Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: RSpall on September 12, 2014, 08:55:15 AM
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I'm looking for a potential career path of starting up a company that sells cricket kit as something on the side of my normal job.
I have just finished my first cricket season of selling kit to locals in my area and within the county i live. It's something i have been thinking of for a while and now want to push on a little. I have looked in to having bat stickers made and getting a design put together.
I have bought kit at a very good price offline so far and made good money on it.
All tips would be appreciated and interesting to see peoples thoughts.
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can I suggest you have a read through the forum. I realise that the search function is a little ropey - but there have been just the one or two on here who have trodden the path you a going and a huge amount of information already available.
knowing what your USP is going to be will be a good start, having a high quality supplier will be another good move.
EDIT:
In case you weren't sure... buying a load of OLS blank softs and stickering up a load of MSR bats won't give you a USP... you may want something more. Just a thought. (This isn't a slight on the MSR bats by the way, my experience of them is that they are usually very good value)
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Out of interest which county?
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Cornwall.
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What are you going to do better than everyone else? Price? Quality? Unusual branding?
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Cornwall.
Lovely part of the world, got some relos in Newquay. Good luck, as with everything people will try to talk you out of it or give horror stories, but if its 100% what you want to do go for it, it'll be a labour of love :)
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relos?? I live in Newquay. The tourists have gone home now so i'm currently looking at this to keep me going along side my current job.
As i am just starting up and their are lots of big brands out there already so i don't think i will be able to better them on some levels. I think the kit that i am already selling is as good as any kit at the moment and i am selling it at better prices than anyone locally. There is only one cricket shop in the whole of Cornwall and this is why i think i can make something of it, or at least try. The shop here is a good shop but is very costly. He charges around 300 for good bats from all the top brands and pads up to 100. As i already have another job i was hoping to under cut this considerably and see how it goes. If it kicks off i just sell more.
Any ideas where is the best place to sell your kit? Ebay seems to be good for Steve and his bats but there doesn't seem to be any pads or gloves on there that aren't second hand or from a dealer.
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Might be worth having a read of the interview with the majority shareholder in Mongoose. It's a tricky industry...
http://184.154.5.91/cbforum/index.php?topic=31853.0 (http://184.154.5.91/cbforum/index.php?topic=31853.0)
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relos?? I live in Newquay. The tourists have gone home now so i'm currently looking at this to keep me going along side my current job.
sent a pm
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relos?? I live in Newquay. The tourists have gone home now so i'm currently looking at this to keep me going along side my current job.
As i am just starting up and their are lots of big brands out there already so i don't think i will be able to better them on some levels. I think the kit that i am already selling is as good as any kit at the moment and i am selling it at better prices than anyone locally. There is only one cricket shop in the whole of Cornwall and this is why i think i can make something of it, or at least try. The shop here is a good shop but is very costly. He charges around 300 for good bats from all the top brands and pads up to 100. As i already have another job i was hoping to under cut this considerably and see how it goes. If it kicks off i just sell more.
Any ideas where is the best place to sell your kit? Ebay seems to be good for Steve and his bats but there doesn't seem to be any pads or gloves on there that aren't second hand or from a dealer.
You going to sell just bats or softs and bags etc? personally, I met the guy behind a well known (but small) brand a few months back and funnily enough we discussed ebay, he seemed to think its best to avoid as it immediately devalues your brand.
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You going to sell just bats or softs and bags etc? personally, I met the guy behind a well known (but small) brand a few months back and funnily enough we discussed ebay, he seemed to think its best to avoid as it immediately devalues your brand.
This is an interesting view point. How do you value a small/ start up brand in the first place?
eBay for all it's faults is actually quite a good marketing tool for start up brands. It helps gain brand awareness. The down side is that you're immediately compared to cheap alternatives and unless you're USP is very unique, the brand may be dismissed very quickly.
I guess that is what said brand is meaning by devaluing a brand.
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The more I read and the more experiences I hear, starting a brand seems to be a lot of hard work for potentially very little financial reward. There's a lot of smaller brands (more than I realised) looking for a share of the market, overly dominated by the big brands. From the outside looking in, you either need to offer something different (i.e. B3) or have/be an established batmaker with a good reputation. Both require skills developed over a period of time or a lot of money to buy them in. Good luck to those who tread the path.
