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Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Topic started by: AlanB on July 25, 2018, 10:48:50 PM

Title: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: AlanB on July 25, 2018, 10:48:50 PM
Couldn’t find this news posted already on the Forum

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/07/sports-direct-buys-barrington-sports-administration/ (https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/07/sports-direct-buys-barrington-sports-administration/)
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on July 26, 2018, 09:14:33 AM
Heard about it a few months back, been struggling for over a year. A lot of money owed.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Seniorplayer on July 26, 2018, 09:54:46 AM
Always found Barringtons  customer service to be excellent wonder if it will change.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: SD on July 26, 2018, 12:41:31 PM
A great place to visit but unfortunately in the internet she, everything they sold was far over priced.

It's sad, but the number of places where you can actually go and pick up cricket kit before buying it are diminishing all the time
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: liscon12 on July 26, 2018, 12:55:23 PM
Writing was on the wall when they stopped stocking one of the largest and most popular cricket manufacturers in the world, GM
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 26, 2018, 01:47:31 PM
Writing was on the wall when they stopped stocking one of the largest and most popular cricket manufacturers in the world, GM

That's Just Not Cricket
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: justnotcricket86 on July 26, 2018, 03:32:45 PM
That's Just Not Cricket

Barringtons stopped last year as well mate.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 26, 2018, 03:53:35 PM
Barringtons stopped last year as well mate.

I was referring to Barringtons, but the point stands for any retailer (and this is entirely my own opinion):
If you don't stock the big names like GM and GN (and to a lesser extent Kook, Ton & NB) then it's potential business suicide.

Like I say that is just my opinion, I don't work in the cricket retail industry so I could be talking total rubbish.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on July 26, 2018, 04:01:07 PM
Will be interesting to see what happens as the were once classified as one of the “Big 5”.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: KettonJake on July 26, 2018, 04:03:38 PM
I was referring to Barringtons, but the point stands for any retailer (and this is entirely my own opinion):
If you don't stock the big names like GM and GN (and to a lesser extent Kook, Ton & NB) then it's potential business suicide.

Like I say that is just my opinion, I don't work in the cricket retail industry so I could be talking total rubbish.

There is a lot of noise at the minute about Kook going to direct selling. The always did it under the counter anyway, but they look to be formalising it, I've even heard they are looking at going direct selling only, no more retailers.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: jimmy23 on July 26, 2018, 04:10:46 PM
I was referring to Barringtons, but the point stands for any retailer (and this is entirely my own opinion):
If you don't stock the big names like GM and GN (and to a lesser extent Kook, Ton & NB) then it's potential business suicide.

Like I say that is just my opinion, I don't work in the cricket retail industry so I could be talking total rubbish.

Speaking to a store/online retailer the other day GM are still their best selling brand.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Whispering Death on July 26, 2018, 04:23:01 PM
Have Barringtons got a load of gear piled high?? Could be some potential bargains for us lot...
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on July 26, 2018, 04:25:27 PM
Will get absorbed by SD I’d imagine
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Whispering Death on July 26, 2018, 04:45:40 PM
In that case it’ll be nice to see some decent gear at SD!
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on July 26, 2018, 05:25:34 PM
In that case it’ll be nice to see some decent gear at SD!
If sports direct are not being supplied now, what do you think the chances are in the future?
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on July 26, 2018, 05:40:06 PM
They already monopolise the market I’d say and the smaller ideneoants just can’t compete on price with them due to their buying power.

Having been up to see their operation and had product listed on their website it’s an impressive setup on that scale. However there will always be a place for the smaller shops that add the personal touch and insight into the products due to their knowledge base....however how they survive if people are purely interested in the cheapest price is the challenge.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: prim0pyr0 on July 26, 2018, 09:30:16 PM
I was referring to Barringtons, but the point stands for any retailer (and this is entirely my own opinion):
If you don't stock the big names like GM and GN (and to a lesser extent Kook, Ton & NB) then it's potential business suicide.

Like I say that is just my opinion, I don't work in the cricket retail industry so I could be talking total rubbish.

