 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone seen that sportsdirect are getting in on the ski clothing market? Just saw yesterday saloppettes by 'no fear' ranging from £30+ after their obligatory 70% off labels. First year that I have seen them with such merchandise, historically I was a C&A skiwear shopper, now it is decathlon/online.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| countryman wrote: |
Just bought ski boots from S&R along with fitted soles (he knew all about pronating feet and mine really pronate....and which boots fitted very narrow feet) - the service and knowledge of the staff was brilliant - avoid weekends!!!! Proof of the fit will be in the skiing. Didn't think price was too bad and the other place has a current 10% discount for members. However, would probably buy skis over the internet and clothes online as well.
What I do find gobsmacking about UK retail is the cost and total lack of urgency over ski servicing - you expect overnight servicing in the alps - not - it will be two weeks as certain establishments in this country - yes I should learn to do my own. |
Have to agree ref the S&R boot fitting, I took the plunge (despite advice to the contrary) there and after a few visits for tweaks was very impressed with both my boot fit and the service . Definitely avoid weekends though!
If you're in the south west Raoul at Sound Skis in Plymouth can do overnight ski servicing...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Have to give a big thumbs up to S&R at Hemel - skis serviced while I played on the indoor slope in a pair belonging to the Snowdome.
Ski wear mainly good old TK Maxx (agree Surfanic make is hard to beat), and from S&R in sales, and socks from Aldi which fit better than anything else I have bought, even at five times the price. Buy things because they fit/perform well, rather than for the name - does help if it looks good too though 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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soberade, They were at it last year as well with a fair bit of product placement on Ski Sunday!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| scaleyback wrote: |
If you're in the south west Raoul at Sound Skis in Plymouth can do overnight ski servicing... |
not sure, but i think they closed down last year?
perhaps a local can confirm/deny
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Boots from people like CEM or Lockwoods in the UK. Everything else, almost anywhere - often in resort, though I think that's expensive. I bought my present pair of skis direct from Kneissl UK.
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| Spyderman wrote: |
NPR
Never Pay Retail |
I thought R was the initial letter of your surname - careful!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Decathlon's servicing is usually overnight or same day.
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Clearly what Swiller posted at 14:11 on Saturday needs official confirmation from Snow+Rock. In the meantime, Dion Taylor's own LinkedIn profile remains unchanged as of this morning, and states below "27 years 3 months" at Snow+Rock (since October 1985). That's probably before most snowHeads were born, apart from all the old crusties.
P.S. I did contact the S+R press dept this morning and am awaiting a call.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi guys, I'm only a noob but if anyone is near the north west I can recommend Tog 24 in Cheshire Oaks for some relative bargains, merino wool socks for a tenner, huge discounts on gore tex jackets and trousers, merino 320 gsm zip base layers were half price. Obviously not as cheap as Decathlon and the like but if you like big discounts on ticket prices then its worth checking out, theres also a Columbia, North Face and a couple of others on site.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've just been forwarded SIGB Update - email newsletter of the Snowsport Industries Great Britain - which carries the following item:
| Quote: |
Snow and Rock loses Dion
The big news this morning is that Dion Taylor, MD at Snow and Rock and one of the founding names since its launch 27 years ago is no longer with the company. Dion is one of the most respected names in the UK snowsport industry with total passion and committment for the sport.
At Tests, factory visits and Dealer Trips he would ski harder and faster than anyone else - and inevitably his partying was of the same standard. Where to next for Dion? Interesting times indeed. |
Still awaiting a call from S+R to clarify a couple of points in a press release which was apparently circulated on Saturday. It contains a fulsome tribute to Dion from Snow+Rock's chairman Neil McCausland, who comments ... "Dion has done a fabulous job of leading and building Snow+Rock for the last eight years. He is the most committed leader I have ever worked with, the board are hugely grateful for everything he has done."
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You know it makes sense.
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SIGB press release has the air of a sacking cover note about it. No mention of retirement or other interests. Not the sort of managed transition that usually happens given the business in the the middle of their peak trading season. Not a long time after a MBO too.
