jfm
Well-Known Member
For just one minute of girly stuff, with boatie twist, click 'ere to see their brands www.steinerleisure.com
Setting up a boating business
- Thread starter petem
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petem
Well-Known Member
wakeup
Well-Known Member
Can we get back to manly boat discussions please. You and Petem will be discussing the merits of different hand creams next.
All this political correctness, we never talk about OB ratings of boats anymore ?
All this political correctness, we never talk about OB ratings of boats anymore ?
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Its a new world now. Its OK for blokes to get in touch with their inner scatter cushion
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Its a new world now. Its OK for blokes to get in touch with their inner scatter cushion
wakeup
Well-Known Member
Its a new world now. Its OK for blokes to get in touch with their inner scatter cushion
and even make them and accessorise with body lotion
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
and even make them and accessorise with body lotion
I seem to remember there was a thread on sewing machines on this forum a while back. Maybe there's a business opportunity for petem to sell marinised sewing machines?
Imperial One
Well-Known Member
Blimey Mike, I think you have just found PeteM's next business venture.Its a new world now. Its OK for blokes to get in touch with their inner scatter cushion
Scatter Cushions - there must be a huge market for them on MOBO's - wonder why nobody has ever thought of it before?
Apparently IIRC they breed on their own anyway sop stock will be self replenishing.
Brilliant business modfel Pete, if you want a partner call me!:encouragement:
Piers
Well-Known Member
Can I have the European rights?
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Indeed they do and they can swim too
petem
Well-Known Member
How about girly scatter cushions like JFM has that double as buoyancy aids! I'll take the orders and JFM can make them.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
How about just the girls? You could probably make a healthy living pimping out girls to rich and lonely boaters. Thats one industry that is never going to go out of fashion
Or a dating website for boaters? Although that has been done already
Portofino
Well-Known Member
How about just the girls? You could probably make a healthy living pimping out girls to rich and lonely boaters. Thats one industry that is never going to go out of fashion
y
Not so much nowadays in the SoF since the Ruble has collapsed -
Allegedly the market is saturated more so the nearer you get to Monaco .Not sure there's room for more here .
Seriously we have seen "girls" with Russian chaps on the boats -innocent me thought they were all daughters or daughters + freinds -Until my wife pointed out ( after a woman,s look at the the clothes etc ) - that they were not !
Well you live n learn
Last edited:
petem
Well-Known Member
Its been a few weeks since this I created this thread so I thought an update was in order.
Having spoken to people here and from my own observations I think there's a market for refurb / upgrade accessories. My criteria for picking products is as follows:
a) As I don't have the capital or space to take on a load of stock I'm looking for products that are limited in range (so I'm not interested in items that have many variants). Alternatively, products that are made to order would work for me. Ideally I'd like stuff that I can drop ship or use a 3rd party for fulfilment.
b) I need products that are either superior to the competition or ones of a similar quality that I can undercut on price.
c) I want products where I can add value (e.g. by doing some graphic design).
d) All goods and services need to be high end (not interested in selling junk).
e) Perhaps items where I can use my boating contacts / access to original artwork to create unique products.
f) Probably need to avoid products that are already being supplied by Fairline and others (so no illuminated F'line shields for example)!
I do have the luxury of time (mainly evenings / weekends but can also make time in the day) and won't have overheads for buildings, staff or IT. I don't need to make a fortune, but if the earnings could go some way towards running a boat that would be great (T34 - £60k purchase, £6k per annum to run)! In other words, I can perhaps operate on a slimmer margin than others.
I've always been interested in typography, graphics and have extensive IT skills (my day job) so the products I'm focussing on for now all contain an element of customisation (e.g. boat names, logos):
1) Flat cut stainless letters. Whilst there are some people doing this, I believe I can offer a fuller service, greater choice and hopefully at a more competitive price. In essence I want to de-mystify the process and commoditize it. I'm not sure if what I'm offering is entirely unique but I can create vectored designs from the customer's choice of font (I can suggest some fonts but the customer can choose any he likes), organize the cutting of the letters, quality assure the end product and deliver it (pref DPD) with the correct fixings and template. Minor modifications can be catered for at design time such as spacing, and slight font modifications. There will be no charge for the artwork which will be sent to the customer for approval. This might sound very simple but there are loads of hazards for the unwary in both the graphic design and cutting process.
