiard Supply is one of the most unlikely E-commerce success stories anywhere. We are all quite a bit older (and hopefully wiser) today!Īs told in a recent article in Billiard Retailer Magazine by Travis French. We very seldom have the opportunity to overcharge people.:)įull Disclosure, that picture over there is one of our first trips to Vegas. If you happened to have been one of the teams that beat us out there, be sure to mention it. We have put together teams consisting of employees, family and friends and have made it to the APA nationals in Vegas on quite a few occasions. Seybert's Billiard Supply is proud to have quite a few pool players on staff that have done well in the amateur ranks over the years. If you have a question regarding a table repair, recover, or set up, please do not hesitate to ask. In addition, if you are looking for information on pool table installation, we have on-staff 3 certified table mechanics that have set up, repaired, or recovered hundreds of tables of all makes, models and styles. We have the experience, feedback and opinions of many people that might be of service to you in helping with your decisions as you move on to purchase that new cue, shaft, table cloth or any other billiard related items. Rick is always available to provide you with his opinions and expertise if needed Rick Matzke our store manager is a BCA certified instructor and a true student of the game. The Seybert's Billiard Supply staff consists of Master level players in both APA and Valley. Instructional Products, Books and DVD's.

Seyberts pool supplies