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[Vitas Cricket]

Jake, what impressed you most about the GM range today?

Perfect levels of colours splashed through the softs range, they look stunning this year.

The 808 range (exclusive to 5 star dealers) and the value for money it offers being further extended with the 808 LE pads and gloves.

Padded straps on all pads from 808 LE - Original LE.

A full womens range is a really good option, interestingly we sold a fair bit of kit to girls/ladies this year, most of it was GM.

I really like the Aura personally, lovely shape with no concaving and a duck bill toe.

[ItsJustCricket]

Affinity.

Spartan until recently.

Jake, as you may know, we took on Spartan later than most, purely because we were waiting for their UK warehouse to open...

And Marcus hand-picks our Affinity bats for us.  I trust his judgement implicitly, so technically they are still hand-picked.  Besides, I don't think you can compare the Affinity setup to GM anyway...

[Edward Lowy]

Great to see everyone at GM again today, always a pleasure to chat with you Edward, however briefly, and on whatever topic. Perhaps I'll pick something a bit more cheerful to talk about next time, like how well Mr Root is batting, or indeed how well his Six6 is selling!

I'm putting together a little GM pre-order offer for the forum this evening, should be able to post it a little later.

Thank you so much guys for coming up to Nottingham. Always a pleasure to see you, best to all at Vitas

Kind regards

Edward

[Vitas Cricket]

Jake, as you may know, we took on Spartan later than most, purely because we were waiting for their UK warehouse to open...

And Marcus hand-picks our Affinity bats for us.  I trust his judgement implicitly, so technically they are still hand-picked.  Besides, I don't think you can compare the Affinity setup to GM anyway...

Fair enough re Spartan, wasn't aware when you began stocking them.

Having met the guys at GM numerous times, and based on the bats we are sent, I trust their judgement just as much as I trust Marcus.

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On a different note, here is a little vine we made to show the differences between Poron XRD used across the pad and gloves ranges from 808 - Original LE compared to conventional foams.

https://vine.co/v/OuiHUEPmqXH

[Edward Lowy]

Just been flicking through the catalogue with my girlfriend. I didn't have to push too hard to get her to show an interest, but it is hardly a riveting read for her.

A total non cricketers view can throw up some interesting points. With regard to the Sigma; 'it looks like Swiss Cheese to me!' was her remark. She thought the milling of the GM logo looked very good though.

Interestingly, I quizzed her on what her favourite bat was, as well as pads and gloves, or at least what she would use if she did play cricket. Mogul bat, 909 pads, 909 gloves.

When i flicked to the womens range and showed her that all the things she had picked were marketed specifically to women she commented 'It looks like me and this Edward fellow think alike!'

Seal of approval.

Where do I send flowers?!

[Chad]

Perfect levels of colours splashed through the softs range, they look stunning this year.

The 808 range (exclusive to 5 star dealers) and the value for money it offers being further extended with the 808 LE pads and gloves.

Padded straps on all pads from 808 LE - Original LE.

A full womens range is a really good option, interestingly we sold a fair bit of kit to girls/ladies this year, most of it was GM.

I really like the Aura personally, lovely shape with no concaving and a duck bill toe.

Anything but the Aura... Why couldn't it have been the Six6 or Octane, I honestly don't have any room for another...

[Edward Lowy]

As to it being unfair or it being a hassle. I personally think it is a bit of an insult that retailers cannot have thesame benefits as customers. Surely customers then come and pick the best bats in that range, and the retailers are left at a disadvantage? Why should that be? Further, any retailer who, given the opportunity to, chooses not to hand pick, is quite frankly being negligent to their customers. The ability to personally stand with a customer and talk them through why you chose this bat over a hundred other competing sticks is something which I find vital to successfully selling a bat.

In conclusion, I make a plea to Mr Lowy, allow retailers to hand pick. It is not a slight on your staff, it is merely a way of us showing our customers that we go the extra mile to ensure they get the best value for their money. After all, we are on the same side here, Edward, and IJC and GM having a good relationship is something which everyone wants to see.

Thanks for reading this long winded post,

Chris

I am sure that all on the Forum appreciate you taking the time to write.

