p12,13 Trade talk:p12,13 Trade talk 29/12/2008 11:58 Page 12
TRADE TALK - Sports Retail
SGB
Sports and Outdoor www.sgb-sports.com
Jack meets…
@ The STAG Show
“STAGGERINGLY SUCCESSFUL” is how Jack Lynes describes this year’s STAG Buying Show at its new
venue, The Four Pillars Hotel, Cotswold Water Park. It is a view unanimously shared by all with whom
he met there for this special ‘Jack meets…….@ The STAG Show’
I
t was an appropriate choice to hold the STAG Show at Robinson affair, was warm, bright and windproof. It is a
a hotel called by the name of ‘Four Pillars’. There are two day event, and I do apologize that I was unable to visit
four pillars upon which the sports trade is built and every exhibitor in the limited time that was available to
supported: first there is the product pillar, me. Jonathan Clarke on the Unicorn Products stand was keen
incorporating designer and manufacturer. Then comes to show me the new Powerglide cues which although
the distributor. Number three surely has to be the retailer A large show glove caught my eye as I shook hands with sadly (my description, not his) no longer made in the UK
and last but by no means least, the consumer. Take any Roberto Forzoni who was manning (or perhaps ‘keeping’ are still made to the same high specification, using
one away and like Humpty Dumpty, we all fall down. The would be a more apt description) a stand devoted to carefully selected wood, are now available in a series of
steadily growing number of retailers (over 50 in the last goalie gloves. The brand Selsport was new to me and I attractive styles and equally attractive prices. As to the new
year alone) who, while keeping their independence have wanted to know the who, the how and the why about the range of cricket bats for 2009, he enthused over the new
decided to join fellow ‘owner-drivers’ by becoming man and the brand. Roberto had been a coach with willow conditioning machinery and explained how it had
members of STAG, realising that their particular pillar is Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton before becoming a made it possible to press a blade early in its
thus strengthened, is further evidence of its value and I Performance Consultant to West Ham. I was duly manufacturing process without crushing it. Allowing the
am at a loss to understand how any independent these impressed to see on his card that he had a diploma in mind to wander I thought of my last journey on the
days decides or is even able to remain isolated from one Sports Psychiatry, as well as several degrees. His entrance London Underground and wondered if a similar device
buying group or another. Indeed, I would always be happy to the sports trade was largely due to a realisation that might be helpful there. All the more so, perhaps, when I
to hear from any such individual, although chances are while goalie gloves were available from several well known was told that it had cost a million dollars to make it. I
that any such person would likewise be unaware of this suppliers, there was not one that was devoted to them could not hide my delight to know that at least these
august publication and so not know of this invitation. But exclusively. So the seeds for Selsport were sown. Essential Gunn & Moore bats were still produced in Nottingham.
enough meandering. Lets 'get on with the show!’ to the success of any glove is the grip and while latex is the We can but hope and pray if necessary that the real Tests
norm for all makes, latex quality does vary considerably in 2009 may prove a springboard for some healthy sales.
It might have been cold and miserable outside. It might and the grippiest grip emanates from Germany and is in
have been doom and gloom and financial fanaticising in the palm of all of their gloves irrespective of price. Fifty There is more to enjoying good business that simply
parliament. It was both those on the Monday of my visit. goal keepers in the football league currently use gloves selling product on a one-off basis. Moss Bros, in their
But inside was bright and bustling. Plenty of smiles and from the range. I was particularly impressed with the new heyday, owed their success to hiring out the same suits
plenty to smile about. Already seven new accounts had ‘Wrapper’ collection for 2009-10 and to learn that many times. (It is said that they did their stocktaking each
been opened on one stand alone and while never under Selsport export widely including to the USA, Europe, year at Ascot!) To be able to turn over the same stock
estimating the importance of networking and showing Norway and Holland, They are also able to offer ‘specials’ certainly has an appeal that must be the envy of many a
the flag, this was, as STAG MD Ward Robertson was quick incorporating a customer’s own design features for a retailer. The next best is to sell a product which results in a
to emphasise both by name and nature, “The buying minimum order of 250 pairs across the size range. They constant return for more. Tennis balls fall into such a
show that means business”. Those who remember the have a new slant on what it means to be heavy-handed category but thanks to a near monopoly, margins are
John Fisher STAG days may recall the room full of tables with their weighted training glove, the ‘Speed Hand’ is just slender and demand is seasonal. What about edibles? And
upon which merchandise was displayed and how, at the one of three coaching aids that they have introduced. The so to shotz sports nutrition. This brand , one of a
blow of a whistle, those attending would proceed in an others are a weighted football (available in sizes 4 or 5) multitude of ‘different’ products on show presented by
orderly fashion to the next table for their allotted time, and if it is after the watershed hour, they can be described ‘assist creative resources’, is not simply that always useful
ensuring that all suppliers were seen by all buyers present. as ‘heavy balls’ and a final innovation currently named ‘extra’ that make the day’s takings more worth while but
By contrast, there are now over 60 exhibitors each with ‘Reaction’ which, being biased and weighted unevenly, has often result in the ‘boomerang (after all this is an
stands and displays spread out in two spacious halls and a a mind of its own and certainly concentrates the mind Australian product) effect’. And just in case you are
marquee that, unlike last year’s somewhat Heath and challenges the feet of the player engaged in training. wondering what that is, it is the constant return of your
12 DECEMBER 2009
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