Topic: Visit To IJC (Read 8423 times)

uknsaunders · « **Reply #30 on:** January 25, 2013, 05:28:57 PM »

Wouldn't it be easier to take a price list from the lords trade show in sept and see what the cost price is for a bat with a rrp of �200+. Add on 20% VAT and the remainder is margin less expenses. As Buzz said, it's not easy for a retailer to stock a G1+ bat for �200 and don't forget you are getting the luxury of trying each bat out on the premises. If you buy direct or online that's not an option.

Aswani Cricket · « **Reply #31 on:** January 25, 2013, 05:30:13 PM »

Quote from: Beachcricket on January 25, 2013, 05:15:52 PM

Some of these words make it sound like it's easy to make cricket bats and I know you don't mean to but it's this perception that annoys me. I've struggled for 15 years teaching myself to make bats, it's difficult to balance and fine tune a cricket bat, to work with the willow and make something beautiful and functional. I love bat making. I made �1 an hour last year making bats for people, I lost money. I see fly by nights pop up and think they can custom make and they're propagating the financial disparity that exists between hand made and mass made by cheapening Pod Shaving. Most people on here appreciate that there are small bat makers but I think we're ignoring the luxury these talented individuals are affording people by charging �240 for their work.

I'll get down from the soapbox now.

The finished article is a work of art from where it started, and you shouldn't be forced to give it away for nothing!

Aswani Cricket · « **Reply #32 on:** January 25, 2013, 05:35:03 PM »

Quote from: uknsaunders on January 25, 2013, 05:28:57 PM

Wouldn't it be easier to take a price list from the lords trade show in sept and see what the cost price is for a bat with a rrp of �200+. Add on 20% VAT and the remainder is margin less expenses. As Buzz said, it's not easy for a retailer to stock a G1+ bat for �200 and don't forget you are getting the luxury of trying each bat out on the premises. If you buy direct or online that's not an option.

Hypothetical example, but realistic one:

Trade price = �55
Add VAT at 20% = �66
RRP = �100 (cannot sell at full RRP)
Selling price = �80 (20% discount = competitive)

Gross profit = �14 if not VAT registered (if VAT registered, this drops to �11.67)

Post out for �6 charge to customer, courier cost �9. Now profit = �11

Take away premises rent, rates, electricity, staff, insurance, royalties for playing the radio, and other things = not worth getting out of bed for

PedalsMcgrew · « **Reply #33 on:** January 25, 2013, 05:41:21 PM »

The luxury of being able to visit a retailer and pick up bats is definitely worth paying a little extra for, especially for your less nerdy cricketer who might know they need a bat but might not know what they want. Something that is rarely an issue on here!

My reservation comes from the oft heard plea that we 'must support our local shops, otherwise they will go out of business' Surely it's up to the business to have a model that allows them to be successful? A business model that relies on the goodwill of people prepared to pay extra to ensure a business survives is possibly not the strongest one in the present marketplace! This is why the more intelligent retailers are investing so heavily in social media, marketing and online presence but of course this has a knock on effect of increasing their costs and making their prices higher! It's vicious circle really. I'm not sure what I would do.....

Certainly don't want to see the end of shops but an obvious answer to this predicament doesn't immediately spring to mind. I'm sure far more intelligent people than me are turning their minds to this as we speak!

So, whilst I fully understand that bats bought from a retailer are going to come at a premium I am unsure whether this business model can survive when we look into the future.....

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 25, 2013, 06:05:14 PM »

My personal feeling on this is that the amount of shops that will actually stock a decent amount of bats will drop dramatically over the coming years. You'll have a couple but there won't be one in every big ish town etc.

Unless of course suppliers allow the stocking of more 'home based' shops etc. I know that's something I'm looking into as I wouldn't have to pay rents etc yet would have enough room for 5 cricket nets, shop, changing rooms and showers and a mini bar. Hopefully those sorts of places are the way forward as it will lover the cost to the consumer while allowing hte owner to still turn a profit. Of course, you'll never make millions doing it but not everyone is in it for millions.

farnham_quins_2 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 27, 2013, 10:12:36 AM »

Realistically I just cant justify spending �250+ on a bat, when:
A) you can get great hand made/custom made bats for around �150-�180, especially the deals you might see on this forum (blank bat �168 offer for example)
B) �250 is a lot to invest in a product that you cant really test before you buy (unless youve owned one before or had the opportunity to borrow one)

I think one of the benefits of this forum is that there are so many exciting, hand made English batmakers on here. The downside is its hard to pick one, and we all want to try as many as possible! You can either buy a few bats for under �200 from a few brands and test and learn which you prefer, or stick with one brand and spend more money because you have more faith in a brand youve used before.

For example, I bought a Jester from Black Cat for �150, and the quality of it means im more likely to spend more with them in the future.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 27, 2013, 10:39:19 AM »

Quote from: farnham_quins_2 on January 27, 2013, 10:12:36 AM

For example, I bought a Jester from Black Cat for �150, and the quality of it means im more likely to spend more with them in the future.

I would imagine most of the brands on want this to be the case.. People to try them, love them and then be repeat custom.

Manormanic · « **Reply #37 on:** January 27, 2013, 10:43:15 AM »

Its an art that some manage better than others. You get some exceptional customer service in this area (I'd have to single out Matt at Hell 4 Leather here) and you get some less than excellent customer service...

farnham_quins_2 · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2013, 10:47:52 AM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on January 27, 2013, 10:39:19 AM

I would imagine most of the brands on want this to be the case.. People to try them, love them and then be repeat custom.

Exactly, I think its the first hurdle of acquiring new customers which is the challenge for the smaller brands. And thats where social media, online presence, good initial customer service are important. Even just replying to pms and posts on here is a very good way of bringing in new customers

Author Topic: Visit To IJC (Read 8423 times)

uknsaunders

Re: Visit To IJC

Aswani Cricket

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Aswani Cricket

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PedalsMcgrew

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ProCricketer1982

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farnham_quins_2

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ProCricketer1982

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Manormanic

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farnham_quins_2

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