A couple of weeks ago, we asked our customers to send in their questions for a series of FAQ videos about B3 Cricket and bat making.
One question stood out: "A couple of cricket brands have gone out of business recently, what assurance can you offer our customers?"
It's a fair question, and one I felt deserved a proper answer.
Running a manufacturing business in the UK has never been easy, and it's certainly no easier today. Rising employment costs, energy prices, raw material costs and competition from low-cost imports continue to put pressure on British manufacturers.
At B3, we've consciously built the business for the long term. We have no borrowings, no external investors, own all of our business assets, maintain a strong financial position, and the business is wholly owned by the people who work in it every day.
That gives us the freedom to make decisions for the long term rather than to satisfy lenders or outside shareholders.
Having spent many years building businesses, I'm fortunate that I don't rely on B3 Cricket for my income. My career in the IT industry provides that, which means I can continue investing in B3 and ensuring it remains financially strong for the future. I work in the business every day because I love the game, I love what we do, and because I want B3 Cricket to be something my great friend and B3 founder, Russell Evans, would be proud of.
Being a British manufacturer isn't always the easiest path, but our commitment has never changed: to make exceptional cricket bats from the finest genuine English willow and provide the very highest levels of customer service.
I'll finish with the same words I use at the end of the video:
Thank you to everyone who continues to support B3 Cricket and British manufacturing in general, it means a great deal to all of us.
Kind regards,
Michael Blatherwick