OEM this, OEM that. How grips are manufactured (mostly)

There are just a small handful of overgrip brands in the market who claim to manufacture the grips themselves. Respect. They know what they're doing. 

In our journey to source for overgrips, we trawled so many options, never satisfied, until we ended up with a perfect partner. 

Below is our take on the grip manufacturing business.  

 

Grip factories

Most grip brands, especially the big brands, rely on grip factories that have high capacity and cheap labor. From raw material production to manufacturing and packaging, everything is done in those factories. I know, because I approached these factories with what I needed, and nothing materialized because they weren't willing to work on tweaking the properties of the material to what I needed. I needed a material that they did not produce. 

What next, then? 

 

Hockey factories in Pakistan

Hockey factories in Pakistan manufacture grips for most hockey brands. It makes sense, since they produce hockey sticks by the millions. But they aren't grip specialists. They only cut and package the grips, from material that they get elsewhere.

Chamois grip, they say. Heck, they are so many types of chamois. From one year to the next, the allegedly same chamois grip from XXX brand has a different texture, different thickness, and lasts half as long. Reviews paint a vivid picture. It seems that the manufacture of hockey overgrips in Pakistan is an afterthought. And it looks likely to continue. There simply is no dedication to producing a well thought out grip in these multi sport factories.

What next, then? 

 

A factory that doesn't make grips

As a brand, we pride ourselves on consistency of quality. The overgrips you buy from us have to be the same quality, whether you buy it this year or next year. The only way is to work with a materials manufacturer who specializes in the material we want. One with a proper R&D department who is willing to listen to our needs. One that is accredited by industry standards. One that guarantees quality control.

Thankfully, we found one.  

But would they cut, deboss, and package the grips for us? 

Nope. They're that specialized in materials. Not OEM.

So who is going to manufacture the grips now?

 

A Social Enterprise begins small

Where I live, there's folks who are seasonal agricultural workers, whose livelihood is at the mercy of climate and just about whatever's thrown their way. Income is uncertain. 

For now, we're working with only 1 such person to manufacture the grips. Doubled their income, positively impacted the family. 

It is easy for me to locate a factory that can do the cutting and debossing and packaging, but why do that when it is entirely possible to create employment opportunities in the community I live in?

It's just about providing opportunities, however small, for the community who lives around you.