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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: tailender on June 05, 2015, 10:15:45 AM

Title: Mongoose??
Post by: tailender on June 05, 2015, 10:15:45 AM
I've just tried to log onto the Mongoose website as I am looking for a new bat and it appears as though the website has been suspended.

Have Mongoose folded for a second time? :o
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Vitas Cricket on June 05, 2015, 10:25:58 AM
I've just tried to log onto the Mongoose website as I am looking for a new bat and it appears as though the website has been suspended.

Have Mongoose folded for a second time? :o

Second? By my reckoning this is probably the 4th time.

I can have a Mongoose style bat made for you by the original Mongoose bat makers, they are just finishing an MMi for a customer of ours currently.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: tailender on June 05, 2015, 10:29:55 AM
Can you send me a PM mate
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on June 14, 2015, 06:58:45 PM
Interesting to see this. I've been writing down a few of my thoughts of my time there just to get some of it down, there's some interesting stories through the years https://medium.com/@td_evans/batman-a-story-of-a-cricket-bat-ea5815612343

If there's anything you'd like to see covered let me know
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Ams4287 on June 14, 2015, 07:10:42 PM
Interesting to see this. I've been writing down a few of my thoughts of my time there just to get some of it down, there's some interesting stories through the years https://medium.com/@td_evans/batman-a-story-of-a-cricket-bat-ea5815612343

If there's anything you'd like to see covered let me know

Really interesting stuff Tom thanks for sharing and I'll be looking out for part 2
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on June 14, 2015, 07:13:30 PM

Really interesting stuff Tom thanks for sharing and I'll be looking out for part 2
Thanks, I'm mainly writing it for my own benefit as a retrospective look at what went wrong. But if there's anything you'd like me to cover in particularly let me know.

My time there covered up until my resignation in March 2011, 2 months before the initial administration so lots of ups and downs to mention
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: TBONTB on June 14, 2015, 07:14:15 PM
Interesting to see this. I've been writing down a few of my thoughts of my time there just to get some of it down, there's some interesting stories through the years https://medium.com/@td_evans/batman-a-story-of-a-cricket-bat-ea5815612343

If there's anything you'd like to see covered let me know

VV good read cheers, always interesting to see the behind the scenes!

The biggest thing is why sponsorship is seen as the only way of promoting a bat. When I was working at a very large marketing agency an internal report showed that direct sponsorship of sports events has very little reach or memorability compared to more innovative or different types of marketing.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on June 14, 2015, 07:22:21 PM
I don't disagree that the value of sponsorship is over exaggerated at times. Only a small percentage of players sell cricket bats.

Our approach to sponsorship was to gain credibility in cricket, a bat which supposedly increases performance by 20% but is used by nobody didn't seem very credible.

For the first months of trading we also had a PR team on a retainer, but there's only so many stories you can tell about a bat used by no-one ;)
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: procricket on June 14, 2015, 07:23:10 PM
Good read Tom,

Ferrari hey haha funny the market is very closed shop it hard to break into.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on June 14, 2015, 07:23:18 PM
I enjoyed that read cheers


It kind of explains why the one we at our club put too to buy at launch took 3weeks to arrive.

I still have it. Was a belter and scored many runs at our club.
 
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: harry gamble on June 14, 2015, 07:25:08 PM
haven't they gone bust
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: EaglesCC on June 14, 2015, 09:46:51 PM
Great read Tom - well articulated! Would be interested to find out, with the benefit of hindsight, what you would have done differently.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: peristocle on June 15, 2015, 08:30:38 AM


Looking forward to part 2!
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on July 15, 2015, 12:26:00 AM
Part 2 has been written, and 3 is underway.

https://medium.com/@td_evans/batman-part-2-ec3db097c4a8

2 mainly focusses on some of our early production problems, in 2009 and touches on some player sponsorship stuff in 2010.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: potzy248 on July 15, 2015, 12:49:04 AM
Really good read. Cheers for that.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: suraj1108 on July 15, 2015, 03:18:11 AM
great read!! can't wait for part 3...cheers!!
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: gibbinscricket on July 15, 2015, 06:01:29 AM
Really enjoyed that. I can't wait for the next
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: peristocle on July 15, 2015, 11:10:32 AM

Fascinating stuff, bring on part 3!
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: L21 on July 15, 2015, 11:19:22 AM
Really interesting read.

