PiriPiri, Mars, Spartan and CP are all being dropped for next season. And likely Slazenger - for that exact reason! Phantom are open about not making their own bats - just the same as say GN! However, they still offer better prices than many out there, and continue to churn out an excellent product, with outstanding branding - which sell very well, to very happy customers! As for the others, we let customers know that NB etc make their bats in India, we are not opaque with our clients, quite the opposite!
All we are saying is that IJC is a different brand to many other cricket retailers. We are open with the customer, and don't just want your money! We want the best product, aftercare, and experience, right from willow growing up to scoring the first runs with the bat. And that is why we do what we do - we love it, and want our consumers to experience that passion, a key reason that Paul writes these blogs.
We have taken a stand and backed our words with actions. IJC is not just a shop - it is a philosophy about how we do things. That's why we dropped certain brands (those in the know will know) who misled customers about the provenance of their bat, that's why when you enquire about a bat we will often suggest one cheaper than your budget, that's why we do the videos, that's why we do the blogs, why we do the handpicking, why I've been at the shop until 2am many times, and slept on the floor more than once before! We have a true love for our business, and that's the philosophy that drives everything we do!
Chris
Paul, Chris,
Interesting read and i think you raise a number of good points.
Cutting this a slightly different way, here in Australia the bat market is limited to the big brands (GN, Kooka etc) with the bulk of their bats being Indian made (GN have a range made by Stuart Kranzbuhler). There are a few local guys, but its very difficult for these guys to do enough business to specialise full time.
Manufacturing and retailingI liked your reference to white labelling. You'll find there aren't may 'sales/retail' companies that do their own manufacturing. Companies are generally manufacturers, or wholesalers or retailers. Not all of them. Structuring their operations this way allows them to specialise, keeping costs downs. Yet, when it comes to cricket bats, we expect a beginning to end process.
In reality, your Nike Free Runs that are 'made in Vietnam' aren't made in a factory owned by Nike by Nike employees. Nike raise a tender to which a company responds and fills the order.
This is essentially how many cricket bats come to existence. GN have their order for x thousand mid quality bats and a company in india fill the order.
Perception of what your buyingIf you go to see a heart surgeon, paying top dollar for
him personally to do you by-pass, would you be pi$$ off if he passes it off to his registrar? Dam right you would.
Your by-pass may work/go just as well, but you've paid for 30+ years of experience and only got the 10+ years job.
Point of differenceIJC market themselves as a unique cricketing business. They don't sell cr@p sticks just to make a buck. They are cricket tragic's who care just as much about the game as what they do about their bottom line.
They want to genuinely know the producers of their products to be able to be very honest with their customers.
I work in business consulting and contract management. If a supplier lies to me, I kick their a$$ to the kerb.
My 2 cents worthMy personal view here is what Paul's original post came back to was honesty.
If you're bats aren't "Made in the UK" don't be a f*$&ing cheat and market them this way.
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Topic: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands (Read 53737 times)