There’s an echo in here.
As a business I think this is a tough market or possibly two. On the one hand we have what for want of a better description (and to wind Ted up) I’ll call the “Demokratik Peoples Riders”/market 1. These are the guys buying petrol and tyres and carrying their stuff in a duct taped bin liner or a hemp sack with hand painted flowers. Then there is what I will call (because it made me smile) the “Tory Stock Broker”/market 2. There is a huge overlap as the some of the market 2 guys do get a bit of holiday.
Market 2 has the spending power, is larger because you don’t need a year off work to join and is in many ways less demanding. Market 2 however feeds to some extent off Market 1. Someone writes a blog where their three thumb indicator switch system results in a walk across the Kalahari (or a trip on the AA van in Surrey) and the market wakes up. The manufacturer who comes up with a laser cut Titanium extra thumb and matching switch cover has a product. Market 2 will buy it because it engages them with their interest. Market 1 will copy it in sculpted epoxy glue and baleing wire or possibly might buy one or two. The Touratechs of the world will be there with something similar, splitting the market almost instantly.
Market 1 people will however then go out and use it to destruction. If this hacks them off because the manufacturer didn’t UPS one to them, they will blog it and market 1 will stop buying. This is a rather classic fashion cycle, but speeded up by the interweb. Anyone who was making aluminium boxes in the late 90’s for example better have now added a soft bag range or got out of the market because we all know Zega boxes leak and leave grey crud on your best shirt and break your leg if drop them on yourself.
IMHO you need to find the niche, get in quickly with a few market 1 guys in order to ride the market 2 wave and then move on. I don’t know what the niche is that a metal cutting company could get into. I fear it is highly model specific. Think Tourateck yellow bits, things to move exposed sensor etc?
From a previous, similar contribution
https://sites.google.com/site/pooratrek/moto-guzzi
Andy
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