The National outfit is BSN. The person who covers the state of Kentucky for BSN was a Shively employee for quite awhile. He left for BSN a few years ago, and has converted a lot of the schools that he used to sell to for Shively. The reality to the story, Shively may have grown a little complacent over the years. It happens in sales. If you aren’t taking care of your customer, someone else will.

BSN is used by many Kentucky High Schools. It’s headquarters might be in Texas but they have several sales people and some store fronts in Kentucky.

The National outfit is BSN. The person who covers the state of Kentucky for BSN was a Shively employee for quite awhile. He left for BSN a few years ago, and has converted a lot of the schools that he used to sell to for Shively. The reality to the story, Shively may have grown a little complacent over the years. It happens in sales. If you aren’t taking care of your customer, someone else will.

 

This makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the insight.

BSN is used by many Kentucky High Schools. It’s headquarters might be in Texas but they have several sales people and some store fronts in Kentucky.

 

Yes. They’re a huge company, and made a major push a few years ago. Getting the guy that did the bulk of the business for Shively, to cover Louisville, was a really smart move.

I am told it was a dollar and cents decision, and not made by the athletic department, who apparently wasn't even consulted. Shively was told after the fact. I don't know anything about Nike. What I have heard thru the grapevine is that this company comes in low and then escalates. I understand money is important, but come on folks, we are in the process of raising 51 million dollars. This is nickel and dime. The bean counters need to get out of this.

 

I would think this is all the way up to the board, the accounting department probably had no say.

 

I would also think this national company is on the leading edge of the "hot" stuff in High School athletic apparel that Shively can't get just yet so this could be more marketing than it is financial.

Edited February 20, 20206 yr by theguru
Rule 10

BSN is used by many Kentucky High Schools. It’s headquarters might be in Texas but they have several sales people and some store fronts in Kentucky.

 

BSN has great service and does a very nice job. They can get you almost anything you need very quickly. They were able to get us a helmet that no other supplier could get for a kid who needed an odd size last season. They have come through in a pinch like that several times for me over the last several years and their prices are very good.

BSN has great service and does a very nice job. They can get you almost anything you need very quickly. They were able to get us a helmet that no other supplier could get for a kid who needed an odd size last season. They have come through in a pinch like that several times for me over the last several years and their prices are very good.

 

I can’t tell you how many times we had to get something quick from Shively and they couldn’t come through. Even if you went to pick it up. If it wasn’t in the store, you’d have to wait until they did their once a day “warehouse run”. The warehouse is across the street...

Shively tends to care more about U of L and "Adidas" schools. Ive seen my Shively "rep" in my building(s) as a coach 0 times. I see my BSN rep (and there have been a few) multiple times per year, whether I'm buying or not.

BSN is terrific, and seeing who it is, and how it transpired, it makes perfect sense to this outsider.

Shively tends to care more about U of L and "Adidas" schools. Ive seen my Shively "rep" in my building(s) as a coach 0 times. I see my BSN rep (and there have been a few) multiple times per year, whether I'm buying or not.

 

And that is big.

Apparel and equipment outfitters have popped up all over the country. They usually come in with a pretty sweet deal for a couple years and then the taking care of stage is about over. Trouble is they ask schools to sign contracts that are 5 or more years long. The uniforms are ordered so far in advance that it really doesn’t matter who you use. The emergency situations however, especially with equipment, means schools need to have a company close that they have good a good relationship with. Could make for serious trouble if they don’t.

Thanks everyone for the interesting info.

Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL has a contract with BSN. They do a good job of communicating and checking in with customers. At my previous school in Tampa, we started a contract with Under Armour and everything went through BSN for apparel and equipment needs; they did a great job of getting us our orders in a timely manner. Our a year into it we had to switch to a different provider, which was more a small business, and there were a lot of headaches with it. While it's not great for local businesses, BSN does offer a convenience aspect that is hard to top.

The BSN rep near us offered our school to be a BSN school and sign a contract with them to buy everything through them. We would receive a rebate at the end of the year. We thought about it but then we checked with pricing. Their pricing is good but not as good as a another place. So basically we were going to pay 5% more throughout the year to receive 5% back at the end of the year.

I used Shively for a while but honestly I always felt like my business wasn't a priority to them. I ran travel teams for years but had to find an alternative because service was so poor.