The TIA held key meetings last month during Tennis Night in America and the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York City.   The meetings were organized to update groups on various initiatives, programs and objectives.  The following day, a retailer focus group met first with manufacturers and TIA's Retail Consulting Specialists, then separately to discuss challenges affecting the retail sector and ways for greater involvement with the industry.

Retailers, like coaches and teaching professionals, are important in leading the way in assuring that the “right” balls are being used by the “right” players for 10 and Under Tennis. As the spring and summer seasons are fast approaching, you need to make sure you stock the right inventory of foam and lower compression felt balls for your customers.

It’s a very simple message—“Play tennis!”—yet its impact throughout this industry can be huge. The new PlayTennis.com has soft-launched to consumers, with the full launch expected in May, as a site where everyone in the industry can send consumers and players to encourage them to get in the game and to play more tennis.