Reference to its just cricket?
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on July 26, 2018, 10:12:35 PM
Reference to its just cricket?

Not intentionally so, this is a thread about Barringtons and I made a general comment with my opinion.

To avoid any confusion as to what was (or was not) meant, I think it would be silly for a retailer not to stock those particular brands because:

GM & GN
Traditional brands and traditionally English. If you didn't own one growing up/learning the game you likely wanted one because your hero used one on the telly. They both have instantly recognisable branding and history behind them to drive sales.

Kook
They always used to be very popular, but I've not seen so many newer ones in recent years, but Kook is another brand you'd definitely have seen on the telly and likely wanted one as a kid. Likely to sell well this year with Jos Buttler endorsing them and being one of the hottest prospects in world cricket.

Ton
Very popular, I can't actually remember the last time I played a game when I didn't see one!

NB
New boys on the block who have thrown money at some big names. Almost certain to be a hit with the kids and adults in the market for some kit!
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: stevat on July 26, 2018, 10:31:02 PM
Not intentionally so, this is a thread about Barringtons and I made a general comment with my opinion.

To avoid any confusion as to what was (or was not) meant, I think it would be silly for a retailer not to stock those particular brands because:

GM & GN
Traditional brands and traditionally English. If you didn't own one growing up/learning the game you likely wanted one because your hero used one on the telly. They both have instantly recognisable branding and history behind them to drive sales.

Kook
They always used to be very popular, but I've not seen so many newer ones in recent years, but Kook is another brand you'd definitely have seen on the telly and likely wanted one as a kid. Likely to sell well this year with Jos Buttler endorsing them and being one of the hottest prospects in world cricket.

Ton
Very popular, I can't actually remember the last time I played a game when I didn't see one!

NB
New boys on the block who have thrown money at some big names. Almost certain to be a hit with the kids and adults in the market for some kit!

Completely agree, Kookaburra were the brand for me when I was a kid, loved watching the likes of Thorpe and Stewart - I'm still a twiddler between balls even now.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: enlightened on July 27, 2018, 06:49:28 AM
Been to Barrington's a few times - my son, daughter and I play cricket and my daughter also plays hockey. Their prices were ridiculous ..... way too high. Not surprised they got into financial difficulties.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: KettonJake on July 27, 2018, 08:42:40 AM
Been to Barrington's a few times - my son, daughter and I play cricket and my daughter also plays hockey. Their prices were ridiculous ..... way too high. Not surprised they got into financial difficulties.

Much of the difficulty stems from their tie up with the ECB to run the online shop selling England replica gear.

In simple terms Barringtons under ordered quite significantly from New Balance, when things began to sell out and people were criticising the ECB for not being able to sell their own replica gear due to low stock, the ECB instructed Barringtons to order more. New Balance made it clear their supply chains operate months in advance so there was no chance of fresh stock anytime soon. ECB exercised a penalty clause in the deal and bankrupted Barringtons pretty much instantly.

That’s my understanding of it from multiple well informed sources in the industry.
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: iand123 on July 27, 2018, 12:50:11 PM
Much of the difficulty stems from their tie up with the ECB to run the online shop selling England replica gear.

In simple terms Barringtons under ordered quite significantly from New Balance, when things began to sell out and people were criticising the ECB for not being able to sell their own replica gear due to low stock, the ECB instructed Barringtons to order more. New Balance made it clear their supply chains operate months in advance so there was no chance of fresh stock anytime soon. ECB exercised a penalty clause in the deal and bankrupted Barringtons pretty much instantly.

That’s my understanding of it from multiple well informed sources in the industry.

Barrington's also run the Surrey shop as well as the ECB
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on July 27, 2018, 01:11:27 PM
Barringtons is the only place to send me out a "new" bat with mud on the toe and cherries on the face... twice. Seems like they were already SD :)
Match Ready  :D
Title: Re: Barrington Sports bought by Sports Direct
Post by: Calzehbhoy on July 27, 2018, 02:29:03 PM
Barringtons is the only place to send me out a "new" bat with mud on the toe and cherries on the face... twice. Seems like they were already SD :)

It’s just cricket offer that as a paid for service now!!!