hi Reverb… i wasnt sure if you replied to me yet? my orders too are increasing… if you have looked at my website regularly over the years you have seen that my boards have stood out as different from the mainstream… i dont have a clear white board in my shop… havent had one for 2-3 years… i just worked out that my std board price has risen by an average of $37.50 per year for the last 6 years… and im still selling more than ever. i am sure im reaping the rewards for the hands on, emails and face time with my customers. 3 new whole sale shop accounts already this year… with my terms (pay before dispatch)… Sow Good, Reap well!
yes, if I remember right, I used or tested very long time ago, but I really didn t like it
no grab the foot well, kind of slip and it was a crap to adhere on the board
Returning to main debate:
My orders have been increasing moderately faster later.
what I found in common was/is that the customers, including surf shop, are avids of understand a bit more about design and are opened to other types of boards among HPSB.
for ex.: the local surf shop ordered boards that are uncommon for a shop, so paid more…by the way, those boards look like a fly on the wall (in the soup) in a land of clear white FCS finned sanded HPSB
I put lot of work to try that thing happened, and I believe (and practice) in the mouth-mouth “gospel”, one on one; kind of pastor (minister) thing wherever place I go if some one display interest. So, the people seem to like that a guy, me in this case, spend some time on them, outside a wshop environment.
My shop is on property I own… no commute, legit tax deductions under rules of IRS, wholesale pricing becuz I hold a current Resale Permit and buy in quantity and/or have purchasing power to buy out people’s inventories when they give up or down size.
Some of the stuff I buy for pennies on the dollar I sell a portion to others for a good price while recouping my original investment or making a profit. This provides a win win for me selling and those buying.
I don’t build time consuming labor intensive one of a kind boards that rich friends dabble in making that can never get a decent profit from. I won’t make anything that I net less than $250 for regardless of who it is or who they think they are. I usually make more when the extras get added. If anyone does’t like paying me what I require they should go to someone else.
I’ve had my 15 minutes of fame. All the prestige and “in the name of promotion” doesn’t keep my lights on at night when the sun goes down.
I used to make a lot of boards in a big factory with lots of co workers and people stopping by constantly… now I build less boards with no co workers and no one stopping by. If I wanna spend hours bullshitting with people I’ll go to the next Sacred Craft or surf contest.
I do guerilla marketing on the internet and have a steady flow of customers and some shops carrying my boards that can get a decent mark up that I don’t undercut making them look bad.
I treat my customers like gold.
I deliver quickly.
For me LESS is MORE.
…and I’m having fun doing it.
P.S. Make what people want &don’t leave yourself out of the equation. Crunch your numbers & have a f-o-r-m-u-l-a.
You might like making something but a loser is a loser is a loser…
DS-------Good words on this topic and what it takes to stay above water in the Biz. A resale license in the State of Calif. is a key part of it. Even if you are in another state but take delivery on materials in Calif. you still need a resale# otherwise the supplier won't deal with you. Taking advantage of matreial deals like you have is important as well. Quanity deals on blanks, rolls of cloth and drums No wasted time or money. Stay with the program..
Oh! You're talking about literally, actually being underwater? Just an attempt at humor. I've been hearing about the flood via internet news and a little on the weather channel. You know us Yanks are so self obsessed we rarely think about other parts of the World(seriously). Do you know that We have the richest poor people in the world? Hope you all come out OK down there. Prayers and encouragement for everyone Down Under to get thru this catastrophe. Austrailians aren't quitters. I know that much about 'em.
Thinking it's a bit hard having to crunch any numbers whilst relying on surfers for your income, even though yours make sense. One more thing, is a loser someone who fails after, say 1 year, 5 years, 20 , 30 , 40?, unless you think your'e always going to be a winner? Because circumstances can change and is a winner someone who hangs around a stinky surfboard factory for their whole life?
Huie… I’ve seen the news on all the flooding, crocs and snakes in the water. Horrible… loss of life and all the damage. I feel for those folks.
Man those inserts are beautifully done, but if they get any bigger maybe you can just ride the inserts instead of the blank. LOL. I mean c’mon you guys, high tech yes, but them suckas are huge! :0
