Introduction This selling plan was created to prepare and support the Bauer Performance Sports sales associate in representing and selling the Bauer Vapor APX 2 hockey sticks. The following sales plan contains an overview of the company, industry and a few of the features and benefits of the Bauer Vapor APX 2 hockey stick. Also within this sales plan, you will find a range of different tools to assist in the sales process, including: a competitive analysis, retailer and buyer information, worksheets used for demonstrations, negotiation, closing and the servicing of the sale as well as an outline that can be followed during the meeting to ensure proper flow through the presentation.
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Company Description Bauer Performance Sports Designs, manufactures and markets performance sports equipment, and related apparel, under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE, INARID, and COMBAT brand names. The innovators of sporting equipment and apparel in their industry since 1927. The started in Kitchener, Ontario and now ship to their customers in over 40 countries around the world. The Bauer family started this company and has grown it to be the largest company in the industry, with over 3,700 distributors. The Bauer Company has been around for years, I grew up using their products in the mid-80s and still buy and use them today with my 2 sons that play the game of ice hockey. From the late 70s, early 80s until currently today have been # 1 in the industry for ice and roller hockey equipment and accessories, that started with their still popular today the tuuk blade.
Ownership/ Related Products Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. is a publically traded company on the Canadian Stock Market in Toronto. The company has several other products that relate to their ice hockey products for sports like lacrosse, roller hockey, and baseball and softball. Bauer has been the innovators and leaders in the industry from the beginning and is still growing globally today. Bauer is signing contracts with big schools, teams at both the college and pro levels. They use this as a part of their advertising and marketing campaign. Bauer also manufactures other products under different names like, Mission, and Combat for other sports like baseball and softball, Lacrosse, and roller hockey.
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Featured Product Description
Bauer Vapor APX 2 Composite Hockey Stick
The Vapor APX2 hockey stick is at the top of their game when it comes to the new technology that the engineers at Bauer create and design. Areo-Sense core, and Areo- Foam are blade technology that enhance playability and performance. Made by our industry-leading single molding process. Lightweight for maximized performance benefits. Flex and kick point technology for the powerful release that players expect. This product is available in many different patterns and flexes and the style (gray, red, and white) is the same for whichever pattern is purchased. The retail price of the Bauer Vapor APX2 hockey stick is $269.00. This is a top of the line hockey stick made with the latest and greatest design and technology in the industry.
Features Benefits Vapor technologies Allows you to get the puck to your target faster. Monocomp Construction Consistent power transfer from handle to blade. Elastech Resin Extends the pop life, Keeping the stick feeling newer, longer. Intelli-sense Flex Profile Dual kick points, react to hand positioning to maximize any type of shot. 6
Industry Analysis The industry that Bauer is in, they control or have 62% of the market share in the ice hockey and roller hockey equipment and gear. The industry is made up of the manufactures and the sporting goods retailers. They are #1 in every product category for ice hockey and roller hockey. The industry of sporting goods is a very consumer driven business with the health conscious and growth in recreational sports over the last several years. Bauer is continuously innovating and developing new technology that will keep them at the top in their industry for years to come, like they have for the last 85 years. The trends for the industry and Bauer are lighter skates, composite sticks, and conforming goalie equipment with the sizing of the pads. Bauer went to a publicly traded company last year and had a very successful year expanding in markets and growing and gaining also.
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Competitive Analysis The competition for composite one piece hockey sticks is fierce between several different hockey stick and equipment manufacturers in todays marketplace. Almost every manufacturer of hockey sticks and equipment these days, claims that they make the best or most used by professional and players of all ages and skill levels. The fact is and what it all really comes down to be that every hockey player has their own opinion and preference on which hockey stick is the best one out there in the marketplace, however the sales and numbers tell the real facts.
