Midwest Sports Complex Softball Super Store

[Stratos]

Fellas,

Need some feedback. We are in the process of adding a fastpitch store at Midwest sports complex. I am looking for feedback on equipment, gear, accessories that you would like stocked.
We are looking for Fastpitch specific items. Need ideas on Batting gloves, bats, catchers gear, misc accessories, footwear, bat bags, helmets, gloves, mitts, practice equipment, coaching gear, coaching aids, and uniforms.

Examples:

Ringer Cleats
Anderson Rocket tech
Akadema Catchers Mitt
Boombah Bat Pack
Nike Pants
etc.

[SnocatzDad]

Things I will buy throughout the year or wish were more readily available.


1. First aid kit and refill supplies ( big bandages, tape and guaze)
2. Helmet repair kit ( for lost or missing screws and those funky barrel nuts )
3. Decent score books ( most don't cover enough games or boxes are too small )
4. Chin straps
5. Rip it face mask (for batting helmet)
6. Softies, and hard balls
7. Variety of whiffles
8. Decent selection of gloves ( Nokona, Akadema, etc)
9. Palmguard glove (for inside catcher's glove)
10. Decent selction of catcher's gear to try on
11. Decent selection of cleats to try on (Mizuno Watley's, Ringor's, Tanel's, 3N2)
12. Pop up nets and tees
13. Throw down bases
14. Coaches bags
15. Batting gloves


I think bats are tough. They are high dollar purchase and decent margin, but inventory can be obsolete so fast. Tough to beat online sales and shipping cost is low relative to value of the item. In comparison I would be reluctant to buy cleats/gloves/catcher's gear online (want to try them on) and the other items would have high shipping costs in relation to their sales value.

[Stubs]

SnocatzDad, great list! Most of these things are what teams would need for warming up between games. One more to add. Hitting tee's.

[backstop13]

How about glove relacing kits, tuff toe (pro), maybe some Easton or Louisville Slugger bat racks, shoe laces?? Trying to think of stuff one might need in the middle of a long day at the diamonds.

And to add to SnocatzDad's list...the Palmgard gloves WITH the thumb pad...for both left and right hand.

[Stratos]

Thanks guys.

[snoop]

Beer Buckets!!!!

[coolstuff]

Lots of good suggestions here, and in general I would suggest you think about what are teams' and players' needs during tournaments? What gets left behind at home? What breaks and needs replaced? What do teams not bring enough of (and I don't mean beer )

[killerbee]

Beer Buckets!!!!

Always a red neck ready to give their input You may as well add some old mattresses to burn for cool night games to keep them parents warm, Hank Jr. cassettes for warm up music and some pine tar.

See everyone in 3 months! Good luck in school ball Snoop.

[trojan05]

I can put you in contact with the ALL STAR rep. He doesn't live too far from Midwest. He carries All Star catching equipment, which is topnotch and mostly what MLB uses. We have a full set and love it. He also carries mitts and lots of other items. The guy at Centerbrook has a deal with Mizuno to order custom gloves in team colors. Pretty sweet and great price. Maybe he can hook you up with his rep as well. I agree that bats might be iffy. Maybe you can get a rep to set up at tournaments and give you a cut of sales. That way you dont have inventory and you will make something on each sale.

I agree with chin staps, batting gloves, relacing kit, cleats(metal and rubber), bat grips or tape, some cheap socks, sliding pads(black goes with most teams, especially in a pinch), maybe sliding shorts, pro-wrap tape(various colors), Cheap Sun Glasses(I can tell you where to get those in town), wiffles, bat racks.

Well, that's my 2 cents worth. Contact me PM if you want to discuss anything here.