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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



 
 
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Old 10 Feb 2010
Mickey D's Avatar
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: California
Posts: 501
Quote:
Originally Posted by adventure950 View Post
Hi Mickey thanks for your comments and input. However I am not into mass produced, profit only manufacturing. I really don't think this product would justify such a large marketplace and I also prefer to keep the build in house, where quality control,customer specified changes and constant improvements and revisions can be built into the system - therein lies I believe one of its selling points. I think Keeping it British, using as I am German and UK manufactured quality materials help with a quality product are much more important to me and hopefully my customers. Here in the UK we have a large tradition - which is coming back into favour of Cottage industry that supports local workers and suppliers - ethically and morally these are important factors in my business plan. I realize other people do things other ways but global industries are not for me.
Best regards Jake.
You have some very admirable ideals for your business plan. Great to hear Cottage industries are reemerging in the UK. Nothing better than supporting your local community. I saw this working in the Italian shoe industry (Ancona) when I was there doing documentary work for the Harvard Business School/Fortune magazine. I've done many shows for them world wide.

So how many units do you want to sell each year? 6 sets? 100 sets? I think you'll find that the market in the UK is very small, no matter how good the product is. Spreading the word by word of mouth can work but takes time.
How much have you got? I assume you want to make some profit, at some point? Or would you give it all to charity? I assume you would use Union workers and pay all their benefits as well. (I am an Union member myself and very pro-Union) If you care about your workers dignity, I'd assume you'd pay them a living wage? Do they make all the best materials you would need in the UK? How are those costs?

I tried to show you a few different approaches to kick starting your effort.
Maybe you missed my example of Andy Goldfine? Do you know who he is?
Do you have any idea what his business is? Based on your very egalitarian ideals, I'd take a lesson from Andy if I were you. He started out in a very similar manner with similar ideals.

Another example:
Wolfman in Colorado is another small, independent company built from the ground up by a couple people. Here is their latest product. Notice the special being offered now. Buy the bags and you get the racks FREE!

Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage

Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage

Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage

Quote:
Originally Posted by adventure950 View Post
PS Mickey, Sam Manicom is a friend, along with being a real and genuine Gentleman. I feel it is a pity you could not have contributed to his work/income/effort of which he lives off by writing - by way of buying his books. Not that Sam would voice such a thought he is far to pleasant to do so.
I found one of his books in a Hostel in Guatemala, another a friend lent me .... never asked for it back! (Distant Suns) Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Have you ever seen Sam buy a round for the boys? Or for anyone? Seems like when Sam travels he is only on the receiving end of things: Free drinks, meals, lodging, bodging on his BMW. But never returns the favor. This from sources who met him in S. America, and I'm putting this in very polite terms. Word is he is so cheap, he squeaks.

I could actually kind of "feel" this in his writing. I've never met him but won't be buying anymore of his books. Quite a bit of marketing Chutzpah to publish a book about a ride that happened ten years ago.
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