Divers Direct Orlando

[mike_s]

That's not uncommon for any business to own their property by a different parenty company, sister company or other holding company. This is often done for whatever is benficial for tax purposes or for using the property for other purposes.

it also protects one assett against the other in pending liability claims.

as for COD, I think you'll find a LOT of dive shops get their product COD. especially mom and pop shops. manufacturer/distributors don't want to issue NET30 terms, which really ends up being NEt60 or NET90.

 

[The Chairman]

From the Seahorse's mouth...

I talked with Kevin Senecal, the owner of Diver's Direct the day after they closed the Florida City and Orlando locations. The decision was purely a business one, as they are consolidating in a few other areas as well. Some of my favorite memories are in the Orlando store, both in it's current location as well as when it was across the street. At that time the manager was Brenda, who now manages their Key Largo Store and has been for the last two or three years. She made things work, where it seems that others had a hard time. She is a rare bird in retail, and you will find her pulling out all the stops to make things work. She did that for ScubaBoard just this past month, as she secured a 7 mil wetsuit for the Director of the History of Diving Museum so she could get certified this past New Years!

In my discussion with Kevin, it was obvious that this retrenchment was painful. He was sensitive to not only how it affected the divers in the Orlando area, but how it affected the staff that was let go during this move. Kevin is a stand up guy in my book, and I know this decision did not come easily. Here is what he asked me to post here:

"All of us at Divers Direct appreciate the interest shown by many customers and industry insiders regarding changes we are making within our business. The current economic conditions have required us to carefully review all of our operations to insure that we remain a viable business for the long term. As a result we closed our stores in Orlando and Florida City and substantially reduced our corporate staffing. We are still operating Find Scuba Gear and Diving Gear at the World's Largest Scuba Equipment and Dive Equipment Retailer! and stores in Palm Beach Gardens, Dania Beach, Key Largo, and Key West.

Changes like this are very challenging and they do result in good people losing their jobs. To ease the transition for our effected associates, we have offered severance or different positions in the organization to all of these folks.

If any one has a customer service issue or questions related to these changes, please call 800-DIVE-USA or send an email to experts@diversdirect.com or email me directly at kevin@diversdirect.com

Thanks again for your interest in Divers Direct."


As for other shops I would recommend in the Orlando area? Here, in alphabetical order is my short list of ScubaBoard Friendly shops. You will see that they are fairly dispersed geographically.

Castaway Scuba
9460 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, Fl 32817
407-658-9464

Dayo Scuba (right next door to ScubaBoard)
723 Executive Drive
Winter Park Fl 32789
407-292-9727

Scuba Quest
8092 S OBT (441)
Orlando, Fl 32809
(407) 851-6677

Wet N Fla Scuba
3005 W Lake Mary Blvd
Lake Mary, Fl 32746
407-322-1848

These are by NO MEANS the only dive shops in the Central Florida area, but they are my personal favorites for getting fills and gear. Sadly, Divers Direct was a part of this list for many years. It is with a degree of sorrow that we see it go!

 

[Jupiter31]

Numbers I've heard in past years was that:

LP did 15 to 20 mil a year in sales.
Scuba.com did 12-14 million in sales.
ST did 5-6million a year in sales.

now I've heard different amounts over different times from different folks. the above numbers are just a generalization of what I've heard and not direct quotes as I'm sure as information is "passed" it's subject to change slightly.


not hard to find some supporting information now days...

This article says that ST did $5million in 2007
Mid-Market Heroes: Scuba Toys -- Scuba Community Dives into Web 2.0 | Hardware & Software | bMighty.com

This article says ST did $250k in 1998 and $2million in 2002
StoreFront Merchant ScubaToys Wins Cisco Award. - Free Online Library

That is also supported by this PDF on ST website
http://www.scubatoys.com/press/cisco.pdf

one more article about ST sales figures
Meet Larry Dague from ScubaToys.com | Scuba Herald

plus other articles and profiles. of course none of this information is guarentee'd completely correct as any businessman wouldn't give you his complete accounting record or sales numbers.... after all they are in business to compete and be successfull.

EDIT:
This sept 2008 article says scuba.com does $12mill in sales
http://www.ocbj.com/industry_articl...03008.1678781.5771719.8242515.427&aID2=129128

They are all private companies so unless you are a principal (or their banker.....) you will never know for sure

(unless they go public; about as likely as pigs flying in this economy)

 

[PhilEllis]

..........I think you'll find a LOT of dive shops get their product COD. especially mom and pop shops. manufacturer/distributors don't want to issue NET30 terms, which really ends up being NEt60 or NET90.

Scuba stores tend to be rather small corporations, obviously. As the scuba companies have become more risk-adverse, they require most of the scuba stores to have personal guarantee agreements on file. Many people choose not to sign personal guarantees for their corporations, for many obvious reasons, which results in the COD status. In some cases, the failure to sign personal guarantees even results in COD Guaranteed Funds terms.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

 

[Jupiter31]

From the Seahorse's mouth...

