Print

[tim2000s]

Do these endorsements generate massive numbers of sales?  I'd say no - they are the biggest manufacturers and their sales are more likely influenced by perceived value due to brand size and market penetration than they are by "oooh, SAm Robson uses one so it MUST be good".

I think you are massively over complicating this. Most of the people I see buying bats do it off the back of "Ooooh. I like that one", either at nets or in games, or come from using one when they haven't got theirs with them, and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest this is the case in many clubs. I suspect far fewer people consider perceived value or market penetration in their decision as to who to buy a bat from.

[Edward Lowy]

Out of piqued curiousity, can we ask why not?  Your (splendidly informative) catalgue offer prospective buyers the chance to visit the factory, so what would be the problem with a retailer doing so?

No problem with customers visiting us, we have many here right at this moment. However, selectively picking own bats is just not our way - I don't see the equity in it to be honest.

Kind regards

Edward

[trypewriter]

I'm pretty sure that Paul's business is predominantly online anyway - footfall through his shop is pretty much limited to those "in the know" - so he's unlikely to be looking for Little Johnny's trade in the first place.

On the other hand, he has had some outstanding junior bats in the shop. Some of them look so good that you suspect that there must have been some problem with the cleft, otherwise a premium level full size blade would have resulted.

[jamielsn15]

Do these endorsements generate massive numbers of sales?  I'd say no - they are the biggest manufacturers and their sales are more likely influenced by perceived value due to brand size and market penetration than they are by "oooh, SAm Robson uses one so it MUST be good".

I think its a bit of both.  I don't think that your average club cricketer is googling 'boutique cricket brands' or 'local batmakers in...' I think they see the big brands on TV, decide which they like the look of, who is using it (to an extent), then go down to their local stockist (or as likely go online) and see the store/website dominated by GN, GM, Kookaburra, etc. and select accordingly. 

I do agree that brand size and market penetration are possibly the biggest factors, but where does the average consumer see those brands first?

[Kulli]

The new stickers have grown on me a little, and are more appealing now their across the full range, with the tetris style ones on the Sigma being an improvement on the others IMO.

It's easy to throw around accusations of none of the bats being very innovative, but when was the last time a big manufacturer released a bat that was, and that you than actually saw being used around your leagues. GN have at least tried with some odd looking shapes, but I'm not sure I've every actually seen anyone use one of them in a game.

GM bats are never likely to temps someone like me who has access to so many custom makers on here, but their soft goods and bags are always well made and good value.

As for Paul's complain, I can see why someone in his position would find it very frustrating, but I guess the scale of GM means there's no real benefit to them and it would be some (if not a lot) of extra work for them.

P.S Kudos to Edward for coming on here, reading the replies and replying, while we're a pretty pushy crowd it'd still be far easier for him just to note any comments and make no attempt to respond. It'd be good to get a bit more all round input from Gm but again due to their size I guess there's very limited value in it.

[Jimmyg]

As a large scale batmaker GM aren't going to release a new bat shape that isn't going to appeal to a large number of cricketers, it's not viable to produce a wacky, unusual shape that few people buy. A smaller niche batmaker can do that.
What GM tend to be good at is producing a coherent range of bat shapes that cover pretty much every possible bat profile, that 95% of all cricketers would need. Compare it to the GN range this year that seems a random selection of bat profiles/stickers/names thrown together, I wouldn't have a clue how to start to select a GN bat to suit my game.
Stickers are a subjective matter, I looked at the the new Sigma and pulled a face at the sticker design and scallops, whereas my 12 year son saw it and told me thought it looked brilliant and he had to have one as his next bat!

[Manormanic]

No problem with customers visiting us, we have many here right at this moment. However, selectively picking own bats is just not our way - I don't see the equity in it to be honest.

Really?  I can't see any sensible reason why you would not do it myself; if you allow retailers to handpick, you are giving a clear message that you are confident about the quality of your bats and the rigour of your grading policies.  If you don't, you are tacitly admitting that a percentage of bats in each grade will be hard to shift because of either poor performance or shoddy grading.  The word equity has multiple uses; do you mean to be read as saying "The state, quality, or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair" - in which case, hand picking is the fairest thing for your customers - or as saying "funds provided to a business by the sale of stock" - in which case you rather prove the latter argument...

[Manormanic]

As a large scale batmaker GM aren't going to release a new bat shape that isn't going to appeal to a large number of cricketers, it's not viable to produce a wacky, unusual shape that few people buy. A smaller niche batmaker can do that.
What GM tend to be good at is producing a coherent range of bat shapes that cover pretty much every possible bat profile, that 95% of all cricketers would need. Compare it to the GN range this year that seems a random selection of bat profiles/stickers/names thrown together, I wouldn't have a clue how to start to select a GN bat to suit my game.
Stickers are a subjective matter, I looked at the the new Sigma and pulled a face at the sticker design and scallops, whereas my 12 year son saw it and told me thought it looked brilliant and he had to have one as his next bat!

Oh, I quite agree that their catalogue is an excellent, informative read - I genuinely like the way they've tried to provide information to assist the buyer such as about weight and pick up - and I think the branding is pretty good now compared to the last couple of seasons. 

