Suggestion Is there a forum for Dive Shop Owners?

[divepa]

Is there a place for dive shop owners to post? Does anyone else think that is a good suggestion?

Divepa

 

[Dive Source]

What do you call 10 Attorney's at the bottom of the Ocean..
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A Good Start !


God Bless America

 

[scubasean]

Case #1: That "very pushy" manufactuer sales rep who won't stay out of your shop and continues to hammer you for more sales leads.

Your new answer: Hey DuckPond, your the largest manuf of regulators in the world. If you want your products in more shops, then pay to advertise in the NEW SB Dive Shop Owners Forum.

What do you tell him the following month?

 

[Jack Cummins]

It is a good idea for businesses to talk with each other. But there are a couple factors that could rise up to bite you in the butt if you aren't careful. A couple:

These are Businesses. How much profit they make isn't the issue. They are Businesses. So, do you want to give them a free service? If so, why? If this has a value they should be expected to pay a fair price for the service.

Sometimes it is a short step from talking in generalities to monopoly generating actions like price fixing, etc.

Now it is your Board and how you run it is really none of my business. But, I really like it and would hate for your good intentions to get tangled and mess it up.

Speaking of monopolies, etc., as a manufacturer, one of the first topics I would broach on the new site would be a discussion of OEM's ability to get Dive Shops to sign agreements to only market/sell their (overpriced ) products. How did this travesty of freedom of commerce come about? Seems to me an OEM needs to do this only if he's afraid his product can't stand up to some new competition.

 

[Groundhog246]

Regarding verification of Dive Shops. IF you could get the manufacturers/distributers on board, I'd suggest using them to verify, much as one does for a credit application. If someone says he's an LDS he has to buy gear. In Ontario many LDS would deal with Divmar or Diversico. If they fill out a form and supply 2 or 3 industry contacts such as another LDS, a supplier or training agency, you should be able to ascertain whether they are or are not who they claim to be.

 

[Jack Cummins]

Very true Jack Cummins, however while I know how to verrify US businesses I doubt a company in Vietnam is going to want to fax me their inc papers and I certainly can't validate them? Still, corperate validation is a good idea...

Yes, maybe you're right, but believe me there's no country like a Communist country to make sure you have plenty of government paperwork to prove who and what you are.

Beside, our company is registered and has incorporated in the USA also and could provide a tax id number.

 

[Ted S]

The solution: we will evaluate different forms of verrification (reseller id, inc papers, etc...) and set up a criteria list. Applicants will be able to show one, tow or three forms of proof depending on the value of each item. This way no one single item is required and it isn't a huge hasstle to become approved for the forum either.

 

[Steve_S]

What do you tell him the following month?

Your post count is lacking

Actually, with your new found "network" of folks who share similar experiences and tips, it won't bother you since the group will have better solutions than moi

How many SB members in this B2B Category do you think we have?

Would the launch of this Categoy encourage new members to join SB who are engaged in the retail/wholesale/manuf space?

 

[scubasean]

How many SB members in this B2B Category do you think we have?

Would the launch of this Categoy encourage new members to join SB who are engaged in the retail/wholesale/manuf space?

I think the more interesting question is...

How many business owners are there here that are willing to share their scuba ideas/promotion/selling/etc. techniques with the competition?

 

[Dive Source]

I think the more interesting question is...

How many business owners are there here that are willing to share their scuba ideas/promotion/selling/etc. techniques with the competition?

Who knows? Does it matter to start?

But once this gets going I know 20-30 owners I am going to call or email and ask them if they would like to join.

I think most owners will start with the basic ideas and be cautious with their best ideas at first.

Later on Big ideas can get discussed like co-advertising. For example once we get alot of owners from my area of the country we could discuss things like television or magazine ads which focus on learning to scuba dive then have a website address that is devoted to scuba diving and what member shops are available to teach you.

The ideas to promote diving are endless once you have group support.

People have to stop saying "why" and say "why not?"

 

[Steve_S]

Who knows? Does it matter to start?

But once this gets going I know 20-30 owners I am going to call or email and ask them if they would like to join.

I think most owners will start with the basic ideas and be cautious with their best ideas at first.

Later on Big ideas can get discussed like co-advertising. For example once we get alot of owners from my area of the country we could discuss things like television or magazine ads which focus on learning to scuba dive then have a website address that is devoted to scuba diving and what member shops are available to teach you.

The ideas to promote diving are endless once you have group support.

People have to stop saying "why" and say "why not?"

Exactly Outstanding

As I mentioned in the following post: http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=537819&postcount=27

With the appropriate Moderator, it won't take you long to reach critical mass and this will always attract OEMs. Then you have the dynamics in place to reach the next level.

Iv'e seen this work in another space with fantastic benifits for all concerned. AND, I'm refering to folks trying to make money with their business who in fact are located next door to each other on the Web. As opposed to one shop in Michigan and another in California who are both retail only and not competitiors in the conventional sense.

----> Would it be appropriate to place all of the following types of Scuba related "shops" in the same Forum to start?

Retail Scuba Shops (a brick and morter store)
OEM
Web only shops/stores
Mail order only
Scuba centric Travel Agents
Scuba centric Hotels/Resorts
Dive Boats/Operators

IMHO, the synergy would be great. On the other hand, the focus may be diluted after a lot of folks participate which may require a spin off of a given group to another dedicated Forum. Natch, we don't want to create a "desert" with no posts.

Thoughts?