Product Knowledge John Lewis Partnership Sports Core sports equipment Fashion | Sports Welcome to your Core sports equipment learning guide Introduction The purpose of this product learning guide is to help you get to know the core sports equipment assortment and to sell with confidence, knowing that you have full and accurate information. Contents: What will the guide cover? Work through the book at your own pace, referring to the Introduction 4 merchandise on the shop floor when you need to. The assortment 5 There are some questions within the guide designed to check your understanding and help you retain what you have learnt. Football 6 There is no time limit for completing the learning guide but the sooner you Rugby 8 do, the more confident you will feel when selling products to customers. Cricket 10 Tennis 12 Legal and safety questions Squash 14 If you have any legal or safety questions regarding any branded product Badminton 15 within the Sports assortment, please find contact details for all suppliers on the Retail Support Site. Please contact the supplier directly with Questions 16 the customer’s details, or provide the customer with the supplier’s Customer service 19 contact details if they would like to contact them themselves. Omnichannel 19 If you have any legal or safety questions regarding any own brand John Lewis product, please contact the RSD with your questions. This will then get passed on via the Sports Buying inbox for a reply from the Buying Office team. This can also be used if you are having difficulties contacting the supplier directly. 2 Core Sports Equipment The assortment After completing the programme you will be able to: » Understand the properties of equipment and explain the key benefits for customers » Explain the difference between different types of equipment and advise customers accordingly » Explain the properties of the different equipment produced by brands » Advise customers about aftercare of all equipment. 3 Core Sports Equipment Introduction Two-thirds of the UK adult population claim to take some form for ‘convenience fitness’ and looking good while exercising is of regular exercise, but participation in core sports has dropped important, as most prefer exercise they can do alone rather than significantly. Between them, football and cricket have lost participate in group sports. As stores have moved to seven day around 1.5m players in the past 10 years. Membership of private trading, many people work during the weekend so there is less gyms has doubled in 10 years to 3.5 million. The preference is time for group sports. Sport in schools The government target is for 85% of all school aged children Many schools are beginning to offer non-traditional sports: to take part in at least two hours of PE or sport per week. »»31% offer golf The variety of sports offered at schools is rising. Secondary »»42% offer cycling schools now offer an average of 21 different sports, »»22% offer archery ranging from mountaineering to kabbadi as well as »»29% offer canoeing traditional core sports. The average number of different »»59% offer orienteering. sports offered by primary schools has increased to 16. Despite this, core sports remain popular in schools. The five most popular sports offered by schools are: »»Football »»Dance »»Gymnastics »»Athletics »»Cricket. 4 Core Sports Equipment The assortment John Lewis continues to be one of the only high street locations in each of these sports, but within each category we do have in the UK to support a full core sports offer throughout the year. a small offering for the more advanced player. There is also The core sports assortment is made up of the traditional a focus on junior products, as John Lewis are committed team and individual sports. The majority of these sports to providing an assortment which allows all school children are played either in schools or at local clubs. to continue to take part in regular sporting exercise. The assortment is generally aimed at the recreational player Cricket Golf Badminton Tennis Football Rugby Squash The core sport assortment can generally be divided into these seven areas SPORTS CALENDAR Whilst a number of these sports are played throughout the year, the peak seasons for these sports are as follows: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Cricket Tennis Squash Badminton Golf Rugby Football 5 Core Sports Equipment Football We stock a range of football products from the leading brands. Nike and Adidas both have a large market share in this sport and both invest heavily in producing innovative products. Types Of Football Construction Panels Manufacture Footballs used to be made from Manufacturers have experimented Around 75% of all balls sold are hand pigs bladders covered in leather. with footballs with various numbers stitched in Pakistan. All balls sold in John However, modern balls are made of panels to improve performance. Lewis are produced in an ethical manner from synthetic materials. Footballs originally had six panels, joined by leading suppliers who ensure that their top and bottom. Recently there have workers are treated in a fair manner. Footballs are constructed from non- been 18, 26, 30 and 32-panel balls. porous outer materials so that they don’t The regulation size for a football is absorb water and retain their original Many experts consider the 18-panel ball size 5. Smaller size balls are available weight and shape. The bladders used to have the truest flight characteristics, which are easier for younger players to are usually made from latex or butyl , but in the UK most professional use. John Lewis also stock skills balls which gives a ball its life or ‘zing’. clubs play with a 26-panel ball. which are much smaller (size 1) and used for developing ball control skills. Balls are constructed using one of The best balls are the roundest, and three methods; machine stitching, fewer stitches, points and angles result The price of a football is determined by the hand stitching or thermal bonding. in a rounder ball and less risk of bladder method of construction and the materials Machine stitched balls are the most damage and improved water tightness. used in the bladder and the outer casing. economical to produce, many balls can be produced in a short period of time. CARE Hand stitched balls produce the best results in terms of shape and air Most balls are designed for use on retention but these balls are costly. grass only but there are some balls Thermal bonding is a relatively which are suitable on other surfaces new process so the price of these such as concrete. This will be printed balls tends to be high also. on the ball where appropriate. The balls used in the Premier Balls can be wiped clean League are hand stitched. with a damp cloth. TOP TIP Take the time to have a look at the different footballs that we stock and note their various features. Doing this will help you to feel confident when making recommendations to customers. 6 Core Sports Equipment Football Accessories Shinpads Gloves There are two types of shin pad used. Goal keeping gloves protect the Either a smaller version which is slipped wearer’s hands and are popular with between the shin and the sock, or a more young children. The material on the complete shin pad which will feature palms of the gloves is slightly tacky ankle protection and strapping to keep which is helpful when catching balls. the pad in place without the sock. Gloves are produced from a size 3 to Professional players prefer small, 11. The best way of checking fit is to light pads that will not hinder try the glove on. It should be a snug their speed or style of play. fit with no extra length in the fingers, The larger pads are better suited to which could cause injuries. Most junior players and those players wanting gloves will include a size guide. more protection to the ankle and shin. The added protection also means that these pads are more suitable for multi- CARE sport usage (hockey, rugby etc). The majority of gloves are sponge clean but it is best to check and Shin pads should not be too loose or follow the washing instructions. too tight. The best way to check sizing is to try the shinpads in store. Where possible, try the guard with a football sock over the top to ensure a snug fit. CARE Some shin pads can be washed in the washing machine (once the plastic pad has been removed). Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for how to clean the pads. Pads that have worn thin or where the plastic has split should be replaced. 7 Core Sports Equipment Rugby Rugby balls Like footballs, rugby balls were made is being pumped into the ball, it is air from leather covering a pigs bladder. Also that is trapped between the bladder like footballs, these balls are now made and the outer surface. This is a natural from synthetic non-porous materials. occurrence when pumping up any ball. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the The biggest revolution in rugby ball ball is punctured or has a faulty valve. technology came with the invention of The correct pressure to inflate the inseam valve, patented by Gilbert. a rugby ball to will normally be The inseam valve ensures the truest printed on the balls itself. flight of the ball whether it is being passed through the hands or kicked. The pimple design on the surface of CARE a rugby ball makes it easier to catch, Never over inflate a rugby ball.