If you could only carry one skate line...

[pucktownnc 0]

This question is for the shop guys -- if you could only carry one line of skates, what make & model would you carry?

I'm thinking mid-level, mid price.....what are your best sellers?

Thanks!

[jimmy 194]

That's a tough question because of fitting issues. But, from a business standpoint, I would not carry Easton or Bauer. They change all there models every year, so you get stuck with a lot of discontinued skates as soon as the internet sites start dumping them for way below what we pay for them. At least CCM/RBK keeps models for 2-3 yrs.

I prefer CCM and now RBK lines. They are my best seller. They have more features for the buck, and quality and durability is better than most other brands.

Their mid-range skates are way better IMO than other leading brands.

[Bruin88 0]

i think graf ,theyre fairly popular and they have a fit for almost every foot.

[Project824 0]

If limited to only one skate line for retail, I'd definitely avoid Graf. They only produce high end performance skates. Even their less expensive skates aren't entry level in features or prices.

I'd second THC. Rbk's performance this year is just a bonus.

[DarkStar50 679]

Bauer skates are driving my business big time. Just yesterday, I sharpened 6 Vapor XXX in a row during peak hours while you wait with 4 Jr and 2 Sr skates. My Vapor skates sales are strong from top to bottom in the line. My players(travel, beer leaguers, and house kids) are not interested in CCM/RBK skates. The CCM boots fit the Eastern Euro guys(Russians playing mens league with their Fred Flintstone feet) but thats about it. The Vapor and Supreme lines have legs in my shop. The CCM 04 Tack line only lasted 1 year before it was changed so both CCM and BNH play with the same deck of cards. Don't get caught in Year 2 with depth in a skate line and any shop will be fine. One and done! There you have it!

[Thockey17 1]

Either Bauer or Graf.

[jimmy 194]

Bauer skates are driving my business big time. Just yesterday, I sharpened 6 Vapor XXX in a row during peak hours while you wait with 4 Jr and 2 Sr skates. My Vapor skates sales are strong from top to bottom in the line. My players(travel, beer leaguers, and house kids) are not interested in CCM/RBK skates. The CCM boots fit the Eastern Euro guys(Russians playing mens league with their Fred Flintstone feet) but thats about it. The Vapor and Supreme lines have legs in my shop. The CCM 04 Tack line only lasted 1 year before it was changed so both CCM and BNH play with the same deck of cards. Don't get caught in Year 2 with depth in a skate line and any shop will be fine. One and done! There you have it!

It's also very regional and demographics play a big role. Big city folks are rich and HAVE to have top of the line. Us poor folk in the suberbs have totally different buying trends. So while VAP XXX may be the trend in the city, the Vector 6.0 may be top seller elsewhere. Brands also sell different in different areas as well. Mission's sell well out west and in the south, but not as popular in the North. So many variables.

[mojo122 538]

Except for say, Boston. Now the suburbs outside of Boston are a different story. The other night before my men’s league game the local high school (North of Boston) was holding tryouts. There were about 80 kids on the ice and 9 out of 10 were wearing Vapor XXXs and using either Stealths or SLs.

[D3nZ 0]

I would buy Graf but would do major changes on the exact skates I want.

[jimmy 194]

Except for say, Boston. Now the suburbs outside of Boston are a different story. The other night before my men’s league game the local high school (North of Boston) was holding tryouts. There were about 80 kids on the ice and 9 out of 10 were wearing Vapor XXXs and using either Stealths or SLs.

I'm guessing your not talking about Roxbery kids! :lol:

I forgot to mention Fads, they drive a lot of sales. Nevertheless, I have about 1500 regular hockey sharpening customers. Of those 1500, perhaps only 8 have Vap XXX, 2 dozen Vap XX, maybe a dozen Grafs (700 series), and a half dozen Synergys 1300's, etc.. High end skates are not the norm. I actually have a profile on each customer with brand skates and model. One of these days, I'll go thru each one and come up with statistical analysis of what skate model is most popular in my area. The info I keep is based on what skate they had when they first visited me, so the statistics would not be biased/based on what models I sell in my store, rather would be a good sampling. Heck, they judge presidential winners with smaller sampling sizes. So, be interesting to see results. I'll bet CCM/Bauer are neck and neck, perhaps a slight edge to CCM. RBK is too new, but I have LOTS of customers who have gone RBK from other brands.

[echi24 1]

i dont cant understand why graf is coming up in this thread. their skates do not have the reputation of a bauer or ccm/rbk, and almost all models carry high price tags. availability is also an issue. the only way i see a shop that exclusively carries graf skates being successful if a trade in/used skate program was implemented. then those with lower budgets can try out the skates and decide what the like and eventually move up to the new skates. graf is especially good for a used program because they can be baked over and over.

[Chadd 916]

If I could only carry one brand or line of skates, it would be Mission and the S series. I could sell more of other brands, no doubt about it. However I think it's also important to believe in what you sell. I won't sell products that I don't believe in at all.

[UMWhockey 0]

I know this is a hockey message board, but I would probly sell Jackson skates. The Mystique model is my best selling skate by far. We only have about 100 kids in skate school, but in my first two weeks running this shop we have sold about 15 pair while selling about 3 pair of hockey skates. It is a very good beginner skate that is well priced. I also can have a decient mark up and still sell the skates.

on the hockey side i agree with chadd about selling something you beleive in. I would also sell mission because i beleive they are making the biggest strides in hockey skate design. I am sure a lot of people dont' agree with me, but it is just my opinion.

