“Regardless of the state of the Alberta economy, we have no plans to slow down our growth,” SML VP Dean Fisher.
Calgary, Alberta (May 4, 2016) – “We have come a long way since our humble beginnings as a juke-box company in 1956,” says Dean Fisher, Vice-President, SML Entertainment. “Throughout six decades, we have adapted to changing consumer demands and evolved into western Canada’s leading supplier of commercial and home entertainment and outdoor living products.”
From its headquarters in NE Calgary, SML has expanded to five showrooms including two in Calgary (Head office & Heritage Hill), Rockyview (CrossIron Mills), Red Deer and Edmonton.
Fisher attributes SML’s success to the vision and business acumen of his father Tony Fisher, SML’s President and CEO. “He spearheaded our continuous growth and instilled a company culture bent on his steadfast belief of taking very good care of each SML customer with the intent of making them life-long customers. He also believes that to be successful, employees need to possess a passion for the business, work hard, have integrity and have a lot of fun.”
“Giving back to the communities in which we operate and helping the less fortunate are also an integral part of our corporate culture. We believe strongly in supporting minor sports and the resulting positive influence it has on children. We are also long-time supporters of the Rotary Club of Calgary who efforts help numerous organizations and community initiatives in the Calgary area.”
Over the years, SML Entertainment’s brand became synonymous with Brunswick billiard tables, 8-ball pool league; air hockey; foosball; table tennis; classic arcade machines; pinball machines; vinyl, CD and digital jukeboxes; shuffle boards as well as games room furniture.
Today, SML is equally well known for products that include: bar furniture, poker tables, home theatre rooms, sports simulators and outdoor living items such as Beachcomber hot tubs; patio furniture; fire tables; BBQ Islands and gazebos.
“Regardless of the state of the Alberta economy, we have no plans to slow down our growth,” explains Fisher. “In fact, we will soon be launching a new Online Store to expand our expertise, products and services across Canada, North America and beyond. We also continue to seek out opportunities to expand our retail stores in hi-growth markets.”
As for celebrations during its 60th anniversary, SML Entertainment plans to have several Customer Appreciation events, an appearance from a Pool Table trick-shot artist, and a special event for Home Builders and Interior Designers.
Since 1956, Calgary-based SML Entertainment has continued to expand its product lines of commercial and home entertainment and outdoor living products through its five showrooms in Alberta.
Traditional entertainment games and products include: air hockey; foosball; table tennis; billiard tables; classic arcade machines; pinball machines; vinyl, CD and digital jukeboxes; shuffle boards as well as games room furniture and décor items. More recently, SML Entertainment has added a variety of new products including bar furniture, poker tables, home theatre rooms and sports simulators as well as outdoor living products including Beachcomber hot tubs; patio furniture; fire tables; BBQ Islands and gazebos.
SML Entertainment has five showrooms including two in Calgary (Head office & Heritage Hill), Rockyview (CrossIron Mills), Red Deer and Edmonton. The company also operates a thriving 8-ball pool league in southern Alberta. www.smlentertainment.com
A Made-In-Alberta success story, SML Entertainment leads the pack in commercial and home entertainment products.
In the fall 2016, SML celebrates its 60 anniversary of steady growth and success as western Canada’s leading supplier of commercial and home entertainment and outdoor living products.
Since its humble beginnings in 1956, the former Southern Music Ltd. has evolved and adapted as an innovator and industry leader. As the company grew from its Calgary foothold, it also established a solid reputation for operating large pool leagues and hosting pool tournaments and trick-shot events in western Canada. Today, SML continues to operate a thriving 8-ball pool league in southern Alberta.
As the company expanded geographically, it kept a step ahead of the competition. SML knew that consumers wanted more than its signature Brunswick line of billiard tables and accessories and juke boxes. It responded by offering a wide variety of entertainment products.
Some of those games and products included: air hockey; foosball; table tennis; billiard tables; classic arcade machines; pinball machines; vinyl, CD and digital jukeboxes; shuffle boards as well as games room furniture and décor items.
More recently, SML has added bar furniture, poker tables, home theatre rooms and sports simulators as well as outdoor living products such as Beachcomber hot tubs; patio furniture; fire tables; BBQ Islands and gazebos.
Photo Credit: Michael Cudjoe Photography
The man responsible for spearheading SML’s successful growth is Tony Fisher who has been at the helm as its President and CEO for the past 27 years. Like many successful businessmen he worked his way up the organization, starting in the early 70s servicing jukeboxes. For Fisher, the road to success is built on having a passion for your business, hard work, integrity and fun.
“Southern Music was essentially a jukebox company started in 1956 by the late Dick Johnson,” says Fisher. “He was the President when I started in their service shop. Over time, I came up through the ranks wearing a lot of different hats including Games Manager, Operations Manager and Vice-President of Operations.”
Fisher attributes much of SML’s ongoing success to a key strategy that he instilled in the company’s culture – take very good care of each SML customer with the intent of making them life-long customers.
“Giving back to the communities in which we operate and helping the less fortunate are also an integral part of our corporate culture. SML Entertainment believes strongly in supporting minor sports and the resulting positive influence it has on children. It is also a long-time supporter of the Rotary Club of Calgary whose efforts help numerous organizations and community initiatives in the Calgary area.”
SML Entertainment has five showrooms throughout Alberta including two in Calgary (Head office & Heritage Hill), Rockyview (CrossIron Mills), Red Deer and Edmonton. The company will also launch a comprehensive online store during its 60th anniversary to broaden its sales opportunities across Canada.