US Surfboard Manufacturer's Association

Industry Talk
1

Lets go down this road again – like to find others interested in forming a US Surfboard Manufacturer’s Association to promote fair trade in the surf industry and the interest of domestic producers. Basic goals would be,

  • Political action, lobby US congress to place trade restrictions on China Surfboard imports.
  • Organization of domestic shapers/manufactures/source suppliers into a large enough, cohesive group to put pressure on policy makers.
  • Raise funds to support these efforts.
  • Membership driven organization, annual dues of $50 (?) plus other sources.
  • Non-profit corporation – 501c4 – public policy.
I have set up non-profits before and could do organization, would need an initial board of directors, formation committee. Comments…

2

Good idea… Would this include restrictions only on China made surfboards? What about Australia or the other “good” country’s? How about Thailand and the cobra factory?

I’m all for the downfall of the mega corporation and bringing back the Moms and Pops but it just seems our society is is driven by the greed of perceived convenience. So much so there is a successful business in Waikiki that rents out scooters to mostly morbidly obese people so they don’t have to walk the sidewalks. You can see the same fat fucks scooting around in Sam’s club too.

3
Quote:

Good idea… Would this include restrictions only on China made surfboards? What about Australia or the other “good” country’s? How about Thailand and the cobra factory?

I’m all for the downfall of the mega corporation and bringing back the Moms and Pops but it just seems our society is is driven by the greed of perceived convenience. So much so there is a successful business in Waikiki that rents out scooters to mostly morbidly obese people so they don’t have to walk the sidewalks. You can see the same fat fucks scooting around in Sam’s club too.

I would say any product that is delivered into the US below the cost to make it in the US. When China boards are coming into the US at the same cost as a poly blank - that is way beyond messed up. There is also a wealth of public relations that this group could work on to market US made product.

But, that is just my opinion. Such an organization, if ever established, would need to determine this in its bylaws.

Shine

4

i like the idea. can it really be done? for 50 bucks i’d be willing to see what happened… anyway, i like the current dialogue and debate. would you have bobsleds made in ecuador? so why surfboards in asian workcamps? the greed factor, if unchecked , will tear america apart or at least turn us all into salesmen for some overseas plantation. for a humourous take on this sad economic reality…has anyone see the movie “the yes men”?

5

Its been tried a few times in the past and died.

In late 80’s one attempt was made in San Diego to keep the suppliers from selling materials to underground backyarders who where unfairly undercutting legitmate board builders. When the manufactures where asked to contribute $$$ to fund the organzation, nobody would.

In the 90s many manufactures unfairly opted for firing their journeyman piece work employees and replacing them with cheap imigrant labor.

Now in the 00s, manufactures are being unfairly put out of business from offshore competition who can build the product for less than it cost to pay for the materials here in the US.

It’s a mad race to the bottom. In the end there will be plenty of Mac Jobs around.

6

The political stuff works, but it has holes.

Like you said earlier the shapers don’t want to organize. But now shapers are competing globally. before they were competing locally … .

If you want something to really stick . . . organize on a way that capitalizes the strength of shapers and minimizes the death traps.

you have to go on a quality level. Just ask that afghan warlord who uses that 80’s toyota truck with a mounted machine gun or look at the camry winning the 2006 best overall.

ISO standards exist for a reason.

in surfboards . . . . quality concerns both on how a shape rides and the craftsman ship . . .

Have good craftsman with great techniques for efficient board making. Having those well versed in specialized board building methods (glasser, vacuum glasser, wood board ninja etc)

Uniqueness of product and distinct advantages with few or no weaknesses over the competition.

One distinct advantage is the surfer talking to shaper . . . Another is having great software and shaping machine . . . and having a machine / software tech on hand for trouble shooting . . . A good PC for records keeping.

Records keeping / scientific method / trial and error, can keep your boards improving.

Fin development crew. A team to utilize that aspect of boards … .

A strong R&D department dedicated to looking for new materials, experimentation . . .

Quality assurance for surfboards quality resides on having good surfer inputs, a surfer team with a wide range of skills, board preference, and different backgrounds, but with the ability to give accurate information (instead of dude it’s magic).