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It's like picking up pennies in front of a steamroller
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Cricket is a saturated market in terms of bats/softs etc. the ease at which people can now import goods from india/pakistan etc has moved drastically forward from when i 1st started a company 10 years ago.
back then i had to find someone who made soft goods in india and came with a decent reputation, now thanks to websites like online stockist you can simply buy them yourself and add a sticker to a blank bat or add a logo to an existing design.
The other thing to realise about the cricket is that its a discount market. As soon as a product is launched the price will immediately be cut down from the RRP to make it more appealing to the consumer. This has a knock on effect for everyone from retail to wholesale to distributor to manufacturer. Each has to make sales and a margin when selling on the product through the various routes to market.
In order to make a living from the cricket market it all comes down to volume of sales and establishing a healthy margin whilst doing so. Even then i dont think you'll see many people retiring and sunning themselves in the Bahamas as a result of having a brand in the cricket market.
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In my mind there are roughly ten 'large' brands that hold 75% of the market, you then have 50+ small brands all vying for that last 25%, it's tough.
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In my mind there are roughly ten 'large' brands that hold 75% of the market, you then have 50+ small brands all vying for that last 25%, it's tough.
Which makes you wonder why people bother, if there was market share to capture I could see the point, but you are never going to compete with the larger brands for market share or established batmakers for bespoke bats. I have pondered over setting up a brand or retailer and some members have been kind enough to offer advice, but I can't see where the money is for a new brand.
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In my mind there are roughly ten 'large' brands that hold 75% of the market, you then have 50+ small brands all vying for that last 25%, it's tough.
Who are the 10 mate?
The brands I'd expect virtually club players to recognise are:
Gunn & Moore
Gray Nics
Kookaburra
Slazenger
Spartan
New Balance
Adidas
Puma
Most would probably know:
SS/TON
Newbery
Millichamp & Hall
B3
Woodstock
I'm not sure on splits, but I'm basing this on players seen on TV using the kit and Magazines promoting brands in their gear test.
As you'll notice there's not really any small companies in this list as your average punter probably wont be interested!
Boutique brands offer an excellent product there's no doubt, but without kit badgers like us lot on here I don't see how they'd survive.
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Who are the 10 mate?
The brands I'd expect virtually club players to recognise are:
Gunn & Moore
Gray Nics
Kookaburra
Slazenger
Spartan
New Balance
Adidas
Puma
Most would probably know:
SS/TON
Newbery
Millichamp & Hall
B3
Woodstock Mongoose
Very few people that I play with know of Woodstock. Far more know Mongoose.
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I would also say Salix over B3
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The div 1 of our league there is atleast 2 b3s in every side, and some with a lot more(8 of our 1st 11 now have b3s.
There's only 1 salix I've seen, and that's a guy in our side.
I'm not sure everyone is aware new balance do cricket though, I still get people asking if I had my trainers spiked up!
Ss/ton has to be above nb in terms off market.
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Warsop sell a lot of bats in the southeast corner and a few essex players use them, but not sure how much they sell nationally.
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If you're talking recognition, as opposed to sales - what about brands like Fearnley? Or Woodworm?
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Salix I forgot because I haven't seen one being used for yonks!
Mongoose is a good shout, as is woodworm.
Fernley is another one I rarely see.
My list was an off the top of my head job so isnt very good admittedly!
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My list was an off the top of my head job so isnt very good admittedly!
I think it just goes to show how it varies from region to region and person to person
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Warsop sell a lot of bats in the southeast corner and a few essex players use them, but not sure how much they sell nationally.
Speaking to Clair & Tony the other week, they said they're sending quite a few to Aus & NZ this year, so they're growing in reputation, plus quite a few touring sides who come down this way normally go over there and buy a few new sticks.
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Gn, kook, GM and slap own most of the business. The rest tbh are all small brands (some bigger/more established). Most are strong locally in their area then fall away, only strong if they get someone as an agent who helps sell them etc.
From my limited growing experience, it's not that hard to start a brand of you want to. You just have to accept its either going to take ages and a fair bit of start up capital or lots of start up capital and less time. Wages wise, again.. Depends what you want out of it.. If you truely love thur job (be it bat making or retail in the industry) you can make a living quite easily, however if you want flash cars, big houses, flash trips etc... Then it's probably reserved for just the big boys.
