The first weekend in January three members of the JustBats.com team traveled to Anaheim, California to attend the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) annual conference. The conference was held at the Anaheim Convention Center and has always been a very beneficial and enjoyable conference. There are over 500 coaches that participate in this event. There truly is no better gathering of great baseball minds than this event.
While at the event JustBats.com was able to look at new products, meet local coaches, and interact with our customers. Customer Service is one of the core values that helps make JustBats.com who we are. Part of Customer Service is making sure we have a pulse on the industry and listen to our customers and what they want. What better place to tackle both initiatives then California in January. Our team walked up and down the aisles of the show talking with new potential brands making sure we are continuing to offer our customers everything and anything bats.
The evenings were spent interacting with some of the best coaches in the game. Rick Vanderhook, the new coach at Cal State Fullerton, was one that stood out. Rick recently took over one of the best programs in the nation. It was a lot of fun to hear him talk about all the challenges he faced leaving UCLA where he was an assistant coach, and adjusting to his new role. Coach Vanderhook is an avid Easton fan, and seemed excited to swing the new Power Brigade lineup this upcoming season.
While meeting with coaches, listening to guest speakers, and enjoying the weather was great, the main purpose for the trip is to be the voice of our customers to our top manufacturers. At JustBats.com we deal directly with the end customer who swings the bats. We love hearing from our customers and gathering as much information as possible. At a gathering like the ABCA show, we have a platform to take the insight and feedback from our customers and deliver it to the companies that actually make the bats. All the feedback we have received from our customers does not fall on deaf ears. We value everyone’s opinion and make it a top priority to pass it along to improve the product in the game.
All in all, the trip was great. It was fun to meet some of the coaches I have watched on television for years. It was fun to be able to take customer feedback and translate it into better offerings in the future. It was fun to get away from a Midwest winter for a few days and enjoy some sunshine. Whether you are an aspiring coach, or a lifelong student of the game, the ABCA show will not disappoint!
The three guys also were able to catch a quick game while they were there. Only in California can you find a baseball game going on in January!
