Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Topic started by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 03:43:14 PM

Title: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 03:43:14 PM
Just been in to have a chat to the guys at Romida in Leatherhead and this was the news...

They have had a good year of sales this year, relatively shielded from the downturn. Their biggest seller was kookaburra kit, especially their bats.
The GN bats was also a big winner, although their softs weren't as popular (e.g. the legend gloves were similar quality to the GM 808's) 

In news that tall Paul will be interested in, the boomboom bats were well received and there were no returns...

SF bats were not as good as last year (not as soft as last years)

GM and Puma bats were well received, but the gm bats had weak toes.

They also had Ayrtek in stock and loads of Newbery bats left (over graded in my view)

Then for next year, lots more boomboom, Adidas are bringing out a £40 rrp shoe, which will sell loads, m and h bats lighter than 2lbs 12.
On the subject of m and h, the are ditching the leather as it stains really badly - I suggested a darker leather but the M and H rep wasn't interested (had left the shop by then!)

They are excited by the new gn and gm bats, they will be stocking Spartan, but it won't be cheap. They are hoping for better SF bats and their softs were similar to puma.

nothing from county, which. as we know are not fashionable...

They are frustrated by slazenger, their new stuff is expensive and they won't let the retailers test the bats, no tapping or using a mallet... the slaz bats they had picked up well but were pretty hard...

Finally they also liked the new Adidas kit.

Not much else I can remember, but some questions may trigger some memories.   
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: thedon on September 24, 2012, 03:59:11 PM
They are great at romida. always willing to have a chat
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Riddy on September 24, 2012, 04:25:42 PM
new adidas kit? have seen any pics or sneak peaks of this? and are they still doing bats?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: thecord on September 24, 2012, 04:29:16 PM
Any views on keeping gear Buzz?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: GarrettJ on September 24, 2012, 04:30:54 PM
great post buzz.

Im intrested in seeing Spartan in the flesh and i like the look of the SF gloves.

On the subject of m and h, the are ditching the leather as it stains really badly ..... you mean the cuff of the gloves??
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 04:37:16 PM
new adidas kit? have seen any pics or sneak peaks of this? and are they still doing bats?

nothing to share, other than the shoes, sorry.

Any views on keeping gear Buzz?

again, sorry, I didn't ask, I don't really know much about keeping stuff

Quote
On the subject of m and h, the are ditching the leather as it stains really badly ..... you mean the cuff of the gloves??

yes and the pads.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: thecord on September 24, 2012, 04:40:30 PM
Shame about the change to the M&H softs, was the only thing that really set them apart
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: procricket on September 24, 2012, 04:56:05 PM
Is that the dorking boys buzz at leatherhead
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 05:07:15 PM
Is that the dorking boys buzz at leatherhead

yes. nice guys, I have been going in there for years.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: procricket on September 24, 2012, 05:33:39 PM
Yes top lads had brief stint using leather head when I lived near Guildford


Any decent deals in store buzz
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 05:42:55 PM

Any decent deals in store buzz
not really, the bats were pretty hard, no bargains left for me. some of the Kook softs were decently priced.

I tapped up a few bats, but they said they had just picked up some stock from their other shop. so left overs from two shops... no thanks!

they were pretty honest about it
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Blank Bats on September 24, 2012, 05:46:22 PM
Buzz, i thought you knew better than to listen to the guys at romida ;)
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on September 24, 2012, 05:47:00 PM
Great work, Buzz! Thanks a lot for this.  Very interesting and, yes, good to hear that BoomBoom are doing well there!  :D

Out of interest, did you manage to find out what percentage of their sales are online over in-store?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Cover_Drive on September 24, 2012, 07:36:28 PM
Top stuff Buzz, that's why I always admire you :)

I was disappointed to see M&H getting rid of the leather because I think that adds a classy dimension to the brand, well that's my perspective.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 24, 2012, 08:18:48 PM
Great work, Buzz! Thanks a lot for this.  Very interesting and, yes, good to hear that BoomBoom are doing well there!  :D

Out of interest, did you manage to find out what percentage of their sales are online over in-store?

hi, the online isn't a question I asked, but I would say most of the Leatherhead sales are walk in as the online stuff is posted from up north!

i should have said there were a couple of Robert Pack Pumas there, but in the 4000 range with offset edges and very low middles. They did have the life concaved out of them but they were decent clefts.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on September 25, 2012, 12:38:36 PM
Just been in to have a chat to the guys at Romida in Leatherhead and this was the news...

