Bauer 2010/2011 sneak peek...

[Hockeyman11385 1]

So there will be no top end Supreme available until May once the one95 stock runs out in the stores? That seems odd. It seems like that favors the big guys who can stock a lot of merchandise and squeezes the LHS's who won't be able to get one95's for their customers who might want them.

No, that's smart business.

You're selling through your product and not having to liquidate it at end of season.

For Bauer it's great but I still think it pinches the little guys.

[Chadd 916]

I laugh when I see "online blowout specialists." Some of them have very profitable and high revenue retail locations, two of which are no more than 10 minutes from my shop.

F the online blowout specialists. Bauer didn't overproduce the product and let the market get wrecked. That's a bad thing?

Both of whom built their business on the strength of their closeout product online. Obviously they have grown into much more over the years.

[DarkStar50 679]

Bauer was building their business long before online came about.

[Chadd 916]

And why should they be faulted because the industry (manufacturers) dropped their drawers to them?

I'm faulting the manufacturers, not those dealers.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

I can understand that. It's just going to be rough for the people that we encourage on this board to go to their local shop and be able to be fitted properly to do so when there is limited stock available. It drives a bigger push to the "big box" model that's happened in other retail environments. Obviously that model benefits the manufacturer but leaves the consumer a bit out in the cold since we all know that the customer service in the big stores (ie Wal-mart, etc) is lacking. Hockey is (unfortunately) a niche sport that needs knowledgeable people in the marketplace for people to get the best out of the products available from all of the companies.

[roscoe6 1]

I have no problem with Bauer moving the inventory early and giving the guy(s) who bought/buy it some time to move it. The MAP will be there and X60, etc. is already in stores, so, truth be told, there won't be much of a void. The inventory Bauer moved isn't going to sell out overnight.

Hockeyman11385, I think a company like Bauer, who no longer enjoys Nike's deep pockets, with the purchase of Mission-Itech, will start moving away from selling to the smaller dealers. They are a much larger risk to sell to and usually 10x the pain in the ass to deal with.

A client of mine is Director of Marketing for a motorcycle manufacturer (one of the Bauer's, Reebok's, Easton's of their industry) and they are trying to make the old 80/20 rule a 90/10, and, eliminate bad paying dealers as quick as possible. They're seeing that these smaller dealers cannot compete in the marketplace.

This is common practice in this rebounding economy. As well as switching from 20/70/10 to 10/70/20. Praise and give benefits to your top 10%. Maintain your middle 70%. Drop your bottom 20%. As sad as it may be, the Ma & Pa is kinda' losing it's spot in America...

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Bauer did not close out the ONE95. They sold them through.

[DarkStar50 679]

The business world is dynamic. I used to work for a family business. After 30 years of great success, they were gone after a few mistakes snowballed and the competition landscape changed. In order to be successful, change and forward thinking are necessary minimums to have.

The vendors are protecting their own investments as well. They cannot afford to prop up the problem accounts any longer.

[aliebe 0]

Bauer did not close out the ONE95. They sold them through.

Exactly...Bauer still made $$$ so what do they care. They saw the potential for an inventory glut on an "obsolete" product so they discounted it to maximize whatever profit margin. We all loathe the fact that the big, online retailers can leverage the use of their capital, but, to quote Hyman Roth, this is the business we have chosen.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

No...they sold them through. They did not close them out.

How can I be any more clearer?

[Chadd 916]

The business world is dynamic. I used to work for a family business. After 30 years of great success, they were gone after a few mistakes snowballed and the competition landscape changed. In order to be successful, change and forward thinking are necessary minimums to have.

The vendors are protecting their own investments as well. They cannot afford to prop up the problem accounts any longer.

No manufacturer should ever prop up a bad dealer. Throwing good money after bad is never a good idea, in Vegas or in business. Cutting dealers that pay their bills because they don't sell enough is another story.

[Moose 1]

anymore insight on the bauer 2010/2011 sneak peek? Any major advances in the gear line up that will match some of the major skate updates or is that to be discovered on Bauer's timeline?

