Whether you are in Europe or elsewhere, is it easy to become a shop 100% padel ? Let's try to bring some responses to this question.

Today there are a large number of shops padel online. These websites are useful for having prices and a large choice of products and brands. But we will focus on these “physical” stores that you can find in clubs or simply, and as always, in town.

Positive points for a client

Entering a store that sells “your” sport equipment is like stepping into a candy box; we want to taste everything, see everything, touch everything, smell everything, because all our senses are awakened. In addition, traders are there to discuss with you in order to find the product that best suits your desires and needs. The icing on the cake is that you can often test certain palas, a great added value.

And the price in all of this? Some may believe that the palas sold are more expensive in stores than on the internet. Not always. We manage to find cheaper palas some times. On the other hand, do not forget that in the price of this pala is included all the time that the merchant has spent taking care of you, and even the time that you have spent testing the palas.

Seller side

Today it is still very interesting to become a product trader padel, because it is a rapidly growing sport that needs enthusiasts to bring it closer to current and future customers. Obviously, if the shops do not exist, who will give advice?

The concern is that it is not easy, financially, to become a trader. Because brands “often” ask stores to buy stock. Imagine what it might mean for a merchant to have 10 different brands with 2, 3 or 4 references per brand. A real budget. So what is going on? We end up with less choice, too bad. We can understand that the material padel has a limited shelf life, but this practice of buying inventory does not allow small stores to offer the best for their customers.

Difference between developed countries and emerging countries?

The developed countries of padel would be Spain, Italy, France or Sweden to name a few. In these regions, the padel has already taken hold, and brands have followed suit. We can therefore find many references in stores, and national sales representatives are there to support you.

The concern concerns countries that are discovering the padel… And they are many. These countries want to launch the activity, and what do they do first? Build land. From there, you need equipment, at least palas and balls. This is where the problem arises for the shops and, of course, for the customers. Buying stock is complicated because the order must be placed abroad, with a minimum amount, high shipping costs, and no guarantee to sell. And we are only talking about one brand.

It is obviously easier for brands already established in a country for another sport, such as tennis, squash or badminton for example. Faced with the demand of the shops, it is possible to provide equipment padel. But if we are talking about countries with no real racquet sports history, or 100% brands padel, it is necessarily more difficult to offer referrals to customers.

So what? Create a store padel in countries where the padel is established, it is a struggle of services and prices with websites. Create a store padel in countries where racquet sports have existed for years, it means working with brands that are already established to offer “reasonable” prices. And to create a boutique in booming countries without a “snowshoe” history is to become the founder of a very beautiful story.

This story is a beautiful tale to write. Neighborhood and club shops deserve their place. Do not forget them.

Where to buy your equipment?

  • Want to shop?

https://padelmagazine.fr/annuaire-padel/shop-padel/

  • Also think about the shop of padel in clubs!

https://padelmagazine.fr/annuaire-des-clubs/

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.