It is debatable where CCM started, however they have been around since 1899. However CCM went bankrupt in 1983 and the company that purchased them was Procycle Group Inc. of Quebec who kept the bicycle division, but sold the hockey division to a Montreal business GC Knitting, a manufacturer of hockey jerseys who kept the CCM brand when producing hockey equipment. Then in June of 2004 they were bought by Reebok and they introduced their own RBZ/CCM hockey gear and changed the logo to the current CCM logo and uses it along with the RBZ on all of their hockey gear. The old logo looked like this . RBZ/CCMs take on Innovation = Great teams, athletes and individuals stay ahead by constantly seeking out imperfections and innovating. Our determination to create the next revolution will make the real difference. By imagining the future, we will own it. The actual cost of the CCM RBZ hockey is $299.99. CCM RBZ Hockey Stick
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Product Strengths/ Weaknesses
CCM RBZ
Strengths Weaknesses Aerial-grade carbon Too Light Speed-blade technology Taylor Made is too new to hockey stick industry Partnered with Taylor made golf Players preference
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Easton has been around since 1922. The company was started by Doug Easton of Watsonville, California and he only made bows and arrows part-time for 10 years as he was a truck driver on a full-time basis. He moved to Los Angeles in 1932 and opened an archery shop called Eastons Archery Shop. He was quickly recognized and started making his arrows out of aluminum. He died in 1972 but his son Jim Easton took over the business in 1971.Easton hockey hit the scene in 1981 when they started to manufacture aluminum hockey stick shafts with replaceable blades. Easton also became involved in other ice hockey and roller hockey products in the late 1990s. Roller hockey was very popular in the late 80s to the late 90s and is not as popular as it used to be anymore. Although Easton enjoyed tremendous growth with its hockey products they also are very big in the baseball and softball bats and equipment. In the late 90s they started manufacturing apparel and sporting bags as well and our now today one of the biggest sporting equipment manufacturers in the industry. The actual cost of the Easton V9 hockey stick is $259.99. Easton V9 Hockey Stick
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Product/Strengths/Weaknesses Easton V9
Strengths Weaknesses Dual lie blade Break easily Load for Faster release Too much vibration Quality Brand Reputation Very light ( hard to adjust)
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Buyer Profile Description I am going to pitch and sell the Bauer APX2 hockey stick to Dicks Sporting Goods because every season starts at Dicks and hockey players of all ages are out to use the best stick around with the Bauer APX and Dicks Sporting Goods is where it starts!
Company Description
Dicks Sporting Goods is an industry leading company that has been around since 1948. Dicks family continues to offer the finest quality products at competitive prices, backed by the best service anywhere. Like you, we have a real passion for sports. 12
Ed Stack, Dicks son, is the current CEO and Chairman of DICKS Sporting Goods. He and his siblings bought the store from their father and are responsible for taking two stores and growing the chain to over 500 stores. With over 500 stores and several thousand employees Dicks Sporting goods has been serving communities around the U.S. for over 60 years! Questions Asked: 1. What is your total sales of hockey sticks each month and top brand sold? 2. What are the demographics of your customers? 3. We are the innovators in one-piece hockey sticks, do you think your customers want to be able to purchase our brand of hockey sticks?
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Memo To: Mary Tripp From: Nick Anderson Subject: Sales Presentation Tools Date: April 8, 2014
Per your request, I have put together a list of the presentation tools that I will be using during my sales presentation of the Bauer APX2 hockey stick to Tina Nygren, buyer representative for Dicks Sporting Goods in Woodbury, MN. The demonstration tools that I will use during my sales presentation include the product itself which is the Bauer Vapor APX2 hockey stick as well as a stick from one of our competitors to show Mr. Doe the differences in our industry leading technology at Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. I will also be showing Mrs. Nygren, a video from our website with my laptop on how the hockey stick performs on the ice with players of all ages and skill levels. The last demonstration tool that I will use during the sales presentation will be a portfolio of our company, industry, and information about are hockey sticks and company as a whole. The appointment with Mrs. Tina Nygren is scheduled for May 6, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at Dicks Sporting Goods in Woodbury, MN. If you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns, please contact me; this is a very big opportunity and I would like to perform in the most professional manner and build a long relationship with this prospective client.
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Demonstration Worksheet Feature to be Demonstrated Proof Device to Be Used What I Will Say About the Benefit What I or the Customer Will Do Vapor Technologies (Lightweight) Bauer Vapor APX2 Hockey Stick The stick is lightweight for maximized performance. It allows you to get the puck to your target faster. The customer can touch and hold the stick to feel the lightness of our vapor technologies. Elastech Resin Bauer Vapor APX2 Hockey Stick And a CCM Hockey Stick (Our Competitors) What our elastech resin does is it extends the pop life, and keeps the stick looking and feeling new longer. I will show the customer a CCM stick that has only been used for 30 days and guarantee them that are product will still look like its new after 30 days. Playability and Performance Laptop Computer (Videos) I will explain some of the performance and playability benefits and then show them a few short videos from younger players as well as NHL players and their reviews on the APX 2 hockey stick from Bauer. I will then tell the customer that there are hundreds of videos on YouTube form hockey players of all ages and skill levels, giving their opinions and demonstrating the performance and playability with the APX 2 stick. Our Company (Brand) Portfolio/Laptop (Adobe Acrobat Pro) When people hear or think about hockey, Bauer is one of the first thoughts that comes to their minds because we are industry leaders and innovators at I believe that after I present the buyer with our company portfolio, they may have questions about Bauer, which I will answer for them, however at this point in my 15
Bauer, here is an example and I will leave a copy with you as well. presentation I feel that I will have set the stage for negotiation process.
