Shop Name: The Racquet Centre Location: Swaythling, Southampton Owner: Shane Pletts Website:
www.theracquetcentre.co.uk Date opened: Established for over 30 years Buying group affi liation: Intersport Number of Staff: 2 Specialties sold: Racquet Sports
1. Not a lot of people know... We are unique to the sports industry in only specialising in the racquet sports of tennis, squash and badminton. We pride ourselves on fi rst class product knowledge and customer service with both staff members having played racquet sport to a high level. The Racquet Centre takes particular pride in its own in- house specialist racquet restringing facility, which can be undertaken while you wait. This differs from many other retailers were restringing racquets takes place away from the store and so can possibly incur extra costs.
2. How is the business fi nding current trading conditions?
Like many others, we have found the last couple of years very tough. Sales fi gures have been down, but we are hopeful for the future with the continued support of Intersport. They have helped us purchase the new SMU Racquets which provide a higher product mark up.
3. What has been the greatest success/highlight for
the business over the last 12 months? This would have to be the introduction of our try before you buy service where a customer can try a racquet before purchasing simply by leaving a deposit of £75 per demo racquet. This is then fully refundable against any Racquet, which is subsequently bought. This service has been tremendously popular and one we are immensely proud of.
4. What recent supplier initiative has been successful
for your business? As previously mentioned, the SMU racquets have enabled us to obtain better payment terms than previously possible due to the support of Intersport.
5. What will be your biggest challenge in the next 12 months?
As is always the case with our market, ordering products in October/ November to be released in March involves an element of guesswork in having to second-guess the market. Despite the continued popularity of the internet, the Racquet Centre still believes there is a place for quality shop- based customer service.
Company: Ransome Sporting Goods Founded: 1979 Sport: Basketball Equipment: Baden and Sure Shot Web site:
www.rsgsport.com
1. What essential information do retailers need to know about your sport and its equipment?
Unlike most of the other popular sports, basketball can be played by all the family at a low cost which gives it great potential. It is already played in pretty much every secondary school, university and college and in some primary schools. Basketball ranks 2nd or 3rd as the largest team sport in the UK behind football and alongside cricket in terms of the number of people playing the game. The numbers include both males and females of all ages. However, the most popular age group is between 13 to 25. Basketball’s popularity is consistent throughout the world with only football exceeding its overall numbers but unlike some of the other sports, the worldwide numbers are beginning to grow.
2. What products does your company offer? With the brands Baden and Sure Shot, we offer a very wide range of basketballs and equipment to suit all ages and standards. The Baden balls are the most popular in the UK for club and school play with all of the matches under the auspices of England and Scotland basketball associations being played with the Baden ball. The equipment under the Sure Shot brand provides the Mini Hoops through to the Junior units, transportable units, wall mounted and inground to cover all requirements. We have recently launched a range of Sure Shot transportable units with both acrylic backboards and pole padding, which are gaining a great deal of interest from the trade.
3. Why is your sport worth considering for retailers? As well as Basketball being a very popular team sport it is also played for fun on an informal basis. The fact that basketball can be played in the drive or garden, in the street or in fi elds and parks as well as indoors means that it is a very fl exible sport that everyone can play as well as in schools and clubs. Many of the basketball products are ideal as gifts for youngsters for Christmas, even if they don’t play the game seriously.
4. What demographic does it appeal to? More and more youngsters aged from 4 upwards are starting to play basketball as well as being really massive now in secondary schools, universities and colleges. It appeals however to all ages and there are now some competitions for older players who want to have fun and stay fi t. The game is also becoming more popular for women and girls and it also very attractive to people from all ethnic backgrounds.
5. What other services does your company offer? In addition to being able to supply basketball equipment for sale in store we have a range of basketball units that can be supplied on a direct delivery basis. Thereby retailers who sell from their web site can have the possibility to show brochures in store and can offer a full range of basketball equipment, including backboards, rings and transportable units and the goods can be delivered direct to the customer within a few days. We are fi nding that this service is becoming more and more popular with our customers.
22
www.sgb-sports.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50