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Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
By:Bryan Hansel
Date: 1/19/2008, 9:16 pm
In Response To: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks. (Paul G. Jacobson)

Paul, I don't disagree with some of what you've written, but there are a few points that I'd quibble with, but not here. In my former career, I was responsible for the sales of 1000s of kayaks a year over 22 stores, and I'm still friends with many people in the industry, plus I keep up-to-date on the commercial paddlesport's industry. And the market is getting tougher. The big box (end Christmas will end big box stores) stores are pushing out the specialty retailer, etc... One in the area went under in the fall and another, the owner I'm friends with, is on the edge... blah blah blah...

All that doesn't mater, because the wooden kayak market ISN'T the same market. See my original statement: Wood kayaks aren't just a boat, they're a lifestyle and that's what a builder is selling. It's just silly comparing a high quality kayak, like those that Dan builds and sells to plastic. Not only are his Black Pearls a work of art, but they command a nice price, and he has buyers willing to pay those prices. If they just wanted a kayak, they'd go out and buy something at the boxes, but they want the lifestyle behind a wooden Black Pearl. Because it's cool and sexy to own one. Look at all the cool things wooden boat builders and owners do. One of which is Meet at the Beach -- that's what you use in the marketing. And that's how you market it.

In addition, a successful business doesn't need to pump out 100s of boats a year to make money on wooden kayaks.

I could easily sell 8 to 10 $2000 to $2500 wood canoes a year in Grand Marais without doing anything but setting them outside with a for sale sign on them. The value of wooden canoes is a know and people drool over them. In fact, I know someone in WI that does just that.

Sell the wooden boat lifestyle, and you'll sell wooden kayaks.

Messages In This Thread

Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Kudzu -- 1/11/2008, 9:44 pm
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Toni V -- 1/12/2008, 5:22 pm
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Luke -- 1/18/2008, 3:42 pm
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Bill Hamm -- 1/13/2008, 1:28 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood *LINK*
Mike Savage -- 1/12/2008, 5:56 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Kudzu -- 1/12/2008, 7:55 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Mike Savage -- 1/12/2008, 2:13 pm
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Bill Hamm -- 1/17/2008, 8:07 pm
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Mike Savage -- 1/18/2008, 8:00 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2008, 2:57 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Kyle T -- 1/12/2008, 8:34 am
Re: Material: BS-1088 vs BS-6566 plywood
Kudzu -- 1/12/2008, 9:18 am
To make a small fortune building boats. . .
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/12/2008, 3:46 pm
Re: To make a small fortune building boats. . .
Bryan Hansel -- 1/17/2008, 10:03 pm
cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/19/2008, 3:39 pm
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Bryan Hansel -- 1/19/2008, 9:16 pm
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2008, 2:53 am
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Bryan Hansel -- 1/20/2008, 7:01 pm
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Bill Hamm -- 1/21/2008, 2:10 am
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Kudzu -- 1/21/2008, 9:14 am
Re: cost , value, and pricing of wood kayaks.
Bill Hamm -- 1/21/2008, 2:06 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bryan Hansel -- 1/21/2008, 12:25 pm
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/22/2008, 2:07 am
Re: Canoecopia
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/23/2008, 3:02 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/27/2008, 2:40 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/27/2008, 2:26 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bryan Hansel -- 1/27/2008, 11:00 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/28/2008, 2:38 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bryan Hansel -- 1/29/2008, 12:25 am
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/30/2008, 2:32 am
BWCA
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/28/2008, 4:09 pm
Re: Canoecopia
Bill Hamm -- 1/28/2008, 2:33 am
Re: Canoecopia
Reg Lake -- 1/23/2008, 10:18 am
Re: Meet at the Beach - Northern Midwest?
Bryan Hansel -- 1/22/2008, 7:02 pm
Re: Meet at the Beach - Northern Midwest?
Bill Hamm -- 1/23/2008, 2:00 am
Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival *LINK*
Bryan Hansel -- 1/23/2008, 6:40 pm
Re: To make a small fortune building boats. . .
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 1/19/2008, 6:22 am
Re: To make a small fortune building boats. . .
Kudzu -- 1/19/2008, 1:02 pm
Re: To make a small fortune building boats. . .
TOM RAYMOND -- 1/14/2008, 12:11 pm
Re: To make a small fortune building boats. . .
Bill Hamm -- 1/16/2008, 6:28 am
work is WORK!
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/16/2008, 5:22 pm
Re: work is WORK!
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2008, 3:35 am
Re: work is WORK!
Bill Hamm -- 1/17/2008, 1:53 am
inner-coastal locations
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/18/2008, 6:12 pm
Re: inner-coastal locations
Bill Hamm -- 1/20/2008, 3:50 am
Re: work is WORK!
Kudzu -- 1/16/2008, 8:13 pm
Re: work is WORK!
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/18/2008, 6:02 pm
Re: work is WORK!
Bryan Hansel -- 1/17/2008, 10:28 pm
Buy a paddle? heresy :)
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/18/2008, 6:07 pm
Re: Buy a paddle? heresy :)
Bryan Hansel -- 1/18/2008, 7:32 pm
You would make a good wife for someone :-) *NM*
Kudzu -- 1/13/2008, 8:36 am
Re: You would make a good wife for someone :-)
Tom Yost -- 1/21/2008, 1:40 pm
Re: You would make a good wife for someone :-)
Chris Ostlind -- 1/23/2008, 7:19 am
Re: You would make a good wife for someone :-)
Tom Yost -- 1/23/2008, 9:34 am
Yo!
Dave ( of Calif.) -- 1/22/2008, 4:13 pm
Re: You would make a good wife for someone :-)
Bill Hamm -- 1/22/2008, 2:02 am
Re: You would make a good wife for someone :-)
Kudzu -- 1/21/2008, 1:44 pm
Or a better business manager for them :) *NM*
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/16/2008, 5:25 pm
ROFLOL :-) *NM*
Kudzu -- 1/16/2008, 8:02 pm
Re: Material: Not all BS 1088 is created equil *LINK*
Donovan -- 1/12/2008, 10:31 am
Re: Material: Not all BS 1088 is created equil
george jung -- 1/12/2008, 10:52 am
Re: Material: Not all BS 1088 is created equil
Kudzu -- 1/12/2008, 12:34 pm
Re: Material: Not all BS 1088 is created equil
Mike Savage -- 1/12/2008, 2:22 pm
Re: Material: Not all BS 1088 is created equil
Charlie -- 1/12/2008, 1:57 pm