“It is impossible for the price of badminton to rise unilaterally without restraint.” Recently, a notice signed by Asia Lion, a world-renowned badminton manufacturer, quickly circulated on the Internet. It mentioned that it hoped that suppliers would reduce the price of raw wool and wool pieces. From September 1, “the company will reduce the current purchase price by 2 to 3 yuan per piece.” The notice quickly attracted widespread attention.
“This content was issued by our company.” On September 2, a reporter from the “Daily Economic News” learned from relevant personnel of Guizhou Asia Lion Sports Culture Industry Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Guizhou Asia Lion), Asia Lion’s manufacturer in China, that the “Notice” was true.
Full text of the notice: Social media
According to a report by CCTV Finance in August, compared with 2023, the prices of badminton products of leading manufacturers have generally increased by 20% to 30%, and the price increase of some models has exceeded 60%. Now, Asia Lion, one of the most experienced badminton brands in the world badminton arena, has taken the lead in the industry to “control the price of balls”. Can it get the support of the industry and make the price of badminton less crazy?
A reporter from the Daily Economic News found out that badminton manufacturers are still facing the dilemma of soaring prices of duck and goose feathers every month. Some large manufacturers have had to stop overseas orders, and some small and medium-sized manufacturers have “no money to get the feathers.” “We have received news that the price of feathers will continue to rise, which is extremely detrimental to the development of our entire industry.” A medium-to-large domestic badminton manufacturer with an annual output of 1 million pairs told reporters.
Trapped in the vicious cycle of “price”, how can the badminton industry break the deadlock?
Leading companies speak out, can the “surge” in badminton prices become a thing of the past?
Who would have thought that the previously cheap duck feathers and goose feathers would increase in price significantly this year, causing the price of badminton to continue to rise.
“The price increase is outrageous, from an ordinary sport to a high-end sport. The Yonex AS-09 that I often use was sold for about 109 yuan per tube last year, but now it has basically risen to 179 yuan per tube, a price increase of nearly 65%.” Zhou He (pseudonym), who serves as the relevant person in charge of a badminton association at a certain university, told the “Daily Economic News” reporter that he is a senior badminton enthusiast and has played for more than 20 years.
Today, Zhou He’s old golfing friends have even started buying second-hand and repaired balls online. “But the quality varies. I’ve learned how to repair balls, but my skills are not good enough at the moment.”
Image source: Second-hand platform
The rising value of badminton has forced consumers to turn their attention to second-hand platforms.
“The ball is durable and flies steadily” For most non-professional badminton enthusiasts, second-hand balls are obviously more cost-effective than expensive original balls. The reporter found that the price of second-hand repaired balls is roughly half of the original price of new goods.
Badminton training institutions have also begun to control costs due to the price of balls. “My daughter’s training institution used to provide balls, but starting this summer, we parents are required to bring our own balls for training.” A parent told the reporter of the National Business Daily that the price of the badminton he often buys has increased by more than 30% in the past two months.
“The price of the wool has increased, the price of the ball has increased, the wool has increased again, the price of the ball has increased again, the price of badminton has entered a vicious cycle.” Recently, Asia Lion issued a “Notice” calling on suppliers of raw wool and wool pieces to lower prices, with the signature date of September 1.
Asia Lion said: “We believe that the price of badminton cannot rise unilaterally without restraint. Everything will turn into the opposite after reaching the extreme. Therefore, after research, the company has decided that from today (September 1st): the raw wool and wool pieces of cormorant ducks, guinea ducks, teal, etc. will be reduced by 2 to 3 cents per piece based on the current purchase price.”
Founded in 1928, Asia Lion is one of the world’s largest badminton manufacturers and suppliers. In 2017, Asia Lion’s factory in China was settled in Jinping County, Guizhou Province through investment promotion. According to an article on the official website of Jinping County People’s Government, “one out of every 10 badmintons in the world comes from Guizhou Asia Lion Company.”