They have had a good year of sales this year, relatively shielded from the downturn. Their biggest seller was kookaburra kit, especially their bats.
The GN bats was also a big winner, although their softs weren't as popular (e.g. the legend gloves were similar quality to the GM 808's) 

In news that tall Paul will be interested in, the boomboom bats were well received and there were no returns...

SF bats were not as good as last year (not as soft as last years)

GM and Puma bats were well received, but the gm bats had weak toes.

They also had Ayrtek in stock and loads of Newbery bats left (over graded in my view)

Then for next year, lots more boomboom, Adidas are bringing out a £40 rrp shoe, which will sell loads, m and h bats lighter than 2lbs 12.
On the subject of m and h, the are ditching the leather as it stains really badly - I suggested a darker leather but the M and H rep wasn't interested (had left the shop by then!)

They are excited by the new gn and gm bats, they will be stocking Spartan, but it won't be cheap. They are hoping for better SF bats and their softs were similar to puma.

nothing from county, which. as we know are not fashionable...

They are frustrated by slazenger, their new stuff is expensive and they won't let the retailers test the bats, no tapping or using a mallet... the slaz bats they had picked up well but were pretty hard...

Finally they also liked the new Adidas kit.

Not much else I can remember, but some questions may trigger some memories.   

What about Aero, Buzz? What did they have to say about them?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 25, 2012, 01:07:49 PM
nothing new and nothing new from Nike either. the suggestion was there was plenty of left over Nike shoes, the orang didn't prove universally popular...
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on September 25, 2012, 01:22:19 PM
nothing new and nothing new from Nike either. the suggestion was there was plenty of left over Nike shoes, the orang didn't prove universally popular...

Sorry, not in terms of 2013, but I meant how did they feel about Aero sales for this year?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Buzz on September 25, 2012, 01:25:40 PM
I think they only had the strippers, which are pretty popular.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on September 25, 2012, 01:51:27 PM
I think they only had the strippers, which are pretty popular.

None of the keeping gear, then?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Tom on October 05, 2012, 11:04:36 AM
Romida went into Administration yesterday - so perhaps sales weren't that good...

Best of luck to Scott and all involved.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on October 05, 2012, 11:10:08 AM
I see they have 4 stores, are they a franchise? Also do they actually stock 700-1000 bats per store?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Manormanic on October 05, 2012, 11:15:07 AM
eeek!  Thats a bit of a shock, I suppose the wet weather this year has affected their sales in the same way as it has killed the market on here?

Maybe Paul can buy the business, go for an IJC dynasty!
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: uknsaunders on October 05, 2012, 11:28:55 AM
fair bit of competition in the yorkshire area. I don't suppose Allrounder opening up in Leeds helped but they always seemed a bit pricey for my liking.

Somebody could do worse than open a cricket shop in the stratford/warwick area, nothing for miles around here!
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: procricket on October 05, 2012, 11:30:44 AM
Saturation of the market I have never know it this wide open

Good thing or not Iam not sure

Vs sports in coventry
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: joeylough on October 05, 2012, 11:44:02 AM
I see they have 4 stores, are they a franchise? Also do they actually stock 700-1000 bats per store?

From what I can gather they are a family run business started in Rochdale.

Paul the administrators are PKF manchester just incase you wanted a cheeky bid  8)
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: procricket on October 05, 2012, 11:50:07 AM
Scott Richardson ex Yorkshire twos is or was part of the ownership as Tom suggested

The newhay shop is my favourite shop of all I grew up going there on a bus a 2 hour bus journey followed by a long walk from Rochdale centre to Newhey

Tench sport disappeared as well years ago from Middleton
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: uknsaunders on October 05, 2012, 11:57:54 AM
V Sports has a poor rep around these parts. Some people like them and others hate them. One of my clubs have banned players from going there (tongue in cheek) after the owner refused to accept a genuine reason for a return. It's also 30 minutes+ from my little rural house.

