How do you find the perfect skate if your LHS

[hockeymom 2]

I don't disagree with anything you say, but it's a lot more complex than Marketing 101, including anti-trust and squashing competion which is common in some industries.

Are you saying anti-trust and squashing competition is a common business practice in hockey?

Try opening a hockey store and see how "warmly" you are accepted.

It is difficult to establish any business today... but I don't know that I would say as you have, that anti-trust and squashing competition is ... common? in the hockey industry.

You should see how virtually impossible it is to get a product into the grocery store...but that is hardly anti-trust.

But I don't see it happening to that extreme in hockey. Am I wrong?

[DarkStar50 679]

When one talks about patronizing  a LHS there are some things that should be considered, that the average Joe doesn't know.  They blame the LHS for poor stock, but.... Some stores want to carry other brands but because of restrictive distribution policies, and mafia type "pressure" on the manufacturer from other competitors, your particular LHS may not be able to get the skates, even if they wanted to.

What exactly is "mafia type pressure?"

As far as I'm concerned with vendors who don't want to open my shop(yes, Warrior), I say C ya! I know when to move on and put my efforts and $$ into the vendors that want my business. Customers ask me now if I will have Warrior and when I tell them that Warrior was not interested in opening an account with our shop, they think there must be something wrong with Warrior. I tell the customers it was a decision made out of my hands and I'm moving forward with the brands that I know will sell in the shop based on history. My suggestion is put your effort and energy behind the vendors that support you and you will be rewarded.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882

[jimmy 194]

As far as I'm concerned with vendors who don't want to open my shop(yes, Warrior), I say C ya! I know when to move on and put my efforts and $$ into the vendors that want my business. Customers ask me now if I will have Warrior and when I tell them that Warrior was not interested in opening an account with our shop, they think there must be something wrong with Warrior. I tell the customers it was a decision made out of my hands and I'm moving forward with the brands that I know will sell in the shop based on history. My suggestion is put your effort and energy behind the vendors that support you and you will be rewarded.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882

"Mafia Type Pressure" is what competitors use on vendors to prevent others from being able to carry the product.

As for Warrior, isn't it kind of funny how they decided who was going to get there accounts. They never visited my store, no nothing about our volume, booking $$$ available, etc, yet a quick NO for a new account. I also agree with you, if they don't want my money, I just focus on the brands I carry. It is easy to steer a customer into a brand you do carry, so even if a customer comes in looking for a Warroir for example, I do what you do, say I'm sorry Warroir refuses to let me carry their stuff, would you like to look at a comparable product. The loyal customers want to do business with me.