What do you think of Race's Rural Expansion Concept?

[Race]

I am talking about me and others bringing marine sales to areas which do not have ready access to a LFS.

My questions--- Is this new market expansion bad for the industry? Is it bad for the wholesalers? Is it bad for the retailers which are absent? Are new markets bad period? Are people such as me who live in the sticks stupid and do not deserve to be in the hobby? My statistics show that over 50% of our sales go to rural markets. Should not be a surprise.


Should you need more info on the concept and BEFORE you answer, please go to my latest FEDEX posts. Thank you!!

 

[Anonymous]

It completely depends on the rural areas you're talking about. For instance, where I live, the infrastructure necessary to get animals moved as quickly as possible simply does not exist. Also, at higher elevations (a.k.a. The highcountry), there is no infrastructure that can allow easy travel at certain times of year.

As far as I know the one local "LFS" (pet shop, not just fish and pretty bad in the fish department anyway) can't get support from the wholesalers because she is small potatoes, which compounds the location issue.

One of the smartest fish/herp people I know grew up not too far from where I now live, and while the redneck/ignant factor is pretty high, that is not to say that this is true of everyone here (especially with the influx of Bay Area peeps).

Btw, FedEx does not always get addresses right, so for us anyway, they're not the be-all end-all in delivery. Part of the problem is that maps are often completely wrong, many roads are not marked, and some of us can't be gotten to at certain times of year.

Oh! We're supposed to be getting a new Petco in Martell before the end of the year, this will likely spell disaster for the one local pet shop, the feed store I'm not so sure about, they should continue to do alright.

 

[just dave]

My questions--- Is this new market expansion bad for the industry?

No.

Is it bad for the wholesalers?

No.

Is it bad for the retailers which are absent?

No.

Are new markets bad period?

No.

Are people such as me who live in the sticks stupid and do not deserve to be in the hobby?

I need some clarification first.

Are you asking if people who live in the sticks, like yourself, are undeserving?

or

Are you asking if people, like yourself, who live in the sticks are undeserving?

 

[Rascal]

Race,

Are you seriously doing market research here on RDO? Or is it your real intent to incite, as per your well documented modus operandi?

My observation is that you have been on a roll as of late fostering the latter.

 

[scottfarcuz]

My observation is that you have been on a roll as of late fostering the latter.

Even being nothing more than a hobbyist (sorry to intrude again) I would have to agree.

I come here because I like to see a little behind the scene into the industry. I have to say all Race has managed to do from my "bottom of the chain" point of view is push me further away from being a possible future customer.

Again sorry for the intrusion, and I will now go back to lurking...

 

[treny]

My observation is that you have been on a roll as of late fostering the latter.

Even being nothing more than a hobbyist (sorry to intrude again) I would have to agree.

I come here because I like to see a little behind the scene into the industry. I have to say all Race has managed to do from my "bottom of the chain" point of view is push me further away from being a possible future customer.

Again sorry for the intrusion, and I will now go back to lurking...

I would have to say the same thing...