Job losses at Rapha
Discussion
askew said:
It's a /very/ limited selection on Wiggle, isn't it? 
That’s what I thought. And for some reason, the main Rapha website and the London shops have bugger all stock of the Shadow range at the moment. Surely at this time of year as we’re heading into autumn, you’d be stocking one of your best-rated and most technical crappy weather lines?
JPJPJP said:
snobetter said:
I think that is a mistake personally and I would not have done itBut what do I know versus Mottram and the Walmart boys.... ?
Rapha still get to sell there clothing but they gradually sell off all there shops so they have far less overheads .
egor110 said:
Why ?
Rapha still get to sell there clothing but they gradually sell off all there shops so they have far less overheads .
That's not what Rapha intends to be though - it regards the 'clubhouses' (shops) to be essential and wants to open more, as many as 100 as soon as it canRapha still get to sell there clothing but they gradually sell off all there shops so they have far less overheads .
Rapha can sell stuff online itself
Anyone wanting Rapha can buy it without Wiggle and allowing Wiggle to sell it cheaper (through savings points etc.) just feels risky to me for Rapha
No one, I am sure, has ever said "if only Rapha was on Wiggle, I would buy it"
But, as I said before, they are the experts and I am not.
JPJPJP said:
egor110 said:
Why ?
Rapha still get to sell there clothing but they gradually sell off all there shops so they have far less overheads .
That's not what Rapha intends to be though - it regards the 'clubhouses' (shops) to be essential and wants to open more, as many as 100 as soon as it canRapha still get to sell there clothing but they gradually sell off all there shops so they have far less overheads .
Rapha can sell stuff online itself
Anyone wanting Rapha can buy it without Wiggle and allowing Wiggle to sell it cheaper (through savings points etc.) just feels risky to me for Rapha
No one, I am sure, has ever said "if only Rapha was on Wiggle, I would buy it"
But, as I said before, they are the experts and I am not.
If it had been any sort of normal colour I may have been tempted by the Rapha one.
I ended up buying a DHB one for only £6 less.
Edited by frisbee on Sunday 14th October 14:37
Edited by frisbee on Sunday 14th October 14:38
JPJPJP said:
That's not what Rapha intends to be though - it regards the 'clubhouses' (shops) to be essential and wants to open more, as many as 100 as soon as it can
Rapha can sell stuff online itself
Anyone wanting Rapha can buy it without Wiggle and allowing Wiggle to sell it cheaper (through savings points etc.) just feels risky to me for Rapha
No one, I am sure, has ever said "if only Rapha was on Wiggle, I would buy it"
But, as I said before, they are the experts and I am not.
Stock, distribution, returns are three compelling reasons that come to mind. Much better to let Wiggle deal with the returns process which in online clothing is around 50% IIRC. They did it briefly with Evans for the Sky kit which put the brand in front of people who probably hadn't heard of it at the time.Rapha can sell stuff online itself
Anyone wanting Rapha can buy it without Wiggle and allowing Wiggle to sell it cheaper (through savings points etc.) just feels risky to me for Rapha
No one, I am sure, has ever said "if only Rapha was on Wiggle, I would buy it"
But, as I said before, they are the experts and I am not.
Johnny said:
It's up to 40%...
I need some new thermal bibs but they are still too rich for me. I also don't think they have the edge they used to. I used to see them as innovators but now they just copy other designs and add Rapha tax. Case in point. The "New" saddlebags. £45 for a small one and £55 for a big one but they are pretty much carbon copies of the Castelli ones which are half the price. I have both they are great. I also don't the quality is what it used to be. I've had two pairs of gloves (brevet and pro team) pretty much fall apart after very little use. Fortunately I paid very little for them so I'm not as miffed as I would be if I had paid full price. 
The whole Wiggle partnership makes a lot of sense - introduce a product cut (some good value and a couple of more premium) from your brand to a new, larger customer base than you already have and who may not have looked at your products before.
They try, they like, they explore your brand further.
There will always be people who bemoan the cost of premium items. So what?
Full disclosure - RCC Member...HK Chapter
They try, they like, they explore your brand further.
There will always be people who bemoan the cost of premium items. So what?
Full disclosure - RCC Member...HK Chapter
Overall i'm happy with my Rapha stuff.
My 3/4 Thermal Bibs are getting used everyday and are a bit battered but still bloody lovely.
My Pro team mitts had the rubber lettering fall off after a few weeks...
I may pick up some Classic Winter Tights with pad this weekend. As said 3/4 bibs weren't quite dry this AM, so i'm in shorts bibs.
Soon to be RCC Member...
My 3/4 Thermal Bibs are getting used everyday and are a bit battered but still bloody lovely.
My Pro team mitts had the rubber lettering fall off after a few weeks...
I may pick up some Classic Winter Tights with pad this weekend. As said 3/4 bibs weren't quite dry this AM, so i'm in shorts bibs.
Soon to be RCC Member...
£20m pre-tax loss (on a turnover of £42m) announced.
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/12/rapha...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/12/01/su...
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/12/rapha...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/12/01/su...
Harpoon said:
£20m pre-tax loss (on a turnover of £42m) announced.
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/12/rapha...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/12/01/su...
FFS. I was in Rapha's cafe in Manchester today. It's a nice place to be when there is a race on the box. I can't see it lasting https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/12/rapha...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/12/01/su...
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff