Any questions for a hat seller and specialist in Akubras?

[John in Covina]

Do they have any figures as to what sells in the US?

Many buy from Australian vendors directly and we know that there are some Akubra vendors here in the US.

I'd like to know what the US segment of the market looks like in comparison.

Top 10 Sellers
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
• Cattleman
• Snowy River
• Coober Pedy
• Territory
• The Arena
• Bronco
• Rough Rider
• Tablelands
• Traveller
• Coolabah

http://www.akubra.com.au/News.aspx?id=91

 

[Tone]

Tell Rosie she's a resourceful and creative genius, for starters.

And then, yeah, just ask Akubra to please keep a lineup of traditional open-crowned fedoras out in the mix for us DIY'ers.

 

[Akubra]

I have the Cattleman, the Snowy River and I just picked up a Territory.

I love them, I think they are one of the best hats made. I am toying with picking up a Sombrero. I would love to see some pictures of forum members Sombreros if there are any. I would love to try and shape (bash) a really daring shape into the crown. I have seen one done with almost a ramp like effect.

Thanks

BTW here are my Akubras

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/r...7570a83c03315f89dbf2f35f7&sid=8AZNXDhq3atFGZo

 

[Goose.]

.. think they are one of the best hats made. ...

I dunno about that statement Akubra. Jury still out on that so far as I'm concerned.

LOVE that fishing pic!!!! Can't say that I use this word too often, especially out loud, but that is ADORABLE. That Capri juice pack. Tyke could give a sheet about the fish. "Bad Day at Black Rock" work day for me...four people I know lost their jobs to others in the third world. Walk a mile for fresh water, and we have a job for you.

Anyway, seeing that picture is the first time I really chuckled today. Hey, it ain't all abouit me...just saying that's a keeper for the family memory file.

What hat is the baby wearing?

 

[Akubra]

What hat is the baby wearing? [/COLOR][/QUOTE]

That is an old no name kiddie sun hat. When their heads get big enough I'll get them tilleys for summer boat wear.



Perhaps "one of the best hats made" is too broad of a statement. Let me clarify. I am sure there are some super fino hats that are finished much more luxuriously.

HOWEVER for under $100 (which most Akubras can be gotten for) I can't think of a better hat made. I also like Stetson however I think it takes Stetson's 3X felt to be comparable to Akubras run of the mill Imperial Quality. The only Stetson I have that I think has better felt is my 4X.

Also I love the country style of the Akubra. Having grown up in the North East USA and Europe I feel more comfortable wearing the country style of an Akubra rather than the western style of a Stetson.

I can't think of any maker of hats that matches variety of style, value and durability like Akubra does. So FOR ME I think they are the best.

Here are some pictures of my two Stetsons, Panama straw and a felt. Also some more fishing pictures with my Tilley hat in action.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZNXDhq3atFGak

BTW this is where i got my last Akubra a few weeks ago and it is where I will most likely get my next

http://www.aussiebushhats.com.au/catalog/default.php

They had the best prices, fair shipping and awesome customer service. I also got my new Territory in ONE WEEK !!

 

[Goose.]

...
Perhaps "one of the best hats made" is too broad of a statement. Let me clarify. I am sure there are some super fino hats that are finished much more luxuriously....

I was just kidding about your Akubra statement Akubra
Have a few of them and are a-ok with me. Wouldn't buy them if I didn't agree with ya.

Anyway, to keep this on thread topic...

Regarding Federation manufacturing...why is it that each one that I have (three Standard and three Deluxe) are all different in how they feel out of the box? Some were very rigid...some not...with varying degree.
Is there a different chemical or process needed depending on color?

 

[Tone]

Regarding Federation manufacturing...why is it that each one that I have (three Standard and three Deluxe) are all different in how they feel out of the box? Some were very rigid...some not...with varying degree.
Is there a different chemical or process needed depending on color?

Interesting point. Is Akubra (the factory) actually making batches of a Fed IV model, or is it something like, oh, say, a standard Campdraft that's merely had the brim trimmed a bit too much, along with a different ribbon after the fact?

I know there's a minimum order required for a special color request but that's not quite the same as a pre-modded open-crown hat.

If they, AKUBRA factory, really do run "specially modded" hats for certain dealers, what are their requirements (or price breaks) for orders outside of their long-standing traditional styles? This, of course, means something basic like finishing with a different ribbon on something like the Bushman, Squatter, Campdraft, Adventurer (the open-crowned basically).

Akubra, I agree. I'm not too interested in their pre-formed models, but I love some of their traditional town/country hats; and yes, they are fantastic outdoor hats to be worn confidently and without self-consciousness. For what they cost, they're a hat you don't have to worry much about either. Just a benefit that they hold up so well. I really like that they're priced for people who want a good hat to "WEAR".

 

[Old Fogey UK]

How about a Federation in Heritage Fawn with a 6 inch crown and a 2 1/2 or 2 3/8 inch non-dimensional brim ?
Now that would really be a dream hat for me !

 

[Tone]

Hmm. Yes. How would somebody like Old Fogey go about ordering the open-crowned, but rarely stocked by retailers, "Boss of the Plains" in something like Heritage Fawn?

http://akubra.com/products_country.html

Is that a special order (the 3 month wait) for a single hat, or would about 50 need to be on order for the dye process outside of its standard colors?

 

[gtdean48]

"Boss of the Plains" in something like Heritage Fawn?

Is that a special order (the 3 month wait) for a single hat, or would about 50 need to be on order for the dye process outside of its standard colors?

That would have to be about 50 needed much like what it took to get the Glen Grey Campdraft done. That was not a move to Heritage either. It may take more than 50 for that & not just a color, even though it is offered in Sorrel Tan Fawn already. With current exchange rate, you could probably go custom western & get there quicker & cheaper for a rabbit felt.

 

[DMc]

Haven't checked the links and, perhaps, no questions that would warrant time on a 'cast of any kind.

A few things have had me curious though:

1> Why does a Akubra Sydney/Fedora cost about $15 more than say a C.E.O. when the C.E.O. has more felt in the build (brim larger) and a bound edge? Seems like the Sydney would e cheaper to make. Maybe it's the whole supply and demand gig, but the pricing of various models puzzles me. Seems like the Sydney/Fedora would be the base model and options added from there relative to cost.

Same when you compare the Campdraft to the Sydney. And, of the two, I think more people are buying Campdrafts. Campdraft has "more" to it, yet costs less.


2> Also, how long does it take to actually make one hat. Not counting how many weeks old the rabbits are

3> Are ALL materials and labor Australian? Offshoring some assembly for cheaper labor?

4> How much automation at the plant?

5> How many employees at Akubra?

6> Impact of the weaker AUD and the world recession on sales? While the AUD has been rising against the USD, just generally wondering how the company has been doing.

7> What is "Pilofelt"? Is it just hare? Blend w/ synthetic something? Seems really different than my other Akubra hats.

8> Are the Pilofelt (Casual and Traveler) along with the Polystraw (Hayman and Capricorn) simply made elsewhere (China?) then stamped "Akubra"? Or, are they actually manufactured by Akubra? Pretty certain on the poly hats that they are just branded by Akubra...the poly sweatbands all say "Assembled in Australia"...not "made"...could be as simple as sewing the sweat to the crown for that "assembly". No complaints...just nosey

9> Akubra market share in Australia?

10> Future plans/designs?

11> Best selling hat?

12> Hats that didn't last long on the market and why?

13> How many hats in one production run?

14> I don't know what I don't know. So, "thanks" ...

OK, let me have a go at answering some of these questions:

1> Retail pricing of Akubra hats is set by the retailer alone, and will typically reflect the differences between various hat styles' cost prices. Akubra wholesale pricing across all styles is not based upon "supply & demand" but wholly on cost: factors like felt blend quality, quality of trimmings, etc.

2> Over recent years Akubra has decreased the felt hat manufacturing time from about 12 weeks to about 8 weeks - due to improvements in production efficiencies. As a batch manufacturer, each month the factory has a closing date for indent orders (made-to-order, rather than made-for-stock) for delivery about 8 weeks later. Retail stockists submit their indent orders at any time, so from retail order to delivery may be between 8 and 12 weeks.

3> Akubra hats are Australian-made by an Australian owned private, family business. All manufacturing of Akubra fur-felt hats take place in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia - from the delivery of rabbit pelts to the completed hat. Some minor components and some fur pelts are imported.

4> As in any fur-felt manufacturing plant, there is very little automation. Refer to http://www.akubra.com.au/creation.html for more detail.

