Topic: Is the country missing a big sports retailer? (Read 4050 times)

it's_a_pudding · « **on:** March 14, 2017, 10:27:10 PM »

Didn't really know where to post this to start with. Im trying to do a bit of research. Any of you business men please do help me to understand a bit more on this. Why is there not a chain equivalent to sport direct for higher quality sports gear in physical shop form not online shops? Is it because the online market is such a demand now? I see that alot of cricket specific shops don't differ much in price from one to another so surely going online to find the product cheaper is irrelevant unless distance is an issue? I personally think if the price is similar to the online competitors then I would much rather go into a sports shop and pay a tad more knowing I was getting my money's worth and with sports gear it's so specific to get a feel for the product especially when parting with so much money. Surely for e.g if you were to place 10-12 shops spread as evenly as possible around the country without spending too much on rent per shop etc and stocking ranges of sports goods and doing things like the customs like you do with vitas etc and doing similar style things with football like Nike I.d etc as well as other sports like hockey, rugby, athletics and so on. I see the US has a number of them like dicks sporting goods etc, I'm not sure if other countries have equivalents but would that not be a success in the UK?

Maverick79 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2017, 10:34:54 PM »

I used to find the various InterSport's around the country were the closest to that although on a much smaller scale as they were almost independent stores under the InterSport banner. I remember as a kid, I played competitive Football, Tennis, Cricket and Table Tennis and my local InterSport was the go-to shop for high quality reasonably priced gear and they covered a whole range of sports and equipment.

Sadly with the advent of online shopping and Sports Direct among others, there appears to be very few of these left.

Woodyspin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2017, 10:43:31 PM »

Either that or they over charge for products, bats for example, grade 2s priced closer to �300 ect.. As they dont order so many to get a discount from manufacturers(?) thats been my experience anyway

it's_a_pudding · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2017, 10:50:28 PM »

Yeah my memory of it wasn't on such a big scale if was more small collection scale like one wall per sport and the quality wasn't a good as now but that may be more to do with the selectors. But I'm talking on a larger scale of stock similar to and online shop just not all on display etc?

Tom · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2017, 11:05:07 PM »

High rental cost, low uptake of sports outside of football/cycling/golf and slim margins on branded equipment all make it difficult.

The closest you'll find is a Decathlon. They've mitigated the above circumstances by being based in out of town retail parks and by pushing their own brand.

Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2017, 11:08:18 PM »

Worth saying also. Dick's is about the biggest USA sports retailer left. Sports Authority, Sport Chalet, Bob's etc have all gone bankrupt too.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/07/sporting-goods-stores-retail-bankruptcy/98682338/

skip1973 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2017, 11:24:38 PM »

I know a few on here think there is millions in cricket, it's a tough gig that's why there aren't cricket shops on every corner and why every bedroom brand operator has a second job or they never last.

i12breakfree · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2017, 02:18:47 AM »

Quote from: Tom on March 14, 2017, 11:08:18 PM

Worth saying also. Dick's is about the biggest USA sports retailer left. Sports Authority, Sport Chalet, Bob's etc have all gone bankrupt too.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/07/sporting-goods-stores-retail-bankruptcy/98682338/

yup...big stores like sports authority are all getting closed...amazon is giving 1 hour free delivery in some areas and opening stores like amazon go


! No longer available

its all changing

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2017, 09:44:40 AM »

There's never been a UK national cricket retailer with a large range of kit encluding the ones on retail parks decatholon always found limited choice not top end same with sports direct and .intersport.
Where I live theres no cricket shops it's either an online buy or the local batmaker

billyb · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2017, 03:12:22 PM »

If anyone could do it, I reckon Pro Direct would do well with a flagship store in a couple of cities. They've got a big enough clientele, and are very popular online, have good prices and a very wide range of quality stock.

Whether it is worth the additional risk and business overheads is another matter, though- but I really wish i could go and try things out in person!

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2017, 03:56:32 PM »

All this talk of high end kit has got me thinking

Even on this forum it isn't the biggest seller. Look how many forumites bought butterfly bats or post their "low end bargains"

Next time you're netting or playing a match have a look at the kit on show. I'm prepared to bet the majority, if not all, of it will be low or mid range gear.

Of course it's nice to have a G1+ players grade bat and test match level protection, but the majority don't feel the need to buy such high end goods

it's_a_pudding · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2017, 04:05:07 PM »

Been great for me reading the replies and pro direct would be the closest to getting that point atm if only they did have a few more stores e.g. Leeds, Manchester so on. I would have thought it would be very popular. And the idea wouldn't be just for higher end gear it would be for all the ranges or selected ranges. I may have worded it wrong in my original post.

GoodLeave · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2017, 07:02:47 PM »

Quote from: it's_a_pudding on March 15, 2017, 04:05:07 PM

Been great for me reading the replies and pro direct would be the closest to getting that point atm if only they did have a few more stores e.g. Leeds, Manchester so on. I would have thought it would be very popular. And the idea wouldn't be just for higher end gear it would be for all the ranges or selected ranges. I may have worded it wrong in my original post.

I wish they just opened their warehouses to the public. They are great on price and I appreciate that with the number of orders they have to get through that they can't have guys going around the warehouse weighing individual bats, but if they'd just let me in to weigh/tap up a few bats, they'd get a lot more business out of me. Even if they weren't keen on having the public in the warehouse (Insurance issues), just have a guy running around in the warehouse fetching 5/6 bats of a certain model and allow people to choose from the selection.

It's such a personal thing, they'd make a killing. It'd be worth an hours drive to get hold of the end of season stuff. Often 60-70% off.

smilley792 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2017, 07:38:51 PM »

We used to have a sugg sports ins heffield town centre. I was about the last time I went in so atleast 24 years ago!

It stocked everything sport, and with a decent amount of range to, used to love going through cricket bats everyone I was in town.

Gutted it's no longer there.

Near me is the sport direct warehouse shop. Thinknyour normal sports direct shop and then multiply the stores size by about six and you've got it.

As it's literally they warehouse they stock everything they sell online in there........... except the cricket section which is limited. Go figure.

Across the road is there seconds sales, basically anything that's returned goes here, found a GM wheelie for 4quid in there and some maverick f1 elite pads for �10!! They were large men's left handed though.

Chmaiden · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2017, 10:17:50 PM »

Inter sport was always my favorite...but my local one went bust and is N now a Costa Coffee!

Author Topic: Is the country missing a big sports retailer? (Read 4050 times)

it's_a_pudding

Is the country missing a big sports retailer?

Maverick79

Re: Is the country missing a big sports retailer?

Woodyspin

Re: Is the country missing a big sports retailer?

it's_a_pudding

Re: Is the country missing a big sports retailer?

Tom

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Tom

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skip1973

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i12breakfree

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Seniorplayer

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billyb

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WalkingWicket37

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it's_a_pudding

Re: Is the country missing a big sports retailer?

GoodLeave

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smilley792

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Chmaiden

Re: Is the country missing a big sports retailer?