I'm not terribly interested in pre-cut letters as there are other people doing this well already (e.g. tech-stainless). But I might offer some cheap letters for SSR and port names though (as long as this doesn't involve me having to keep much stock).
I'm currently working with esteemed forumite "Jimmy The Builder" of this parish on the replacement/upgrade of some of his TARGA badges. This has been an invaluable learning exercise and I'm v grateful to Jimmy for his advice and patience. Pics of the end product to follow shortly I hope!
NOTE - If anyone reading this fancies some cut stainless letters for their own boat then drop me a line. I'll be happy to work for free / at cost in return for a few pics / testimonials.
2) Fender socks and other custom embroidered products. I've found a great company in Germany that offers top end products. They sell extensively in Europe but aren't well know in the UK. Again, I can use my graphic design skills here. They also make a fender sock kit from a non fraying sock material for home cutting (sold by the metre). If anyone wants some let me know! I know from recent forum posts that a number of posters hereabout already buy this product at euro boat shows so there is a market for it. I may have some difficulty in persuading JFM to part with his current sock supplier but you never know!
3) Unbreakable glass. This was one of JFM's suggestions and initially I dismissed it. Needless to say, there are hundreds of styles of glass but if I could find one or two styles that would appeal to boaters then this might be doable (small / tall tumblers, champagne / white wine / red wine glasses). Again, engraving with logos / boat names is a possbility. Need to find a reliable drop shipper for this.
4) Halogen to LED conversion kits. I think there's a nugget of an idea here. Making it easy for owners to replace their old (Cantalupi) lighting with the modern equivalent. JTB is doing this in his refurb and I think JFM has done it in the past. Unfortunately I suspect the market for this is a little too limited.
5) Lumishore lights. It goes without saying that this is a great product (particularly compared to some of the junk out there) but nobody seems to be selling it online (forgive me EME if I'm wrong). Perhaps there might be a 'standard' / 'basic' Lumishore light that could be sold from an eCommerce shop (rather than a "Price On Application" approach). I need to talk to EME about this.
That's it for now, feedback (positive and welcome). And again, thanks to everyone for their help.
Pete
Having spoken to people here and from my own observations I think there's a market for refurb / upgrade accessories. My criteria for picking products is as follows:
a) As I don't have the capital or space to take on a load of stock I'm looking for products that are limited in range (so I'm not interested in items that have many variants). Alternatively, products that are made to order would work for me. Ideally I'd like stuff that I can drop ship or use a 3rd party for fulfilment.
b) I need products that are either superior to the competition or ones of a similar quality that I can undercut on price.
c) I want products where I can add value (e.g. by doing some graphic design).
d) All goods and services need to be high end (not interested in selling junk).
e) Perhaps items where I can use my boating contacts / access to original artwork to create unique products.
f) Probably need to avoid products that are already being supplied by Fairline and others (so no illuminated F'line shields for example)!
I do have the luxury of time (mainly evenings / weekends but can also make time in the day) and won't have overheads for buildings, staff or IT. I don't need to make a fortune, but if the earnings could go some way towards running a boat that would be great (T34 - £60k purchase, £6k per annum to run)! In other words, I can perhaps operate on a slimmer margin than others.
I've always been interested in typography, graphics and have extensive IT skills (my day job) so the products I'm focussing on for now all contain an element of customisation (e.g. boat names, logos):
1) Flat cut stainless letters. Whilst there are some people doing this, I believe I can offer a fuller service, greater choice and hopefully at a more competitive price. In essence I want to de-mystify the process and commoditize it. I'm not sure if what I'm offering is entirely unique but I can create vectored designs from the customer's choice of font (I can suggest some fonts but the customer can choose any he likes), organize the cutting of the letters, quality assure the end product and deliver it (pref DPD) with the correct fixings and template. Minor modifications can be catered for at design time such as spacing, and slight font modifications. There will be no charge for the artwork which will be sent to the customer for approval. This might sound very simple but there are loads of hazards for the unwary in both the graphic design and cutting process.
