Ever had anyone tell you that you can’t work out of a certain area? I had a local legend shaper tell me i can’t do business out of a stretch of coast because it is his territory, i don’t know how to deal with the situation. Japan can be difficult due it’s social status rules. An old school local like him has a lot of contrcontrol in the community, so it would be difficult to just say to fuck off. Any ideas?
Out surf him at his home break.
Tell him there’s a new sheriff in town.
Nothing personal, just business.
I’m lucky as the local repairman died a couple of years ago and I was able to help out his customers. There are a few other guys over here that are doing the same thing as I am. And we all are fairly cool with each other. If I were you I’d just smile and say hai hai and continue doing as you please. You doint want him to somehow get the supplier to cut you off…at least that’s my main fear if that ever happent. Anyway what do you care, you are moving to Sasquatchland.
Be nice… reassure them that if they’re the better one, their work will show it - competition is healthy for business, monopoly causes stagnantation
In a lot of somewhat out-of-the-way places, there is still a lot of territoriality. I found that on parts of the French coast when I first got here. Not really down towards Hossegor and all that where things were in full swing, but on other stretches of coast… I got lucky I suppose and worked with some great people who ended up as colleagues, “competition” and friends at the same time with no worries. I put competition in quotes because really, we all have our specialites and styles, so in some cases it made more sense to send a customer to another shaper. I really don’t dig HP shortboards, just not my cup of tea, for example. And my glasser hated basket-case restorations, which I liked taking on… it all worked out. Even on single-fins, which two of us were/are into big time, still worked out as we realized that our shapes are really different.
Be polite, be mellow, but go ahead and do your thing. You’ll be surprised by how many out-of-the-scene surfers/windsurfers/etc. can be reached via a well-crafted facebook page, website, or even CL listings. Do a great job, respect your delays, and you’ll find an alternative audience for your craft.
My son took over the ding repair stuff that I used to do recently. Another kid started doing repairs literally about two blocks away just afterwards. No worries though, they’ll each attract and keep clients based on their work and work ethic. Of course, kids making gas money and such isn’t the same thing, but the principle stays the same. Respectful competition is a good thing!
Good luck, you’re headed towards a beautiful part of the world.
Gather evidence and send his sorry ass to the police for mafia methods. Obstruction of the competition in a marketplace can lead to large fines and jail and will send him out of business.