Most popular back protectors ( research for friend who owns shop)

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thatsmygirl

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Just a bit off research really,
shop is currently stocking champion flexair but body protectors don't seem to sell. Is it because it's the wrong make/style? Price is good iv checked that. What makes are popular these days
 
Research I have done has shown that Rodney Powell and airowear are the only ones competition riders seem to be interested in. How's race safe are popular in racing and sometimes in eventing. Then of course there are the two point air jackets but these must always be worn with a BETA approved body protector when competing as they don't yet carry a standard
 
Should point out, my findings are based on Europe as a whole and isolated areas may favour other makes due to a local stockist promoting brands and influencing the market. I know of some particular stockists shift such large volumes of body protectors that they have good deals with the manufacturer. At the end of the day, for the average rider it usually comes down to price. So maybe it is worth your friend speaking to various suppliers stop explore options ;)
 
Rodney Powell
Racesafe

As an eventer those are the ones I go for initially. Also Airowear are good. You want a good range. I suppose Flexair are popular for general riding but if you're looking to appeal to a more competition rider target audience then the above makes are what you want to be looking at I should think
 
I had a race safe old design and loved it, but the new design didn't fit me - I don't know if thats an issue other people have had, or if they are still just as popular as the old design. I bought an outlyne airowear which I love, and seems relatively popular. Kans also seem popular. and of course as Lissybear said point 2 airs could be a good additional product to draw people in, even more so with a member of staff good at fitting them correctly. However whilst popular they do seem to be a bit of a marmite product. Hope that helps a bit :).

ETA I guess my views are a bit biased as I buy mine primarily for eventing, and others Ive seen to be popular were also out eventing rather then perhaps for every day use.
 
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I'd say your main ones for the competition market would be racesafe, rodney powell and kantec. However myself, and most others I know wouldn't tend to pop down to the local tack shop to purchase, would normally get measured and fitted by someone who deals with such products extensively, e.g. manufacturer/specific event stand at the competitions.

For routine pleasure riding / riding school / lower level PC/RC then I'm afraid I can't help as I'd imagine the cost of one of the above may be prohibitive.
 
Make a name for yourself with fitting kids body protectors, and not being afraid to send someone away where you don't have the right size rather than selling a too big one and saying it definitely fits when I was doubting. (It was too wide being an adult one meaning far too much bulk of overlap under the arms, although correct length. I won't be going back there for any body protectors)
 
Agree with what someone said above about people wanting the popular (more expensive) brands tending to be willing to a) shop around for best price cos a 5% price difference is quite a bit of money to save, and b) pay a bit extra to have it fitted by a recommended retailer or direct from the manufacturer.
Unless you are prepared to stock a massive range and really invest in becoming THE place to buy BPs, or try to get some kind of recommended stockist listing (and fitting training) with one of the popular retailers then I would suggest just getting the cheapest brand available because it is pretty likely that you will mainly be catering to the local riding school market (rather than people who have done extensive research) and therefore price is likely to be more important than brand. By that I mean price in comparison to what you might have in your head you can get a BP from decatholon for, rather than the price of the good mid-range aeroware you are stocking in comparison to other good mid-range brands, so being the cheapest aeroware at £60 will do nothing for you if decathalon are advertising their non-branded not BETA approved ones for £25 in your area. People might pay a mark-up to get an approved one from a "proper" tack shop, but trying to persuade them they need to pay twice as much is going to be an uphill struggle.
 
I work in a tack shop and I find the champion ones are very bulky and look very uncomfortable. I can't remember the last time we sold one of them as people just don't like them. We sell a lot of the racesafe and the Outlyne.
 
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