Cricket-bat maker Laver & Wood sets up shop in Napier

NEW PREMISES: Anthony van Dorsten, sales and marketing manager, in the new showroom of Laver & Wood on Meeanee Quay, Napier. Photo / Duncan Brown

HITTING A SIX: Anthony van Dorsten, sales and marketing manager, in the new showroom of Laver & Wood on Meeanee Quay, Napier.

Having recently shut up shop in Waipawa, the country's biggest producer of custom-made cricket bats will be showcasing its new premises in Meeanee Quay in Westshore, Napier, this Friday.

Internationally renowned business Laver & Wood pulled up stumps in late August, working since July to get the workshop finished on top of strong sales and increased production.

Managing director James Laver said: "We are very excited to be in Napier and are raring to take our business to the next level.

"Our business is expanding rapidly following a successful equity raise, and we needed to increase our production capacity."

Before moving to Napier, Mr Laver shifted his operation from Otane to a workshop on Ruataniwha St in Waipawa, formerly the St John ambulance depot, back in 2005.

On Friday, from 10am to 6pm, the business will be running promotions, doing raffles, and hosting workshop tours.

Minister of Small Business and Napier MP Stuart Nash will officially open the building, amongst friends and previous customers.

"This is one of the busiest weeks of the year, so we are all flat out selling, making and shipping bats," Mr Laver said.

The company now has the ability to produce about four times more bats than it was previously able to.

"With four bat-makers working at full capacity we can consistently produce 50 bats a week, and more on exceptionally good weeks."

Clients range from big-name international cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara through to 8-year-old kids starting out in the game.

The company's most expensive Signature package sells for $2500, although it has a waiting list because its bat-makers need the perfect willow.

"Different shaped bats require different density willow, and the willow has to be the absolute top of the range to become a Signature. At the bottom end a custom-made junior bat will sell for $400 or more."

At present Mr Laver and his team are looking for the incredibly rare and unique willow cleft that will be turned into their first Signature Black, which will have a retail price of $50,000.

"It will only be available to selected Laver & Wood customers who we know well enough to know that we can make them the absolutely perfect bat. We have one on order, but have struggled to find the willow."

Little has changed in 150 years and Laver & Wood prides itself on using traditional hand-making processes.

"The last major change to bats was the introduction of rubber in the handles, which started in 1856, three years after the first bat-makers introduced a separate handle to the bat to reduce jarring when hitting the ball."

The process starts with a raw block of imported English willow, cut down to size with a circular saw, the blade pressed and hardened, the splice cut and handle fitted.

The shape is carved into the bat with draw knives and planes, sanded, polished and the sticker placed.

In the future, the company hopes to expand its online presence to increase sales around the world, and has recently opened an operation in Hyderbad to deal with the large and rapidly growing Indian market.