Topic: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands (Read 53757 times)

Parkman · « **Reply #30 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:23:47 AM »

This is a great article & is a fantastic stand on brand honesty. It's the same in many industries where if you do some digging you can see who is being 'economical with the truth' about their product. I have started a small venture (cricket related but not equipment) & am sourcing UK made products & services because it's something I believe in. It takes a bit longer to research it & costs a bit more but I feel proud that I'm sticking to a principle not just going for convenience & price.
I don't begrudge people starting their own business because it's their passion & they might not have the skills to make bats themselves but they should be open about the source of that product. Many of these bat 'brands' could surely be done under the trade description act for their 'Made in England' tag

tim2000s · « **Reply #31 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:28:14 AM »

Will you be stocking Heritage Bats Paul/Chris?

http://www.heritagecricket.co.uk/

Tom · « **Reply #32 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:29:25 AM »

Do you think many of these brands are outright lying, or just spinning their circumstance for the benefit of marketing?

Again, saying a Newbery Platinum bat is handmade in England by Newbery's master batmakers could also be conceived as a reasonable bit of spin. It's not lying, but Newbery outsource their work and the company they do outsource to use one of the most advanced CNC machines in the UK.

For me it depends on the company and the relationship. There are companies who stick their stickers on the bats of an Asian manufacturer with no input into the design, shape or bats full stop. At times I question what they add to the industry, but generally speaking the customers see through this and they remain bedroom brands and don't expand much beyond that. Companies like Kookaburra, Adidas or New Balance genuinely do believe in the quality of their products as it reflects on the whole brand. So whilst their batmaker may not be sat in the German, Australian or American office; they do have a close business relationship.

ogroupleader · « **Reply #33 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:51:07 AM »

Quote from: tim2000s on October 15, 2015, 07:21:25 AM

If I remember correctly, the factory in India that makes GN bats is actually a wholly owned subsidiary/Indian "affiliate" of GN, rather than one of the many cricket bat production facilities that are out there, tendering for business.

From speaking to the local GN rep in Australia and one of the higher ups from their head office in Melbourne that was my understanding as well.

tim2000s · « **Reply #34 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:57:27 AM »

The other thing about the blog for me is the contention that whitelabelling has no place in the world of high end cricket bats. I'd argue that this is simply par for the course. There are plenty of Luxury Consumer goods brands where the same thing goes on and there are no arguments.

As an example, Vertu mobile phones are not made by Vertu. Vertu don't pretend they are, or that they aren't. They are extremely premium products (some might call them trashy).

In my view there's nothing wrong with Whitelabelling a premium product, but obfuscating the origin of the product and pretending that it is made somewhere when it isn't is not okay.

trypewriter · « **Reply #35 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:06:26 AM »

I don't have a problem with the blog. I think its main thrust is about being economical with the truth.
It happens with a lot of consumer goods. Not all AEG, Bosch and Blomberg appliances are made in Germany these days, but they don't trumpet the fact that you might not be buying 'German reliability' if you don't pick the right model.

Northern monkey · « **Reply #36 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:47:06 AM »

Do people really care where the bat is actually manufactured?
Or are they more concerned with the end products quality?
Do people care where Asads Uzi pros come from? Or are they more bothered with the fact Asad has used his considerable experience to ensure a top class product ?

I'm sure the same applies to ijc,s platinum bat etc

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #37 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:47:24 AM »

Not wishing to detract from this topic but I am now thinking how many UK cricket brands source clefts and actually make Bats from start to finish inc handles i know of 2 possibly 3.

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #38 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:51:34 AM »

Quote from: ScottParko on October 15, 2015, 07:02:32 AM

Good read and more importantly a refreshing read! What I took out of that (seeing as there's different views on it) was that although IJC dont particularly like the stickering up thing they know it happens and aren't completely opposed to it, but they are completely opposed to misleading customers, which is why they still stock certain manufactures who outsource bats, but are completely up front about that, because at least they aren't misleading the customer, which is where IJC's gripe lies.

Nice to see that someone has understood it perfectly! I am sorry that others did not get it, but this hits the nail on the head. Perhaps the below paragraph was missed by some?

