Did you know that BOOKOFF will buy your ski gear for you?

"BOOKOFF is the place to buy and sell books," but did you know that you can also buy and sell skis and snowboards at BOOKOFF?
Let's take a closer look at the truth behind this and find out what it actually means.

Did you know that BOOKOFF sells ski and snowboard equipment?　

For hardcore skiers who buy their skis and boots from pro shops, it may be hard to imagine buying second-hand skis and snowboards at a reuse shop. However, when you realize you no longer need the expensive gear you paid a fortune for, you suddenly become interested in the idea of ​​being able to trade it in? Or even sell it?

So, what kind of store is BOOKOFF, how does the flow of goods work, and ultimately, what is BOOKOFF as a company thinking and doing? We visited Sato from BOOKOFF's reuse products department to find out more.

Why did BOOKOFF start selling skis and snowboards?

"Actually, BOOKOFF has been selling sports goods for 23 years now, so it's a product that has been built up quite a long history. We started selling winter goods at the request of employees who love snow sports, and it gradually spread throughout Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido. Because they are seasonal products, ski and snowboard equipment and wear inevitably end up staying in closets... But we persistently sent out the message to local people saying, 'Please sell us your products,' and our message got across, and as a result, products started to appear in our stores,"
says Sato.

In fact, BOOKOFF has three different store formats: the regular "BOOKOFF," the "BOOKOFF PLUS" which also sells apparel, and the "BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR" which is a general store that handles everything in a large sales area. Currently, of the approximately 700 BOOKOFF stores nationwide, approximately 45 SUPER BAZAAR stores offer a wide selection of skis, snowboards, apparel, and accessories.
In addition, they also list items on Yahoo! Auctions, so you can actually purchase snow items at BOOKOFF all year round. It seems that winter goods have now become a major business on a par with marine and golf.

What is the buying and selling trend for snow goods? When and what is being sold?

What is the current state of buying and selling of snow goods?

"The way snow gear is handled varies depending on the region, and it's a mix that reflects the region and the characteristics of the customer base. In Gunma, snowboarding is strong, while skiing is slightly stronger in Tohoku. Overall, since the store name is BOOKOFF, a lot of our customer base is families, and ski equipment sells well to families. Children grow every year and quickly outgrow their gear.
Incidentally, in Hokkaido, it is said that snowboarders are the untapped population in the market, but ski equipment sells very well at BOOKOFF, especially in the junior section.

Sales of winter gear peak in December and January, but purchases increase in October and November. Autumn is the season for replacing items before the season starts, or for stocking up closets with winter clothes. Then there's March and April, at the end of the fiscal year, when people move and do a thorough cleaning."

As of June, when we spoke, the store had over 4,000 skis in stock, and at its peak in December, it will have over 6,000 skis in stock

What type of skis will be brought?

"When it comes to skis, the scheme is to have customers sell their skis as they come in from the new ski market, so it's inevitable that there will be a delay of two or three years. The 2023-2024 season models will be available in three or four years. There are some customers who sell their new skis right away, but there is inevitably a time lag. Also, most of the skis are freeskis, rather than basic or alpine racing skis. All-round models are popular. The purchase price for skis that are more suitable for racing is a little lower."

We asked Sato if he had any bargains on powder/freeride skis that STEEP readers might like, and he confirmed the following skis. These are some seriously high-quality skis! They're also on sale on Yahoo! Auctions, so anyone can get their hands on them without having to go to a store

・Armada ｜Edollo 2022
・Atomic ｜Bent Chetler
・ARMADA ｜INVICTUS

"At the heart of it all is our desire to increase the number of people who enjoy sports, so we believe that in order for entrants to continue enjoying themselves throughout the season without getting bored, we need to provide them with high-quality items. We would like to create a cycle where we sell high-quality items that incorporate new technology or have guaranteed safety, give them to entrants, and then the entrants enjoy them. This also means that we are able to appeal to the outside world that BOOKOFF also sells this kind of high-quality gear, by supporting and cheering on junior athletes and sponsoring tournaments, targeting core customers who have a high-quality product

If participants have a good experience using the gear they bought at BOOKOFF, we think it's fine for them to go to a pro shop next time. Conversely, we sometimes advise them that it's better to go to Kanda rather than shopping at BOOKOFF all the time. After they buy something good in Kanda and are done using it, we ask them to bring it back to BOOKOFF. We think that's the best flow, and we're doing it with the idea that it could grow in the marketplace."

Selling your own items at BOOKOFF: "Buyback System"

If I were to bring my favorite skis to BOOKOFF, how much would I be able to sell them for?

"We have a detailed manual for appraisals when we buy sports goods, which we update every year. Trends are also taken into account. Clothing is an interesting thing; trends tend to come around after a few years. For example, pullover-style clothing has been coming out recently as if it were new, but that was popular about 20 years ago (laughs). You can't tell what's trending unless you look at the new models, so we make appraisals based on a solid database of trend information. We have area managers for sporting goods all over the country who keep their antennas up in their local areas, so they are keen to pick up on local trends. They might say, 'This model was popular last year, and this brand is popular now.' We pool their information and intelligence and put it into our appraisal manual.

Also, since these are second-hand goods, 'year of manufacture' is one important indicator, but 'condition' also plays a role. With skis, we check for fine details such as scratches or distortions on the sole. With clothing, we look at functional details such as rips, stains, and zippers.

　In addition to "year x condition," the purchase price of boots also varies depending on the size. Sizes 28.5-29cm are very popular, and for men, sizes 26.5cm and above are appraised at a higher price. For women, sizes 23.5cm tend to be higher. Anything smaller than that is considered junior. When it comes to clothing, bib pants are the only ones that are appraised at a higher price these days. To be honest, I'm really looking for them (laughs)."

Some stores are particularly strong in winter

BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR is the only store that buys ski equipment. They buy ski equipment all year round, but there are often periods and campaigns in place before the season when they "increase purchases," so it's a good idea to aim for those times. Also, even within the same SUPER BAZZAR store, there are actually some stores that are particularly "strong" in winter depending on the region. These are often snowy regions or urban areas. Let's introduce a few. (Some stores other than SUPERBAZAAR may also handle ski equipment, so please check their website.)

If you're bringing in your favorite gear to sell, you can be sure you'll get a good appraisal, so this is a great place to start