murrayceff said..
Could I make a simple plea to all kiters in Australia?
Please support your local kite shop.
I think it's probably fair to say that very few local kite shops would exist these days if not for the rise of stand-up paddling in the last few years.The established kite brands have every type of kite you could possibly want, I think.
I always find it somewhat amusing when a kiter comes in panicking cause he forgot his pump or broke something or other and wants to get a quick replacement part, so he can get out on the water. If the local kite shop doesn't exist anymore, what would he do. Go online and wait X days for his bit to arrive?
I don't know of any kite shops making bucket loads of money. Most would make more working the same sort of jobs you work in and would then be able to go kiting as much as you do. And there have been several kite shops close down in recent times as testimony to this.
I'd be interested to read your opinions on this, but I'll probably be too busy rummaging through drawers trying to find some bit worth ten dollars for a 10 year old kite that someone is trying to fly in 10 knots.

Muzza, since the kiteshop you work in opened in Torquay over 10 years ago, Ive invested locally in it and spent approx $25,000 plus on kites (GK x 3, TAKOON x 3, WAINMAN x3, OZONE x 2), kiteboards (STONKER x 2, WAINMAN x 1) and accessories, thats the stuff I can remember, possibly more. In the last few years Ive also shopped elsewhere for kites and boards. Now I'm transitioning into retirement and a more savvy shopper of near new 2nd hand kites at less than 50% rrp which allows me to spend money on travel instead of new kites, so many bargains out there when you know what you want.

You also sell online and used to sell on fleabay so you cant be too harsh on not buying local or online shoppers, seabreeze itself is a great 2nd hand resource.

So you're after opinions ? well here's my 2c worth, whilst the local uptake of kiting is unusually very low for a strong surf and beach culture town like Torquay, in the last 10 years the town has more than doubled in population and nearby greater Geelong has probably tripled yet there's probably less local kiters here now than 10 years ago, hence you need to attract new kiters and the visiting kiters. One problem you have is lack of marketing, try parking your shop labelled van at the point and walk to the shop, result will be free advertising and marketing that may help increase your business, I send a lot of business your way from people wanting to learn and travelling kiters looking for gear and have no idea what the nearest kite shop is called or where it is. Word of mouth is much more valuable than a google search. Get visible, push the Stonker brand, make money, good luck.

Shame you need to rely on the 21st century version of a goat boat to survive.

Good wind today, 3 days in a row, get out there.

It's all starting to make sense now!!

All these years of cauncy's relentless wind graphs were just part of an elaborate ruse to lure us to his cappuccino-kite school empire!!!

Youngbreezy said..
It's all starting to make sense now!!

All these years of cauncy's relentless wind graphs were just part of an elaborate ruse to lure us to his cappuccino-kite school empire!!!

Cunning plot

Here's a actual conversation I had with a kite shop on the east coast when at the time I used to live an hour away from it. I wanted to order or, if they had one, buy a new light wind directional. Trying to support the local.

Me phoning up: Are you guys open today?

Them: Well obviously eh.

Me: No worries just checking because you weren't last week (I had driven down to discover this).

Them: Well did you check facebook?

Me: No

Them: Well whose the idiot?

Me: So your're only open when it says so on facebook?

Them: Obviously.

Me: Well I checked facebook today to get your number and there's been no updates on your page for like a week.

Them: Well its f'ing summer we are too busy.

Now get this, even after this lovely conversation I still went down there because I wanted a new board and maybe they have stock, I get there to this ( don't know if its the same dude):

Dude: Wat? (Literally "wat")

Me: Have you guys got any light wind directionals like a sector 60?

Dude: Na they're all crap.

Me: Can you guys order them or do I need to go through a dealer?

Dude: Mate you don't know what you want, what you want is a formula board.

Me: Aren't they hell on your back leg?

Dude: Na people just don't know how to ride them and talk crap.


The conversation continued for about a minute with him pushing formula boards for light wind free riding and me asking him for anything else (like north nugget, shinster, skimboard etc whatever just take my money) until he actually turned his back on me and I walked out.

I know for every ****ty sales person (owner) there is probably a thousand ****ty customers but in some cases its no wonder these dudes are having a hard time.