"As a specialist retailer, we are not only fussy about the particular bats we stock � handpicking every single one of them ourselves � but we also do our best to filter out the dishonest brands from our shelves and steer clear of them. We don�t always get it right, unfortunately. Sometimes it takes us some time to learn. We are also being lied to..."

Fill in the blanks, but some of the brands mentioned previously in this post are being referred to here, and is a major reason why we either stopped stocking them previously or have now decided that enough is enough. Seeing the Salix and Chase stuff at the trade show a couple of weeks ago really hammered this home for me, and hence why I also mentioned that.

Paul

smilley792 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:53:41 AM »

Quote from: Seniorplayer on October 15, 2015, 08:47:24 AM

Not wishing to detract from this topic but I am now thinking how many UK cricket brands source clefts and actually make Bats from start to finish inc handles i know of 2 possibly 3.

GM, b3 and kippax being the obvious ones.

H4l known by us forumites

Redink have handled and pressed clefts I've supplied, so are certainly capable.
Aldred has shown videos of him handling and pressing bats.

I'm sure there more.

roco · « **Reply #40 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:57:47 AM »

I cant think of any that make there own handles as not cost effective.

Having been to a fair few makers around the country on visits I don't see what the stigma is over someone making from start to finish as loads use something whether it be a copy lathe or cnc but I do agree honesty is key as I have been to a couple whos press or equipment were in the "other" shop or being sent to them later.

its all about if you are happy with the end product

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #41 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:58:14 AM »

Quote from: smilley792 on October 15, 2015, 08:53:41 AM

GM, b3 and kippax being the obvious ones.

H4l known by us forumites

Redink have handled and pressed clefts I've supplied, so are certainly capable.
Aldred has shown videos of him handling and pressing bats.

I'm sure there more.

Salix and Chase! Robert Pack. There are others. As I said, I reckon there to be 12 or 13, but I haven't visited them all, and two or three of this number are included based purely on my feedback from a number of customers over the years. Bottom line is it's a small percentage of the English cricket bat market.

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #42 on:** October 15, 2015, 09:01:10 AM »

Another thing I'd like to point out is that I consider CNC machine usage as genuine manufacturing. The word "handmade" perhaps isn't the best choice for such bats, but anyone who makes entirely in this country - with a CNC machine or otherwise - is included for me.

Handles, as far as I'm aware, is the one thing that is always bought in from elsewhere, but the splicing is something not every "bat maker" will do.

Andythomo21 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 15, 2015, 09:03:00 AM »

Quote from: roco on October 15, 2015, 08:57:47 AM

I cant think of any that make there own handles as not cost effective.

Having been to a fair few makers around the country on visits I don't see what the stigma is over someone making from start to finish as loads use something whether it be a copy lathe or cnc but I do agree honesty is key as I have been to a couple whos press or equipment were in the "other" shop or being sent to them later.

its all about if you are happy with the end product

Kippax are using the 'Wavex' handles. I have no idea who makes these though?

smilley792 · « **Reply #44 on:** October 15, 2015, 09:05:33 AM »

Quote from: ItsJustCricket on October 15, 2015, 08:58:14 AM

Salix and Chase! Robert Pack. There are others. As I said, I reckon there to be 12 or 13, but I haven't visited them all, and two or three of this number are included based purely on my feedback from a number of customers over the years. Bottom line is it's a small percentage of the English cricket bat market.

The ones I mentioned are ones I have either witnessed first hand. Or have seen evidence off.

Salix chase and rob pack I haven't so can't comment.

My reply was going on people fitting handles, if seniorplayer is referring to people that actually make there handles, then I could be well wrong.
But if we are gonna get pedantic and claim people aren't true batmakers as they buy handles in, then we are going to far.

Author Topic: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands (Read 53757 times)

Parkman

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tim2000s

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Tom

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ogroupleader

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tim2000s

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trypewriter

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Northern monkey

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Seniorplayer

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ItsJustCricket

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smilley792

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roco

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ItsJustCricket

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ItsJustCricket

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Andythomo21

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smilley792

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