Coolheat - Supply chain debate

[widget]

Question to Coolheat / Steve:

Do you sell single items to bike stocks shops?

If so' date=' what prevents me from walking into your office / warehouse with a bit of cash (ONLY LEGAL TENDER IN RSA) and purchasing something.

Any arrangement you have with anybody else that prevents me from buying from you is surely anti-competitive and smacks of collusion to control the market?

So, can we, the public, buy directly from Coolheat, or not?
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Personally, I cant see why not unless Coolheat or any other distributor DOSNT WANT TO DEAL WITH YOU which in my opinion is prehistoric thinking, and simply has no place in modern business.

 

I want the latest Adidas sun glasses, I went to three specialist sunglasses shops, none had, "we will order for you Sir" was the usual reply. (sound familiar from your LBS??)

 

Sorry, but I am not waiting, I want them today, not next week, not tomorrow, not in three days,.............. today.!

 

So I took myself off to the Adidas concept store in Eastgate,.......... they had 10 pairs, and I bought two.

I doubt they were cheaper, but price was not my concern, I am also in business and I am prepared to pay for what I want.

 

I am not saying undercut the other retailers who sell your product, just make it easier for the customer to see whats available and buy when he wants it.

 

Will it happen here - Yes, I think very soon as well.

 

Importers are been financially stretched by the retailers, they also have to move product to make ends meet and when it comes to the crunch, they WILL go direct to survive.

 

It only needs one importer to start, and my prediction is every one will follow suit. Lets see................!!

   

 

 

[Slowbee]

there must be another reason why distributers dont want to sell direct.

 

Maybe its got something to do with having the sole distributer in the country?

 

What would it take for say shimano or sram, campy to have another distributor in the country ?

 

mysterious agreements and 3rd forces at work?

 

[widget]

there must be another reason why distributers dont want to sell direct.

Maybe its got something to do with having the sole distributer in the country?

 

There is NO other reason Slowbee, believe me, I am in the import and distribution business myself, not cycling but we hold the distributorship for a number of international brands which we either manufacture and / or distribute under license to most of the major retailers and hundreds of independants.

 

We have a concept store where the customer can walk in, see the entire range, and buy what he wants at retail.

 

NO MANUFACTURER cares two hoots, they want numbers and how you get it is up to you, and believe me we represent manufacturers 10 x the size of the cycling industry.

 

Anyway, as an aside I have sold the company which has been in my family for over 50 years to a mulitnational distributor, and, as of 30 Jan I am semi retired, at the ripe old age of 50.!!

 

So lets get involved with this discussion, I am not someone guessing here I know what I am talking about, and furthermore - "I have all day to beat THIS drum".! 

 

 

widget2009-01-17 02:32:41

[TiBones]

oooooh I love a good threat in the morning!  Widget, good on ya!

[porky]

 

 

We have a concept store where the customer can walk in' date=' see the entire range, and buy what he wants at retail.

 

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I really like the idea of concept stores.

 

Generally I also use them to see the latest running shoes available, specialist running stores like to stick to two or three brands (Sportsmans warehouse is NOT a specialist store especially for quality running shoes) so you may never see what other manufacturers have to offer unless you can visit a concept store, but lets be honest, virtually all the big manufacturers have them, LG in Monte Casino, Adidas in nearly all the big centres, Nike and Reebok the same, Samsung has concept stores in various areas and a travelling one as well, virtually all bathroom accessories and tiles are sold importer to public, the list is endless, the public can walk in look at the best available, get professional opinion from someone who knows the product and buy at retail or order from their shop with the power of knowledge of the product .............. why not the cycling industry??..........................as you say Widget, its either prehistoric thinking, they are just to arrogant to believe their actual customer is the PUBLIC, not the bike shop who is simply a go-between, or they are allowing the tail (the retailer) to wag the dog (distributor) - probably a combination of all three if you ask me.!     

 

porky2009-01-18 07:27:15

[Dirtbreath]

Would love to see that but apart from Shimano I cant think of any other manufacturer who could do this. Market just not big enough?

[gummibear]

I was chatting to a  Bike Shop owner over the holidays and he says that by the end of this year most small LBS will only stock spares and do services and that there will be Concept stores for most of the big Bike brands.How true we can only wait and see.

[porky]

Would love to see that but apart from Shimano I cant think of any other manufacturer who could do this. Market just not big enough?

 

Shimano, definately, off the top of my head I imagine Pro-Bike, J & J and Trek could easily do it, they are fair sized operations with big local footprints.

 

Actually, a concept store would probably benefit a smaller importer more, as he will have a better opportunity to engage the public himself, than having to rely on a retailer who may or may not push his product over another.

 

 

[Slowbee]

Porky - is kiwi not doing the concept store thing with planet X?

 

 

 

[Slowbee]

what makes a good distribution network ?

 

 

 

[porky]

Porky - is kiwi not doing the concept store thing with planet X?

 

I dont know, I am not familiar with the product, but if he is, I think its the right way to go.