You seem to be under the misapprehension that we sell direct to the public. We don't. No members of the public come and pick bats, we would direct their interest to an accredited GM dealer.

I entirely respect the business practises that you set out and wish you every success with them.

Kind regards

Edward

(Edited for Edwards shocking grammar)

[Cover_Drive]

No surprises seeing 2015 GM range, they are most consistent in maintaining quality.

Their softs are exceptional as always and probably only brand who takes initiative such as D30 in past and now Poron XRD.

Top work Edward and co. Oh the catalogue for perusal was lovely!

Wish you all the best.

Cheers!

[Stuey]

The GM catalogue will take some beating this year. I was set on trying the B&S range, but GM have thrown me a curve ball!
Are there round handle bats in the range?

[smilley792]

can any tell me what size the gloves are this year? i want some gm ones, but the orignals were a tad baggy on me this year, so may go small mens?

[Alvaro]

can any tell me what size the gloves are this year? i want some gm ones, but the orignals were a tad baggy on me this year, so may go small mens?

I am interested in this too.
This season's Originals were lovely if a bit big.

[Edward Lowy]

I am interested in this too.
This season's Originals were lovely if a bit big.

Hi both, yes we would agree with you, so 2015 gloves are just a wee bit smaller and oh so snuggly comf!

Kind regards

Edward

[Alvaro]

Good to hear. Thank you, Mr Lowy.

[chrisbd]

I am sure that all on the Forum appreciate you taking the time to write.

You seem to be under the misapprehension that we sell direct to the public. We don't. No members of the public come and pick bats, we would direct their interest to an accredited GM dealer.

I entirely respect the business practises that you set out and wish you every success with them.

Kind regards

Edward

(Edited for Edwards shocking grammar)

If under that misapprehension I apologise.

I think on behalf of IJC I would like to bring a sense of finality to this whole handpicking discussion that we have going on. We respect Mr Lowy, and GM's passion and belief in their staff, and their convictions, and whilst we disagree and ultimately can't come to an agreement, we do wish them the best of luck with what looks like a very good, consistent and varied range for 2015 - which after all is what this thread is about! Despite how it may seem, there is no animosity between the two brands, merely Paul and Edward are two very passionate blokes who stick by their belief sets to the end, and unfortunately that results in IJC being unable to stock GM, but it does show the integrity of both companies above anything.

On that topic, love the duffle bag, looks really good quality and a great solution to those of us who travel on public transport.

Good luck with everything for 2015 Mr Lowy, and as has been said before, we are lucky someone with such power is on this humble forum for us cricket geeks!

Chris

[KettonJake]

Been an observer on the forum for a long time, this topic has prompted me to join. I am involved in the industry but will not promote/favour/mention anything I am involved in, if cricket is doing well then it's all good by me.

Great range, nice to see GM adding a bit of colour into the softs. The Sigma is a little bit 'look what we can do with our machine' - but that in itself is good because although you do promote DXM and provide lots of info in the catalogue, I doubt the average joe truly knows what the CNC is capable of, or indeed what it means (uniformity of shape bat after bat etc.)

It seems to me that in recent times the range has a bat where all the experiments are carried out. ie the Zona carried a really funky shape and also the brand new logo style. If it had been either the funky shape or the logo I think it would have sold well, to have 2 radically different things launching on one bat was probably a bit too much for most. Similarly the Sigma with the logo milling on the back, scooping/weight removal as well as the digi-camo graphics is a little bit too much crammed into one bat in my opinion. Equally you can't launch a load of experimental bats into a range to test the waters, there is only so much room after all. Look at GN, the Vortex is gone after a season and the Nemesis only just clings on with vastly toned down graphics. 

The topic has been spoiled somewhat by the unnecessary input from an previous stockist. To demand handpicking from one of the biggest and best, a brand who puts all their passion and energy into making bats in the UK and providing the very best they can for every price point is rather strange when you don't from Affinity. With the greatest of respect to Marcus who does provide wonderful luxury products that really do the business, he's only been around for 5 minutes, yet you imply that you trust him more than the only major brand still not relying on anyone else except themselves to provide English Willow cricket bats. GN, Kookaburra and the rest all definitely need to be handpicked, simply because quality control in India (whilst vastly improved) is not to the same level.