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[Stuey]

In my mind there are roughly ten 'large' brands that hold 75% of the market, you then have 50+ small brands all vying for that last 25%, it's tough.

Which makes you wonder why people bother, if there was market share to capture I could see the point, but you are never going to compete with the larger brands for market share or established batmakers for bespoke bats. I have pondered over setting up a brand or retailer and some members have been kind enough to offer advice, but I can't see where the money is for a new brand.

[WalkingWicket37]

In my mind there are roughly ten 'large' brands that hold 75% of the market, you then have 50+ small brands all vying for that last 25%, it's tough.

Who are the 10 mate?
The brands I'd expect virtually club players to recognise are:

Gunn & Moore
Gray Nics
Kookaburra
Slazenger
Spartan
New Balance
Adidas
Puma


Most would probably know:

SS/TON
Newbery
Millichamp & Hall
B3
Woodstock


I'm not sure on splits, but I'm basing this on players seen on TV using the kit and Magazines promoting brands in their gear test.
As you'll notice there's not really any small companies in this list as your average punter probably wont be interested!
Boutique brands offer an excellent product there's no doubt, but without kit badgers like us lot on here I don't see how they'd survive.

[tim2000s]

Who are the 10 mate?
The brands I'd expect virtually club players to recognise are:

Gunn & Moore
Gray Nics
Kookaburra
Slazenger
Spartan
New Balance
Adidas
Puma


Most would probably know:

SS/TON
Newbery
Millichamp & Hall
B3
Woodstock Mongoose

Very few people that I play with know of Woodstock. Far more know Mongoose.

[Percy]

I would also say Salix over B3

[smilley792]

The div 1 of our league there is atleast 2 b3s in every side, and some with a lot more(8 of our 1st 11 now have b3s.

There's only 1 salix I've seen, and that's a guy in our side.


I'm not sure everyone is aware new balance do cricket though, I still get people asking if I had my trainers spiked up!

Ss/ton has to be above nb in terms off market.

[Stuey]

Warsop sell a lot of bats in the southeast corner and a few essex players use them, but not sure how much they sell nationally.

[Tom]

If you're talking recognition, as opposed to sales - what about brands like Fearnley? Or Woodworm?

[WalkingWicket37]

Salix I forgot because I haven't seen one being used for yonks!

Mongoose is a good shout, as is woodworm.
Fernley is another one I rarely see.

My list was an off the top of my head job so isnt very good admittedly!

[Percy]

My list was an off the top of my head job so isnt very good admittedly!

I think it just goes to show how it varies from region to region and person to person

[Rob580]

Warsop sell a lot of bats in the southeast corner and a few essex players use them, but not sure how much they sell nationally.

Speaking to Clair & Tony the other week, they said they're sending quite a few to Aus & NZ this year, so they're growing in reputation, plus quite a few touring sides who come down this way normally go over there and buy a few new sticks.

[ProCricketer1982]

Gn, kook, GM and slap own most of the business. The rest tbh are all small brands (some bigger/more established). Most are strong locally in their area then fall away, only strong if they get someone as an agent who helps sell them etc.

From my limited growing experience, it's not that hard to start a brand of you want to. You just have to accept its either going to take ages and a fair bit of start up capital or lots of start up capital and less time. Wages wise, again.. Depends what you want out of it.. If you truely love thur job (be it bat making or retail in the industry) you can make a living quite easily, however if you want flash cars, big houses, flash trips etc... Then it's probably reserved for just the big boys.

All in all, from what I've made in just a few months it suggests it's thee but you have to have the capital to do it (this is really the limiting factor, not skill or knowledge really)

[Ayrtek Cricket]

I think it just goes to show how it varies from region to region and person to person

This is the general issue, you will start up selling to your club mates (usually at mates rates!) this then may expand to players in your league/opposition, then in your local area. The key step is what you do once you have saturated the market here and bridging the next step to make a regional sales model to ensure you sell products to those outside your immediate vicinity.

Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis from you so return sales will drop and you then need to replace these drop offs with further sales from elsewhere.

Whats your USP to make people choose your product over any other? Typically this may come down to offering a better price than if they went into the local cricket specialist. But what happens when a product breaks, replacing this at your cost to ensure customer satisfaction and your reputation is upheld etc.

[WalkingWicket37]

Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis

I immediately saw this but and have concluded I'm not normal! 

[smilley792]

Lad at our club started a brand, he's sold to 2 people in 9 months that aren't in our club, and one of them used to play for us.

He doesn't put as much effort in as I'd expect someone to though, so maybe he's happy just making a few extra bucks.

Me I'd want to be pushing it, gear sent to Jason and paul for vid testing, a few free sets for juniors around the country. And then just psuh(not spam) via social medias.

[ProCricketer1982]

This is the general issue, you will start up selling to your club mates (usually at mates rates!) this then may expand to players in your league/opposition, then in your local area. The key step is what you do once you have saturated the market here and bridging the next step to make a regional sales model to ensure you sell products to those outside your immediate vicinity.

Realistically people arent going to buy new kit on a yearly basis from you so return sales will drop and you then need to replace these drop offs with further sales from elsewhere.

Whats your USP to make people choose your product over any other? Typically this may come down to offering a better price than if they went into the local cricket specialist. But what happens when a product breaks, replacing this at your cost to ensure customer satisfaction and your reputation is upheld etc.

This is when as you say, you need to make your choice as a brand which way to go.  I still think that if you actually priced things to make a profit but not a massive profit you'll find you are a lot less than the competition and so will pick up sales.. You'd need people on those local areas to help you (seems quite easy to get people to help if you give them cheap kit)

No brand seems to really do this to the right people, they focus on 'premier league' players rather than the right ones