5> Akubra employs about 90 production staff, about 6 office staff, and retains national and international agents and wholesalers to represent the Brand.

6> Akubra manufactures hats for a diverse number of markets, with sales to rural Australian customers being the largest. Rural Australia has done it tough for so long that this latest recession is having little effect there - in fact sales are stronger than ever into some of our best markets.

7> Pliofelt was the original name for the unique fur-felt blend and construction used in the Lifestyle Collection.

8> Akubra now imports all hoods for straw hats - as there are no local suppliers left due to lowering of import tariffs. We could legitimately label them as Made in Australia, but this statement would detract from the truly Australian-made fur-felt Akubra range.

9> As a private Company, we do not distribute market share details.

10> As a private Company, we do not distribute marketing plans.

11> list of our best-sellers: http://www.akubra.com.au/News.aspx?id=91

12> Too busy making winners to dwell on the occasional losers, and if we didn't make the occasional loser then we're not trying hard enough.

13> Our production runs are dictated by dye-lot quantities per style and colour, indent orders, stock-service orders, and manufacturing for stock. The minimum dye-lot is about 2-3 dozen hats, and up to about 20 dozen maximum. We get through about 80,000 rabbit pelts a week on average.

Hope that gives you a bit of an insight.

 

[Blackthorn]

more color choices

I'd like to see Akubra offer more choices of different colors in all their fedoras. I just got done looking at the fedora page:

http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?group=Fedora+Hats

and there just aren't many options for colors. I wish each were available, for instance, in light gray (the color of moonstone) with a black ribbon, but few if any are except for the Fed IV.

 

[cookie]

Akubra's conservative nature means that it is not a company that searches for niche markets IMHO to its detriment. But at the same time there is such a call foir the traditional hats that they may not be interested in niche marketing as the traditional markets are strong enough to maintain the company's profitability and efficacy. It is always nice to take some cream if it is available but changing Akubra's marketing and manufacturing attitiude is a big ask from what I hear...

 

[gtdean48]

OK, let me have a go at answering some of these questions:
....Hope that gives you a bit of an insight.

MANY thanks DMc for the response = very good insight.
Now tell us how we can go about getting a great hat like the Campdraft in the Heritage line preferrably in a few colors? [huh]

 

[Goose.]

Yes, DMc, as gtdean48 stated, MANY thanks. Your informative answers were great to read. Thanks for taking the time to type your reply.

Totally understand the "private company" perspective on Market Share. And, found your "Made in Australia" answer regarding straws quite reasonable and, ethical.

Wishing nothing but success for my brand of hat :eusa_clap

 

[Akubra]

I'd like to see Akubra offer more choices of different colors in all their fedoras. I just got done looking at the fedora page:
.

I think Akubra has a really great style. I don't know if I would call it conservative. The Akubra style is certainly eclectic, everything from "conservative" fedoras to the over the top Sombrero (which I am going to pull the trigger on) I hope Akubra doesn't change radically. I think they have a sufficient amount of diverse styles to please everyone.

PS besides the sombrero I see possible a Cooper Peedy and a Coolbah in my future!!

STAYING ON TOPIC....:eusa_clap

IT IT POSSIBLE TO GET A CURRENT AND UP TO DATE COMPREHENSIVE AKUBRA CATALOG????

I am more than willing to pay for it, every time I turn around there is an Akubra out there that I did not know existed before. I would love to see the whole family of hats.

Thanks

 

[elvisroe]

Cheers for that DMc,
Most illuminating!
Just wondering if Akubra does have any sort of custom sub-branch or milliners that work to order?

 

[Chinaski]

MANY thanks DMc for the response = very good insight.
Now tell us how we can go about getting a great hat like the Campdraft in the Heritage line preferrably in a few colors? [huh]

I'll throw in a second on gtdean's request. I would be interested to know the answer to this one...

 

[Tone]

I'll throw in a second on gtdean's request. I would be interested to know the answer to this one...

I'll third that one.

 

[DMc]

I'll third that one.

I'll have a chat with the powers to be about a Heritage style Campdraft.

Follow this link for Akubra's current Australian Product catalogue:
http://www.reseller.akubra.com.au/email/catalogues/Akubra_Retail_Catalogue.pdf

Note that this catalogue does not include export-only styles, exclusive styles (like Federation), or custom colours of particular styles (like Campdraft glen grey).