Good marketing department / sales: Firewire has fire power because of its strong marketing . . . look at how much its been passed around in surfing circles.

The groms are talking about it . . . recreational surfers . . . I heard a college aged surfer tell his buddy he was going to buy one.

They key of marketing / sales is their contact to the audience, to the people they are marketing to. Their job is to take the pulse of the people, and find out what they want, and put in changes in the product to get the people what they want.

They are also supposed to get their target market involved with them in some way, via parties, contests, etc but not get completely lost in that. People will remember your product if they are taking an active role in it. MTV found out if they ran shows or changed it up, they would increase viewer time and audience. But they lost the reason for their existence, which is to play music videos.

You’re not looking at someone to throw a sales pitch, you’re looking for something more along the lines of surfer speaking with a shaper relationship.

Logistics / the ability to procure raw materials / supplies necessary to build boards . . . though that isn’t important now, but good to prepare for a disaster like Clark and black monday. Also the ability to check prices and discounts and quality . … to ensure . . .

adopting quality based management and direction for your company like deming principles or TQM etc . . .

but when it boils down to it . . . surfers will buy a product, then return to the same people and buy it again, if they hear about it on media, that is cool and accepted by their peers, and is one of the best rides, and if the shaper involves them.

7

IMHO a simple law stating all parts of the board need to be manufactured in the USA to put a made in the USA lam on it. Any board made with or from outside sources must state where the parts/manufacturing originated, no different than any other industry. That way when a retail buy walks into a store they KNOW what they are buying.

8

Just out of curiosity, what cars do you drive?

This thread is sounding like Lee Iacocca…

9

This graphic is my contribution to your cause. I can send you the high quality version if you want to print lams. I own the rights to the original artwork.

-dane

10

that is what sima is but anyone with money can join

11

Sima is only $250.00 per year! An is really organized already. Good point Richard.

However the logo looks pretty cool. It would make a good lam for American Made Surf Products.

12

SIMA is not a bad organization. In fact, its a major contributor to Surfrider. The issue with SIMA is that the vast majority of money in the “Surf Industry” is from clothing/apparel. Surfboards is as very small source of revenue in what is defined as the “Surf Industry.” So, it would be hard for them to put much attention on this issue – particularly with nearly all clothing lines being imported. Bro — that logo is outstanding! email me a high resolution copy please. In return, I will forward my sisters phone number.

13

You got it. I will PM it to you. Keep me posted.

-dane

14

Shine Makes a valid point.

How about sending me the pix as well?

15

I would be interested in joining too. I would also put the artwork on my boards if thats ok…

Tom

16

If you guys want the logo, PM me your email addresses and I will be happy to fork it over.

17
Quote:

that is what sima is but anyone with money can join

SIMA is run by the fashion gurus…

18

Fashion is funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLH3JrhIu4U&mode=related&search=

19

Great idea put a US Quota on the amount of boards that can be imported from each Asian country and protect our industry! This is done on other products to protect US industry why not the surfboard industry. We need an organization to loby this for us board builders in Washington. I was always hoping SIMA would do this to bad their all about the clothing companies and their big bucks! Most clothes are made in Asia any ways!

20

I don’t think quotas is the answer. I think if they are clearly marked where it’s easily read “made in China” or “Made in Thailand” that alone deters it’s share of surfers too concerned with being cool anyway. Right now…thanks to many of the so called leaders in the industry that we owe so much to…popouts have become validated. Kill the cool factor of popouts and imports and you pretty much even the playing field. Also…cut out the surf shops and go directly to the public. The surf shops are no longer your friend for the most part. I say this having owed a few of them. They must buy what they can make margin ons and that they can get easily without the issue of a backup that shapers have during the season. Don’t wear surf brands…and promote nothing but some name. Promote your own label…find someone to produce the related items for that label.

If surfers can’t find your product in a surf shop right next to a popout and the best surfers are not riding popouts…where are they gonna go? Bring pressure on Merrick…Lost…Rusty and others producing their stuff in other countries. Your not going to be able to remain their friends anyway if you begin messing with the good deal they have right now in Asian sweatshops.