[Edward Lowy]

Really?  I can't see any sensible reason why you would not do it myself; if you allow retailers to handpick, you are giving a clear message that you are confident about the quality of your bats and the rigour of your grading policies.  If you don't, you are tacitly admitting that a percentage of bats in each grade will be hard to shift because of either poor performance or shoddy grading.  The word equity has multiple uses; do you mean to be read as saying "The state, quality, or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair" - in which case, hand picking is the fairest thing for your customers - or as saying "funds provided to a business by the sale of stock" - in which case you rather prove the latter argument...

I am unsure how you can come to such conclusions in the absence of knowing how our business operates. We are 100% confident of our grading, done by our own staff in our own factory in Nottingham. Our customers, worldwide will testify to the consistency and reliability of that grading. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no tacit admission of anything given or implied. Each grade label that our staff apply to a GM bat is backed up by their lengthy experience and knowledge of willow.

In terms of equity, why should we allow such a facility to a specific person or group of people? Who should have first pick?

Kind regards

Edward

[TBONTB]

I completely agree with GM having to produce bats for the majority of cricketers.

I used to use one and it went like a train!

A good point about the left overs, if the Zona did not sell well is there a stack of them in the factory we can buy?

White label them with no stickers?

ohh an massive kudos for Edward to come on here, very brave. If only more business owners were so honest and frank. Refreshing!

[Buzz]

In terms of equity, why should we allow such a facility to a specific person or group of people? Who should have first pick?

Well clearly the first pick should be given to Aswani sports (on an alphabetical basis) and because they are a forum sponsor - who can then sell me the best bat.

what could possibly go wrong?

A good point about the left overs, if the Zona did not sell well is there a stack of them in the factory we can buy?

Look in the Sports Direct sale...

ohh an massive kudos for Edward to come on here, very brave. If only more business owners were so honest and frank. Refreshing!

We should (and do!) extend a huge thank you for the managing director of one of the biggest bat making firms in the world for coming onto our forum and answering our questions. We are very lucky to have him here

[Manormanic]

I am unsure how you can come to such conclusions in the absence of knowing how our business operates. We are 100% confident of our grading, done by our own staff in our own factory in Nottingham. Our customers, worldwide will testify to the consistency and reliability of that grading. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no tacit admission of anything given or implied. Each grade label that our staff apply to a GM bat is backed up by their lengthy experience and knowledge of willow.

In terms of equity, why should we allow such a facility to a specific person or group of people? Who should have first pick?

"you don't know how our business operates" is an appallingly weak defence, especially given that I was using your own statements to evidence my point.  In saying that hand picking is a positive thing that manufacturers should accommodate, I am hardly suggesting you make an exclusive arrangement for IJC but instead that any of your stockists who wish to should be able to avail themselves of the opportunity.  There wouldn't be a first pick per se since, I'm sure, you produce bats throughout the year, so stock will be constantly refreshed in time for any visit.

[Tom]

I would guess with GM having manufacturing all in house they can manage their stock levels a bit better. If you're importing bats from India you have a minimum 3 month lead time - so those brands will be the ones who often overproduce and have to discount heavily to retailers towards the end of the season (or re-sticker them!)

[Neon Cricket]

"There wouldn't be a first pick per se since, I'm sure, you produce bats throughout the year, so stock will be constantly refreshed in time for any visit.

I agree with Edward on this I'm afraid - the retailers will all be looking to get their initial 'start of the season' stock in at roughly the same time of year so regardless of them making bats all year round there will only be a limited supply at the time when everybody wants them. It'll have a negative effect for GM as the big retailers will take all the best leaving the smaller retailers with the so called "scraps" (not that I've personally seen a bad GM) - this will only put the smaller retailers off and make them feel undervalued, personally I commend GM for treating all retailers the same with this respect.

[tim2000s]

Here's a different point of view for you. Hand picking is a tacit admission that not all your bats of a given grade are as good as one another and by offering the ability to handpick you are accepting that picky retailers (GMs customers, not us, please note), can take the best of all grades and then those that buy in bulk get the rest shipped out to them.

What I think Edward is saying is that all of the 909 Auras, for example, as far GM are concerned, are the same, and therefore no-one handpicking gets this advantage (and lets face it, walking into the warehouse of Kook, bashing a load of bats with mallets, and then choosing what you believe to be the ones that look best and rebound a mallet best is still NOT a scientific or particularly effective way of determining whether a bat is any good, rather it's a way of a retailer being able to sell bats by specifics i.e. number of grains, which is a very small scale model)

And as per Tom's comment, due to the ability to manage stock locally, if there is demand for 10,000 Auras in 200 orders, fulfillment of each of those orders can be managed specifically.

By ensuring that you don't allow one retailer access before another, and defining what is shipped to who, there is much greater level of Equity and the retailers customers know that they would get the same choices whichever retailer they choose to use.

We've had many conversations on here about Pro Direct having shoddy bats from some manufacturers because they don't hand pick, when they could, for example.