Something the VCs weren't happy about? A business about to hit a brick wall at next quarterly rents? Note pure speculation not intended defamation, but I did observe a lot of hardware being sold at a deep discount before season end last year.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I've always found the captain's cabin in sevenoaks to be well stocked, and the staff knowledgeable. well worth a visit if it isn't too far away.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Retail Week has this (pasted from the press release that was buzzing around the bush telegraph on Saturday) ...
http://www.retail-week.com/people/snow-rock-chief-executive-dion-taylor-steps-down/5043472.article
| Quote: |
| [Dion] Taylor remains an investor in the business, however, and will “remain associated with the business for the forseeable future”, the retailer said. |
| Quote: |
| In his tenure at Snow + Rock, Taylor grew the chain from eight shops to 43 and led the acquisition of cycle specialist Cycle Surgery and running specialist Runners Need. |
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| CEM wrote: |
| scaleyback wrote: |
If you're in the south west Raoul at Sound Skis in Plymouth can do overnight ski servicing... |
not sure, but i think they closed down last year?
perhaps a local can confirm/deny |
The shop has closed but ski servicing is still available, I received a text last month saying the service was up and running for the season. You just have to drop your skis off at Sound Diving next door.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Having just set up an "indy" web shop over the last year, I honestly don't know how traditional shop-based retail is going to compete, with their excessive overheads etc. The only reason I can see for going there is if you actually want to try something on, and even then it's very easy to check prices on your smartphone once you've decided what your size is. I guess that's why in the interview he's moaning about people competing on price. His real problem is that people can compete on price, and also offer as good or better, and probably more informed service. Perhaps that's partly why S + R turnover dropped about 25% 2010-11.
Having said that, there's only a certain amount of price competition possible, as you end up in a race to the bottom, nobody makes any profit, many go bust or give up, then the remainder can charge what they want. Not in anyone's interest. We try to be competitive without slitting our own wrists!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| fatbob wrote: |
SIGB press release has the air of a sacking cover note about it. No mention of retirement or other interests. Not the sort of managed transition that usually happens given the business in the the middle of their peak trading season. Not a long time after a MBO too.
Something the VCs weren't happy about? A business about to hit a brick wall at next quarterly rents? Note pure speculation not intended defamation, but I did observe a lot of hardware being sold at a deep discount before season end last year. |
clothing seemed very overstocked last year too - still running decent sales into early september in Chertsey store..
I guess the discretionary spending has dropped a bit this year even amongst S&R customers, and if they were stocking at previous years levels you might imagine how that would happen..
Tricky balancing act to get right...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You lot must look right fobbers on the mountain. Sure I'll get hardware and clothing from TKMaxx or eBay if it's good and cheap, but I don't mind spending if I like a Jacket with a bit more style (and quite often slightly better spec than the budget choice from Lidl). I can't afford to be fully kitted out in top labels so I comprise!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I shop all over the place, UK and France but always buying last year's stuff, in sales, or at Decathlon, TK Maxx, etc. Was in S & R in Port Solent yesterday. Had ordered a helmet online, went in to try it on. Didn't fit. Extremely attentive staff organised a swift refund - had an email by the time I got home (on a Sunday). I've always found the people in there helpful, friendly and efficient.
I did have a potter round the store, but everything too costly, from Icebreaker undies at £90 to absurdly expensive kids stuff (might have bought a jacket for grand-daughter but far too tight to pay £150). So I left the store richer than when I went in.  Will stick with my 25 euros in a sale helmet from Decathlon, even if it is bright green!
Boots - CEM. It's not that I couldn't afford an expensive jacket, or undergarments, or whatever. I suppose I could, really. But I just don't give them priority when perfickly good stuff can be found for much less and I can spend the savings on more ski time. I do think it's worth paying what it takes to get the boots right, though.
I was marvelling, walking round S & R, at the thought that many of the parents/kids in there, buying stuff, were probably only going to be using it for a week or two.
I didn't like the look of most of the adults ski wear in either Lidl or Aldi. There were some nice-looking black soft shell trousers, but only in small and large - and I needed medium. My main jacket is Head - very good spec, looks OK, but was bought in one of Filarinskis Dutch auction evenings. About £125 IIRC, but it was three seasons ago!