In August this year, Hu Bing, production manager of Guizhou Yashilong, said that the company’s output value in 2023 had reached 340 million yuan. “Our company completed the production of more than 2.3 million pairs of badminton in the first half of the year, an increase of 30% over the same period in 2023, and exports also increased by 40% over the same period in 2023. I hope that the annual output this year can reach nearly 5 million pairs, and the output value will reach 400 million yuan.”
In the notice, Asia Lion expressed the hope that suppliers could reach a consensus on reducing the price of raw films and make plans for the continued vigorous development of the entire industry in the future.
As September approaches, what new changes have taken place in the price increase of badminton? Can Asia Lion control the cost of badminton in the production process? The reporter tried to interview Guizhou Asia Lion in depth, but the other party said that they would not accept the interview for the time being.
Manufacturers say it is difficult to stop the soaring price of “feathers”, and goose and duck feathers may continue to “expand” this year
“We definitely support it.” Chen Hong (pseudonym), a large domestic badminton manufacturer, told the “Daily Economic News” that many of his peers have paid attention to Asia Lion’s call, and everyone also very much hopes that the price of raw wool and wool pieces can be reduced, but it is quite difficult to achieve in practice.
“Judging from the quotations we received, the gross price will still increase next month,” said Chen Hong.
Why is there a situation of insufficient supply of badminton balls in the market? “The price of raw balls has increased and remains high, mainly because of the squeeze between supply and demand. This is a market law and cannot be determined by a certain enterprise or company.” Zhang Qing, founder of Keyway Sports Consulting Company and chief brand management expert of the China Sports Economic Research Center of the Institute of Sports Science of the General Administration of Sports of China, told reporters that this year is a big year for events, and badminton, as a popular fitness sport, has attracted more people to join. Therefore, the market demand for badminton has increased.
According to Chen Hong’s observation, after the price increase of badminton, some badminton enthusiasts, venues, etc. began to stockpile balls on a large scale, which to some extent caused a “famine” of badminton in the market.
Chen Hong runs a factory that mainly produces high-end goose feather balls. “(The price of goose feathers has continued to rise) since last year, and it has become more obvious this year. It has been rising basically every month, from 0.35 yuan per piece last year to nearly 0.7 yuan per piece now. It is expected that the upward trend will not stop this year.” Chen Hong told reporters.
There are only a limited number of feathers that can be used from each goose, and it usually takes two or three geese to make a high-end badminton. “Only 14 feathers from a goose can be used, but a badminton requires 16 feathers.” According to Chen Hong, a dozen badmintons require 192 feathers, and the cost of feathers alone is 134 yuan, not including the ball base, string glue, etc. “The price of goose feathers has risen by more than 50%, but the finished ball cannot increase by that much, and our profits have been severely squeezed.”
A badminton requires multiple feathers. Image source: provided by the interviewee
Faced with the soaring prices of goose and duck feathers, Chen Hong told reporters that her factory can barely maintain production by hoarding feathers. “There are too many orders, and we can’t buy feathers. We dare not accept any more orders, and we have stopped all foreign orders. Among the same industry, some small and medium-sized factories that have no money to buy feathers have stopped production. I don’t know if they can survive this year.” Chen Hong told the reporter of the “Daily Economic News”.
Many interviewees told reporters that Asia Lion hopes to reduce the price of raw materials, but in the case of a shortage of wool pieces, other manufacturers will still rush to buy them. “The signal given to us by the supplier is ‘it will go up’, if you don’t buy it, you can sell it to others.” A badminton manufacturer told reporters.
“Simply calling for price limits from upstream suppliers is not the solution,” said Zhang Qing, adding that Asia Lion hopes to reduce the price of wool flakes, which is only a temporary solution. “In terms of the amount of wool used, the badminton market is relatively small, so its bargaining power is relatively weak.”
Cost Breaker in Crisis: Can Artificial Ball Become the Savior of “Ball”?
Zhou He and other badminton enthusiasts told the Daily Economic News reporter that because badminton is too expensive, players have reduced the frequency of playing. “We used to play 3 to 4 times a week, but in the past few months it has been reduced to 1 to 2 times a week.”
