In many parts of the world, its illegal to use scuba for spearfishing. So the spear-fishermen (and its mostly men!) dominate that side of free diving. But they wouldn't call it free-diving.
Biggest thing killing dive shops?
- Thread starter Eric Sedletzky
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In many parts of the world, its illegal to use scuba for spearfishing. So the spear-fishermen (and its mostly men!) dominate that side of free diving. But they wouldn't call it free-diving.
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
So, in this day and age what do dive shops need to do to stay relevant and survive?
It's been determined that there is no way that LDS's can compete with the internet strictly on dive gear sales.
The way that the old retail model was fashioned, it was just too easy for e-tailers to come in and slaughter the LDS on price. I don't know if it's still true, but LDS's who are "Authorized Dealers" of certain brands of gear are also held to certain retail price structures that prevents them from dropping their prices to compete with online dealers of grey market goods. If they didn't comply with the MAP or MARP pricing rules they would lose their dealerships.
This was a death sentence to the LDS's brought on by the manufacturers. Then we heard eroneous reports, maybe even fake news who knows? about certain manufacturers who imposed these rules actually selling gear out the back door at rediculous prices to the very e-tailers who were putting the hurt on the "authorized dealer" the LDS!! Crazy! But there was a lot of unsold gear backing up that needed to be moved out so what better way? If it's true then that's really sleazy.
It has also been determined that divers are notoriously cheap and price seems to always surface as the number one most important factor in purchase decisions. As a result so much business has gone to the internet.
So where does this leave dive shops?
Dive shops are still vitally important to the future of diving. they are the front door, literally to the first face to face interaction with people wanting to get into diving. If there was no physical dive shop to walk into the sport would become an abstract concept by in large somewhere out in the air, or maybe a click away. But people need more, there needs to be a primer, an initial contact. Just looking at different dive gear online cheap doesn't really tell the story of what it really is unless you already know what it is and what you need. I'm refering to new people who know nothing about any of this, for them to just go online and think they are making informed decisions on anything to do with diving is flawed thinking in my opinion.
The second thing obviously are air fills, tank services, gear services (even though that could be done mail order), wetsuit fit ups, face to face instruction and guidance on the use of gear, to touch feel see and try on the gear the gear in person, and of course classes. This is all stuff that the internet can't do.
Dive shops now days really need to be way more than just gear sales. They need to really examine what the internet can't do and focus on that.
I've been self employed for almost 30 years. I'm primarily in the sign business. I'm a hand sign painter, on of those guys you used to see out there with the mahl stick and the brush, that was me. Well I'm still out there, a dinasour, but I'm still out there. The digital world made most of what I used to do obsolete, so I've had to reinvent myself many times over to continue to find my market. I could have just caved in and went digital but that's not my thing, I'm an artist and hands on guy.
So now I'm finding exclusive clients that want exclusively hand made signs and other things because they want to be different. I have no shortage of work because I'm one of the very last remaining hand sign painters around and people think it's just amazing!
So I see the future of the dive shop as a special place that provides something that the internet can not.
How about a dive shop dive club?
Sponsor monthly beach dives and give new divers a place to go and meet new friends/buddies.
How about a savings card, the more you spend the more you save. That works for me at the art store.
How about an air fill club. You buy an air membership and your fills are free. The initial money gets put away and goes for compressor costs and maintenance only.
I'm seeing my dive shop getting into other things like surfing. They have all sorts of really cool surf boards and stuff in there now. I didn't know this, but surf booties might work really well as freedive fin booties! and you can hike in them, cool!
They may need to push freedive spearfishing since abalone diving is gone now.
They need to get back into doing local Monterey boat trips and Socal boat trips. As long as they keep the prices decent and not ripping people off expect a huge mark up. The charter boat "open boat" price should be the same as the dive shop price.
I mentioned to my LDS that there *might* be a market for guided dive tours up on our coast. We have a draw because of wine country already and the unparallelled natural beauty of the area. But if somebody's a diver and want's to poke their head under the waves in Norcal, it should be available via some sort of organized ligit way. In Australia they had jungle walks and tours in which a guy in an SUV came to our hotel and picked us up for a whole day of private touring. I could see something like that here.
I would love to see NorCal dive industry promoters work on opening up our great underwater wonderland to willing tourists.
We also need some charter boats, but that should be a whole different thread.
Overall, they just need to get out of the funk and get creative. They need to stop looking at what they've lost and instead look at where their potential is.
