In this blog post we're excited to introduce John ( @SVLFever ), owner of Sun Valley Lanes & Games, a large family entertainment center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Get to know John and his business along with his experience in beta testing and in the Square Community.
Hey, John! Tell us a little bit about you and your business.
My name is John, and I'm the owner of Sun Valley Lanes & Games in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sun Valley Lanes & Games was built as a 32-lane traditional bowling center in 1977. In late 2019, a construction and expansion project began which added a large redemption arcade, a 24-player laser tag arena, an outdoor greenspace/patio area with corn hole, an indoor technology based mini-golf, three outdoor sand volleyball courts, an expanded lounge and restaurant area, as well as a full-service retail bowling pro shop.
How long have you been a beta tester at Square? What made you want to test?
I have been a member of the beta community for about a year and half; however, I have been a beta tester for more than 25 years with QubicaAMF and their POS software Conqueror. I have always enjoyed helping identify/solve beta issues, as well as provide feedback to the development of the operational needs of a business. I firmly believe in change, and I think adapting to technology and other changes is important to a business's survival. Having access to cutting-edge products/technology helps my business be successful in the long run and helps provide a great experience for our guests as well.
What has been your experience with the Updated Square Point of Sale Experience beta? How has it helped and/or challenged you?
We love the Updated Point of Sale experience and the functionality it provides. Since we operate a large lounge and run dozens and dozens of checks daily, having the ability to pre-authorize a guest’s credit card IS CRITICAL to our operational success; and this beta provided that. Now we no longer have to "hold" a customer’s card while they run a tab which has made both the staff and guests experience a lot better.
Love that! Do you have any feature requests at the top of your list?
Yes, the one feature I would really love to see is the ability to re-order the modifier selections by item. We had that with our Conqueror POS and we REALLY miss it. Currently, Square orders by required getting preference, which does not always equate to "customer service order" when interacting with our guests. I would also like to see some improvements to the loyalty program with some reporting and coupon functionality improvements.
Thanks for that feedback! What’s next for your business?
The next big thing we are focusing on is the 2025 Women’s US Open. This international event will take place here June 10-17 and we will have all hands-on deck to host this prestigious event. We hosted the Men’s US Open in 2020 and world-renowned professional bowler Jason Belmonte won it here. 🏆
That's incredible! Where can people find you?
Sun Valley Lanes & Games is just west of downtown Lincoln, NE. You can find us on the web at sunvalleylanes.com or on our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube pages as well by searching "Sun Valley Lanes".
Nika is a Beta Community Manager at Square. You’ll find her most often in the Beta Community, helping to bridge the gap and build relationships between sellers and product teams.