AMA - Ask Me Anything (1)
Back in 2024 I did a little Ask Me Anything on Twitter AMA 1
It's something I'll probably do again in the future. For now here are the questions and answers from the first one:
Kurt: Lots of people have asked about Loxley losing Ryan Searle, Matt Edgar, JvD etc. recently and asking what happens next!
Matt: All 3 left with my blessing. Loxley can't afford big money contracts at the moment as it's built solely from my life savings and no outside investment. If Loxley is seen as a "feeder club" helping relative unknowns develop and go on to get big contracts elsewhere then job done!
For the future perhaps Loxley will take on small investments but that would be from real darts fans to carry on the community feel of Loxley rather than faceless Venture Capital who give zero f***s about darts. Even then the focus would still be on helping up and coming players.
Premier Darts: Crewe FC do it and have delivered some fantastic players ( I do wish they would keep some though. I don't see why Darts should be any different. Building future stars is a great brand goal.
Tristan: Love that answer
Donnie: idea, why don't you ad something into the contract for new players like, they can go to another big sponsor but you get x % of the gain for x months or so, you know like % of+ value from transfer in football ?
Matt: Thanks Donnie but it's not all about the money for me (and Loxley). I'm doing something I genuinely love and am happy to grind away. My last job was a cushy one working for the EU but I gave up the golden handcuffs in order to pursue a dream. I'm brassic but happy.
Donnie: not something about getting big money, but more something who can make Loxley sustainable to help new talented players, even if you have some money on your own, i guess it's not infinite
Matt: Thanks Donnie, I see what you are saying!!!
Donnie: Maybe it's just me... but i think when you become famous but nobody wanted you in the first place except the small one who believed in you and given you the opportunity to be where you are today, i think they deserve some payback to continue the cycle
Kurt: Obviously you're only one person who's busy and can only be in one place at once. How do you find talent to sign and what do you look for in a player?
Matt: Mostly it's on recommendation, trusted sources recommend player X and I then investigate. For example Owen Bates was introduced by Ryan Searle. Scott Baker was recommended by Edgar and Ryan O'Connor.
KWynn180: to me it shows how much harder the smaller companies have to work to maintain talent your essentially building them from the ground up where as the bigger companies have the mass scouting networks your literally working on word of mouth.
Matt: Another problem is that as soon as a player makes a name for himself some of the big companies just start tapping them up directly or via their shills. Don't do it behind my back, if a player is under contract come and talk to me or offer a transfer fee. Don't be sneaky.
Kurt: You'd think the DRA/PDPA would come together on issues like this. Seems like darts sponsorship deals are a bit like the wild west in some cases.
Kevin: I can say only one thing about Loxley and Matt , a great brand and a fantastic guy !! “ putting the players first “ is what they do , from a pro player to a complete amateur like myself !! Absolute RESPECT!!
Matt: Thanks Kevin! You are welcome back to HQ any time :-)
Flexiboard: When releasing a new dart how many sets do you get made must be very hard judging how many they will sell
Matt: It really depends on the dart. Usually 100 to 200 per weight. There's a new dart in production coming in only 1 weight and 500 sets are being made. 4 other darts in the works also in 1 weight and those are 200 of each.
BigG180: What's your favourite dart that you made?
Matt: 1) Tuck 25g - was my first ever design and still love it 2) Robin Model 1 - so unique and different but it works so well 3) Ryan Gen 2 - tv 9 darter 4) Katana - simple but looks complex 5) Baked Beeney - sexy dart and Aaron is the greatest 6) Hood - coming in autumn
Justin: How do you manage to always sign players that would provide unique player darts? Because all of Loxley’s player darts seem to be quite unique and without comparable models. Is that something that just happens or is that something that you plan for?
Matt: It's not something I plan when signing players. But we work together to try and really get the players personality into a dart.
Alex: You wrote you were always a darts fan and so on, but how did you get the idea to build up your own darts manufacturing company?
Matt: It was due to lockdown. Edgar and Searle needed darts and the world was closed. I had already been working on darts ideas just for fun (like a lot of darts fans on here) and it just kind of snowballed from there.
Alex: I am really surprised. Somehow thought Loxley would exist longer but in a way great that that whole covid thing also led to some positive things as well.
Matt: Yeah it's not been even 4 years since the first product went on the market.
Alex: What was the first product?
Matt: The Edgar Gen 1 came out a month before the Robins and a couple of other darts.
Liam: Would u ever design custom made dart for people ?
Matt: No and yes. Tony, Zac and others specialise in custom darts so no I don't feel the need to step on their toes. But yes in as far as Xyston was designed by a player who helped with the Owen Bates design. Or another in the works is a lad who has made some pics & socials for Loxley
Alex: Hey Matt, "no" usually means it will get expensive, so just out of interest: How much would I have to pay for a unique set of Loxley darts just designed and made for me to turn that "no" into a "yes"?
Matt: I couldn't do any less than 100 set runs unless I were to work together with Tony on something...
LoveDarts: What’s your favourite flight design of Loxleys?
Matt: Has to be the new autism one closely followed by the dollar bill pyramid.
LoveDarts: I liked the darth maple, the black polished and Matt feather one and the gold leaf feather colour ones,
Cowboy: When will we see the Loxley Robin V3
Matt: I'm going to say Autumn as a rough guess. Might be summer if all things come together.
Cowboy: Oooh it's so exciting
Grumpy: What do I need to do to get signed up
Matt: Throw a "blind 180" (yeah, I checked your profile)
Grumpy: I've just had a go and the closet I've got is the 180 turn my misses has done seeing the holes in the wall.
Freakin Wizard: Will be few :D
1. How & when u discovered darts?
2. What's your fav darts design from Loxley or other company?
3. Some new concept series darts in future? (Ask u later about one model)
4. Fav player?
5. Fav double?
6. Last ^^When u decided u want to create darts company?
Matt: 1) First discovered in the early 1980s, most notably the 1983 Deller final had a major impact. Got re-ignited when Barney won his first world title.
2) I've done a Loxley list already. From other brands it has to be Bulls Curvex C1 21g (with 1g of tungsten putty in the back). Hit a 14 dart leg against Dirk van Duijvenbode, had a heart attack (but played through it) and lost the match 3-1
3) I'm not sure at the moment. The Boulder and Katana just got proper packaging from the first lot so I think it's worked this time.
4) So many from Jocky and Eric to MVG but I was always a big fan of Barney and now I know him, he is a lovely guy, a big teddy bear so that hasn't burst my fan bubble.
Then there's also Aaron Beeney of course who is the nicest guy on the planet!
5) I go through phases. I used to never miss d10 then for ages it was d2. These days I'll always try and get to tops as that leaves me two doubles I like.
6) Initially the plan was to hook Ryan Searle and Matt Edgar up with another dart brand but lockdown hit and there was radio silence but the two players needed darts and Loxley was born. I've always wanted to do something like this ever since I was an infant inventing things.
JB: Would loxley ever go down the route of custom flights like a certain rose fire breathing animal darts brand
Matt: No I don't think so. Nodor/Red Dragon/Winmau are a great company with a thousand more employees than Loxley has. I'll leave that to them!
Chris: How can I become a Loxley tester and get unlimited Darts?
Matt: Den Haag is a hotbed of darting talent, there's a queue of testers willing to help
Chris: Well I am absolutely looking to get into media opportunities within darts. Being from Blackpool if you are ever over here for the Matchplay I will happily volunteer with anything you need Matt!
Matt: Thanks Lomi, I will certainly bear this in mind :-)