BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: JohnN on April 22, 2018, 02:19:12 PM

Title: Top companies
Post by: JohnN on April 22, 2018, 02:19:12 PM
So who are the top selling companies ? Seems like everywhere you turn you see Storm and Roto Grip balls. Who's next ? See a lot of hype for Brunswick-DV8-Radical but I just don't see that many of their pieces.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: 2handedrook12 on April 22, 2018, 02:50:11 PM
Has to be EBI in my opinion or at least they should be. They made some of the best stuff on the market right now alongside Storm and Roto.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: dmonroe814 on April 22, 2018, 06:28:14 PM
Storm owns Roto Grip and Financial interest in 900 Global.
EBI owns Hammer, C300, and Track.
Brunswick owns DV8
I believe that Motiv owns Radical.  I could be very wrong there.

When you own 3 or 4 companies, your brand will be out there quite a bit.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: JohnN on April 22, 2018, 06:33:48 PM
Brunswick owns Radical I do believe.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: CoorZero on April 22, 2018, 07:26:27 PM
Brunswick owns Radical I do believe.

I don't think owns is the right way to describe it. From what I understand Radical is their own company, they just use Brunswick's facility to manufacture their balls. I could be wrong though. That's just how I've heard it described.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: fredmassie on April 22, 2018, 08:20:23 PM
motiv does not own radical bowling it morphed from morich.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: AlonzoHarris on April 22, 2018, 08:36:34 PM
I would say the Storm/RG umbrella is the top seller, hence they are behind on production all the time running at full tilt.

Motiv doesn't own Radical. I believe Radical has a manufacturing partnership with Brunswick for their equipment, but understand Mo isn't letting Brunswick engineering tell him how to make his equipment.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: tkkshop on April 22, 2018, 08:54:36 PM
Radical is Phil's company.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Luke Rosdahl on April 22, 2018, 10:10:45 PM
I know Storm/Roto moves the most equipment, but they make the same margins everyone else does.  They sell the equipment to distributors, then distributors sell to shops and because they're in more demand, they generally sell for higher or don't get put on sale as much as stuff from other companies.  Storm doesn't get a cut of that, they make the stuff and sell it to the distributors for a set price and then it's out of their hands. 
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Dave81644 on April 23, 2018, 05:12:55 AM
The industry does its own study. EBI and Storm make up 80-85% of all balls sold in the world.
These 2 are split pretty even as far as most balls sold.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: HackJandy on April 23, 2018, 11:19:50 AM
I know Storm/Roto moves the most equipment, but they make the same margins everyone else does.  They sell the equipment to distributors, then distributors sell to shops and because they're in more demand, they generally sell for higher or don't get put on sale as much as stuff from other companies.  Storm doesn't get a cut of that, they make the stuff and sell it to the distributors for a set price and then it's out of their hands.

Oh good to know and I stand corrected (though that demand can't hurt in the price they can charge distributors).  That demand does keep Storm's factories busy which is a good thing.  Brunswick probably punches above its weight marketing wise (if not bowling ball sales wise) because bowling ball sales make up a tiny portion of the company.  A nearly 5 billion run rate is impressive for a company in any industry.  Personally like their equipment but do use mostly Storm and Motiv to score in league.  Everyone makes at least some good stuff from what I have seen.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Kegler300800 on April 23, 2018, 11:41:25 AM
>> EBI and Storm make up 80-85% of all balls sold in the world.

I highly doubt that number. Where's the proof? I'll bet Motiv alone has 10% of the market minimum so you're saying everyone else is 5%. No way.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: bowler851 on April 23, 2018, 12:11:46 PM
>> EBI and Storm make up 80-85% of all balls sold in the world.

I highly doubt that number. Where's the proof? I'll bet Motiv alone has 10% of the market minimum so you're saying everyone else is 5%. No way.
agreed and Brunswick/DV8/Radical sells more than Motive, so your figures have to be off
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Dave81644 on April 23, 2018, 12:40:38 PM
It’s industry reported.
The manufacturers do this themselves.
Numbers are from mid 2017 I believe and they are not off
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: JustRico on April 23, 2018, 01:28:25 PM
That includes polyesters, entry level and private labels

But I would strongly disagree with that overall total
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: DP3 on April 23, 2018, 03:33:56 PM
Poor Brunswick.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Jesse James on April 23, 2018, 04:52:26 PM
Clearly Storm/Roto Grip. are the frontrunners, but boy oh boy, Brunswick/Radical  makes some great stuff!

I had my trusty Mag.035 this weekend at a tourney in Pennsylvania, and it saved my ass! That piece is magical, to be just a control ball!

The Katana is one of the strongest pieces I own! And I purposely drilled it WEAK!
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: JohnN on April 23, 2018, 06:41:13 PM
"Own" was probably the wrong term. I have sent e mails to Brunswick and DV8 in the past and the answers all came back with a letter head that said "Brunswick-DV8-Radical" and all from the same person. Maybe associated might be better.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: bowler851 on April 23, 2018, 07:33:44 PM
It’s industry reported.
The manufacturers do this themselves.
Numbers are from mid 2017 I believe and they are not off
link to this so called study please
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: itsallaboutme on April 24, 2018, 06:43:57 AM
The manufacturers report their numbers monthly and a report is generated with the totals of balls sold by performance category.  Each company can then determine what percentage of sales they are.  There are no reports broken down by company. 
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Kegler300800 on April 24, 2018, 11:11:45 AM
So the reality is that NO ONE here really knows who has what percentage of ball market and a bunch of fan boys are just throwing out numbers to benefit their favorite bowling ball brand.

