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How much would you buy a Shot-Ski for

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werd.
Posts: 967
A friend and I are trying to make a startup without outsourcing any work other than importing materials. Obviously this requires a lot of planning, so if you want to help read the description of the product then answer the questions below in full honesty. Any number of serious responses will have a huge impact on how we market the product

Product description
An old-fashioned/vintage style wooden shot-ski with a glossy finish. Collapses in half for storage and shipping. Comes with hanging hooks for display purposes, and comes with shot glasses with a mechanism to secure them to the ski. The brand image is based off of the product's high portrayed quality. Its primary use is to add aesthetic value to a room as a decoration and for use during special occasions. You're given the option to customize the ski with a pre-selected list of stencil designs to choose from (something small and symbolic like a black snowflake or your country's flag located in the center of the ski).

*brief reasoning behind answers is encouraged but not necessary
1) How much would you expect a product as described above to cost?
2) How much would you be willing to pay for the described product?
3) What is the first reason that comes to mind for not wanting this product? Consider all factors in your life
Oct 12 2016 1:54PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1716
the whole point of having a shot ski is building it yourself or with your bros. Its all about using an old ski that was trashed in a funny way or has a cool story behind it. Shot skis are sentimental bro, they mean more than just a way to transport liquor into your system.

so fuck off with this idea, fuck stick.
Oct 12 2016 1:58PM
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eheath
Posts: 54866
1) How much would you expect a product as described above to cost?
Too Much
2) How much would you be willing to pay for the described product?
$0
3) What is the first reason that comes to mind for not wanting this product? Consider all factors in your life

I think that this is a very, very niche product you have here and a product that everyone usually creates themselves. There are brands that make shots for shot skis (core shots to name one, another i dont remember the name but its a boot in a binding) and those dont even do well. People buy 4 plastic shot glasses for $2, use some glue laying around their house and put them on one of their old skis, its basically zero cost to make a shot ski for a normal person.

think this product has zero chance at being profitable, thats my two cents.
Oct 12 2016 2:06PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
McNochethe whole point of having a shot ski is building it yourself or with your bros. Its all about using an old ski that was trashed in a funny way or has a cool story behind it. Shot skis are sentimental bro, they mean more than just a way to transport liquor into your system.

so fuck off with this idea, fuck stick.


Definitely a solid point. This idea is more aimed toward people who either have no desire to build their own shot-ski or don't have the resources and don't want to spend the money. I know NS is made up of nearly 100% diehard skiers, so I'm not expecting this idea to appeal to everyone. On the other hand, it would be dumb of me to not try to receive input from one of the largest market niches in skiing
Oct 12 2016 2:07PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
eheath1) How much would you expect a product as described above to cost?
Too Much
2) How much would you be willing to pay for the described product?
$0
3) What is the first reason that comes to mind for not wanting this product? Consider all factors in your life

I think that this is a very, very niche product you have here and a product that everyone usually creates themselves. There are brands that make shots for shot skis (core shots to name one, another i dont remember the name but its a boot in a binding) and those dont even do well. People buy 4 plastic shot glasses for $2, use some glue laying around their house and put them on one of their old skis, its basically zero cost to make a shot ski for a normal person.

think this product has zero chance at being profitable, thats my two cents.


Thanks for the feedback. The boot and binding shot-ski you're thinking of is ShotzSki. They have a great product but like you mentioned it costs too much to be profitable. To clarify, the strategy of the our marketing is not to aim the product at this segment of the market - it's going to be aimed at people that do not have the motivation or resources to make the shot-ski at a competitive price
Oct 12 2016 2:13PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 4186
werd.Definitely a solid point. This idea is more aimed toward people who either have no desire to build their own shot-ski or don't have the resources and don't want to spend the money. I know NS is made up of nearly 100% diehard skiers, so I'm not expecting this idea to appeal to everyone. On the other hand, it would be dumb of me to not try to receive input from one of the largest market niches in skiing