[greener4 0]

I think that everybody likes a different type of boot, because they all fit differently. I think that it is not the skate its self but the blade in the skate and "Tuuk" makes the best. But personly i think bauer makes the best and most popular skates.

[Geeno_56 1]

I would have to say Bauer or graf also. They are pretty much the biggest companies here for skates.

[jimmy 194]

I think that everybody likes a different type of boot, because they all fit differently. I think that it is not the skate its self but the blade in the skate and "Tuuk" makes the best. But personly i think bauer makes the best and most popular skates.

Bauer makes the best steel??? No way! The Tuuk holder is nice but the steel is very prone to breaking and can be accelerated easily by bad sharpening.

I sold a pair of Vectors last week to a guy who had gone thru 4 sets of steel on his bauers. He said, no way he would buy another bauer again.

[logan 0]

I've always loved Mission skates, one for the way they fit me, and two for what I perceive to be a true attempt to evolve skates in terms of fit, durability and performance. Their customer service for us has always been impeccable.

They are probably the slowest seller up here simply because people up hear seem to take comfort in what they have grown up with or what their dad had grown up with. Up here Bauers are top sellers, followed very closely by THC.

Down south people also play more roller hockey, so there is greater familiarity with the Mission brand. Even after their 10(?) years in the business, I still have people asking me "Who makes Mission?"

Mission is my personal top pick. If you had to factor in the business side, then RBK-THC is my pick for best bang-for-the-buck.

[blues_91 0]

i dont cant understand why graf is coming up in this thread. their skates do not have the reputation of a bauer or ccm/rbk, and almost all models carry high price tags. availability is also an issue. the only way i see a shop that exclusively carries graf skates being successful if a trade in/used skate program was implemented. then those with lower budgets can try out the skates and decide what the like and eventually move up to the new skates. graf is especially good for a used program because they can be baked over and over.

It really depends where you live for Graf. I've played against teams where EVERYONE has a Graf skate, and then I'll play a team where only 1 or 2 people have them.

[jimmy 194]

I've always loved Mission skates, one for the way they fit me, and two for what I perceive to be a true attempt to evolve skates in terms of fit, durability and performance. Their customer service for us has always been impeccable.

They are probably the slowest seller up here simply because people up hear seem to take comfort in what they have grown up with or what their dad had grown up with. Up here Bauers are top sellers, followed very closely by THC.

Down south people also play more roller hockey, so there is greater familiarity with the Mission brand. Even after their 10(?) years in the business, I still have people asking me "Who makes Mission?"

Mission is my personal top pick. If you had to factor in the business side, then RBK-THC is my pick for best bang-for-the-buck.

Mission make great skates, no doubt about it. I use to carry them in my store, but at the end of the season, basically had every pair I started with still left. Didn't like loosing money so don't stock them anymore. I believe the orig of this thread was asking from a business standpoint, and right now THC has the best products for the $. Bauer is popular no-doubt as well.

Regional factors are big. When dad comes in to get skates for the first time, and says, I want my boy or girl to get "Tacks" cause that's what I had, it's tough to break that mold. Often that kid will wear that brand his whole life.

[pdchockey 0]

I can echo Jimmy's regional perspective. My sons only want Bauer or CCM. Our LHS had Missions but discontinued them. They tried Kors, but those have not been great sellers either.

[Chadd 916]

I can echo Jimmy's regional perspective. My sons only want Bauer or CCM. Our LHS had Missions but discontinued them. They tried Kors, but those have not been great sellers either.

Kor is new and a small company, any shop who expected to sell 200 pair is crazy. No matter how good I think the skates are, not many customers are going to be willing to take the plunge on a new brand. If NBH, THC or Easton would have produced the skate it would be selling much better.

[asdfa 0]

as far as customers not wanting to "take the plunge", why don't some of you guys set up a computer where a customer can access MSH? they can get good reviews of products from other customers and find opinions from a variety of backgrounds on what they'd like to buy.

[DarkStar50 679]

as far as customers not wanting to "take the plunge", why don't some of you guys set up a computer where a customer can access MSH? they can get good reviews of products from other customers and find opinions from a variety of backgrounds on what they'd like to buy.

And meanwhile the customer will access 1800hockey and all the rest to price shop against my prices. Sorry, I don't think so..............

[Chadd 916]

as far as customers not wanting to "take the plunge", why don't some of you guys set up a computer where a customer can access MSH?  they can get good reviews of products from other customers and find opinions from a variety of backgrounds on what they'd like to buy.

And meanwhile the customer will access 1800hockey and all the rest to price shop against my prices. Sorry, I don't think so..............

There are programs you could use to lock it down but I still don't think it's practical. Every square foot of space in a shop has to generate revenue and it's not too likely that it would help you make more sales.

[DarkStar50 679]

as far as customers not wanting to "take the plunge", why don't some of you guys set up a computer where a customer can access MSH?  they can get good reviews of products from other customers and find opinions from a variety of backgrounds on what they'd like to buy.

And meanwhile the customer will access 1800hockey and all the rest to price shop against my prices. Sorry, I don't think so..............

There are programs you could use to lock it down but I still don't think it's practical. Every square foot of space in a shop has to generate revenue and it's not too likely that it would help you make more sales.

Chadd,

We don't even have room to hang up the posters they send! Every bit of space in our rink pro shop is maxed out for stock/sales. We have a stockroom,of course, but on the floor its "everything is on display."