All in all, from what I've made in just a few months it suggests it's thee but you have to have the capital to do it (this is really the limiting factor, not skill or knowledge really)
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I think it just goes to show how it varies from region to region and person to person
This is the general issue, you will start up selling to your club mates (usually at mates rates!) this then may expand to players in your league/opposition, then in your local area. The key step is what you do once you have saturated the market here and bridging the next step to make a regional sales model to ensure you sell products to those outside your immediate vicinity.
Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis from you so return sales will drop and you then need to replace these drop offs with further sales from elsewhere.
Whats your USP to make people choose your product over any other? Typically this may come down to offering a better price than if they went into the local cricket specialist. But what happens when a product breaks, replacing this at your cost to ensure customer satisfaction and your reputation is upheld etc.
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Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis
I immediately saw this but and have concluded I'm not normal! :D
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Lad at our club started a brand, he's sold to 2 people in 9 months that aren't in our club, and one of them used to play for us.
He doesn't put as much effort in as I'd expect someone to though, so maybe he's happy just making a few extra bucks.
Me I'd want to be pushing it, gear sent to Jason and paul for vid testing, a few free sets for juniors around the country. And then just psuh(not spam) via social medias.
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This is the general issue, you will start up selling to your club mates (usually at mates rates!) this then may expand to players in your league/opposition, then in your local area. The key step is what you do once you have saturated the market here and bridging the next step to make a regional sales model to ensure you sell products to those outside your immediate vicinity.
Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis from you so return sales will drop and you then need to replace these drop offs with further sales from elsewhere.
Whats your USP to make people choose your product over any other? Typically this may come down to offering a better price than if they went into the local cricket specialist. But what happens when a product breaks, replacing this at your cost to ensure customer satisfaction and your reputation is upheld etc.
This is when as you say, you need to make your choice as a brand which way to go. I still think that if you actually priced things to make a profit but not a massive profit you'll find you are a lot less than the competition and so will pick up sales.. You'd need people on those local areas to help you (seems quite easy to get people to help if you give them cheap kit)
No brand seems to really do this to the right people, they focus on 'premier league' players rather than the right ones
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I think toms right there are loads iam one of these small brands yes it is very hard but I got hacked of sell kit for others and getting not much in my favour so I chated to my good mate Gary at choice I wanted him to make bats as time has gone by iam doing a few my self but with work I fin fit hard to get time but I do all my own repairs etc. as with softs I used one India company and they were ok to get me up and running but then I made the change to robinson and glad I did and also we have become good friends I think if you want to make a livening from the word go your going to be looking sell 1000s of bats a year but if your looking to say sell to local teams then give it ago if you got a few k spare I try to supply the best I can and that I would happy to use and that I would happy to pay for Dean
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This is when as you say, you need to make your choice as a brand which way to go. I still think that if you actually priced things to make a profit but not a massive profit you'll find you are a lot less than the competition and so will pick up sales.. You'd need people on those local areas to help you (seems quite easy to get people to help if you give them cheap kit)
No brand seems to really do this to the right people, they focus on 'premier league' players rather than the right ones
As we'll hopefully see I the £100 challenge, it depends what you get for 'CHEAP'...
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As we'll hopefully see I the £100 challenge, it depends what you get for 'CHEAP'...
Add up the costs
Cleft
Handle
Grips
Stickers
Twine
Wax
So if we purely work off g1.. That's how much to buy?
(We can add the set up machinery later as over the years it'll last it'll add peanuts to each bats cost).
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Think you win the award Adie.
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Think you win the award Adie.
Sweet.. What's that?
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Speaking to Clair & Tony the other week, they said they're sending quite a few to Aus & NZ this year, so they're growing in reputation, plus quite a few touring sides who come down this way normally go over there and buy a few new sticks.
that's good to hear, they've put the hard yards in. I haven't used one of their bats for a few years, always found they were hard pressed and took a long while to open up. I might pop in their over the winter.
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The shop in St Austell is very good. They were very honest and open when I went there. Had a good chat about making bats, like the old man who does the in house bats there.
If you are making your own bats, I bet you they would be happy to stock them. That way you can get your kit out there.
However, the kit needs to be of decent quality, I would be unsure if you are just getting OLS pads and adding a logo.
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that's good to hear, they've put the hard yards in. I haven't used one of their bats for a few years, always found they were hard pressed and took a long while to open up. I might pop in their over the winter.