I buy mainly second hand these days and if I need a part I order online from Kiterepublic, or the big WA shops (whoever is doing free shipping at the time) the service is excellent.

Anyway I've always wanted to post that phone conversation, what a laugh! For an actual business trying to make money ahahahaha

Yes, yes thats him!!!! ( jokes ) I've had three christmas beers yeeewwww!) I've had limited interaction with old mate since then, last time I saw him was when someone on facebook stitched us all up by posting a fake news article titled "man saves stranded whale with surf kite" and when you clicked on it it was just a pick of old mate flying a kite on the beach wearing a black wetsuit. Sheesh I nearly pissed myself laughing. Merry Xmas everyone!!!

awkward customer said..
Here's a actual conversation I had with a kite shop on the east coast when at the time I used to live an hour away from it. I wanted to order or, if they had one, buy a new light wind directional. Trying to support the local.

Me phoning up: Are you guys open today?

Them: Well obviously eh.

Me: No worries just checking because you weren't last week (I had driven down to discover this).

Them: Well did you check facebook?

Me: No

Them: Well whose the idiot?

Me: So your're only open when it says so on facebook?

Them: Obviously.

Me: Well I checked facebook today to get your number and there's been no updates on your page for like a week.

Them: Well its f'ing summer we are too busy.

Now get this, even after this lovely conversation I still went down there because I wanted a new board and maybe they have stock, I get there to this ( don't know if its the same dude):

Dude: Wat? (Literally "wat")

Me: Have you guys got any light wind directionals like a sector 60?

Dude: Na they're all crap.

Me: Can you guys order them or do I need to go through a dealer?

Dude: Mate you don't know what you want, what you want is a formula board.

Me: Aren't they hell on your back leg?

Dude: Na people just don't know how to ride them and talk crap.


The conversation continued for about a minute with him pushing formula boards for light wind free riding and me asking him for anything else (like north nugget, shinster, skimboard etc whatever just take my money) until he actually turned his back on me and I walked out.

I know for every ****ty sales person (owner) there is probably a thousand ****ty customers but in some cases its no wonder these dudes are having a hard time.

I buy mainly second hand these days and if I need a part I order online from Kiterepublic, or the big WA shops (whoever is doing free shipping at the time) the service is excellent.

Anyway I've always wanted to post that phone conversation, what a laugh! For an actual business trying to make money ahahahaha

That's how awkward customers get treated ??

.

Customer loyalty is pretty straight forward in any business - if you give good service, customers tend to return and are loyal, it's a two way street. I support my local (Kitepower Sydney) because they consistently provide great service and advice!

As is with farming, to make a small fortune, in this industry... start with a large one!

My most recent twin-tip and kite purchases have both been as a result of being able to demo them first (thanks Kitepower) If a shop goes to the trouble and expense of having a demo fleet and I benefit from that by being able to try something I'm considering buying, then they have absolutely earned my business. Even if it is a few dollars more expensive (it wasn't for the above items) I think that's a very fair price to pay for having a premises I can walk into, with equipment I can see and touch, staffed by people who generally know what they're talking about.In my mind, not supporting local kite shops is short sighted. If, in the future, you're looking for a part, or you want to try something, or speak to someone who's ridden a product you're interested in, and there's just a "For Lease" sign where the shop used to be, think back to how much you saved by not giving them your custom, and what you did with the money you saved. I bet the answers will be "I don't remember" in both cases.

Surfer62 said..

murrayceff said..
Could I make a simple plea to all kiters in Australia?
Please support your local kite shop.
I think it's probably fair to say that very few local kite shops would exist these days if not for the rise of stand-up paddling in the last few years.The established kite brands have every type of kite you could possibly want, I think.
I always find it somewhat amusing when a kiter comes in panicking cause he forgot his pump or broke something or other and wants to get a quick replacement part, so he can get out on the water. If the local kite shop doesn't exist anymore, what would he do. Go online and wait X days for his bit to arrive?
I don't know of any kite shops making bucket loads of money. Most would make more working the same sort of jobs you work in and would then be able to go kiting as much as you do. And there have been several kite shops close down in recent times as testimony to this.
I'd be interested to read your opinions on this, but I'll probably be too busy rummaging through drawers trying to find some bit worth ten dollars for a 10 year old kite that someone is trying to fly in 10 knots.

