WHAT'S KILLING LACROSSE'S RETAILERS?

by **Sonny** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:00 pm

By Hunter Francis and John Weaver

Lacrosse is booming! Just look at all the new sticks, heads, gloves and pads. Not to mention all the new places on-line and real stores to buy the stuff now. With all this growth, everyone in the lax biz is getting rich and doing great. The game is in the best financial shape it's ever been in. Right?

Not really. As of the middle of August, three of the game's most recognizable retailers are in major financial and structural change, and a notable upstart declared bankruptcy. If all the signals of growth are on the rise, why aren't these businesses following suit? What's happening and why? And how will it affect the game and its players, if at all?

It's a classic short story of supply and demand and it takes place on a retail shelf in a lacrosse store near you. You're in the story. You are "the demand" and the manufacturers are "the supply". That's "the retailer" lying on the floor between you. Here's why.

Looks like Tex Lax (Texas), Bacharach (Maryland), and Dr. Laxx (Maryland) are all out of the business. I bought my first gear from Bacharach in Towson. Sad to see you go. Also hard to believe that Texas can't support Tex Lax with all the youth and H.S. kids playing these days in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, etc.

Link to Full Editorial on E-Lacrosse:
http://www.e-lacrosse.com/roadkill.html

**Sponsor**

by **John Westfall** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:38 pm

This is sad news . Bacharach was the topoutfitter for the Maryland Public high Schools and I believe they used to have a contract with all the Public High School programs in Maryland. I know they outfitted all the Public high School programs in Baltimore County, Carrol County, Anne Arundel County, Harford County and Howard County. I believe they had other deals with Public High School Programs outside of the Metro Baltimore area. Also they worked close with the Catholic and MSA Schools in the Baltimore area.

To lose Bacharach is a sad day for Baltimore Lacrosse. I don't know what the answer is but the Lacrosse community needs to really band together and support the companies that help us outfit our programs. Thanks for this info Sonny.

by **Purple Welt** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:05 pm

Bought my first gear at the Bacharach on Ritchie Highway a long time ago.
Sad.

by **the lax** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:12 pm

Well I guess Bacharach isnt outfitting my team even though they were supposed to come up next weekend with that truck.

by **Kyle Berggren** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:58 pm

I know that one of the companies listed had major inventory issues (sending orders out twice on a regular basis).

I'm not trying to say that this is soccer, our gear can be expensive, but how often do we usually purchase new equipment? I may replace one item every 3 years or so, when it wears out. Kids grow and have to buy new equipment much more regularly, where are their parents buying their gear? Major retailers? The clubs their kids are playing for? local shops?

by **Pinball** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:18 pm

bacharachs website was down and quite crappy till recently. We use to get our jerserys from them, but last year they screwed up many times and the products and colors were off.

by **TexOle** on Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:14 pm

It is quite easy. The sport is growing which is good. This also means that retailers such as Dicks and other sporting goods stores are carrying lacrosse gear to meet the demand. Most people will go to the big box sports store first for usually lower prices and the fact they can find everything for lacrosse along with stuff they need for other sports. This is all basic stuff at these stores, but the one's buying it don't care and they don't know what they need. Now the money for these specialty stores is in large mail order/internet. They have to get the experienced player who wants the best stuff. Some of their websites were terrible. When customers could not figure out how to purchase stuff they went elsewhere. Texas Lacrosse was always the cheapest. Their failure came in over expansion. While just an internet company they could have thrived. When they went to new areas they had to compete with other stores and failed. Running a store has tons of costs that are associated with it, and I don't think many of us understand those costs. Laxworld thrives in great advertisement along with getting to the customers. I have always been impressed with their customer service. In order to survivie many of these stores will have to turn to other sports that are growing, but equipment is hard to find.

by **Zeuslax** on Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:19 am

Bacharach, wow. That place is a Baltimore legend. What a shame! They've done a lot for youth lacrosse and the Baltimore County system. Did everything I could last year to give them some business, but they just couldn't compete. Our salesman, and my neighbor was at a loss for words. Not sure about the internals, but things had to be streched thin.

The manufactures want the order first now. Then they will manufacture (shipped from China of course) and ship. Looks like the global economy strikes again!!!

by **the lax** on Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:05 pm

Bacharach rep is still plaining on coming out here next weekend. I'll have more information then.

by **Andy Sharp** on Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:04 am

A friend of mine sold for Bacharach and apparently he is going to continue to be supported the new owners, Great Atlantic.

If you're in the area, the shop in Towson is reportedly holding a clear-out sale from the 8th to the 11th, up to 50% off.

My first stick was a STX Laser Hi-wall from Ulman, anyone remember them?

It takes a lot to run a lacrosse business, not just a love for the sport, eventually you often have to choose between that love and staying in business.

This year there are another 130 and counting new products out to choose to inventory or not, so it's not getting any easier to be a retailer.

by **Tarzan** on Sat Sep 03, 2005 9:25 am

My first stick was a STX Hiwall as well and my back-up was a Brine Shotgun....I still have both, but nothing beats the new off-set sticks. We had to bend our shafts a little to get the same effect, back in the day.

I went to the Bacharach store when I was in HS because I broke my facemask and they were the only folks that had a replacement. I think they charged me $20 and offered to put it on for me. Saved my season.

by **benji** on Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:08 pm

Wow, sad to see TexLax go ... I'd be playing naked if it weren't for them ... too bad.

by **Kevin OBrien** on Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:12 am

I believe Texlax wasn't selling their products for enough to keep the store opened. Basically, the difference between their selling price and what they bought them for wasn't enough to keep the lights on, etc. There are other stores now in Texas that sell lacrosse gear, though not as recognizable as Texlax because of their online presence.

Bacharach was just plain sold to Great Atlantic. Who knows if they'll keep the brand name going.

I've never heard of Mr. Laxx though...

If you ask me, the problem has to do with minimum advertised pricing. That leads to everyone pricing their stuff at the same rate, taking out the advantage of running a small business and being able to compete with the big companies on the basis of pricing. When everyone has the same price, the bigger flashier places (like Great Atlantic) will get the business, and it's not really worth shopping for deals.