But only diehard skiers would want a shot ski?
Oct 12 2016 2:13PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1716
werd.Definitely a solid point. This idea is more aimed toward people who either have no desire to build their own shot-ski or don't have the resources and don't want to spend the money. I know NS is made up of nearly 100% diehard skiers, so I'm not expecting this idea to appeal to everyone. On the other hand, it would be dumb of me to not try to receive input from one of the largest market niches in skiing


Bro I would go the commercial route. Create a solid shot ski, have the ability to engrave a company's logo or name into the ski. And make it so the shot glasses can release from the shot ski for easy washing.
Bars would love to have a product like that
Oct 12 2016 2:15PM
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eheath
Posts: 54866
werd.Thanks for the feedback. The boot and binding shot-ski you're thinking of is ShotzSki. They have a great product but like you mentioned it costs too much to be profitable. To clarify, the strategy of the our marketing is not to aim the product at this segment of the market - it's going to be aimed at people that do not have the motivation or resources to make the shot-ski at a competitive price


I think that market is even smaller than the skiing market.

Your motivation and commitment is impressive, but sometimes you gotta be smart and realize when you've come up with an idea thats not so great and move onto a new idea.
Oct 12 2016 2:16PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
Also sorry for spamming the thread but what eheath said is very true, this product really only fits in with a specific niche of the market such as Newschoolers. Because he mentioned this I want to explain that the idea is to bring a skiing tradition to new market segments that would not typically have a demand for the product. Basically, how will my friend and I spread the product to people that aren't as passionate about skiing - by marketing the design as an added value to any room because of the product's professional aesthetic, competitive pricing, and novel use
Oct 12 2016 2:19PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1716
eheathI think that market is even smaller than the skiing market.

Your motivation and commitment is impressive, but sometimes you gotta be smart and realize when you've come up with an idea thats not so great and move onto a new idea.


just like your profile image gif, it's not so great, move on bro
Oct 12 2016 2:21PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
McNochejust like your profile image gif, it's not so great, move on bro


I probably won't take your advice but I really do appreciate the critique so far. Again, I want to emphasize the fact that the idea is not going to be marketed as "just a shotski". Our goal is to bridge the gap between a popular skiing tradition for any skier and a product that has been so underrepresented in the market that it has only been popular to a specific market niche.
Oct 12 2016 2:25PM
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eheath
Posts: 54866
McNochejust like your profile image gif, it's not so great, move on bro


You really dont like it eh
Oct 12 2016 2:26PM
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042
McNocheBro I would go the commercial route. Create a solid shot ski, have the ability to engrave a company's logo or name into the ski. And make it so the shot glasses can release from the shot ski for easy washing.
Bars would love to have a product like that


Fuck you and your good ideas, slut.
Oct 12 2016 2:26PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
McNocheBro I would go the commercial route. Create a solid shot ski, have the ability to engrave a company's logo or name into the ski. And make it so the shot glasses can release from the shot ski for easy washing.
Bars would love to have a product like that


This is very similar to what we had in mind. I've built close connections to 3 different ski shop owners near my hometown, so our goal is to have impressive first month numbers to present to these three retailers to begin expansion out of a niche market
Oct 12 2016 2:30PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1716
werd.I probably won't take your advice but I really do appreciate the critique so far. Again, I want to emphasize the fact that the idea is not going to be marketed as "just a shotski". Our goal is to bridge the gap between a popular skiing tradition for any skier and a product that has been so underrepresented in the market that it has only been popular to a specific market niche.