[Dakotax 0]

No...they sold them through. They did not close them out.

How can I be any more clearer?

Mind explaning selling a product through compared to closing out?

[DarkStar50 679]

ABC Company makes widgets. In 2007 they made the Q2000 Widget. They produced 1000 of them and sold them at wholesale for $1. At the end of 2007, they had zero inventory. They sold through the Q2000 Widget. In 2008, they made the Q3000 Widget. Based on the previous year's success they made 2000 of them. They sold for $1.50 wholesale. They only sold 1500 of them in 2008. They had to discount the remaining 500 Q3000 Widgets at $1 each to close them out and empty their inventory of Q3000 Widgets. The close out price is less than their first wholesale price on the Q3000 Widget.

There will be a quiz on Friday.

[Drewhunz 3]

Make less to sell at full price, rather than making a bunch to sell at clearance pricing. More of an just-in-time inventory than a surfeit of in-process inventory.

[DarkStar50 679]

BTW, this is not the first time Bauer has timed their inventory "early" to run out on Year 2 product life cycle. Last year at this time 4 Roll gloves were gone and most Vapor skates had holes in their warehouse inventory, too. As a dealer I can check this info through my B-to-B website inventory info. This just means that smaller dealers have to be smarter with their booking orders. The days of counting on the vendor to stock inventory in large numbers for fill-in orders ended over 10 years ago. If anyone wants to complain that Bauer has run low on certain product, they have no idea how bad Easton has been forever in the fill-in department. If the dealer doesn't book the product from Easton he has no chance in hell of filling in if he sells out early. Why do you think Easton OPS can be hard to find at your LHS sometimes? The LHS is nervous about committing $$$$ to Easton OPS, then he sells through his modest inventory but finds Easton has no inventory for re-orders. This business is not so easy when you find out what really goes on.

[proliner 0]

I've just seen our Bauer Rep's sample of the Total One skate, and it is very nice!

Very surprised by how light it was, intrigued by the tongue flex thing but not too sure about the black and gold look ;)

All in all, I'm looking forward to this skate, will definately be getting a pair for myself!

Interesting that the Rep didn't seem to think the Total One was a limited or special edition but would be the standard top of the range boot.

[jww83 0]

I've just seen our Bauer Rep's sample of the Total One skate, and it is very nice!

Very surprised by how light it was, intrigued by the tongue flex thing but not too sure about the black and gold look ;)

All in all, I'm looking forward to this skate, will definately be getting a pair for myself!

Interesting that the Rep didn't seem to think the Total One was a limited or special edition but would be the standard top of the range boot.

Do you know if the black and gold is unique to the Total One with the one100 retaining the blue accents? Just curious.

[proliner 0]

I can't be sure, as I only saw the Total One and the entry level One20. Both were Black & Gold so maybe the entire range will follow this theme - but I have no idea. The gold is fairly subtle tho, just a couple of lines here and there. I just don't like gold ;)

[Datsyukrulez13 0]

I can't be sure, as I only saw the Total One and the entry level One20. Both were Black & Gold so maybe the entire range will follow this theme - but I have no idea. The gold is fairly subtle tho, just a couple of lines here and there. I just don't like gold ;)

maybe, but there might be a chance that the others wont be gold... its kinda like how the one95 and one35 are the same color scheme. i dont think bauer would make them all gold, because some people wouldnt buy this product just because of the color scheme

[DarkStar50 679]

The gold accent on the heel is on the entire line. If it bothers anyone, they could borrow a Sharpie from Marc Savard.

[Datsyukrulez13 0]

haha, but i wasnt talking about me though (for the record), i personally like the gold, itll look good with our jersey =)

[sebseb 0]

I think some small gold accents on black look sick, they have some of the old school look, imho

[CapsFan 5]

I think some small gold accents on black look sick, they have some of the old school look, imho

Bauer 5000s

[DarkStar50 679]

Daoust 501 Gold