I'm not terribly interested in pre-cut letters as there are other people doing this well already (e.g. tech-stainless). But I might offer some cheap letters for SSR and port names though (as long as this doesn't involve me having to keep much stock).
I'm currently working with esteemed forumite "Jimmy The Builder" of this parish on the replacement/upgrade of some of his TARGA badges. This has been an invaluable learning exercise and I'm v grateful to Jimmy for his advice and patience. Pics of the end product to follow shortly I hope!
NOTE - If anyone reading this fancies some cut stainless letters for their own boat then drop me a line. I'll be happy to work for free / at cost in return for a few pics / testimonials.
2) Fender socks and other custom embroidered products. I've found a great company in Germany that offers top end products. They sell extensively in Europe but aren't well know in the UK. Again, I can use my graphic design skills here. They also make a fender sock kit from a non fraying sock material for home cutting (sold by the metre). If anyone wants some let me know! I know from recent forum posts that a number of posters hereabout already buy this product at euro boat shows so there is a market for it. I may have some difficulty in persuading JFM to part with his current sock supplier but you never know!
3) Unbreakable glass. This was one of JFM's suggestions and initially I dismissed it. Needless to say, there are hundreds of styles of glass but if I could find one or two styles that would appeal to boaters then this might be doable (small / tall tumblers, champagne / white wine / red wine glasses). Again, engraving with logos / boat names is a possbility. Need to find a reliable drop shipper for this.
4) Halogen to LED conversion kits. I think there's a nugget of an idea here. Making it easy for owners to replace their old (Cantalupi) lighting with the modern equivalent. JTB is doing this in his refurb and I think JFM has done it in the past. Unfortunately I suspect the market for this is a little too limited.
5) Lumishore lights. It goes without saying that this is a great product (particularly compared to some of the junk out there) but nobody seems to be selling it online (forgive me EME if I'm wrong). Perhaps there might be a 'standard' / 'basic' Lumishore light that could be sold from an eCommerce shop (rather than a "Price On Application" approach). I need to talk to EME about this.
That's it for now, feedback (positive and welcome). And again, thanks to everyone for their help.
Pete
jimmy_the_builder
Well-Known Member
Good going Pete. Your letters arrived this morning, and I stuck one set on the boat this afternoon - pics on my refit thread. Very pleased with the result - thanks!
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
I
I would be very interested in a couple of Rafiki's to fit either side of the Flybridge. She already has stainless lettering on the transom.
sampeeter
Member
Customers - First, like any business you need to really understand your customers at a very high level of detail.
Regulations - Second, once you understand your customers in detail and are still interested in entering this business, you'll need to deal with all the regulatory agencies that control Yacht Charters.
The Boat - Finally, most of us (actually probably almost all of us) buy boats for completely irrational reasons.
Advertise - Network with local marine supply stores to set up a mutual referral system to promote business. Create a website complete with video footage of whale sightings, landing trophy fish or little kids having fun with snorkeling gear. Reach out to colleagues in the travel industry, including hotel concierge, travel agents and the Chamber of Commerce to promote the boat charter business.
mcintoshmarine.com
Regulations - Second, once you understand your customers in detail and are still interested in entering this business, you'll need to deal with all the regulatory agencies that control Yacht Charters.
The Boat - Finally, most of us (actually probably almost all of us) buy boats for completely irrational reasons.
Advertise - Network with local marine supply stores to set up a mutual referral system to promote business. Create a website complete with video footage of whale sightings, landing trophy fish or little kids having fun with snorkeling gear. Reach out to colleagues in the travel industry, including hotel concierge, travel agents and the Chamber of Commerce to promote the boat charter business.
mcintoshmarine.com
Aardee
Well-Known Member
Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but who mentioned chartering?
jimmy_the_builder
Well-Known Member
You didn't read it wrong, it's just spam.
harstonwood
Well-Known Member
We are in the market for some high quality wine glasses and whisky tumblers etc. quality is more important than price
We have never found anything that really ticks the box.....agree with JFM.....def a market here for unbreakabke stuff
If you source some.....could you let me know?
Thanks
We have never found anything that really ticks the box.....agree with JFM.....def a market here for unbreakabke stuff
If you source some.....could you let me know?
Thanks
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