Another kite shop bites the dust

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windreams said..
Guys, sorry if this is a daft statement but I’m going to throw it out there; Is it really the overseas purchases that are putting pressure on local shops or is there simply too many local stores to share the amount of local sales.

I’ve been in the kitesurfing scene for nearly 3 seasons now and haven’t talked to one person that has purchased outside of Oz. Admittedly I haven’t talked to many outside of my local beach area but “none??” Most of us purchase from the south east Queensland area and without even thinking to hard I can count 10 stores in this area and I’ll bet there’s more than that…

Nice opinion there Windreams, I have been waiting for someone to say something like this. Right on the money there. I believe around 1 in 20 people buy overseas that being said 19 of the sales are local or inside the country.

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windreams said..
Guys, sorry if this is a daft statement but I’m going to throw it out there; Is it really the overseas purchases that are putting pressure on local shops or is there simply too many local stores to share the amount of local sales.

I’ve been in the kitesurfing scene for nearly 3 seasons now and haven’t talked to one person that has purchased outside of Oz. Admittedly I haven’t talked to many outside of my local beach area but “none??” Most of us purchase from the south east Queensland area and without even thinking to hard I can count 10 stores in this area and I’ll bet there’s more than that…

Go to Tarifa... hahahaha.

I'm not that fussed, but I think it's in your own interests to write well enough that people can at least understand what you're trying to say, doesn't have to be perfect.

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flyingcab said..

windreams said..
Guys, sorry if this is a daft statement but I’m going to throw it out there; Is it really the overseas purchases that are putting pressure on local shops or is there simply too many local stores to share the amount of local sales.

I’ve been in the kitesurfing scene for nearly 3 seasons now and haven’t talked to one person that has purchased outside of Oz. Admittedly I haven’t talked to many outside of my local beach area but “none??” Most of us purchase from the south east Queensland area and without even thinking to hard I can count 10 stores in this area and I’ll bet there’s more than that…

Nice opinion there Windreams, I have been waiting for someone to say something like this. Right on the money there. I believe around 1 in 20 people buy overseas that being said 19 of the sales are local or inside the country.

That may be true guys, but not everyone has a spare $2000 to spend just like that. I think many more than we know, are buying 2nd hand and locally of course.

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Ercorn said..
No they don't have to stop and think.

My money goes to the person with the best price, if the service is good I return.

Its crazy enough we buy kites made OS for the sake of the bottom line, then you spend your money Overseas because you think thats a good DEAL. this kind of thinking has put australia in the position its in, Soon you will be buying kites at Costco with your gold card thinking you got a great deal. local is always best ercorn, your couple of extra dollars you save could cost your neighbour.

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HappyG said...
There are small bike stores in Melbourne that have gone more towards having a cafe connected to the store and solely focussing on bicycle service. The risk is then being too bespoke (fads like foils in kiting). I know retailers dont want to be a cafe operator but you have to get the punters in so provide something they want.

This is exactly why Macca's don't sell just burgers and chips anymore. They would have been long gone. Within 2 years i'd imagine their breakfast won't finish at 10.30am either...

Cleggy had it right all those years ago. Tackle shop on the water that was a hub for fisherman but also the foot traffic bought food, drinks etc. Shame he threw it all away.

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HappyG said..

There are small bike stores in Melbourne that have gone more towards having a cafe connected to the store and solely focusing on bicycle service. .... I know retailers don't want to be a cafe operator but you have to get the punters in so provide something they want.

Spot on! Correct me if I am wrong here, as I am not into retail, but that's part of the bigger problem I think. Shops are not thinking laterally and expanding into other "non-kite related" schemes.

Many shops are still doing the same old, same old, importing stuff at their expense in the hope people will buy it full retail. I know many have ventured into SUP, bicycle hire, repairs, training, etc which is crucial, if not paramount for any kite store to survive. Kitepower's demise in QLD is purely based on lack of sales (again please correct me if I am wrong Jon). If sales (or enough lessons, etc) were provided it would not have closed.