Romida service was good though. They did seem to have a fair number of ex-pro's, not also the best businessmen.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on October 05, 2012, 12:28:53 PM
I bet Owzat end up buying them, but I hope I'm proven wrong.

Asad, exactly how much was it that you said we could offer if we clubbed together?!  ;)
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Uzi Sports on October 05, 2012, 12:34:08 PM
I bet Owzat end up buying them, but I hope I'm proven wrong.

Asad, exactly how much was it that you said we could offer if we clubbed together?!  ;)
i'll pay their asking price
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: joeylough on November 03, 2012, 04:43:39 PM
I know this is a bit of an old one. But does anyone know what is happening in regards to the sale of Romida?

I imagine that the sale of stock would be a a discount considering it is old stock or would the location and Brand name be more important? I just don't want sports direct buying everything
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Aswani Cricket on November 05, 2012, 07:22:26 PM
I know this is a bit of an old one. But does anyone know what is happening in regards to the sale of Romida?

I imagine that the sale of stock would be a a discount considering it is old stock or would the location and Brand name be more important? I just don't want sports direct buying everything
The administrators are in talks with one party at the moment. It's not Sports Direct. Don't count on too much stock being left though
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ajm90 on November 05, 2012, 07:32:57 PM
The administrators are in talks with one party at the moment. It's not Sports Direct. Don't count on too much stock being left though
Damn I was looking forward to a big sale. Any idea if all the stores are going to stay as cricket stores of some description?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Aswani Cricket on November 05, 2012, 07:37:07 PM
I think that'll be up to the new owners whether it's cost effective to have multiple stores or whether online business is now taking over
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Aswani Cricket on November 05, 2012, 07:48:15 PM
Damn I was looking forward to a big sale. Any idea if all the stores are going to stay as cricket stores of some description?
But generally, I think there is a lot of stock to be had at good prices, due to the pretty poor summer. We suffered just like the rest. Look what's happened to JJB (though that wasn't due to cricket), Romida, KickBack earlier in the year. These aren't small companies. It's a tough market, but you can't massivley discount AND provide the after sales service and survive. The customer always has a choice ... go to the mega-chain stores where stuff is all over the floor and hope someone might help you or know what they are talking about, or go to a specialist where you are more likely to get personal service, good advice, etc.
Quite shocked when I first heard about Romida ... I used to buy from there when I was a student

Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ajm90 on November 05, 2012, 07:59:37 PM
Its a shame to see cricket retailers struggling as its a much better experience buying a bat from a cricket specialist store than buying from a high street retailer or online retailer.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ajmw89 on November 06, 2012, 08:36:22 AM
I was shocked when I heard about Romida.  Although I've usually gone to Fordham sports in the past, as it's nearer I've recently been going to Romida in Leatherhead more as I find they are more helpful and willing to chat, not just wanting to get a sale.  I hope whoever buys them out keeps the Leatherhead store open, as it's a nice little shop.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: robw on November 21, 2012, 09:20:36 PM
Looks like they are back up and running. Administrators sign is off the website and have 2013 newbery/gn/kookaburra kit listed.

Lots of brands gone with no stock available. Imagine the administrators returned to suppliers to settle unpaid bills for stock?
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: Tom on November 21, 2012, 09:22:23 PM
Extra Cover Cricket bought it.
Title: Re: View from a retailer of the 2012 sales
Post by: ItsJustCricket on November 21, 2012, 09:22:39 PM
Looks like they are back up and running. Administrators sign is off the website and have 2013 newbery/gn/kookaburra kit listed.

Lots of brands gone with no stock available. Imagine the administrators returned to suppliers to settle unpaid bills for stock?

Yes, Extra Cover Cricket bought them.  I think they've lost the Maghull store forever but the other three are back...