magazine

FOR THE AMUSEMENT ROUTE, ARCADE & FEC OWNER • JULY 2009

Redemption, Plus So Much MoreThe Prizes, Technology & Expertise of Redemption Plus

BOWLED OVER:Games Heat Up 10-Pin Biz

BOWLED OVER:Games Heat Up10-Pin Biz

R edemption Plus is in the businessof making their customers happyby making their business life a lit-

tle easier. To that end, they provide sim-pler ways to order redemption merchan-dise and better technology to streamlinethe process. Their mission is clear cut —to help their customers become more prof-itable and successful.

The Redemption Plus blueprint is toprovide great items to drive sales, save thecustomer labor through automatedprocesses and reduce customer cost ofsales through built-in, enhanced controls.By doing this, they can assist their cus-tomers’ working lives in a positive way.

Ron Hill founded Redemption Plus inhis parents’ basement in 1996. After mov-ing out of those cramped quarters, Hillrelocated the business to All AmericanIndoor Soccer where they heard therepeated thud of soccer balls hitting theoutside of their walls. They’ve come a

Redemption Plus Aims To Please With Prizes and Much More

long way since then, now inhabiting astate-of-the-art facility that includes a fit-ness room, kid’s play area, full-servicekitchen and simulated redemption counter.

Ron’s goal was to integrate technologywith a unique product line to create a trulyone-of-a-kind experience for his cus-tomers. “I looked at the industry and real-ized we could really improve the processof buying and merchandising redemptionproducts,” said Hill. The company hasintroduced a number of industry firsts —DPL (digital packing list), merchandisetagging, redemption counter merchandis-ing, customer success consulting and,most recently, Planet Prize OnlineRedemption and Redemption U. Whatdoes this mean to their customers? Lesshassle, less confusion and fewerheadaches; in other words, a streamlinedprocess with increased efficiency, accura-cy and profitability.

Along with these value-added services,

cover story

Ron Hill, president and CEO of RedemptionPlus, finds himself in a sea of prizes. At top,the entire team gathers for a photo in thelobby of their Lenexa, Kansas, offices.

July 2009 • RePlay Magazine • Page 67

their easy-to-use website makes orderingand managing redemption merchandise abreeze. It displays real-time inventory andcustomizes to each customer’s markup andfavorite items. Leon Moncla, owner ofColorado Canyon in Beaumont, TX, said,“Their website is second to none and hasmade our ordering as simple as possible.”

The firm’s recent webinar, “MakingOnline Ordering Easier,” presented byaccount manager Justin Michaels walkedparticipants through the site’s other time-saving features; it can be found online atwww.redemptionu.com.

Redemption Plus’ commitment to help-ing customers was honored in March whenthe company was presented with the Gol-den Token award for Best Customer Ser-vice. “Providing our customers with supe-rior service has always been our top priori-ty, so it is extremely rewarding to be recog-nized by the industry we have devoted our-selves to,” said Doug Stokes, VP of sales.

The firm has alsoteamed up with GeorgeMcAuliffe, a RePlay reg-ular contributor, to offer atruly holistic approach

for customers seeking ways to improvetheir business processes. This division ofRedemption Plus, Pinnacle EntertainmentAdvisors, helps customers attract andentertain their guests while maximizingtheir profitability. McAuliffe is a 30-yearveteran of the family entertainment indus-try who is a past president of theInternational Association of the Leisureand Entertainment Industry (IALEI). “Hehas become an expert in the industry andan asset to our customers,” said Hill.

Redemption Plus’ product selectionconsists of everything from traditional binitems to high-end electronics, includingexclusive product lines such as LoungeMonkey Lighting, Authentic Toy and,most recently, the Big Ripper. This year,they won the Golden Token Award forBest New Redemption/Novelty Product.

“Recently we expanded our selection ofbin items, which is the base of any redemp-tion program. Offering our customers awide selection of high-quality and attrac-tive products is very important, and we aregrateful to have received this award for oneof these new additions.” said DeweyKendall, VP of product solutions.

