Ping Pong

You know, sometimes you just enjoy something enough to try and make it into a business. Ping Pong is one of those things for me. My search for better paddles led me to 2 years of research, countless hours doing demo's and quite a bit of cash going out. I suck at web stuff so my site www.basementpingpong.com looks like a big turd for the most part although the desired content is in fact present. I guess it's now up to me to drive traffic to it. The thing is that I just don't seem to have the time to devote to the site. I'll make changes every month and then get gung ho about it but then when no traffic comes I get a bit discouraged. I'm looking for ideas. Ping Pong Paddles can be more than just a tool to hit a ball over a net. With advancements in materials the world has seen better and better paddles made. But one fact remains the same....they all look like crap. I guess that's what started my quest. www.basementpingpong.com is just the beginning I'm thinking. So far I've only sold paddles to co-workers and friends...for a considerable discount. But, that has helped a bit I guess getting the word out. I'm thinking of doing more marketing via the web and also offline but don't have the funds/time to really hit it. Brick by brick. Slow and steady. Now I guess I'm just complaining. It's hard to have something you want to do so badly only be held back by time. With the baby coming in March I'll have even less. But then I'll probably be so excited and distracted I won't even notice. Well, that's it for now.

If you have ideas for me please feel free to post/email. And, spread the word about my site when you can. www.basementpingpong.com

Thanks as always.

See you next blog :)

The Thunder Upstairs

Well, I seem to be having an issue with the guy living above us in our complex. You see, Jacqui and I have this really nice condo on the river in Post Falls. You can see the water from our windows. The building is one year old and has such a wonderful look. We have absolutely loved it. Until that is, a new guy moved in upstairs.

He's what we call a DB (use your imagination). I've talked with him once about his noise and he basically gave me a quick "yeah, ok" while he slammed the door in my face. The property management has been pretty much worthless to this point and we constantly are woke up by this guy. With the baby coming in a couple months I'm at wits end. The property mgmt co 'says' they have sent him a couple letters already but I'm not seeing any changes. This morning he was up at 4:30 AM. Then proceeded to stomp around for 45 minutes....quiet for half an hour then again at 5:30 and again at 6:30. So, Jacqui and I sat in bed awake for 2 hours, drifting in and out of sleep for a few minutes. We have seen this guy out at the grocery store and at the gym and he seems like he's just one of those loud people that has no sense of his surroundings. Oblivious. On the weekends we can tell when he's been out drinking because we'll get to sleep and then right around 2:30 he gets home and spends the next 15 or 20 minutes staggering around his place until he finally finds his bed and passes out. This wakes us up for the duration every time. Sometimes we think he's moving out because it sounds like hes moving furniture up there. But, after weeks of it....we figure he's just a loud DB. So, now I'm tired and cranky. Jacqui will call the PM again to complain and see if there is anything else we can do.

Ok, rant over. Thanks for listening.

Don't forget to check out my ping pong paddle website if you would like :)

www.basementpingpong.com

a quick greeting...

Hello friends, family and newcomers. My name is John Van Horn. I live in the great northwest for now with an expected move back to San Diego soon. I've created this blog to keep people up to date on the comings and goings of the John Van Horn family. Jacqui is the newest addition. She's my beautiful wife. Born in Boston but with a wicked british accent. She's the love of my life. I can't imagine things without her around. She's my best friend. Another addition will be this March. We are expecting our first baby. A little girl. I'm as proud as I've ever been. I can't wait. It's going to change my life forever....for the better.

Another reason I've created this blog is to share my love of Ping Pong. It's been a passion of mine for quite some time now and has now turned into a business. I make ping pong paddles. Good ones. No, not good......fantastic!!! It may be a shameless plug but I'm proud of my paddles. I've played with high dollar paddles, cheapo paddles and everything in between and I've yet to swing one that works like mine. Plus, the paddles I make are the most unique around. No more Black, red, blue paddles. Mine are fully customized with great graphics and images. I can even do paddles from your pictures/images. So, you get an amazing paddle as far as playability and also one that doesn't look like you just bought it at Walmart. From flames to chicks and even flaming chicks.....can put it all on the paddle.

I've spent the last 2 years researching and building prototypes to find the best possible materials for my ping pong paddles. The result is amazing. I have yet to find a single player that doesn't like my paddles.

See some options here www.basementpingpong.com


I'm not a web guy so If you have suggestions on the site please let me know.

Thanks and see you next blog. :)


John Van Horn