The trend now with US surfboard manufactures is to partially or completely shut down their domestic production or stop sending their blanks to get glassed at a domestic glass shop and offshore their production to the third world.
A lot of Aussie brands exported to US and sold as “Australian Made” are actually built in China, shipped to Oz, then shipped to the US.
On top of all this there’s all the brands who have recently jump on the molded band wagon.
US surfboard manufactures have nothing to worry about being able to stay in business-they’ll just offshore like every other US business has.
The people that are getting hurt are the US employees/sub contractors who are loosing their livelyhoods en masse.
The other day while driving I saw this bumper sticker “Santa fired all the elves and offshored his toyshop to China”.
And It’s exactly whats happening in Australia too. China that is.
I won’t give my background away, but in a former corporate life in Australia , A very high profile Australian public company was producing in China and it came back to bite them just like it will the surfboard industry in Australia will.
But here’s a question. ???
They, the directors of these companies, think that China is the answer. ( profit wise ) but ! and heres the question.
What next ?? once youv’e realised your increase in margin and you have satisfied your shareholders for the first half of the new fincincial year. What next. ??
Volome. yeah right. that doesn’t work.
buy out other like companies , Maybe ??? But how many do you want ???
Guys it doesn’t end.
Have a good think of the past for god sake and slow down. Money is not everything.
A lot of you will Question this but. your only experiencing it for the first time.
Once China has the shapes…or thailand…it’s a matter of time before they produce them and go straight to the public. Can’t claim name brand means much anylonger since surfboards are now being turned into a comodity. Some will simply buy name recognition…like some of the boardworks guys have. Guys that don’t even shape.
As much as I hate to admit it. I have seen these guys work and there is nothing wrong with it. I wonder is the Mike Ho is the same one as the great surfer from Hawaii.
I would be interested in being on your board of directors if you still need help. I am currently the Executive Director of Wahine Kai International, the national association of women surfers. It is a 501(c)7 corp. that I formed 2 years ago. I have 4 board members that work under me and they are each responsible for the various committees that I set up. You can e-mail me at info@hbwomensurfclub.com
“Takayama says the plugs are just the beginning, and that he plans to move his entire production to China in order to better service the market.”
The bottom line is the quality in some of these spots in Asia is good and it’s the reality. No club or organization is going to even slow it down. Some shapers will always get their bit of business…but the next generation of shapers is likely not to happen. There was problems here even before China came on the scene because few of the great shapers that came before easy to shape blanks didn’t train or didn’t want to train apprentices. The end result was going to be future shapers with ok talent. Outsourcing is the future of most production in America if someone wants to stay in business or be competitive. I have written my share on the subject but reality is what it is…not what we wish it to be. As Thomas Friedman says…“The earth is Flat”
I wonder if anybody will want to pay $1200 retail (which is about what a 9’0’ DT sells for these days) for a board built by the same manufacturer that builds the Costco boards that sell for about $1000 less.
I wonder if anybody will want to pay $1200 retail (which is about what a 9’0’ DT sells for these days) for a board built by the same manufacturer that builds the Costco boards that sell for about $1000 less.
Ha Ha…I don’t think so. There lies another completely different issue. Good point. Some of the shapers will probably do as Walden…Stock boards made in China…custom shapes by request…popouts for retail shops as well.
You can count me in.I had a great gig shipping handcrafted boards from my factory in Hawaii to the mainland overnight via Hawaiian airlines only to be met with a 4 x shipping increase over Christmas 2 yrs ago.The shipping ate up all of my profits.They want fair international trade ? …well practice what you preach.NAFTA is a one sided agreement. (Thanks slick Willy). On another note pertaining to the same subject…Im running for district 5 rep here in Hawaii fighting the Jones Act of 1920.One container going from LA to China 800 dollars.The same container from LA to Hawaii 8,500 dollars.Something is inherently wrong with the mislabeled ,alleged free trade agreement.We need to get the guys from OZ on board for they are experiencing the same thing.Where do I sign up ? www.lalasurfboards.com
