In China, Li Ning is a well known sports brand which is similar to the likes of Nike and Adidas. Ask any Chinese teenager if they know Li Ning, and few would shake their heads. It was initially set up by the famous Chinese gymnast Li Ning, and this sports brand is endorsed by Damon Jones and Shaq O'Neille from NBA.
Recently, I was in Singapore to watch the Aviva Open Badminton Competition. Many world class players were here and the matches were impressive. The sponsors Aviva and Li-Ning had logos everywhere, and the Singapore and China Badminton National Teams were wearing Li Ning Products and using Li-Ning Badminton Rackets.
Li Ning, however, is not exactly very globalized yet (judging from the fact that few have heard of it's name here). This was the first time I heard of Li Ning outside China but they had such a following there!!
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
There was a Li Ning Booth at the Aviva Open, and the badminton rackets looked pretty good. Though made in China, the quality looks fine and they are light and pretty!
Price for Li Ning racquets ranges from $99 to $329 at Aviva open. The Li Ning Section at Mustafa Shopping Centre. No high-end N series available yet. The current low to mid-end models currently stocked there is priced ridiculously high at between $99-$329 too.
I don't get it, why do they cost more than the Yonex, which is the world renouned brand, and they marked up the price of the mid range quite abit as from the Li Ning website, the top model should be around S$252 (current exchange rate of RMB to S$) and yet they are selling at S$329.
BTW, the top model which is the one used by Lin Dan is selling for S$489 ! Their shuttles are going for S$57 a tube.
Their shoe is priced competitively. I saw a model which is very light and cost around S$100 which I think is reasonable.
Li Ning is sold at Mustafa, I've not really seen them selling outside. Many sports store that I go to at Bras Brasah, Queesway (Very expensive parking!) are not carrying Li Ning, as they think its over priced and under marketed. Not a lot of efforts are put into marketing these products, and there is not enough brand awareness created for people to look for the rackets.
Furthermore with the bad Made in China image for a lot of Chinese made products, and their rackets are made in China, I feel that there should be an introductory price for these rackets to make them priced more competitively for more people to try them out. Why would I buy Li Ning when Yonex is the same price or cheaper for similar models.
Well, I have a patent for a new "washable badminton grip" which I intend to market in Singapore first, however it is very hard to contact Li Ning in Singapore as the webpage that they have is not navigational friendly.
*Sigh* Wanted to support Li Ning as they supported the Singapore Badminton Team, however, I guess I will have to go to Yonex or Carlton...
-- Iron Bowl
1 comments:
why don't you contact Li Ning directly in China?
sigh...i tried to subscribe to their Shares during IPO but it was over subscribed :( and I missed out Wilmar too....
Post a Comment