Perhaps a pre-warning to all the people on here interested in starting their own cricket brands.

Amazing that you got to mix with the likes of Hayden and Gayle e.t.c.

Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: TangoWhiskey on July 15, 2015, 11:40:19 AM
Decent Tom. Looking forward to the next installment.

As a side note, there are still quite a few Mongeese knocking around at my club, apparently just before I turned up there one of the blokes who played for us was one of your sales agents.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on July 15, 2015, 11:58:35 AM
If you have any of the Green CoR3's let me know! Keen for one of those in good nick. Guessing it was Dave who played for you?
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: TangoWhiskey on July 15, 2015, 12:58:33 PM
If you have any of the Green CoR3's let me know! Keen for one of those in good nick. Guessing it was Dave who played for you?

Yeah Dave Trethaway I think. I never met him personally as he'd left by the time I joined. Off the top of my head I think everyone has the purple ones.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Northern monkey on July 15, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
Really interesting read, many thanks for posting.

lots of food for thought
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Seniorplayer on July 15, 2015, 04:50:33 PM
Yes really interesting have been following The Mongoose story for a while now.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on July 15, 2015, 09:14:50 PM
Glad so many of you enjoying the articles! If any of you are able to share them it'd be greatly appreciated and as always - any specific questions let me know
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: TangoWhiskey on July 16, 2015, 08:42:23 AM
If you have any of the Green CoR3's let me know! Keen for one of those in good nick. Guessing it was Dave who played for you?

There is a green CoR3 knocking around, unfortunately the owner has just scored his first ever ton with it so I doubt he's interested in getting rid!
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: jwebber86 on July 16, 2015, 08:55:11 AM
really enjoying reading the articles.

i do love mongoose's kit still do. although i have never actually bought much of it i love my mmi3.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Phoenix on July 16, 2015, 12:46:15 PM
Very interesting read. Looking forward to part 3  :)
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on July 16, 2015, 09:02:09 PM
Top stuff Tom
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on July 16, 2015, 09:18:14 PM
I have the pictured green cor somewhere.

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/smilley792/50A73F54-6152-47DC-8607-95C88471C87C-839-000001001A02C1EF_zpsa3b564c9.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/smilley792/media/50A73F54-6152-47DC-8607-95C88471C87C-839-000001001A02C1EF_zpsa3b564c9.jpg.html)

It's fairly used and abused. Had a lot of use.

What's so special about them?
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on July 16, 2015, 09:23:06 PM
Oh wow you have an original MMi3 too with the wrap around back sticker.

There's nothing special about them, I just like to collect things I've designed or worked on. For the wall I guess.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on July 16, 2015, 09:29:47 PM
Oh wow you have an original MMi3 too with the wrap around back sticker.

There's nothing special about them, I just like to collect things I've designed or worked on. For the wall I guess.

I pre ordered the mmi3 on your marketing hype.

I also won the midweek league averages that year with an avg of 75! Was a cracking bat(still is to be fair)

The cor probably isn't for your wall. I didn't knock it in and and edge got destroyed by a full toss. And lots of tape was used to hold it together!
Did two more seasons after that!

Both have never been refurbed
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Howzat on July 17, 2015, 11:43:00 AM
Great read Tom looking forward to part 3
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 24, 2015, 05:36:12 PM
If you have any of the Green CoR3's let me know! Keen for one of those in good nick. Guessing it was Dave who played for you?


@Tom

Noticed this on Facebook mate

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/B8F2F9FE-2E25-4B82-BED4-633D95326ACF_zpseskdyir9.png) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/B8F2F9FE-2E25-4B82-BED4-633D95326ACF_zpseskdyir9.png.html)
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on July 26, 2015, 08:37:25 PM
Pt.3 https://medium.com/@td_evans/the-mongoose-launch-into-india-9e5c1062a0b9
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: jwebber86 on July 26, 2015, 09:16:58 PM
good read again Tom. certainly seems like a good time
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: peristocle on July 27, 2015, 08:53:50 AM


Very very interesting reading

Looking forward to part 4
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: sgcricket on July 27, 2015, 09:56:53 AM
Hi Tom,

Really enjoyed reading all 3 parts so far. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: gazr5 on July 27, 2015, 10:47:14 AM
really interesting. Was having a chat with about Mongoose cricket the other day with my mate who has one.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: fabfill on July 28, 2015, 06:31:34 PM
A really good read. I have a "general" question about the pads, were they uncomfortable? I have been told that they were but don't quite believe it yet.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: dougydee on July 29, 2015, 12:06:38 AM
Good reading Tom. With the benefit of hindsight things could have been a lot different for the mongoose brand.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: suraj1108 on July 29, 2015, 02:21:08 AM
cheers tom; great read & can't wait for part 4  :)
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on September 19, 2015, 04:54:00 PM
Bit late on this one, will finish up with a bit more on production on Sunday.

https://medium.com/@td_evans/batman-part-4-32a67395fcd
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Northern monkey on September 19, 2015, 07:16:21 PM
Amazing stuff
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on September 19, 2015, 07:52:36 PM
Interesting stuff Tom
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: thedevil on September 19, 2015, 11:05:55 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed reading that.

on a side note...love the first pair of sample gloves you received back, I'd have had a pair of those :D
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: jwebber86 on September 19, 2015, 11:53:32 PM
good read Tom. i was always impressed by the looks of the softs but have never actually owned. wish i had
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: gerhard303 on September 20, 2015, 04:37:22 AM
Interesting read! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on September 20, 2015, 08:39:53 AM
The suasage finger with the purple streak are pretty nice!


Nice to see the struggles and process brands go through trying to get the softs they envisage, I wonder how many people just accept and try to sell what arrives?
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: gerhard303 on September 20, 2015, 08:49:13 AM
Looking forward to part 4 and how the Mongoose Torq came about etc.! Thanks Tom!  :)
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on September 20, 2015, 09:16:47 AM
Remembered I liked this on Instagram a few weeks back.

Hayden, the goose and gloves looking good.

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/smilley792/0D40EE16-4DFE-4C86-A6A6-9F8E8FB321E0_zpshsfep141.png) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/smilley792/media/0D40EE16-4DFE-4C86-A6A6-9F8E8FB321E0_zpshsfep141.png.html)

Wouldn't actually mind a set of those gloves
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on September 20, 2015, 10:50:19 AM
So those gloves there were before we produced the 2011 range, the 2011 range was loosely based on them in the end - but these were a pro issue only job. We produced 3 colours for the pros, Purple (for the new range), Green (CoR3) and Red (MMi3).

They were made by Champ International, who were a lot more agile and willing to help than Sareen who made the stock range, and we used to send across a scan of the players hands which they'd be manufactured to.
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: smilley792 on September 20, 2015, 11:06:10 AM
This is what I never understand in the industry. Edward Lowry(GM) keeps saying "I don't think they'd sell" but many on here think otherwise.


Why aren't the pro issue softs the ones on sale to the public???
Title: Re: Mongoose??
Post by: Tom on September 20, 2015, 03:22:28 PM
Generally speaking consumers want split finger gloves, and pros would want sausage style gloves with less flexibility.

The reason the purple ones were never made public is because they were for an intermediate period before we completed the design of the 2011 pink/purple/red gloves. As I said in the article we wanted all 3 colours so they matched any bat in the range.