Why am I not surprised?
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Luke Rosdahl on April 24, 2018, 11:26:55 AM
Well not really . . there are some people that are right and some that are wrong. 

So the reality is that NO ONE here really knows who has what percentage of ball market and a bunch of fan boys are just throwing out numbers to benefit their favorite bowling ball brand.

Why am I not surprised?
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: northface28 on April 24, 2018, 12:42:40 PM
So the reality is that NO ONE here really knows who has what percentage of ball market and a bunch of fan boys are just throwing out numbers to benefit their favorite bowling ball brand.

Why am I not surprised?



Kind of what you do for Motiv? Yet if someone else does it for another company you soak your tampon.......
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Good Times Good Times on April 24, 2018, 01:16:08 PM
Well not really . . there are some people that are right and some that are wrong. 

So the reality is that NO ONE here really knows who has what percentage of ball market and a bunch of fan boys are just throwing out numbers to benefit their favorite bowling ball brand.

Why am I not surprised?

Just your "alternative facts" Luke......  :P  :P  :P  :P
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Luke Rosdahl on April 24, 2018, 01:39:41 PM
Lol so if one company can't keep up with production, and other companies have to take losses to get stuff out of the warehouse, I don't really need to see numbers to figure stuff out there. 

Well not really . . there are some people that are right and some that are wrong. 

So the reality is that NO ONE here really knows who has what percentage of ball market and a bunch of fan boys are just throwing out numbers to benefit their favorite bowling ball brand.

Why am I not surprised?

Just your "alternative facts" Luke......  :P  :P  :P  :P
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: itsallaboutme on April 24, 2018, 02:40:43 PM
Can't keep up with production can be good marketing for build to order or sitting on a release because the previous release is outpacing projections.

The market is shrinking every year, there aren't more balls being sold to less bowlers.  I can't remember the last time I spoke to a pro shop that said they were up. 
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: HackJandy on April 24, 2018, 05:55:18 PM
Can't keep up with production can be good marketing for build to order or sitting on a release because the previous release is outpacing projections.

The market is shrinking every year, there aren't more balls being sold to less bowlers.  I can't remember the last time I spoke to a pro shop that said they were up.

Yep increasing market share is great as long as the market isn't decreasing even faster else you end up being Polaroid.  Not sure what worldwide market is like but know I am middle aged and I see a lot more people my age or older in the alleys with their own balls than I do younger.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: Jesse James on April 30, 2018, 04:48:13 PM
Can't keep up with production can be good marketing for build to order or sitting on a release because the previous release is outpacing projections.

The market is shrinking every year, there aren't more balls being sold to less bowlers.  I can't remember the last time I spoke to a pro shop that said they were up.

Excellent point! For example diamonds are very expensive, and stay expensive because the distributors and those who control the market, only allow so many of them to circulate.The actual market has a glut of diamonds available but the general public will never know this!
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: bowlingballsx on May 01, 2018, 01:05:02 AM
Don't think that it is Storm. Since their speciality is high end bowling balls, their focus is more  towards sports bowlers - a shrinking market.
Title: Re: Top companies
Post by: billdozer on May 01, 2018, 02:58:33 AM
Things I notice and should be taken into a effect

The number dropped for motiv after the jackal incident. I bet they lost a good amount of their %. They save good margins old all reusing cores, which is good for their profit margin per ball. Release schedule is very consistent every 90 days, 1-2 balls.

Brunswick/DV8/Radical are constantly in closeout 10:1 compared to storm. Might have best profit margin though being in Mexico. Most balls released per year I feel, it seems there is no stopping their release schedule, even when there is clearance from years back, however they have cleaned this up recently.

Storm/roto are clearly the market leader.  They should be selling the most units especially in full price.  Unsure in profit margin, but u do see things on backorder which no other companies really have going on.  Backorder could be created hype, or just safe inventory planning (which is the smart way to do things in 2018...only make a small batch, if it sells remake it in mass quantities, like a "best seller."  Current ball that is in this limbo is the hustle ink, odds are the I are sold through as it's the best selling hustle line ball). Operating with almost Zero clearance keeps your customer paying full price... which helps storm and the distributor probably. They are the premium brand, continuous and constant tour wins, great releases, and perfect marketing have elevated their brand.  R&D seems to be top notch in their HP releases, reused cores and covers save $$$ plus overseas market seem to be top notch--just look at the price of overseas equipment here..no other brand can really say people desire their equipment like this.

900 is growing, AMF isn't though.  Seems to follow storms path quite a bit now, listening to fans for rereleases be is smart.  Rebranded from storms influence seems to be working decently, I feel they are working towards being the roto grip of yesteryear, pricing is a lil bit lower too.  Has best pro shop pricing.  They seemed to have manufacturing as a business making private label balls, which seems to be limited to just monster as storm is ultilizing 900 now, more than ever. 

EBI has has to cruising in 2nd place, just because their 4 brands are iconic and they have restructured, and came out better than before (not better than ever, but improved).  Their product quality has increased no doubt.  I have noticed a ton of x-outs now--almost like they're trying to create an x out customer base...

Visionary who knows what's going there no releases since 2015, and have only poured 4 seismic balls that i know of to date.

Lanemasters looks to be going out of business and dumping equipment

Pyramid-has one popular ball, no clue I'd they'll ever have a second....

What as I see is similar but different game plans for each company. However taking the cheap road in the long run is never good. A storm will be fine for a long time as they seem to set up for success. However, u may see the R&D at Brunswick/ especially Radical rake rise with the new weight hole debacle.  They might have their edge now.

I have no factual numbers

But I see it as this

Utah-40%
EBI-20%
Bruns-20%
900-10%
Motiv-10%