I've gone away from them just for a change as much as anything, but would definitely go back no questions asked, but I know what you mean, by the time they're opened right up, usually the handle is on its way out!
Plus their new Superior softs are really tempting me! Lovely neon yellow & blue details. Mmmmmmmmmm
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To be fair to Tony he says he presses the bats for clubbies different to the ones he does for pros so they last longer. I'll check out the softs they are usually a very high standard.
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There is a plethora of factors to consider, it isn't simply a matter of buying a few blank bats, getting stickers printed and off you go. Remember the financial aspects:
Are you going to have a website, if so, how much a year will this and a domain cost?
Remember, bats will break and its not always your fault, how will you deal with replacements/refunds?
Importing bats comes with the added threat of bats being drilled by customs, how are you going to factor in a contingency?
all of these things need to be considered before you can set a price mark up, in order to run your brand properly, you will probably find yourself pricing your bats more or less at the same price your competitors are, simply because they have the same matters to consider. Therefore, why should Mr A pick your bats over anyone elses?
further, if you try to cut supplier costs to save a little, are you going to be bringing sub-standard goods to market like so many small brands do? this is one of the main reasons why Mr A will pay a little extra to feel the security of someone like Kookaburra being financially able to replace, refund and guarantee quality etc.
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There is a plethora of factors to consider, it isn't simply a matter of buying a few blank bats, getting stickers printed and off you go. Remember the financial aspects:
Are you going to have a website, if so, how much a year will this and a domain cost?
Remember, bats will break and its not always your fault, how will you deal with replacements/refunds?
Importing bats comes with the added threat of bats being drilled by customs, how are you going to factor in a contingency?
all of these things need to be considered before you can set a price mark up, in order to run your brand properly, you will probably find yourself pricing your bats more or less at the same price your competitors are, simply because they have the same matters to consider. Therefore, why should Mr A pick your bats over anyone elses?
further, if you try to cut supplier costs to save a little, are you going to be bringing sub-standard goods to market like so many small brands do? this is one of the main reasons why Mr A will pay a little extra to feel the security of someone like Kookaburra being financially able to replace, refund and guarantee quality etc.
Given the costs, anyone going to be open and honest and say how much buying bats in from a to, hunts type maker is.. I suspect you don't have to charge 250+ to make a decent profit. Of course, as with all of this, it depends how much you are trying to make for yourself... 10k, 20k, 30k or more etc.
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I do know the costs of wholesale cricket bats but don't think it is fair to disclose on here as some of the sponsors buy in from abroad and it would give away their mark up.
But, you are right, you don't necessarily have to charge anywhere near £200.00 to make a profit, it all boils down to how much you want to make and how big your overheads are.
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If you're not charging £200+, it's probably not worth even bothering IMO. Bearing in mind costs of bats, shipping, tax stickers, grips, breakages/warranty replacements and any design/sampling work which goes into them.
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you have a point Tom, which is exactly why it is so hard for small names to be heard above the noise.
If a small brand starts to charge £200.00 IMO they are almost pricing themselves out of the market because A) they have no brand affiliation and B) other, more familiar brands are offering the same service so why would customers change.
Ebay and Facebook are now flooded with small brands offering bats at low prices, making it difficult to trust the quality.
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If you're not charging £200+, it's probably not worth even bothering IMO. Bearing in mind costs of bats, shipping, tax stickers, grips, breakages/warranty replacements and any design/sampling work which goes into them.
I don't doubt that it makes it less attractive but if you are claiming to offer 'value' then you can't then charge the earth. Obviously if you skimp on quality through cheap imports etc then it's a different sort of value
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Guy at our club started his own brand this year(not mentioning name as he doesn't sponsor)
He charges 135.99 for Indian made g1 bats. There not bad either. 4 being used at our club currently.
He doesn't advertise much or push on social media. So his reach isn't far!
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I have almost gone off the idea of trying to do well through selling equipment and just selling as word of mouth though my club or local friends. Where I live it's a very small county and there is only so much trade you can do before you run out or whether people want to use the big brands as they are reliable. I make enough for beer tokens each month but it just seems to be over the summer months.
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Plenty of clubs in Devon
My lads at minehead, and there's not much choice for kit down there, apart from M&H or a long drive upto Uzi sports.
Might be worth a bit of work via social media to get the word out?