They also recently launched HIP, or

Hot PropertiesBarb Suter, director of merchandise, rec-

ommends a few of the latest and greatestredemption items:

• Trans-formers RobotHeroes Asst.#313200

• Big RipperWhoopie Cushion 12-in. #313400 (blastingin mid-July)

• Lava Brand Lighting.

Management team (front left to right): Jason Kort, director of market-ing; Steve Jordan, senior VP and CFO; Julie Annett, director of informa-tion technology; Jason Patterson, kit solutions manager; Cheryl Wood,director of distribution. On the stairs left to right: Ron Hill, president andCEO; Doug Stokes, VP sales; and Barb Suter, director of merchandise.

The sales and marketing staff gather in front of a simulated re-demption counter at the Redemption Plus offices. In the front row, Court-ney Hunter, marketing coordinator; Ron Hill, president and CEO; and AnnKrull, account executive. In the middle row, Jason Kort director of market-ing; Rachelle Granger, account manager; Jill Haake, sales and marketingassistant; and Doug Stokes, VP sales. Back row, Kevin Hight, accountexecutive; Matt Rau, account manager; Justin Michaels, account manag-er; Scott Kane, account executive; and Jim Kipper, account manager.

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High Intensity Prizes, as a source for craneand merchandiser kits. This move seeks toevolve from simply offering kits to trulyspecializing and excelling in this rapidlychanging market segment. “My goal is tocontinuously introduce new and excitingprizes. Crane and merchandiser sales aredriven by impulse. You must catch the

customer’s attention to capture the impulserevenue,” stated Jason Patterson, kit solu-tions manager.

Along with Hill’s vision of enhancingthe world of redemption, he also wanted toprovide a great place to work that fosteredintegrity, flexibility, responsibility, awork/life balance and, of course, fun. They

have been named a Best Place to Work inKansas City two years in a row and arewell known in their hometown as a TopSmall Business of the Year and one of theFastest Growing Companies.

When you walk in the company’soffice, you’re likely to find Ron’sAustralian Shepherd, Tybo, roaming fromone desk to the next waiting to see whowill give him the best treats. The walls arepainted in vibrant shades of green, orangeand purple. Some days, you’ll also seeemployee’s children either hiding in theplayroom or helping the product solutionsdepartment pick out the latest hot toys.

“We have fun here,” said Hill. “We arein the business of making our customersand their customers happy.”

Redemption Plus has taken a compli-cated and sometimes overwhelmingprocess and simplified it. No hassles, noheadaches, no worries. Just a friendlysmile with a solution to your problem.

To learn more about Redemption Plus,please visit www.redemptionplus.com orcall 888/564-7587.

Jeff Boje is the president of theUnited States Bowling Congress, formerpresident of the Bowling Proprietor’sAssociation of America (BPAA), and asatisfied Redemption Plus customer.

“Having spent a lifetime in the bowl-ing business, I knew some of the issueswith owning and operating a gameroom,” said Boje. “I needed a companythat would advise me on what’s hot, so Ilooked carefully at the service level Iwould get.”

Product quality was also a concernso Boje chose Redemption Plus becauseof a good balance between price and

value. “I wanted someone that wouldkeep their commitments and delivergreat customer service,” he added.“Redemption Plus helps me maximizemy profits. I can rely on them to giveme good advice on what to buy, week inand week out.”

Boje said he has also seen significantproductivity increases by usingRedemption Plus’ tagging and DPL.“Instead of spending time bar coding,my people can spend their time handlingmore important aspects of the business,”he said.

A Satisfied Customer

A look inside the sales department offices finds (from frontto back): Scott Kane, Matt Rau, Justin Michaels and Ann Krull.

The sales team in the creative room dubbed the Lava Room, at theRedemption Plus office (from left to right): Ann Krull, Scott Kane,Rachelle Granger and Justin Michaels.

Chas Tulipana, owner of Power Play in Shawnee, Kansas, in hislocation with Justin Michaels, account manager at Redemption Plus.At right, the redemption counter at Power Play.

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