I talked with Kevin Senecal, the owner of Diver's Direct the day after they closed the Florida City and Orlando locations. The decision was purely a business one, as they are consolidating in a few other areas as well. Some of my favorite memories are in the Orlando store, both in it's current location as well as when it was across the street. At that time the manager was Brenda, who now manages their Key Largo Store and has been for the last two or three years. She made things work, where it seems that others had a hard time. She is a rare bird in retail, and you will find her pulling out all the stops to make things work. She did that for ScubaBoard just this past month, as she secured a 7 mil wetsuit for the Director of the History of Diving Museum so she could get certified this past New Years!

In my discussion with Kevin, it was obvious that this retrenchment was painful. He was sensitive to not only how it affected the divers in the Orlando area, but how it affected the staff that was let go during this move. Kevin is a stand up guy in my book, and I know this decision did not come easily. Here is what he asked me to post here:

"All of us at Divers Direct appreciate the interest shown by many customers and industry insiders regarding changes we are making within our business. The current economic conditions have required us to carefully review all of our operations to insure that we remain a viable business for the long term. As a result we closed our stores in Orlando and Florida City and substantially reduced our corporate staffing. We are still operating Find Scuba Gear and Diving Gear at the World's Largest Scuba Equipment and Dive Equipment Retailer! and stores in Palm Beach Gardens, Dania Beach, Key Largo, and Key West.

Changes like this are very challenging and they do result in good people losing their jobs. To ease the transition for our effected associates, we have offered severance or different positions in the organization to all of these folks.

If any one has a customer service issue or questions related to these changes, please call 800-DIVE-USA or send an email to experts@diversdirect.com or email me directly at kevin@diversdirect.com

Thanks again for your interest in Divers Direct."


As for other shops I would recommend in the Orlando area? Here, in alphabetical order is my short list of ScubaBoard Friendly shops. You will see that they are fairly dispersed geographically.

Castaway Scuba
9460 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, Fl 32817
407-658-9464

Dayo Scuba (right next door to ScubaBoard)
723 Executive Drive
Winter Park Fl 32789
407-292-9727

Scuba Quest
8092 S OBT (441)
Orlando, Fl 32809
(407) 851-6677

Wet N Fla Scuba
3005 W Lake Mary Blvd
Lake Mary, Fl 32746
407-322-1848

These are by NO MEANS the only dive shops in the Central Florida area, but they are my personal favorites for getting fills and gear. Sadly, Divers Direct was a part of this list for many years. It is with a degree of sorrow that we see it go!

Kevin Senecal is a smart, talented, professional who has built what started as a single dive shop in Key Largo into an acknowledged national leader in the industry. It was my privledge to have a business relationship with his company for many years.

While no business is immune from the national economy, I'd bet on Kevin to weather the storm, and wish him the best of luck.

 

[The Chairman]

While no business is immune from the national economy, I'd bet on Kevin to weather the storm, and wish him the best of luck.

I am going to COMPLETELY agree with you on this. Most people in his situation would be tempted to "gut it out" and not cut back, ensuring their COMPLETE demise. I do hope to get him out diving more!

 

[Stu S.]

I would like to thank Mr. Senecal for his good service to the Florida Diving Community. Up and down the coasts, and at springs, too, we see divers with the "EVO" wetsuit. There are plenty of dive stores, but darn few that can sell a decent new wet suit for $80. Deals like this are important to guys just starting out, or family divers like me.

Hopefully better times are ahead!

 

[Jupiter31]

[ I do hope to get him out diving more! ]


What do they say about the shoemakers daughter not having shoes.....

 

[Salmonboy97]

............and the mechanics car always needing repair!

 

[Johnoly]

Please understand the thread was turning ugly to blame an unknown landlord which was not the case. I can't tell you how many thousands of dollars I spent at DD Orlando and was a very frequent visitor every 2 weeks to the location. Mike, Mark and the other's in the store greeted me by my first name when I walked in the door. If something new came in, they pointed it out. When I needed a special order for an unusual non-stocking item, they were on the phone with the buyers while I was at the counter. Their customer service was a standard that many dive shops would love to read the manual on.

There are reality's in business and cutting back locations is one of them. I met Kevin 2 years ago on the gulf coast and agree he knows the industry better than most. This next year will be a challenge for everyone as the diving dollars are in short supply. Just ask the charter boats.

I am still one of the Diver's Direct biggest fans and will continue to visit their West Palm Beach store.

......In some cases, the failure to sign personal guarantees even results in COD Guaranteed Funds terms.

That is just brutal. If UPS shows up at your back door with a shipment and asks for a bank certified check, that delivery better be sold quick. Inventory carrying costs are very tough, but No salesperson ever got fired for selling too much.

The secret is in the people.