But like I said above (and I have no idea why it was red-thumbed ), but most average Joes do not have $2000 - $3000 to spend on a kite and board all at once. I certainly don't! One guy I met at my local bought over $12,000 worth of gear. I am not jealous really, but gee... that's stuff for wealthy retirees still getting over their mid-life crisis.

And that's probably a good thing actually. Nothing worse than every average mom, dad and kid trying to self teach kite surfing at their local beach and God knows how many accidents would come of it! Rant over.

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Loftywinds said..

iandvnt said..
you can't make a business out of something which requires the right weather - ie wind... and there has been barely any...

i lived in se queensland during the last year and got to kite about once a month.. get too bored for the 11 gusting 13.8 knot days.

kiting is dying here as a result, thank god for waves.

At least you have waves mate! Spare a thought for us in the tropics. No waves, unless a cyclone comes!

I don't think iandvnt wants to be called mate...especially from you, Fernando. No wonder he didn't reply

i havent spoken to 1 kite shop owner distro or producer in last few years for longer then an hour who hasnt mentioned that the gigs drying up and if i talk to them for several hours with a few beers thrown in they tend to try sell you there shop and business to boot hahahaha this goes double for paragliding schools lately :P

but yeah i noticed while i was in nz plummet its all 1/3 kite 1/3 sup 1/3 coffee shop or clothing etc even a few surfing/cafes are around makes sense i guess due to beach front locations etc

so my biggest fear is... are we all turning into poledancers ? is it over? were allready makeing baggage and clothing from kites are the only kiteboards well see in 5 years time faded chairs and resort counters from when it use to be a kite resort.

why are the dive resorts still staying strong after so many years? is it due to the plethora of courses where you can allways upgrade your certifications keeping that customer and course base continueing ? maybe if unhooking was a course the shops and schools would have more students and maybe more $$$$ for everyone except the bucket hat manufacturers

When 15 shops all have the same business plan, same clientele, same competition. Differentiation on after sales service is just lip service in my honest opinion.

Look at what Cirque du Soleil did to the standard circus, it targeted the market of people who were not interested in the circus. It wasn’t up against the Moscow’s, Circus Brothers ect… It operated on a platform of their own, they were innovative.

I think what I’m trying to say is, you’re in for a difficult time, if your business plan is to steal clientel from your competition.

Rather than be innovative.

My mate in Berlin owns one of the largest shops in Europe, he doesnt actually sell so much latest model new stuff onlline or over the counter.

But he and all the Euro shops has access to massive amounts of ex display stock, run out models, trade fair kites , seconds from production runs etc, offerd to them by factories and distributers. Shops buy up this gear which gets sold of as packages and massive discounted "last season " gear, the distributers are the ones doing the discounting under pressure to get boards and kites out often at prices less than production costs. Its turning into a cut throaght market for manufacturers.

Most Australian shops wouldnt be able to get these sort of bargains. while locals are also able to buy this gear from overseas. The local Euro kiter actually has aboat 18% GST to pay. The shops take this off when exporting, which also makes it cheaper overseas online sales.

So its not about the lastest model kite or board, which isnt realy that much cheaper anywhere, but the massive amount of gear that doesnt get sold in the first year after production pulling the market down.

My mate is alot of pressure too, he makes the sale for often for 2 or 3 euros differance to the competion, punters will shop around for hours to save this sort of money.

And then there is actual forum abuse if he didnt give the cheapest price around.

How many imes would a customer walk into a local shop and look at the prices for the latest gear and then the old second hand stuff, when online he can buy last years model or ex demo model at 50% discount.

Flyingcab, I knew you had a big mouth, but I didn't know you had no sense of comraderie, but then again I am not surprised from a gossip muncher like you.

Hi Medic,if you are still looking I have a few options as light wind kites.Call or text me on mb.0488563137.Also cheers Lofty for sharing and revealing QLD KP,was or has closed down.Wife and I were having a camping weekend with the crew and nobody even bothered to mention.Deffinately not putting **** on the crew but hey we could have bought some gear to put a few extra dollars into your kitties even if it was at discount closing down prices.Anyways all the best to Jon and staff really appreciated the service guys.