I know from my own experience of trying to buy boards from world class shapers that it is difficult and expensive to get surfboards shipped worldwide.
It strikes me that if there was an easy safe reliable way of doing this so that any shaper anywhere could send a board worldwide for a reasonable cost, then that would be the biggest blow to chinese imports. This might be even easier to organise if you only include 3 major centeres, Hawaii, San Diego and the Gold Coast.
I have no ideas on this as I know nothing of the distribution business. Surfboards are unique in their size and fragility.
Just thought I’d throw it out there and see what ideas surface.
surfers fly all over the world every day. If only there were a way to hook up “board that needs to get to destination X” with “surfer Y who is already going there”…
maybe the ASP should set up a deal to always bring in a couple of foreign shapers to every event as part of the contest and let them do their thing at some sponsering local shop during the contest period.
This way shapers could plan ahead and it would support the whole ASP movement as far as surfing goes… one or two guys at the most and hopefully guys who don’t have to worry about their riders in the competition the guys on the fringe of the big labels…
I bet it could be done
sort of like an ASP version of the Traveling Wilburys
If local homegrown event’s like ACE’s or the Del Mar event can do it or Reef can do it, then it makes sense that the ASP does it to beef up interest in what they are representing…
Need a mobile shaping bay (perspex all around) on a trailer that could be towed to the event site. Then spectators could walk over and watch the shapers in action.
How many grommets (or adult newbies) have ever seen a board actually being shaped?
Waste- what to do with it? If we can figure out a way to have a portable toilet I’m sure there’s a way to capture all by products in a mobile shaping bay.
The shapers that don’t want to dissapear in a sea of popouts could step up to show people their skills.
Hey PaulUK - do you still have to pay duty if it’s “your” board you’re bringing in? How do they know that you didn’t take it out of country and are bringing it back? How would they know it wasn’t “your” board that you were bringing in with you and not somebody elses? I’m sure customs wants to have a look at everything that comes in, but do they nick you every time you come in, even with your own boards? Curiousity - not sure how it all works… Having friends down in Cornwall and family a bit farther up I know to ship things as “gifts” but haven’t had need to ship anything as big as a surfboard…
the problem is the forms you need to fill in for insurance and the company you are getting the products from have to declare too.
THEY know gifts are being sent with no duty, and if you send boards as a gift i have been told they will get opened to check, this is before collection so they they have to sit there open getting moved around for a few days in a warehouse i wouldnt fancy it.
maybe the ASP should set up a deal to always bring in a couple of foreign shapers to every event as part of the contest and let them do their thing at some sponsering local shop during the contest period.
This way shapers could plan ahead and it would support the whole ASP movement as far as surfing goes… one or two guys at the most and hopefully guys who don’t have to worry about their riders in the competition the guys on the fringe of the big labels…
I bet it could be done
sort of like an ASP version of the Traveling Wilburys
If local homegrown event’s like ACE’s or the Del Mar event can do it or Reef can do it, then it makes sense that the ASP does it to beef up interest in what they are representing…
This is not going to happen… tell this to anyone on the ASP and they’ll look at you as if you where crazy and needed some serious brain surgeon.
This is not going to happen for many reasons, first of all because i think the ASP has much more things to worry about with what’s going on contests to add one more thing.
MAYBE you could convince, say Billabong, for example, to bring JS to Europe since they own the distribution here, or RipCurl bringing DHD somewhere, to make a series of surfboards with their logo under the glass, but don’t forget they want to sell you clothes (where the money is), not surfboards.
I think the easiest way is the way they’re making it work now: if there’s enough demand from a shaper in some place any smart guy with a glass shop will bring the shaper there to shape for a couple weeks.
I know some people who travel all around the world, i know some people on the ASP, i know some pro surfers and it’s always difficult when i want to bring one of my boards from USA.
Import/Export companies do this sort of stuff. The ‘reasonable cost’ comes when shipping containers are used efficiently. Those come in 40ft and 20ft lengths. Container shipping costs can be split between the users involved and managed by the I/E. If you want to learn more, contact a local I/E company that knows about transporting custom stuff, like art. I was speaking to someone a couple of years ago; a golf pro (caddy) who is from South Africa and he was importing arts from SA into FL for distribution in local stores. He had local knowledge in both places; where to find artsist/art in SA and where to sell in FL; he spent time trying to minimize his transport costs.
There are costs involved; for one, packing goods appropriately costs money, duties etc etc. So the challenge is to make a profit, where costs are quite high, with products where profits are traditionally quite low. Compare this to say, Rolex watches; you can ship 20 in a shoe box and each sells for an avg of $6k.
I’ve been doing a little checking and one thing that strikes me is that it’s cheaper to send a few boards with airfreight from China or Australia than getting them from the UK (or the US) to Norway. Makes no sense at all. If you could fill a container, the shipping cost goes way down to next to nothing.
SHipping the shaper is one way ok. But it means people have to wait and the shaper is constantly moving, which may not be possible or particularly pleasant.Plus you have the agents cut.
I was thinking a co-operative with a shared transportation services. Basically the shaper pays to get into the network distribution, but also owns part of the company. (Co-operative model). A reliable pre-formed re-useable corrugated cardboard box is designed. The idea is to have 4 or 5 major distribution centers world wide. The boards then go from a specialised board distribution centre to freight forwarders. But the size of the shapers distribution co-op and the volume of boards would allow freight discounts with the likes of Map Cargo and DHL etc.
No need to ship a blank anywhere. EPS is available worldwide. If this is a business deal gotta think like a businessman. Like I said it’s already being done.
Then you missed the whole point. One hundred percent hand shaped by the shaper whos name is on the board. That is exactly what the Japanese pay all that money for. That is what they want it’s what they appreciate. They’re smart that way.
Then you missed the whole point. One hundred percent hand shaped by the shaper whos name is on the board. That is exactly what the Japanese pay all that money for. That is what they want it’s what they appreciate. They’re smart that way.
The hand shaped thing is all in the head anyway and most shapers know it. Most surfers can’t tell the difference. However…having done it both ways…it is nice to know the guy that came up with a design actually put his hands on it. Shipping is too expensive and will get worse.
No need to ship a blank anywhere. EPS is available worldwide. If this is a business deal gotta think like a businessman. Like I said it’s already being done.
Good point about the EPS. Still need to find a qualified glasser, tools, workplace, epoxy, etc… And for the $2000 (at the very least + accommodation) it costs to send two craftsmen across the pond from the US to Norway you might as well ship a hundred boards in a container at $20 pr. board for the shipping…
The only reason as I see it for sending the shaper is to provide a better service as the customer may be able to talk to the shaper which may result in a better custom board for them. Some might be willing to pay for that extra service.