Margaux de Chicchio has joined Jersey-based Coastal Amusements as domestic sales rep and will make her industry debut at this month’s IAAPA show in Orlando. While de Chicchio is new to the amusement machine industry, the Monmouth County, N.J., native brings a wealth of social media marketing and sales experience to her new post. “I’m very excited to meet everyone at IAAPA,” de Chicchio said. “I’m eager to learn more about this thriving industry and from what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be fun!” Be sure to stop by the Coastal booth (#1315) to meet Margaux and see…
Author: Casey Minter
The prominent FEC chain, National Entertainment Network (NEN), has a new topper. Jim Sevalt was promoted to the position of President of NEN as Ed Flaherty (former president and CEO) retired on Sept. 30. Sevalt took over the company on Oct. 1. “This is well deserved. Please join me in congratulating Jim and offering him whatever support he needs in transitioning to this expanded role,” Flaherty said in an email release. “I have enjoyed my time at NEN and I look forward to a new chapter in my life. It has been a pleasure working with you all the past…
The Big Buck World Championship event took place over the weekend (Friday, Oct. 26 – Saturday, Oct. 27) at the eSports Arena in Las Vegas’ Luxor Hotel. The 11th annual event brought hundreds of competitors and spectators, and saw a new winner in the Ladies’ tournament, and the returning world champ take home a fourth-in-a-row win for the main tournament. There were 32 competitors in the double-elimination Ladies’ Tournament on night one, with Melissa Romanik from St. Paul, Minn., taking the title home and $5,000 in her pocket. The Ladies’ Tournament offers additional chances for gals to take home some…
Andamiro has a new game out just in time for IAAPA: Safe Cracker. The prize redemption game replaces the company’s flagship piece, Super Star, which is entering retirement. Safe Cracker is a simple, skill-driven merchandiser that puts players against the clock in hopes of picking up a cool new prize. The player uses one button to control their every action, holding it down to start and pressing the button at different intervals to align it perfectly. The game has room for seven product shelves, all of which are adjustable, and has a default play time of 30 seconds. About Super…
Like many kids, Talan Carruthers, 12, enjoys heading to the arcade to collect tickets. Unlike many, he is cashing in those tickets to use on others, according to the Post Dispatch. In early September, Talan headed to the Funcade on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., with his whopping 268,000 tickets to redeem them for prizes that he donated to families in his community. An Xbox, bicycles, a flat-screen TV and Amazon Fire tablets were among the gifts. “I wanted to help kids have a better Christmas because there are a lot of kids that don’t get any presents,” Talan…
In the latest AMOA newsletter, execs report that the latest installment of the association’s On the Road continuing education program was far from a disappointment. The sixth On the Road get together was conducted over the last weekend in October in the Chicagoland area. Over 40 industry pros learned a little more over the weekend, with topics including cashless, digital marketing, ATMs and more. Early attendees had the chance to tour Stern’s Elk Grove factory and see Arachnid 360s premises. The event is specifically geared toward management, and companies often bring both managers and owners. The entire weekend was planned…
IAAPA always seems to have more than one iron in the fire, and with the association’s massive Attractions Expo approaching rapidly, it’s worth noting that they’re planning for the new year as well. IAAPA organizers are in the midst of prepping for their FEC Summit, held Jan. 27-29 in Austin, Texas, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort. Interested attendees can register by Nov. 25 and save, with members paying $549 ($699 after) and non-members paying $690 ($890 after). Attendees can expect to form connections with top industry leaders from around the world, exclusive access to Austin’s Park and Pizza…
Shaffer Distributing Company and the coin-op community were deeply saddened recently by the passing of Matthew Ottey. Ottey died at 57 and had spent the last 31 years working with Shaffer and others in the coin-op biz. He is survived by daughters Hannah and Cameron, and his mother Kaye. “I had the pleasure to work by Matt’s side for many years. There will never be another like him – that’s for sure. Matt had so many outstanding relationships with customers, suppliers and his fellow co-workers. We lost a great friend,” co-worker and close friend Bob Muniak said. Ottey started his…
The AAMA is now accepting applications for 2018’s FEC of the Year award. The award judges several criteria including games, attractions, food, marketing, social media, charitable activity, safety, staff engagement, design and a secret shopper visit. Five finalists will be selected for a visit and review by Amusement Advantage, a secret shopper organization. “The application itself is quite detailed,” said AAMA EVP Peter Gustafson. “By following up with an in-depth secret shopper review, we’re confident our selection process is both professional and thorough.” That’s Gustafson above giving the 2017 FEC of the Year Award to Brian Cohen of PINSTACK. The…
Lasertron is all set to host its next conference for laser tag operators on Jan. 29-30 in its Rochester, N.Y., entertainment center. The conference (you don’t have to be a Lasertron customer to attend) provides attendees with multiple opportunities to learn and network. Company reps says the Operators’ Conference is unique in that it continually attracts previous attendees who return for a chance to learn more from veteran laser tag operators and pick up tips to improve and grow their businesses. Said Aaron Bos, who attended the company’s September event, “Even after returning for a fifth and sixth time, the…