It's been determined that there is no way that LDS's can compete with the internet strictly on dive gear sales.
The way that the old retail model was fashioned, it was just too easy for e-tailers to come in and slaughter the LDS on price. I don't know if it's still true, but LDS's who are "Authorized Dealers" of certain brands of gear are also held to certain retail price structures that prevents them from dropping their prices to compete with online dealers of grey market goods. If they didn't comply with the MAP or MARP pricing rules they would lose their dealerships.
This was a death sentence to the LDS's brought on by the manufacturers. Then we heard eroneous reports, maybe even fake news who knows? about certain manufacturers who imposed these rules actually selling gear out the back door at rediculous prices to the very e-tailers who were putting the hurt on the "authorized dealer" the LDS!! Crazy! But there was a lot of unsold gear backing up that needed to be moved out so what better way? If it's true then that's really sleazy.
It has also been determined that divers are notoriously cheap and price seems to always surface as the number one most important factor in purchase decisions. As a result so much business has gone to the internet.
So where does this leave dive shops?
Dive shops are still vitally important to the future of diving. they are the front door, literally to the first face to face interaction with people wanting to get into diving. If there was no physical dive shop to walk into the sport would become an abstract concept by in large somewhere out in the air, or maybe a click away. But people need more, there needs to be a primer, an initial contact. Just looking at different dive gear online cheap doesn't really tell the story of what it really is unless you already know what it is and what you need. I'm refering to new people who know nothing about any of this, for them to just go online and think they are making informed decisions on anything to do with diving is flawed thinking in my opinion.
The second thing obviously are air fills, tank services, gear services (even though that could be done mail order), wetsuit fit ups, face to face instruction and guidance on the use of gear, to touch feel see and try on the gear the gear in person, and of course classes. This is all stuff that the internet can't do.
Dive shops now days really need to be way more than just gear sales. They need to really examine what the internet can't do and focus on that.
I've been self employed for almost 30 years. I'm primarily in the sign business. I'm a hand sign painter, on of those guys you used to see out there with the mahl stick and the brush, that was me. Well I'm still out there, a dinasour, but I'm still out there. The digital world made most of what I used to do obsolete, so I've had to reinvent myself many times over to continue to find my market. I could have just caved in and went digital but that's not my thing, I'm an artist and hands on guy.
So now I'm finding exclusive clients that want exclusively hand made signs and other things because they want to be different. I have no shortage of work because I'm one of the very last remaining hand sign painters around and people think it's just amazing!
So I see the future of the dive shop as a special place that provides something that the internet can not.
How about a dive shop dive club?
Sponsor monthly beach dives and give new divers a place to go and meet new friends/buddies.
How about a savings card, the more you spend the more you save. That works for me at the art store.
How about an air fill club. You buy an air membership and your fills are free. The initial money gets put away and goes for compressor costs and maintenance only.
I'm seeing my dive shop getting into other things like surfing. They have all sorts of really cool surf boards and stuff in there now. I didn't know this, but surf booties might work really well as freedive fin booties! and you can hike in them, cool!
They may need to push freedive spearfishing since abalone diving is gone now.
They need to get back into doing local Monterey boat trips and Socal boat trips. As long as they keep the prices decent and not ripping people off expect a huge mark up. The charter boat "open boat" price should be the same as the dive shop price.
I mentioned to my LDS that there *might* be a market for guided dive tours up on our coast. We have a draw because of wine country already and the unparallelled natural beauty of the area. But if somebody's a diver and want's to poke their head under the waves in Norcal, it should be available via some sort of organized ligit way. In Australia they had jungle walks and tours in which a guy in an SUV came to our hotel and picked us up for a whole day of private touring. I could see something like that here.
I would love to see NorCal dive industry promoters work on opening up our great underwater wonderland to willing tourists.
We also need some charter boats, but that should be a whole different thread.
Overall, they just need to get out of the funk and get creative. They need to stop looking at what they've lost and instead look at where their potential is.
JamesBon92007
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oldschoolto
Contributor
The owners.... Most guys running dive shops have zero people skills... And , Then charge crazy money for stuff that they should be letting it go for cost or a don't worry about it... Replace a 10 cents O-ring on a hose will have that customer very happy and talking about how great of a shop you have.. Charge them $30 dollars and you'll have that person telling everyone your a rip-off.. And don't bad mouth others or a brand of gear.. Sell them on why yours is really nice...
Jim....
Jim....
