OBO : Business evolution from table tennis to hockey

Abstract

OBO, located in Palmerston North, a small town in the lower North Island of New Zealand, was founded in 1992, by Simon Barnett and his wife Fiona. OBO emerged out of the Ishan franchise when Simon had to manufacture products to compete with new Slazenger products coming onto the market. That led to the setting up of OBO which within a very short time came to dominate the world market for protective equipment for hockey goalkeepers. This case study tracks the development of each business and centres on the challenge Simon faces in the need tackle significant production issues at the same time as he is presented with a major opportunity to take his hockey experience to the much larger cricket market. Includes questions for dicussion. NOTE: This case is also available as a teaching case from the University of Auckland Business Case Centre, Case Number: UA-2005-021