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How do the ski shops in resorts survive nowadays?
S&R seem cheap in comparison to some 
I've only ever purchased in resort when losing gloves etc or some emergency in resort.
I tend to buy recognised branded clothing in summer, get a few seasons out of them then sell now or before 1/2 term on eBay.
Top Brands like Arcteryx can be picked up 2nd hand on eBay for 1/3 of retail and are such good quality they look as new.
Similarly boutique brand skis are for those in the know but are harder to move on later than more recognised 'so called mass appeal' brands.
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| hedley wrote: |
How do the ski shops in resorts survive nowadays?
S&R seem cheap in comparison to some
I've only ever purchased in resort when losing gloves etc or some emergency in resort.
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Think you've answered your own question. Captive market for distress purchases plus a customer base who are price insensitive because they are "on holiday".
Interestingly, in North America resort & ski town shops seem to recognise that they have a great opportunity to capture business every weekend from city and internet shops so start the season with discounts from MRSP (to be fair this seems to be an inflated number anyway) then drop it after 26 December then progressively each month. Different demographic of course, not such a big deal for someoone to say I'll order that jacket online then have it to use next weekend rather than make an overpriced resort purchase.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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We buy all of our boards / boots from our local independant board shop (BBC in Milton Keynes), I'd never buy boots wthout trying them on and their service is second to none, never try to push us towards anything more expensive than we need.
Everything the kids grow out of goes on Ebay which makes a good contribution towards new kit.
Also a big fan of Surfanic, Aldi and TK Maxx for clothing.
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Majority of the kids stuff comes from Lidl or TKMaxx, but have had to visit S&R for mittens, as didn't find any good mitts suitable for skiing for eldest in the usual places.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w, tend to agree with you on the big people non-softshell stuff in Aldi/Lidl but as I've said my Aldi softshell pants are lasting really well as is a softshell jacket from a couple of years ago, almost as well made as the still expensive even though last years style in the sale Kjus softshell my eldest had for Christmas a couple of years ago! Certainly (until they hit their fashion concious teens) my eldest two and the 8 year old still now tend to regard Aldi as their favoured source of ski grear over Decathlon or the likes. Of course if any of them find big name stuff they like cheap in Takky that beats Aldi and have to say I haven't paid that much more in Takky for my far better stuff than the regular Aldi stuff. Maier and Killy trousers and Rosignol insulated hard shell all around the £40 mark, don't give a hoot they are last seasons or trade samples in a colour that didn't make production!
Richard_Sideways, Bit pot luck on gloves etc in TK but got the little one some long gauntlets a couple of weeks ago.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Lidl, TakkyMaxx, Mountain Warehouse (yes, I am a short-ar*ed bloke wearing size 14 women's salopettes [sic?]), sales anywhere for clothing. We go for cheap and cheerful for the kids cos clothing lasts 1-2 seasons. Willing to spend more on gloves (had cheap ones that don't keep hands warm). Haven't bothered buying boots and skis. Given that I am a crappy intermidiot with a desire to improve, seems pointless buying skis, especially with carriage charges as they are. Most "premium" (whatever that means) rental boots seem to fit me reasonably well (not so in the old days), so I haven't got round to buying boots, although I may do at some stage.
Visited S&R recently and almost laughed at the price of some kit. Hard to justify that sort of money for 1 week per year of skiing.
Cardiff Ski Lodge seemed to go down the S&R model a couple of years ago with a nice big posh shop in Cardif Bay, open 12 months a year, selling lots of top end clothing (having moved from a cheap and cheerful industrial unit in Barry which was open for six months a year - I think). Didn't last more than 18 months. Not enough people in South Wales with the means and/or desire to pay top dollar for top end stuff. Coyoti the only specialist skiing store left in South Wales I think (yes, we have two seasons and cotswolds)
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If any of you are in the 4 Vallees region, a trip to Sport Fabrik in Sion is worth a visit, I bought a pair of Reusch gloves last week for 21 CHF, I think there are a couple of other branches elsewhere in Switzerland.
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You know it makes sense.
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I like to try on things like ski jackets and trousers so would never buy those on line, so I buy those from 'real' shops and would defo check out S&R and EB when looking. Same for helmet and gloves.
