Padel World Press - Today Padel World Press We travel to the offices of one of the leading brands in the world market of paddle. Star Vie it opens the doors of what is his house so that we can know in depth what is the spirit of the signature of the star, how its product is manufactured and what news the future will hold.

And to know all this information first hand is made available to us Alberto Mancho, Factory Director and responsible for the manufacturing process of each and every one of the shovels of the Spanish firm that go on the market.

An Alberto who analyzes, reflects and studies how the market is, what are the needs of Star Vie to improve the perception of their products and that is clear and concise about the state of the world of paddle tennis and that there is no progress for the 2020 in the Spanish brand.

PWP - What makes Star Vie different from other brands on the market?

AM - The market, in general, is from Asian manufacturers. There are 200 brands, maybe now less, that sell a very similar product. When manufacturing here, in Spain, we work with materials of the maximum guarantees, with technical specifications that allow us to build a paddle shovel with certain parameters.

PWP - And what does it influence?

AM - Lets you know what its durability is before it starts losing benefits.

PWP - Is it so decisive to manufacture in Spain?

AM - It allows us to handle the manufacturing process, the materials and the product we make. We constantly check what materials we receive and that allows us to have a regular and more stable manufacturing.

PWP - Does it influence the manufacture of the product?

AM - Without a doubt. All blades are made with the same process, the same temperature and the same components. In addition, every X shovels, we break and check how those materials are working. This is only possible because our manufacturing is a manual process.

PWP - What processes do you carry out to control this manufacturing?

AM - There are two processes: manufacturing and gameplay. In the first, we mold a shovel, cut it into sections and see if each part is well manufactured and responds to the expected parameters. Thus we know that it meets the requirements we need so that it does not break. Then, to check the cosmetics, we undergo a washing process of 24 or 48 hours and an operator subsequently cleans it to know that it has been as it should be. If it were not.

PWP - But being a manual process there can always be errors ...

AM - Sure. A worker may be wrong or a material may fail. There is a human factor that influences, but so we can control all the production. Every six months we make an exhaustive study of each process.

PWP - You talk a lot about durability and this, precisely, is one of the most feared parts by many brands. What is your break rate?

AM - Goes per year. In 2019 we are below 1 percent.

PWP - Is that far below what manufacturing can offer in Asia?

AM - Keep in mind that the Asian shovel offers great aesthetic results, but not manufacturing. These can have great playability, but that does not mean that it guarantees high durability.

«By manufacturing Star Vie in Spain we can control the quality of the product»

PWP - Is the manufacturing process so noticeable in the gameplay?

AM - Asian shovels have great playability, but materials get stressed very quickly. It is usual that, at six months, the shovel does not perform the same and notes as the ball does not come out the same, does not 'run' the ball or feel like you leave your shoulder.

PWP - And what causes them to be consumed?

AM - There is usually a great marketing action behind.

PWP - But then it is a problem of the user or brands?

AM - It is common and in any sector it is done. In the paddle you can sell gameplay, price or the materials with which it has been manufactured. The problem is that there is a great lack of knowledge on the part of the user of what is bought.

PWP - There is a bad endemic of the paddle market that is the distrust of the user. What do you think Star Vie brings to break that handicap?

AM - First, the gameplay. One thing is that with the materials we manufacture you like the sensations that our blades transmit and another is that they are playable.

PWP - But Star Vie blades have a reputation for being tough ...

AM - But that's not true. We manufacture all types of shovels and always carbon. In fact, they are soft carbon fiber shovels. We only differentiate between those that have relief and those that do not only vary in price due to the roughness process through the accumulation of epoxy resin that goes into the mold itself.

PWP - But it doesn't mean they are hard or not.

AM - Who wants a soft shovel can go to the lower price range. Eye, not worse. But the user searches for more than 250 euros because he associates it with that it is better.

PWP - You mention another of the great evils of paddle tennis. The average user thinks that the higher the price the better the shovel ...

AM - That is not true and is one of the biggest mistakes in the market. The only real difference is that that shovel of 300 euros is the one that has cost you the most to manufacture it for materials, technologies or type of paint. Carbon, for example, is much more expensive than fiberglass.

PWP - Speaking of carbon and fiberglass, is the durability of one and the other real?

AM - No. Carbon does not have to last longer than fiberglass. Fiberglass is only a more elastic material that provides other sensations.

«Two years ago Star Vie changed its pricing policy»

PWP - Returning to the paddle market, you have recently stabilized your pricing policy, why?

AM - Two years ago we decided that we didn't want to follow that discount policy of the 50 percent of departure and we changed it. Now we place the price within what regulates the market and with the rules of the market at a more stable price.

PWP - Do you think the existing pricing policy is sustainable? Because there are many users who criticize the constant increase in prices.

AM - It will remain as long as the market allows. Behind those 300 euros that a product costs there is a big bet on branding, players or R&D.

PWP - But there are already new actors who tend to low cost.

AM - That has already happened in other sectors and does not usually end well. It is true that it tends to regulate the price, perhaps even lower it somewhat, but in the end what is behind a great brand is a manufacturing service, warranty, attention ...

PWP - What do you think a brand should give the user to advise him?

AM - It would be perfect for a user to tell you which shovel he is playing with and thus be able to guide him. So we could tell you which model suits you or which one you can make a small transition. The information on both sides is very important.

PWP - You are one of the few brands that show your own factory, does it show?

AM - We come from manufacturing outside and we just passed those of Cain, sorry. Then, we took a step forward. The big difference is that you can never say of a Star Vie shovel that has no quality. It may not fulfill what you expect, but not that it is not a quality product.

PWP - How do you think the user sees Star Vie?

AM - I think he sees us as a high quality brand, but something expensive. That is why we have lowered the final price. We lack, perhaps, some image with respect to other brands.

PWP - But for that you signed Stupaczuk.

AM - Without a doubt. Franco's shovel is having a great acceptance this year. As with Matías Díaz.

PWP - What are the big news that you have incorporated this 2019?

AM - Without a doubt the S2 and the Filava. These are two materials that improve the resistance of the blade and increase its durability significantly. They help, and much, in the reinforcements in the game.

«In 2020 there will be two new models with new shapes»

PWP - Will there be news for 2020?

AM - We are working on different technologies and the development of the blade. But yes, there will be surprises.

PWP - Can you tell us something?

AM - We're going to get two new models. Two new ways with some new technology. I'm going to leave it there (laughs).

PWP - Let's take a leap forward of five years. Where does the paddle paddle go?

AM - To me, being honest, what I would like to be able to take out the paddle paddle. With capital letters. A product that with the best materials could offer all the sensations that a player seeks: ball output, control and power.

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