Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mark wrote: > out of interest, related to the pro vs amateur debate, the company i > worked with for years became successful in a major way when it stopped > throwing bucket loads of limited resources chasing the professional > (music) market and devoted most of those resources to the amateur and > aspiring professional. > > you certainly achieve high profile with the pro market but the > competition is incredibly fierce and the customer very demanding. > > amateurs are very appreciative and somewhat less demanding. there > are, almost by definition, FAR FAR FAR more amateurs.... Was yesterday in a large sailmaking loft and the head of it told me that sailmakers make their reputation building racing sales, but that he would would much, much, much prefer to build a sail for a daysailer or cruiser. Less picky, fewer returns for recutting, less handholding, etc. Yet they will spend just as much time on the design and construction for a cruising sail as a racing version. But with lower expectations or needs, the service is far less and thus profit margins and satisfaction higher for them. And we are talking high dollars here. Owner of a 40 foot boat I crew on just spent $11,000 on three sails (main, #1 and #2 jibs) and we have suddenly gone from middle of fleet to consistently taking the gun. I assure you the loft that built them earned their money just from all the scrutiny (and one guy from the loft crews with us). donal - -- Donal Philby San Diego http://www.donalphilby.com