CLYW today announced some interesting news; beginning soon they will be handling sales of their upcoming models themselves, while only shipping “legacy models” to retailers. This means if you want the new Arctic Circle 2: Second Expedition you’ll need to buy it direct from CLYW, but you’ll be able to continue purchasing older models like the Cliff from stores like YoYoExpert.
Personally, I think it’s a great idea and it allows Chris the opportunity to do what he does best: custom-build an amazing brand experience for his collectors. Here’s his full letter…feel free to sound off in the comments section below with your opinions on this new move for CLYW.
Hello all,
Over the next month we’re going to be making some changes with how we are selling our return tops. Currently we offer most of our throws to a select group of stores that are listed on our stocklist. These stores have been instrumental with growing CLYW around the world. For that I am truly thankful!!
Last year we did really well considering the amount of CLYW return tops that got into hands of yoyoers around the world, but after all the dust settled, we really didn’t have much to show for it financially. We have a large team, employees, artwork contractors, rental space, relatively high production costs, plus we funded a very expensive plastic project … the costs all add up … and something just isn’t quite working with how we’re doing things, so we need to step back and make some changes.
One of these changes is switching to more of a direct sales approach. In November/December we’re going to be releasing 4 brand new models: the Gnarwhal 2, Arctic Circle 2, Bonfire and Puffin 2. Initially the first few runs will be sold direct in order to help get CLYW pointed in the right direction. We’re also going to be selling the first run of coloured Yetis direct too. Stores on our stocklist will still be offered runs of our legacy throws (BvM2’s, Sasquatch, Avalanche, Chiefs, Black Yetis), and then we’ll see how things go from there.
I know this comes as a bit of a shock to most of you as it doesn’t quite follow the current formula we are all used to in this industry, but I hope that you understand where we’re coming from with this. It is not my goal to make CLYW into a massive company that sells ‘products’ to every single toy store / retailer in the world. I just want to have fun. Take care of my family and team. AND make some cool stuff along the way. At the end of the day CLYW is still just a small business run by people who love yoyoing and love this community.
The CLYW store will have free shipping to the US and Canada for orders above $100 and free shipping to the UK and Japan for orders above $150.
Thank you for your continued support and if you have any questions/comments please feel free to contact us.
Regards,
Chris
CLYW
W*lM*rts of the world have skewed consumer perspectives on the cost of quality. As much as I’d selfishly love to see low prices on everything, as consumers we have to ask what that means for the quality of life of those who make the goods and services we purchase. I’ll continue to support CLYW as my yoyo budget allows.
first, I wanna say that I think this is fantastic!
I think it is really gonna free Chris up to do more with CLYW.
While shipping will take a bit longer – since anything over $100 to the US or over $150 will have free shipping – an extra few days for some more dough in your wallet is a fair tradeoff.
Also, the regular run of the coloured Yetis will be the same or very near the price of the black Yetis – the only reason the ones on the site have been so expensive is because they were test-colours for collectability.
Also, while I know Chris in no way wants to strain his relationships with the online stores, I think you can look at it as follows:
Chris can either:
A.) Keep selling ALL CLYW throws to stores like YYE and go broke/completely burnt out and close up shop in another year or two = no more money for Andre at YYE from CLYW at all
or
B.) Keep selling some great throws to stores like YYE, but keep some newer models directly on http://www.clyw.ca so the business thrives and CLYW can stick around for a long time to come. (which in turn puts more money in the pockets of the great dudes like Andre at YYE for a longer period of time)
Not to mention, if this helps CLYW turn a better profit, that in turn means it’ll probably be easier for Chris to do sales, more cool promotions, and more things for the team/community as a whole.
I think this is an incredibly smart business model that’s going to benefit everyone in the long run.
steve gonna have to turn off comments for this kind of topics too XD
Every single day I have to convince myself not to turn off comments for the entire site.
‘swampbooty’, how can you comment with such an angry tone when you know nothing about this.
You know -nothing- about CLYW’s figures, sales or costs.
It also appears you know very little about business or yoyos in general.
It sounds like the best decision that can be made right now. CLYW has established itself as a great and valued yoyo company. Through it’s brand, it’s video output, its yoyos, team and community support. It also knows where it stands and why it exists. This is the best way to keep it going in this manner.
@ Sam Wilderspin. judging by your name this reply will probably fall on def ears. first off no anger over here just disbelief. how can you say i know nothing when you know nothing of me?
10+ years yoyoing at a high level.
10+ years as an injection molding process technician ( as in plastic ).
I was running a successful business on my own at the age of 15 ( not my business but i ran the whole show for the owner non the less ).
i have also talked with Chris who told me “im just a dude working off his kitchen table” as an answer to problems with quality. my point at the time being “then your price point should match your quality”. im also very good friends with owners of 3 awesome local yoyo brands that can offer high quality and playability and high end bearings in all of the yoyos they sell, all at a NORMAL price. like i said no anger here. just my opinion, and for sure u don’t have to agree with it. it seems most don’t : (
I think people forget that S&H from Canada costs more, and every stop included in the making of a yoyo, or any other product, adds to the cost. That being said, I think it’s a mighty swell move for Chris to offer free shipping to the US for >$100 orders and even more for >$150 orders to Japan and the UK. That gesture says a lot.
Yes, I’d like their yoyos to cost less. I can also say that I’ve never felt like I didn’t get my money’s worth with a CLYW. I can’t say that for a lot of other companies…who may charge a whole $20 less for their product.
Chris/CLYW, I can’t wait to see the new yoyos and hopefully purchase one from the site real soon! Keep it up!
and steve, no need to be the white knight here. There is only one reason why they sold them yetis for 80… cuz they knew they could. Thats right people its up to us to not have to pay $60 extra for hype.
“…and free shipping to the UK and Japan for orders above $150.” in other words 1 throw. lol im sorry but i dont buy this at all. dudes are selling the most expensive yoyos by the bucket. ” …relatively high production costs…” yea onedrop must be really slammin’ em. rockin’ around with short arms and deep pockets. “…funded a very expensive plastic project…” i know it was expensive, but yetis are flying off like hot cakes. easily covers the cost of the mold, plus after everything nylon isn’t that much more expensive to shoot than poly. CLYW changing the game everyday.
I hope they continue to produce large quantities, or at least decent enough sized runs to allow people such as myself the ability to be able to stay current with this brand’s offerings. I really enjoy CLYW and I look forward to purchasing their latest models when they become available.
As long as they don’t pull that $80 Yeti crap with everything they release, I’m excited for this.
Once more, with feeling:
The $80 Yetis were prototypes made in tiny quantities, in colors that will never be produced. There were not being sold as “Here’s an $80 plastic yoyo”, they were being sold as limited edition collectibles for people who wanted to have a CLYW prototype in their collection.