Socks & thermals I buy online.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I've bought gear from literally all over the place, including S&R and EB when their price has been competitive or I simply couldn't be arsed to shop around. I'd say the internet is my no.1 friend when shopping for almost anything - with ski boots being a major exception
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Poster: A snowHead
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Breaking, announced today... This is the game-changer:
| Quote: |
SPORTS DIRECT SET TO REVOLUTIONISE SKIING
UKs leading sports retailer breaks into ski market
Sports Direct (SD) is set to grow its presence in the snow sports market with the acquisition of The Ski Warehouse & www.skiwear4less.com the discount snow sports retailer.
SD, who currently have a turnover of £1.8bn, have acquired four high street / warehouse stores and the website (www.skiwear4less.com) which will allow them access to a readymade snow sports customer base looking for discount clothing and equipment.
Snowsports is a growing market internationally and is currently untapped by Sports Direct. The target is to grow their market share by 20% within three years. This is an ambitious target, however with powerful brands such as Nevica and No Fear to lead the way, it is achievable.
Currently Skiwear4less stocks a complete range of ski and board clothing and equipment both online and in store. They currently operate stores in Exeter, Carlisle, Tamworth and Castleford. All stores will re-brand as Skiwear4less, part of Sports Direct.
In order to grow an ethos of higher brand awareness which, in turn should lead to increased profits, SD plan to make a snow sports “shop in shop” within their stores called “Skiwear4less”.
The aim is for customers to make SD a one-stop shop for all sports, including ski and snowboarding. Through the introduction of “Skiwear4less” into SD stores, customers will be able to kit themselves out from head to toe before heading on a snow sports holiday with clothing and equipment that will offer excellent value.
Steve Thomas, of Sports Direct commented: “The snow sports market is relatively untapped by Sports Direct and despite having some excellent ski brands in store, we are not currently known as a store for ski/snowboarding kit. The acquisition of Skiwear4less opens up an excellent opportunity for us to grow our presence in the snow market. We look forward to working with our teams over the next few months and years to make Sports Direct / Skiwear4less the first port of call for current and aspiring skiers and snowboarders.” |
So, expect a high street war for your business snowsporters!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Bode Swiller, Not a gamechanger IMV until they get a whole lot better at shop in shop. Field And Trek is just about still ok standalone (except Covent Garden) but it's woeful in a bigger 2 storey SD. Can't imagine boot fitting or even having the space to even put boots on in a Sports Direct. & which legacy brand gets to revived as their house brand? Vielhaber, Dachstein?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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fatbob, the big part of the market is clothing and accessories and they'll do killer deals on their own brand stuff like Nevica. I have no doubt that they'll buy up some other distressed brands and breathe new life into them. Gotta remember, most people are thinking price (not service) as long as the usual wind/waterproof/fit etc caveats apply. You've only got to read this thread and others like it to see how important TKMaxx, Lidll, Aldi etc are. They'll sell skis for sure and they'll be factory clear out models and they'll happily mail order them to the hapless. Boots, no idea, but for definite this will change the game on the high street (not this season though), it'll be like the rebirth of a C&A competitor for the specialists.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Bode Swiller, Yeah, I'm sure they'll kill it if they commit to a bigger presence in softgoods but they've had Nevica a couple of years and I've yet to see someone wearing it, even on really cold commuting days when people typically break out their ski jackets. Maybe I need to go to Bansko or something.
The difference between SD & Lidl/Aldi as I see it is the latter actually do good quality/well finished stuff as their home German market wouldn't stand non TUV standard stuff whereas a lot of SD looks plain shoddy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| scaleyback wrote: |
If you're in the south west Raoul at Sound Skis ... |
Close, it's Ramon. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| expect a high street war |
Call stanton
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Bode Swiller, agree that clothing is a huge sector of the market, but this a sector in which service is less important IMO (so long as the clothing is weather-proof etc.). If it fits my short-ar5ed, slighlty chunky frame, it fits. Don't need a deal of service for that. And, given my skiing inability, I don't want to be seen wearing the latest threads.
Cannot imagine that anyone would buy boots from them, would they? Please say no.....
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FAQ
