dont know if this has been posted, but i thought it was intersting... discuss
Nasty New Zealand Longboard Skateboard Market
January 9, 2008
Joe Lindsay a local longboarder and previous skurfboards contest winner wrote a great article in 2006 about the New Zealand skateboard market . The worst thing is that this article is still totally relevant today in 2008. A topic that is on the minds of most kiwi longboarders.
Just to give non - New Zealanders a little run down on our situation here: New Zealand has most likely got the highest longboard per person ratio in the world. I would be suprised if there were more then 8 stores selling longboards (this includes all the clothes shop that have placed a couple of longboards on a rack ). You would not be able to buy a half decent complete these days for less then $450NZD ($280 USD ) from any of the local stores. The only available big brand boards you can buy in stores are Sector9, Gravity, and a few GFH.
Joe says:
“The New Zealand skate retailers are pulling the wool over our eyes now. I expect that the margins are huge, still charging what was a good price in 2000. Here’s an example: My longboard I bought in September 2005 Cost NZ$500 in shops here. It costs US$149 in America. Even with US$70 freight, I still saved NZ$170 by buying from USA. ”
donald trump angry
Joe then brings out the big questions:
“Should I encourage more people to shop in New Zealand, to increase volume and bring prices down? (Would it work or just generate more profits for retailers?)
I say: Hell no, I don’t think are going to bring prices down anytime soon, they have no reason to at the moment. Let them starve and rot, they don’t deserve our money.
Should I encourage more people to shop overseas, to increase competition, wake up retailers and bring prices down?
I say: Shop overseas, show our interest to the world so they will eventually open shop over here. Let our present retailers starve and rot (CheapSkates).
Should I join the bandwagon and start bringing in gear and retail it myself to fund my hobbies?
Even buying at full retail from USA, I could still make money. I have only found one online store in NZ that I would consider buying from. I say: It’s the way to go, if you just want to make a quick and fund your hobbies, but is probably more hassle then it’s worth.
Is building my own store another way to go? Should I find NZ wholesalers and see what sort of deals I can do? Or would Trademe.co.nz be better? ”
I say: If you can commit to building your own store, then local longboards would love you. It can easily work if you get in contact with the right people, your profit margins would be huge. Other stores will starve and rot. Trademe is only good for one off’s, I wouldn’t depend on it for business.
I swear all of those questions have all gone through our heads at one point of time. 90% of kiwi longboarders I’ve chatted with have talked about opening a store, personally importing from the states, or anything to compete with the local greedy fat cat retail stores with a lacking selection and a prices to make Donald Trump get his hanky out.
I expect in the next five years there should be a shift in the New Zealand skateboard market. Allowing all of us to go down to our local store without having to bow down and pay $450 NZD a pop. Lets see who makes the move first… I wonder?
if im buying any gear my first stop is trademe.... closely followed and compared with US online stores
although recently there has been a couple of nz online stores pop up and im now watching them and will probably end up buying there to support the REAL prices... although with the high dollar its still competitive to buy from the US stores...even with shipping...
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all teenagers are drunken dope-addicts or glue-sniffers
if im buying any gear my first stop is trademe.... closely followed and compared with US online stores
although recently there has been a couple of nz online stores pop up and im now watching them and will probably end up buying there to support the REAL prices... although with the high dollar its still competitive to buy from the US stores...even with shipping...
i buy what i can local.
buy kiwi and weve got it made ;P
but in all honesty im a broke student, so i buy smaller less signifcant things (bushings, bolts)
from lostboy or bestboards. I also refer everyone who i can to them.
but sorry locals if im gunna be spending $500 on trucks, wheels, bearings and i can get 3 or 4 sets instead of 2 then i go international.
if that makes sence
interesting read (NZ folks)
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