Muzza, since the kiteshop you work in opened in Torquay over 10 years ago, Ive invested locally in it and spent approx $25,000 plus on kites (GK x 3, TAKOON x 3, WAINMAN x3, OZONE x 2), kiteboards (STONKER x 2, WAINMAN x 1) and accessories, thats the stuff I can remember, possibly more. In the last few years Ive also shopped elsewhere for kites and boards. Now I'm transitioning into retirement and a more savvy shopper of near new 2nd hand kites at less than 50% rrp which allows me to spend money on travel instead of new kites, so many bargains out there when you know what you want.

You also sell online and used to sell on fleabay so you cant be too harsh on not buying local or online shoppers, seabreeze itself is a great 2nd hand resource.

So you're after opinions ? well here's my 2c worth, whilst the local uptake of kiting is unusually very low for a strong surf and beach culture town like Torquay, in the last 10 years the town has more than doubled in population and nearby greater Geelong has probably tripled yet there's probably less local kiters here now than 10 years ago, hence you need to attract new kiters and the visiting kiters. One problem you have is lack of marketing, try parking your shop labelled van at the point and walk to the shop, result will be free advertising and marketing that may help increase your business, I send a lot of business your way from people wanting to learn and travelling kiters looking for gear and have no idea what the nearest kite shop is called or where it is. Word of mouth is much more valuable than a google search. Get visible, push the Stonker brand, make money, good luck.

Shame you need to rely on the 21st century version of a goat boat to survive.

Good wind today, 3 days in a row, get out there.

Hey Birchy good advice thanks - but...
We are doing fine thanks to SUP sales. But if it wasn't for SUP we simply wouldn't be there anymore and there would be no local kite shop.
Seriously, when people from o/s or interstate or even just from the other side of Melbourne, rock up at our place and want a kite lesson, I tell them to go home and connect with their local kite shop.
As for online resellers, I was really referring to the buying of kite gear from o/s websites where the gear is somewhat cheaper than in Australia. Had a good friend of mine buy a 2 year old Slingy, brand new, from the US for less than my buy price. That hurts, but I can't blame him for grabbing a bargain. O/s shops selling via Google ads are a problem as they often appear to be based in Australia.
And there's no way I'm going to leave my van at Pt Danger and walk to the shop! I never get there on time anyway! What I should do is shut the shop and just sit at Danger!

Feeling the need to shout out to ocean addicts regarding a naish mutant I just ordered. It's the first time I have ever got something from them, so emailed them for a postage price, was happy with that so rang up with a couple more questions, Can't remember his name but the fella took the time to have a chat which probably was past closing time when we finished. Could not have been more helpful even before I had payed for anything!! It's a great example of having an online shop backed by awesome service. Will now be first stop for next purchase

ReefWalker said..

lostatsea said..
Feeling the need to shout out to ocean addicts regarding a naish mutant I just ordered. It's the first time I have ever got something from them, so emailed them for a postage price, was happy with that so rang up with a couple more questions, Can't remember his name but the fella took the time to have a chat which probably was past closing time when we finished. Could not have been more helpful even before I had payed for anything!! It's a great example of having an online shop backed by awesome service. Will now be first stop for next purchase

Just because this thread is a "support your local kite store" thread...
Why didn't you buy local?

Cause your local may not have what you need? Or are unwilling to do a decent deal? Or are rude to you? Don't know many shops that would stock a selection of mutants anyway.

ReefWalker said..

lostatsea said..
Feeling the need to shout out to ocean addicts regarding a naish mutant I just ordered. It's the first time I have ever got something from them, so emailed them for a postage price, was happy with that so rang up with a couple more questions, Can't remember his name but the fella took the time to have a chat which probably was past closing time when we finished. Could not have been more helpful even before I had payed for anything!! It's a great example of having an online shop backed by awesome service. Will now be first stop for next purchase

Just because this thread is a "support your local kite store" thread...
Why didn't you buy local?

Not everyone lives in Perth bud..

Still supporting an aussie business so ill sleep easy

I don't think the prices overseas are much different.
www.kingofwatersports.com/kitesurf/kitesurf-sale/kite-sale