[Rhodes22-list] Contest!

Sun Aug 3 21:38:03 EDT 2008

Mike, 
I saw and see your point, actually was trying to expand on it.  Maybe ideas that we have that could be helpful to GBI.  Would one-class R22 events help build the fleet?  My question stands on the new racing R22.  Personally I'd like to learn more about a boat that might carry the R22 into the next 15 - 20 years, if, in fact, the IMF is history.  Does anyone have any info on this?  I don't try to second guess the GBI marketing plan, but maybe we could drop some additional ingredients into a market recipe, especially if Stan is wrestling with it.  Any ideas?
Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>Sent: Aug 2, 2008 9:03 AM
>To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Contest!
>
>Art,
>
>I think that you missed my point when I responded as follows to Ed:
>    "Isn't it bad enough that GBI made such a long lasting boat that it may
>    go out of business waiting for repeat business?  Now you want to 
>chastise
>    Stan for choosing Triad to make his trailer?  They may be rusty, they 
>may
>    be 30 years old, but they are still safely transporting an R22!"
>
>I was not predicting a demise of GBI but rather making an observation that
>the trailer, like the boat it carries, was overbuilt by traditional 
>marketing standards.  Most modern industries attempt to limit the life of 
>their products to encourage replacement business in a decade or less, rather 
>than build the longest lasting product possible.
>
>It is an unfortunate consequence of such designs that the financial rewards 
>of manufacturing are tied to quantity and not quality.  As long as there are 
>enough customers who appreciate the design of the R22 and wish to own the 
>best product available, GBI will not go out of business.
>
>Your point that many of us found GBI quite by accident is well taken. 
>Promotion of GBI is something that Stan has wrestled with for many years. 
>Recently, he has certainly taken steps to increase the exposure of the R22 
>through a certification program and the recognition by major sailing 
>magazines through articles.  GBI has outlasted many of its competitors 
>mostly by concentrating on improving the design and production of a single 
>boat in a niche market.
>
>Helping GBI "get the word out" or trying to expand their product line may 
>not be the best thing that we can do to assist Stan and company.  While I am 
>always quick to suggest that a person interested in sailing take a look at 
>an R22, the best way that some of us can help is to respond to questions on 
>"da list."  Attempting to second guess Stan's marketing may not help his 
>efforts.  We all know that a successful manufacturer needs a good customer 
>service department and Stan refers the questions here.
>
>Mike
>s/v Shanghaid'd Summer ('81)
>       Nissequogue River, NY
>
>From: "Arthur H. Czerwonky" <czerwonky at earthlink.net>Sent: Friday, August 
>01, 2008 9:11 PM
>> Mike,
>>
>> As you know, the buyer makes the choice between painted and galvenized. 
>> Even for a lake bound R22, the galvenized trailer is far better on resale. 
>> Many potential buyers eventually want to sail salt water.  Macgregor has 
>> been supplying aluminum trailers with their boat, versus the painted 
>> metal, due to corrosion complaints.
>>
>> Re. GBI going out of business for lack of business, many of us found out 
>> about the Rhodes 22 by dumb luck.  I really think some form of media 
>> exposure would get more potential buyers aware and curious - most sailors 
>> are - and GBI could have much greater potential volume.  On the same 
>> track, GBI delivered a racing R22 a few months ago - I haven't seen or 
>> heard anything about it, even on this list.  There have to be at least a 
>> few of us, GBI promoters that we are, maybe second owners (like the owner 
>> of the boat that was built) that would like to know, maybe even buy.  Does 
>> anyone have a picture, even know who the skipper is and what his/her 
>> impressions are on the boat?
>>
>> Many years ago I worked for Uniroyal Industrial - what a technically 
>> superb organization it was.  It eventually faltered in spite of their 
>> technical talent, for lack of effective marketing gusto.  There was no 
>> conveyor belt with the quality of their USFLEX, yet ineffectively 
>> promoted. For those familiar there were other important factors also, but 
>> communication within the market was so, so weak.
>>
>> Maybe some of us have good ideas about how Stan could get the message out 
>> that would build the volume, assuming that is his goal.  Ideas?
>>
>> Again, I'd really like to get some news of the racing R22.
>>
>> Art
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>>From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
>>>Sent: Aug 1, 2008 8:22 PM
>>>To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Contest!
>>>
>>>Ed,
>>>
>>>Isn't it bad enough that GBI made such a long lasting boat that it may go
>>>out of business waiting for repeat business?  Now you want to chastise 
>>>Stan
>>>for choosing Triad to make his trailer?  They may be rusty, they may be 30
>>>years old, but they are still safely transporting an R22!
>>>
>>>Mike
>>>s/v Shanghaid'd Summer ('81)
>>>       Nissequogue River, NY
>>>
>>>From: "Tootle" <ekroposki at charter.net>Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 6:01 
>>>PM
>>>>
>>>> Folks,
>>>>
>>>> We have now seen two Rhodes' 22 trailers.  Now we have a contest, who 
>>>> has
>>>> the rustiest trailer.  Submit pictures to list and let Elle judge 
>>>> pictures
>>>> as which one has the most rust.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe we can get John to post picture on web site?
>>>>
>>>> Ed K
>>>> Greenville, SC, USA
>>>> attachment:  http://www.contemplator.com/canaus/rantroar.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>> View this message in context:
>>>> http://www.nabble.com/Contest%21-tp18783353p18783353.html
>>>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>
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>>>
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>
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