Mrs. B
Contributor
“It has also been determined that divers are notoriously cheap”
I prefer to say frugal
We have two used Halcyon rigs and just keep patching the bladders
I prefer to say frugal
We have two used Halcyon rigs and just keep patching the bladders
OP
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Good point.That depends upon how long you can hold your breath
I shop in local chandlers for eye snap hooks and bungee and other cord. And fishing stores for stuff like underwater LED lights. Everything in the stores is salt water compatible. Neither chandlers nor fishing stores are seen to have cheap gear (well maybe fishing stores) … but don't they make diving stores look like a ripoff for accessories …
This probably doesn't work in the USA (where almost anybody can have real rifles), but one of my local LDS sells air rifles and air fills to the air rifle shooting enthusiasts. You don't need a gun license for sub hi-power air rifles. They are just fine for putting holes in a paper target. And it's a great sideline for the LDS. I've been in the shop when these guys have brought their tanks to be filled and have their refill card "clipped." A great way to leverage the LDS's investment in compressors etc. And it helps to keep the LDS in business.
.
2airishuman
Contributor
Good thread.
There are some missing pieces.
Dive shops are specialty retail. They are fundamentally not any different than bicycle dealers, hardware stores, gun shops, sporting goods shops, model railroad stores, convenience stores, musical instrument stores, or camping equipment stores. All of these retailers are facing increased competition from on-line stores, discounters (Target/Walmart), and large retailers with a regional draw.
There's going to be a shakeout and only a few will grow to become major regional and online retailers (like Guitar Center for guitars, or Michaels for art supplies). The rest will disappear over time. I think it is likely that some of the fastest moving gear will end up for sale at places like Target and Walmart. One of the major sporting goods chains was selling SCUBA gear for a while here much to the annoyance of the LDSs.
That's true with everyone, not just divers.
The bike and ski shops have gone away but people still bike and ski.
You might think SCUBA is unique because instruction is required for safety. But that makes it no different than hunting or sport aviation or sailing or any number of other adventure sports. Generally what has happened in other cases is that the instruction and the gear are delivered through different channels. There are adult education classes here on SCUBA in the community services brochure alongside the classes on how to use Microsoft Excel, how to do your taxes, and ballroom dancing. Some colleges and universities offer classes. There are various independent instructors, and in reality, a great deal of the LDSs that offer classes are just contracting out the teaching.
Most divers around here never, ever dive locally. Even though there's all kinds of shore diving. They have no interest because it's cold and the viz is 10', and the LDSs have largely stopped teaching people to do these dives (There are exceptions).
I try to support my local dive shops but I don't need them for anything. I organize my own local diving. I organize my own tropical diving trips. I now have my own compressor. I repair my own gear. I have generally taken my classes outside my local area at shops that run a much larger volume of classes.
There are some missing pieces.
Dive shops are specialty retail. They are fundamentally not any different than bicycle dealers, hardware stores, gun shops, sporting goods shops, model railroad stores, convenience stores, musical instrument stores, or camping equipment stores. All of these retailers are facing increased competition from on-line stores, discounters (Target/Walmart), and large retailers with a regional draw.
There's going to be a shakeout and only a few will grow to become major regional and online retailers (like Guitar Center for guitars, or Michaels for art supplies). The rest will disappear over time. I think it is likely that some of the fastest moving gear will end up for sale at places like Target and Walmart. One of the major sporting goods chains was selling SCUBA gear for a while here much to the annoyance of the LDSs.
That's true with everyone, not just divers.
The bike and ski shops have gone away but people still bike and ski.
You might think SCUBA is unique because instruction is required for safety. But that makes it no different than hunting or sport aviation or sailing or any number of other adventure sports. Generally what has happened in other cases is that the instruction and the gear are delivered through different channels. There are adult education classes here on SCUBA in the community services brochure alongside the classes on how to use Microsoft Excel, how to do your taxes, and ballroom dancing. Some colleges and universities offer classes. There are various independent instructors, and in reality, a great deal of the LDSs that offer classes are just contracting out the teaching.
Most divers around here never, ever dive locally. Even though there's all kinds of shore diving. They have no interest because it's cold and the viz is 10', and the LDSs have largely stopped teaching people to do these dives (There are exceptions).
I try to support my local dive shops but I don't need them for anything. I organize my own local diving. I organize my own tropical diving trips. I now have my own compressor. I repair my own gear. I have generally taken my classes outside my local area at shops that run a much larger volume of classes.
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