Good Retail Option - Peter Lynn Dealer USA?

Funny you started this post. I was thinking, just this very day, aside from kite surfing stores, Hardwater kites, AWOC and Cobra Kites, are there any power kite/foil stores still open? Many of my bookmarks are now just dead links. We've lost a lot these past few years

I think the biggest thing is today's economy. It appears the only good economy is in Washington DC....the rest of America is struggling to make ends meet. Kites are not a necessity therefore when money gets tight, sales on non-essential hobby things gets cut pretty quickly. Our business is still going strong and we plan on staying around for many years to come. We are quite diversified in many other aspects of kiting and that seems to have helped, plus the fact that we have been a leading industry kite retailer for almost 15 years now.

I highly doubt that Dean and NABX had anything to do with the economy or with kite sales in general. Suprisingly, NABX and/or IBX has never really impacted our sales over the years. We have always been a proud sponsor of the events over the last 15 years and will continue to do so because of our love for kite buggying. Our sales actually drop a bit over the event's time because some of the people and other dealers who use the event to dump their gear for travel money.

I am sure that once the economy starts to turn around, there will be a couple shops pop up again. Same for the high dollar race buggies. We have halted production of the Ivanpah (and new Ivanpah II buggy) until the demand for them picks up again. Right now there is very little demand, especially when there were quite a few people getting into the buggy making business.

We are excited about the new PL buggies coming out and hope to be getting them in stock in the next few weeks. We'll let you know when they arrive.

Until then, hope to see all of you at IBX.

Buggy On!

Quote: Originally posted by awindofchange

I think the biggest thing is today's economy. It appears the only good economy is in Washington DC....the rest of America is struggling to make ends meet. Kites are not a necessity therefore when money gets tight, sales on non-essential hobby things gets cut pretty quickly. Our business is still going strong and we plan on staying around for many years to come. We are quite diversified in many other aspects of kiting and that seems to have helped, plus the fact that we have been a leading industry kite retailer for almost 15 years now. I highly doubt that Dean and NABX had anything to do with the economy or with kite sales in general. Suprisingly, NABX and/or IBX has never really impacted our sales over the years. We have always been a proud sponsor of the events over the last 15 years and will continue to do so because of our love for kite buggying. Our sales actually drop a bit over the event's time because some of the people and other dealers who use the event to dump their gear for travel money. I am sure that once the economy starts to turn around, there will be a couple shops pop up again. Same for the high dollar race buggies. We have halted production of the Ivanpah (and new Ivanpah II buggy) until the demand for them picks up again. Right now there is very little demand, especially when there were quite a few people getting into the buggy making business. We are excited about the new PL buggies coming out and hope to be getting them in stock in the next few weeks. We'll let you know when they arrive. Until then, hope to see all of you at IBX. Buggy On!

Kent - I think you are absolutely smack on - it's the economy. I'm one of the Great American Consumers and I've really dialed back in the past months as the stock market tanked, pulling my company down with it. Hard to spend a lot of cash on fun stuff when you're worried about valuations.

Excited that you are coming to IBX! I've been looking forward to meeting you.

Kent knows a thing or two about kites and buggying too so we are lucky he is someone to call when we need something. Kent has been a charter, and generous supporter of IBX, frankly making it possible to keep the registration fees so low, and keep an annual event at Ivanpah Dry Lake. Thanks on both fronts Kent.