selling shop fl oor Shop Spotlight
Shop Name
...........................................................Hubble and Freeman Location
...................................................................Maidstone, Kent Owners ......................................................................Kookaburra Website
......................................................................www.hubbleandfreeman.co.uk Date Opened
.......................................................Trading for over 100 years Buying Group Affi liation
....................None
1
Unique Selling Point? We are owned by
international cricket and hockey suppliers Kookaburra. This means we are able to provide excellent retail prices on our Kookaburra cricket and hockey equipment in comparison to other independents. We consider our level of service and product knowledge as fi rst rate compared to many other sports shops on the high street. We have generally not been able to compete on price with the likes of Sports Direct and JD Sports, but we off er high quality service from helping a customer pick a new cricket bat to advising on
buying a new treadmill. 2 3
How are recent trading conditions?
Conditions are so tough right now. Despite Christmas, the last 2 months trading has been far worse than expected. The internet has killed local independents such as ourselves who don’t trade through the internet.
What recent supplier initiatives have
been successful for your business? The darts companies are great for us. Unicorn and Harrows give
us competitive margins and are in regular communication. Darts is currently one of our biggest sellers and we hope with the World Championships taking place, we will see good sales of darts products.
high quality service from helping a customer pick a new cricket bat to advising on buying a new treadmill
We off er Specialist Sellers 2
Company:
..................Peradon Founded: ....................1885 Sport:
................................Snooker & Pool Equipment:
..............Cues and Cue Accessories Website:
........................www.peradon.co.uk
1
What essential information do retailers need to know
about your sport and its equipment? For many years retailers of cue sports equipment have concentrated on selling low quality, imported cues and accessories in the belief that their customers would not consider purchasing more expensive equipment. Such imported cues tend to fake the look of exotic timbers with sprayed butts and decals printed with timber patterns. The truth is that, like in any other sport, keen
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SGB-SPORTS.COM
players want quality equipment and most snooker and pool players want equipment manufactured to the highest of professional standards from carefully selected exotic timbers. Whilst successful cue retailers may off er a small selection of low cost cues the majority of their stock and sales will retail for over £120. Such retailers also fi nd that as their competitors are only stocking less desirable, low cost cues their customers will travel longer distances to visit their store to purchase a higher quality product.
3
What products does your company off er?
Our company manufactures Peradon cues and cue accessories in our Liverpool factory. Our range includes snooker cues, pool cues, cue cases and all cue sport accessories and consumables from chalk to tips.
Why is your sport worth considering for retailers?
Quality players will generally only consider quality English made cues. There are real opportunties for many retailers to profi t from the lack of current represention of such cues in their region.
4
What demographic does it appeal to?
Our cues are used by people of all ages and although more popular with the gents many ladies now play cue sports, especially pool.
4
What will be your biggest challenge in the next 12
months? Surviving. Our current lease runs out at the end of 2012 so it is essential we have a good 2012 and the start of the cricket season is very important for us. We are hopeful though as traditionally the Olympics have seen an upsurge in trade for us.
5
What other services does your company off er?
We off er a bespoke cue making service where players can design their own cue online. Incentives are given to the user to order through their local stockists. These cues typically retail at between £200 and £400.
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