As raw material prices cannot be lowered for the time being, badminton companies are also looking for different ways to survive.
According to the Daily Economic News, Victor, another leading company in the badminton industry, has been developing artificial balls since 2015, hoping to replace traditional duck and goose feathers with aerodynamic feathers made of artificial foam materials and composite feather shafts made of carbon fiber. “Victor’s latest artificial badminton, the new carbon sound, has been widely supplied to the whole country and has been well received by many badminton enthusiasts,” said Liang Kunkun, deputy manager of the marketing department of Victor, in an interview with the Daily Economic News.
Liang Kunkun told reporters: “The price of the new carbon sound is currently in the middle price of natural balls. Its advantages are less wear and tear and better durability. The durability of a ball is nearly three times that of a natural ball. If you play for a long time, the cost-effectiveness of artificial balls will be highlighted, and the price of the new carbon sound is relatively stable.”
The reporter learned from the interview that some badminton enthusiasts are tolerant of artificial balls made of new materials. “Everyone is promoting the various different balls that have appeared now. We are willing to give it a try, so we are not as fixed as the balls we used to play with in the past.”
“Victor will not only make artificial balls, but our production is slowly shifting to new carbon sounds.” Liang Kunkun told reporters that Victor believes that artificial balls are a trend in the future badminton market.
In Zhang Qing’s opinion, for professional athletes, there is still a difference in feel between artificial material balls and natural badminton balls. Artificial balls are a development direction, but there is still some way to go.
Image source: Provided by the interviewee
The big year of events has boosted the national fitness, and badminton has always been a very popular sport among Chinese people. According to the “National Sports Status Survey Report” of the State Sports General Administration, badminton is the sport with the largest number of participants in China, with a total badminton population of up to 250 million.
“Badminton has a low entry threshold and is very popular in Asian countries, especially among Chinese consumers. I believe that with this level of popularity, everyone’s enthusiasm for playing will not be largely suppressed due to price increases.” Zhang Qing told the “Daily Economic News” reporter that this year’s badminton price increase is only temporary, and the subsequent supply and demand relationship will gradually return to balance, “but will make the industry as a whole develop in a more standardized direction.”
In Zhang Qing’s view, the increase in badminton production costs will lead companies into a new round of survival of the fittest. “Companies that lack brand protection, sophisticated operational capabilities, and low automation levels will be eliminated.”
(Source: Daily Economic News)
Source: Daily Economic News
Original title: The price of duck and goose feathers increases every month. The badminton giant that has stopped production and has no money to get the feathers has launched a cost defense war. Can it cut off the price increase chain?
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Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Can Asia Lion’s Move Curb the Soaring Price of Badminton?
The recent notice from Asia Lion, a world-renowned badminton manufacturer, has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. The company has taken a bold step by calling on suppliers to reduce the price of raw wool and wool pieces, with a commitment to decrease the purchase price by 2 to 3 yuan per piece from September 1. This move comes as a welcome respite for badminton enthusiasts and manufacturers alike, who have been grappling with the soaring prices of badminton products.
The Soaring Price of Badminton: A Vicious Cycle
The badminton industry has been facing a dilemma in recent times, with the prices of badminton products increasing by 20% to 30% compared to 2023. Some models have seen a staggering price hike of over 60%. The primary reason behind this surge is the skyrocketing price of duck and goose feathers, a crucial component in badminton manufacturing.
The situation has become so dire that some large manufacturers have had to stop overseas orders, while small and medium-sized manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the rising costs. “We have received news that the price of feathers will continue to rise, which is extremely detrimental to the development of our entire industry,” expressed a medium-to-large domestic badminton manufacturer.
The Consequences of Soaring Prices
The consequences of the price surge are far-reaching and have affected various stakeholders in the industry. Badminton enthusiasts are being forced to look for alternative options, such as buying second-hand and repaired balls online. Even training institutions are feeling the pinch, with parents being asked to bring their own balls for training.
The rising value of badminton has also led to a shift in consumer behavior, with many opting for more cost-effective options. Second-hand repaired balls are now becoming a popular