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Negotiations Worksheet Customers Concern Type of Concern Possible Response The hockey season is over why I should buy your hockey sticks now. Need Yes you are right. However hockey is different now then it was when I played. Players of all ages and skill levels are playing in spring and summer leagues as well as hockey camps and clinics. So you wont have any problems selling our top of the line sticks in your store. Its almost summer time, nice weather people are going to want be outside, not in a cold hockey rink playing hockey. Time I totally agree with you, however most coaches are requiring players of all levels to train during the off season by playing in spring and summer leagues as well as camps and clinics and with the customers knowing that they can get our hockey sticks at your store now instead of driving across town to your competitors store, our sticks will sell themselves. I have to stay within my budget, especially this time of the year. Price As you know, hockey is a very expensive sport. Our hockey sticks will bring you a great return on your investment with a 25 to 30 percent margin. We here at Dicks Sporting Goods are very happy with our current suppliers. Source I understand that, but they cant supply you with our hockey sticks. Will you try a trial order and we 17
will go from there. Im confident that with our company you will be very satisfied with our product and I look forward to building a relationship with you into the future.
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Closing Worksheet Closing Clue (Prospect) Closing Method Closing Statement Ok people are always asking if we carry your brand. (Verbal) Direct Appeal Close Super just sign this order form and ill get the sticks here Monday or Tuesday next week. Prospect looked very impressed and surprised at how light the hockey stick was when shown the physical product. (Non- verbal) Assumptive Close Your companys slogan is Every Season Starts at Dicks right, so lets fill out this order form and get our industry leading hockey sticks in here for your customers. Wow there are a lot of benefits with your hockey sticks, but they are very expensive. (Verbal) Summary-of-Benefits Close Let me go over the key benefits that every player is after in a hockey stick again, then we will fill out the order form and get those sticks in here for your customers ok? Are there any other Bauer products that are highly sought after by hockey players that would be in our best interest to carry? Multiple Options Close Absolutely there is but lets focus on getting your stick order in first and then we can talk about are other products. How many sticks would you like to order at this time?
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Servicing-the-Sale Worksheet Method of Adding Value What I Will DO Follow-Through From the moment I get signed contract for an order I will be in contact with the Distribution Coordinator, Supply Planner, and Purchasing Coordinator in Toronto either in person or by phone and no matter which situation by an email conformation to know all the specifics and details about the order that I just placed for my customer. I will call the customer to let them know when the order is scheduled to ship and the arrival date, as well as I will send them an email confirming the shipment and arrival date after I talk to them. I will also let them know that I threw in a couple life-sized cutouts of superstar NHL players Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane to display in their store to help in promoting their new line of hockey sticks from Bauer. Follow-Up Thank-you letter to customer on the decision to purchase and carry Bauer hockey sticks.
Contact buyer to see if they need any assistance from myself or Bauer, and also if they are pleased with their order and decision.
In my thank-you letter, I will tell the buyer that it was a pleasure working with them and how much I appreciate their business. I will also let them know how Im looking forward to working with them, and assisting their company in achieving their goals in the near future.
I will contact the buyer one week after the order has been received to see if they have any questions that I can help them with or if there is anything they need or would like myself or Bauer to do for them. Expansion Selling Suggest now to go along with addition of caring the #1 industry leading hockey stick, purchasing some other industry leading Bauer equipment and gear to satisfy the needs and wants of your customer base.
I will schedule a meeting with the buyer and bring some samples and information with for them to look at and let them know how carrying more of the Bauer brand products will increase their sales because they will be able to meet the needs and wants of their customer base.
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Presentation Outline Step One: Approach Tools being used: Telephone Contact Email Contact Key points to Share: Introduce Myself and Company What I can offer and get Buyers Needs Research and learn about the company Tell Buyer a little information about your product Schedule meeting to discuss your product in detail and to go over price and financing options Step Two: Presentation Tools being used: Small talk Additional information on Buyers needs Give an overview of Bauer Product Features Key points to share: Discuss personal history and experience with Bauer Ask Buyer Questions that will lead into my presentation (open-ended) History of Bauer, industry information, and when it was established and where its headquarters are located Discuss product features, innovation, and technology
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Step Three: Demonstration Tools being used: Bauer APX 2 hockey stick CCM RBZ hockey stick Laptop to show videos and reviews from players of all skill levels Company portfolio Key points to share: Vapor Technologies Elastech Resin Playability and Performance Bauer Industry Leaders (Brand) Step Four: Negotiations Tools being used: Discussion with Buyer Key points to share: Yes your right, but the hockey season is a lot different now then it was when we were kids I understand you have a supplier, but they cant supply you with our industry leading sticks Worksheet reminders: Industry Leaders Every season starts at Dicks Step Five: Closing Tools to be used: Price sheet Order forms Incentives Worksheet reminders: Direct appeal close Assumptive close Multiple close Summary close
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Step Six: Servicing the Sale Tools being used: Thank-you letter Phone call Key Points to share: Appreciate their business Questions, needs Worksheet reminders: Stay in contact Track orders