posts: 135752
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| 135752 | 4461 | Stoker V machine - Fowler or Anderson? | 89 | SeniorGrom | Aug 17, 2018 | 2018-08-17T14:55:58-0400 | Bruce Fowler said: Sorry if I'm not operating per the status quo for Jamboards. Then again, I'm coming from being on Swaylocks for a very long time and they are structured differently. If you haven't been on Sways, they have an Industry Section, a Public section that is for DIYer's, and then other stuff...... they decided that some of my stuff belonged in the Surfshop section, and Huck actually created a thread "hoping I would chime in". When I first joined Swaylocks a ton of years ago, I was actually told I revitalized the whole site.... that it had grown stagnant and there was a real need for new blood. I hope that's the case for Jamboards. I tried to join it years ago and the powers that be were not allowing new people to join. Which probably helped contribute to the site stagnating or becoming boring to may members. Ironically, as far as your comment re: Ryan Lovelace.... Ryan is one of the BIGGEST, most savvy self promoters out there. All the vimeos, travel, website info, shop creation has rapidly accelerated him up the social status as a shaper, which, to be quite honest, some of the most established bonafide longtime shapers I know absolutely hate. They feel his popularity has far exceeded his actual talent. I think a good amount of the rumbling I've heard is due to jealousy. Ryan is better at promoting himself while attracting a core of good surfers riding his designs, he is a very artistic individual that has lended greatly to his success. Still, he has his detractors, and I imagine, do I. I was once told, when you start having guys talking sh-t about you & trying to pull you down, it probably means you are on the right path. So what else is new in the name of self promotion, legend wannabes, or even legends in their own minds? If you want to be successful in a self owned surfboard business, you'd best be able to walk the walk and know your sh-t rather than stealing other people's ideas and spewing sound bites. Christenson cites in an interview how hard he worked for years hoping things would pan out for him. Andreini has built a strong following over years and ears of dedication in the craft earning a reputation for quality, which I spent time collaborating with Marc own designs after reviving the "Owl Surfboard" label then handing if off to him. If you don't speak up for yourself and share what you know, what has taken decades of trial & error, study in aero & hydrodynamics, endless dollars spent in R&D, it is more than likely the newcomers to the sport will never know much more than what logo looks best and what pro surfer is riding them. Ryan's m.o. is to put out a low key, non hype cool vibe, but he is also a realist knowing how competitive it is, that's just reality. What I am saying is there are a LOT of hungry people out there competing for a tiny piece of the pie in order to do what they love, much less making a living. Some people do it for prestige.... kind of a social thing.... they might have other financial means, a trust fund, one of the new popular upstarts has a wine business along with his surfboard label. On the other side of the fence is a legit guy trying to actually make a go of the business as his sole source of support. In the current economy that is nearly impossible to do... very sad, but also very true. You end up competing against big corporations that are justifying their cheap offshore labor claiming how expensive it is for them to make a "sustainable product".... how they were "forced" to go offshore...... and blah blah blah. Then you have someone like me, that has over half a century in the business (both retail & manufacturing) that full well knows what their likely cost of goods & manufacturing is and you would need one big scoop of a shovel to get the b.s. out of the room. If Jamboards wants to be a nice little site that nothing like this ever gets discussed, or isn't right for movers & shakers, then I'm in the wrong place. But for the same reason the Stoker V Machine suddenly' became a thing after 15+ years of going nowhere, that's the energy I bring to my customers fueled by energy for what I create and share with whoever desires it. At the end of the day, it's your choice. Otherwise switch the channel, turn off the tv or leave the room. For me, failure is not an option. Click to expand... Paragraph after paragraph of 'bold' bravado. Ever hear of brevity or humility? Strikes me as being somewhat defensive. I did enjoy the "Ask the Experts" series on Swaylocks a couple of years ago. I've learned a ton reading there over time. Jamboarders please send in cash deposits for custom shapes and consultation time now. |