By all means carry on, lose money, waste your own time.
Excuse me while I go flush money down the toilet, which promises me a better a return than your stupid idea
Oct 12 2016 2:30PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
McNocheBy all means carry on, lose money, waste your own time.
Excuse me while I go flush money down the toilet, which promises me a better a return than your stupid idea


Our price to "set up shop" is essentially free because my friend is an engineer and has established connections with material suppliers. The total cost for starting materials and producing the product should be no more than $500. I know for a fact our margins will be at a minimum of $20 per ski. I know for a fact that I have the connections to make more than 25 sales, so while the company may not expand hugely I'm not just blindly throwing money at an idea
Oct 12 2016 2:36PM
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eheath
Posts: 54866
werd.Our price to "set up shop" is essentially free because my friend is an engineer and has established connections with material suppliers. The total cost for starting materials and producing the product should be no more than $500. I know for a fact our margins will be at a minimum of $20 per ski. I know for a fact that I have the connections to make more than 25 sales, so while the company may not expand hugely I'm not just blindly throwing money at an idea


Sounds like a hobby, not a business, just sayin.
Oct 12 2016 2:37PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
eheathSounds like a hobby, not a business, just sayin.


It basically is. My friend lives at home and has a workshop with all the necessary resrouces for production, and I'm an entrepreneurship student at large university with the ability to conduct market research on a large sample of freshman and sophomore students. We don't want or expect to be the next big thing, but we do believe that our marketing strategy will differentiate a competitively priced product and hopefully spread the tradition of using a shot-ski to a demographic outside of those who typically own the product
Oct 12 2016 2:41PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1716
werd.It basically is. My friend lives at home and has a workshop with all the necessary resrouces for production, and I'm an entrepreneurship student at large university with the ability to conduct market research on a large sample of freshman and sophomore students. We don't want or expect to be the next big thing, but we do believe that our marketing strategy will differentiate a competitively priced product and hopefully spread the tradition of using a shot-ski to a demographic outside of those who typically own the product


I respect your tenacity. Hit me up in this thread down the road. I'll take one
Oct 12 2016 2:45PM
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werd.
Posts: 967
McNocheI respect your tenacity. Hit me up in this thread down the road. I'll take one


Will do for sure. Thanks for keeping an open mind
Oct 12 2016 3:02PM
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Newschoolers55
Posts: 851
McNochejust like your profile image gif, it's not so great, move on bro


Eheaths icon is the most fire icon there is

And for the op, if I would want a shot ski I would make it myself, I dont think anyone would buy it
Oct 12 2016 3:58PM
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RousedWits
Posts: 387
I think the majority of people here using shot skis are the skiers who spend a majority of their money on skiing, beer and booze (which is awesome as hell)....

However buying a really nice shot ski is not exactly in the budget so first instinct is to make one, and by then you don't need to buy one... Where I can see your shot skis taking off is with bars, pubs, etc maybe you could paint on the bar logo... now a great audience to sell those shot skis to in my opinion would be to college students... because they like to drink and they have money. Maybe you could even customize the ski with the schools colors. I bet they would buy the shit out of that!
Oct 12 2016 4:58PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 3747
We built 25 shot skis in a matter of minutes and it costs < $5. It's a nice idea but I don't see it being a business.
Oct 12 2016 10:47PM
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Poindexter.
Posts: 6294
hot.pocketWe built 25 shot skis in a matter of minutes and it costs < $5. It's a nice idea but I don't see it being a business.


i cant remember, did you guys end up breaking the record?
Oct 13 2016 1:03AM
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Swaggy_P
Posts: 130
I went to a goodwill by me over the summer and bought a pair of old skis, 4 shots glasses and a glue stick for 10$ so I will probably never buy one from an actually company.
Oct 13 2016 10:42AM
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milk_man
Posts: 5198
Tree fiddy
Oct 13 2016 11:25AM
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_salty_
Posts: 672
Op where do you go to school and what year are you?
Oct 13 2016 12:57PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 3747
Poindexter.i cant remember, did you guys end up breaking the record?


We broke the Nevada record, world is something ridiculous like 195 people.
Oct 13 2016 1:58PM
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Profahoben_212
Posts: 6680
hot.pocketWe broke the Nevada record, world is something ridiculous like 195 people.


lets get 200
Oct 13 2016 3:09PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 3747
Profahoben_212lets get 200


WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY
Oct 13 2016 3:37PM
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