Stockpile

[bosssauce]

What string do you think a stringer should keep in stock? No more than 30

[diredesire]

This is very subjective, and really depends on your market, and demographic.

To start out with/a basic "safe" stock would consist of:

Basic/standard synthetic gut: Prince SGw/DF, Wilson Stamina, Gosen OG Sheep Micro, Wilson Extreme, Babolat Syn gut, etc

Standard/basic Multifilament: Wilson Sensation et. al

Higher end Multifilament: Gamma Pro, NXT, X-cel, Biphase, NRG2, etc

A set or two of gut (rarely requested)

Polys: (This is probably the category where you need to research.
Sub categories of polys would be:
-Soft/more comfortable Poly: Cyberflash, TCS, Signum PPP(P)
-Cheap/Durable poly: Gosen Polylon, etc
-"performance" and/or textured poly

I'd also throw in a set or two of Kevlar for those SERIOUS string breakers, and I'd suggest stocking something like an Isospeed or a Head Rip Control style polyolefine string for players who need something more durable but aren't willing to sacrifice comfort (read as: a stop gap between a syn gut and a poly string). Most people love/hate these types of strings.

Edit: Also I'm not sure of your 30... is that $30, or 30 different types...?

[db10s]

Originally Posted by diredesire

This is very subjective, and really depends on your market, and demographic.

To start out with/a basic "safe" stock would consist of:

Basic/standard synthetic gut: Prince SGw/DF, Wilson Stamina, Gosen OG Sheep Micro, Wilson Extreme, Babolat Syn gut, etc

Standard/basic Multifilament: Wilson Sensation et. al

Higher end Multifilament: Gamma Pro, NXT, X-cel, Biphase, NRG2, etc

A set or two of gut (rarely requested)

Polys: (This is probably the category where you need to research.
Sub categories of polys would be:
-Soft/more comfortable Poly: Cyberflash, TCS, Signum PPP(P)
-Cheap/Durable poly: Gosen Polylon, etc
-"performance" and/or textured poly

I'd also throw in a set or two of Kevlar for those SERIOUS string breakers, and I'd suggest stocking something like an Isospeed or a Head Rip Control style polyolefine string for players who need something more durable but aren't willing to sacrifice comfort (read as: a stop gap between a syn gut and a poly string). Most people love/hate these types of strings.

Edit: Also I'm not sure of your 30... is that $30, or 30 different types...?

I'd add Dunlop ICE to the cheap, durable poly category. Its everything you want in a poly.
And its $65 for a reel.

[bosssauce]

Originally Posted by diredesire

This is very subjective, and really depends on your market, and demographic.

To start out with/a basic "safe" stock would consist of:

Basic/standard synthetic gut: Prince SGw/DF, Wilson Stamina, Gosen OG Sheep Micro, Wilson Extreme, Babolat Syn gut, etc

Standard/basic Multifilament: Wilson Sensation et. al

Higher end Multifilament: Gamma Pro, NXT, X-cel, Biphase, NRG2, etc

A set or two of gut (rarely requested)

Polys: (This is probably the category where you need to research.
Sub categories of polys would be:
-Soft/more comfortable Poly: Cyberflash, TCS, Signum PPP(P)
-Cheap/Durable poly: Gosen Polylon, etc
-"performance" and/or textured poly

I'd also throw in a set or two of Kevlar for those SERIOUS string breakers, and I'd suggest stocking something like an Isospeed or a Head Rip Control style polyolefine string for players who need something more durable but aren't willing to sacrifice comfort (read as: a stop gap between a syn gut and a poly string). Most people love/hate these types of strings.

Edit: Also I'm not sure of your 30... is that $30, or 30 different types...?

I have most of that

[Steve Huff]

I think DD is on the right track. Here's what I'd stock to start out:
1. Gosen OG Micro 16 (I'd get a reel)
2. Wilson Red Alert 16 (longer lasting, premium synthetic)
3. Topspin Cyberflash 16 (Nice, inexpensive copoly)
4. Unique Big Hitter Blue Rough 17 (soft, inexpensive rough poly)
5. Pro Supex Maxim Touch 16 or Wilson Sensation 16 or Head Fibergel Power 16 (less expensive multi)
6. Technifibre NRG2, Wilson NXT or Alpha Sphere 16 (all are premium multifiliments)
7. Klip Legend 16 or 15L natural gut (don't go too thin as you don't want people bringing it back with complaints of too costly and breaking too soon)
8. Maybe a set or 2 of Forten Aramid or Ashaway Kevlar for your real stringbreakers.

[bosssauce]

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

I think DD is on the right track. Here's what I'd stock to start out:
1. Gosen OG Micro 16 (I'd get a reel)
2. Wilson Red Alert 16 (longer lasting, premium synthetic)
3. Topspin Cyberflash 16 (Nice, inexpensive copoly)
4. Unique Big Hitter Blue Rough 17 (soft, inexpensive rough poly)
5. Pro Supex Maxim Touch 16 or Wilson Sensation 16 or Head Fibergel Power 16 (less expensive multi)
6. Technifibre NRG2, Wilson NXT or Alpha Sphere 16 (all are premium multifiliments)
7. Klip Legend 16 or 15L natural gut (don't go too thin as you don't want people bringing it back with complaints of too costly and breaking too soon)
8. Maybe a set or 2 of Forten Aramid or Ashaway Kevlar for your real stringbreakers.

no luxilon?

[Steve Huff]

Nope, no luxilon. That is unless you want a reel of Luxilon M2. Top name Lux at bargain price.

[pvaudio]

Dire is spot on. I agree: the variety of poly is most important.

[bosssauce]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Dire is spot on. I agree: the variety of poly is most important.

I trust you so i guess that is what i will buy next

[cluckcluck]

This is what I have in reels:

Kirschbaum Premium Synthetic Gut
Tourna Big Hitter Rough Silver
Tier 1 Tour Status
Tier 1 Firewire
MSV Focus Hex
Clarke Power Poly Pro (a cheap version of ALU Power)
L-Tec 5s
L-Tec 3s
L-Tec Os
L-Tec 4s
L-Tec Flex (syn)

I also have various sets of polys, multis, and synguts.

[Steve Huff]

I just know that when you first start out, you have to get customers. How do you do that? Well, 1) you give a better price. That means getting some less expensive strings and having a lower margin. Then, you'll have a few that aren't satisfied with their current stringer. You need something good to make sure they are happier with you than they are with their current stringer. Other than that, it's just friends you'll be stringing for. People don't switch stringers for no reason at all. It will either be price, dissatisfaction with current stringer, or they are just friends. You build your reputation from there.