Stand Up Paddle Boarding Muse Ideas - Help

[REA07]

I have recently read Tim's book and I'm now in the process of finding a muse.

I have a few muse ideas however I'm interested to know how I can research correctly to know a) if it's viable and b) if something similar has already been created.

I hope to get something off the ground soon or it means back to a 9-5 "REAL" job for me (sadly).
I'm currently teaching flat water stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and see a market for a women specific instructional DVD, and also a means to share sporting equipment. If I was to travel from Oz to Hawaii for a SUP race I would require a specific board and would not want to lug it onto a plane. My idea is to create a website where fellow SUPpers can all pin point location around the world and "lend" boards and vice versa. NOt sure how the website would create revenue though?

Any thoughts/ideas on where I should go with this would be appreciated.

[REOBULK]

I'm certain you'll get a lot of pointers but are you thinking something like "couchsurfing" only for the Paddle Boards? I'm not sure how viable this would be since for a little effort they could probably rent one?

Maybe broaden this out a bit and provide a site with more info, interesting stuff that people who are into this sort of thing would find cool.

A friend of mine started a site in CR a few years ago and he's blossomed with it and has a bunch of people following it. It's info filled and he writes posts etc..there is even a forum. All pertaining to CR. I can give you the site if you want. BUT, his main intent for the site is to capture visitors and throughout the site he offers HIS thing which is Ebooks on how to smartly invest off-shore and in CR real estate....and now other people (for a fee I'm certain) are offering stuff, and on and on.....see?

[REA07]

Hey thanks for the pointers. I had thought it was easier to hire for minimum of $50US per day, it also covers insurance etc.
I'd love to check out your friends site. If CR is Costa Rica then I'm actually trying to get over there this year!
Thanks. Back to the drawing board.

[phil]

I think the website could serve as a central location for all things SUP.

Forums, Articles, Videos, Sales of equipment, directory of vendors, directory of people looking to borrow a SUP, etc.

Could you design a better SUP? Find a factory and have them make your own design. Brand it, and sell to surf shops. Design and sell SUP decals for car windows. Or bumper stickers about the SUP life.

I'm in the LED business, and always thought it'd be cool to line the edge of the boards with a strip of LEDs, and of course a battery inside. Would be awesome for sunset or night SUP'ing. Would attract fish too.

In Lahaina, Maui, while enjoying a shave ice, I met someone who said he would sometimes SUP all the way from Lahaina to Kihei. Would just put in waterproof headphones and zone out. I didn't realize you could go that far on one. I guess some people even try to go between the Hawaiian islands? crazy!


Your questions:


a) if it's viable
--- I think its viable. The more you're involved in the market, and the more people you talk to, the better pulse you have on things. You're able to make quicker and better decisions about what will work and what wont. Or just try a bunch of things and hope something sticks.

b) if something similar has already been created.
--- I wouldn't worry too much about this. Do it better, add more value, find your own angle.



I've actually never been on one yet :( But it looks really pleasant.

Closest thing to it would be Kiteboarding - tried that for 5 days straight.

Just promise, whatever you do, don't go back to 9-5!

:)

[REA07]

Since the company I worked for closed it doors after the GFC and released me into the wild I have taken a Round the world trip and couldn't for the life of me go back to 9-5!
Thanks so much for your suggestions Phil. Yes I like your idea about the manufacturing of my own boards. I definitely could come up with some designs targeted more at female SUPpers. The night paddling is also a hit and yes they use SUPs for all kinds of things like getting between islands and fishing etc.
A great idea would also be an inbuilt carry system for such things as Ipods, keys etc. The boards tend to be thicker than surf boards so there's a whole bunch of things that could be a hit, and hopefully I will be involved in that.

[REA07]

I like the idea about bumper stickers. Do people to use them though? I imagine they'd be cheap to get, but it's whether people would pay for them or expect them for free. Like you mentioned I guess it would just be one thing amongst many available through the SUP Website.

[tyroneshum]

Hi Rea07,

Thanks for sharing your idea. It's great that you've the book as well and it's amazing how it can impact one's lives.

In regards to stand up paddle boarding - it's a great idea. I was looking to get into that to expand my dragonboating and outrigging business and one of my suppliers were going to manufacture these because they are very similar to outrigging. I think there is a real market for this and you can easily dominate it with your DVD instructional video. My thoughts are to create these videos and upload them to YouTube and test the response from there. If there are people who watch them and can provide you some form of feedback, then you have proof that this market exists.

Furthermore, creating a website is a great idea. I would have your website with lots of "how-to" videos and if you get enough traffic from it, build a database from subscribers. From the subscribers you get there are a few ways to make money:

- create a members only site and charge a monthly fee
- find advertisers to place banners on your website and charge a monthly fee
- sell products on your website

Those are just some ideas as well on how to make money from your SUP website.

Let me know how you go?

Thanks.

Tyrone Shum

[REA07]

Awesome feedback guys! Thanks heaps. It can all be quite daunting at first but I appreciate all the positive help and ideas!!
The website and "You tube" videos sound like a great starting place. And who knows what it might lead to. That's the fun part.
Tyrone, I'll definitely keep you updated and I hope that you can venture towards SUP as well as outriggers.

Also do you think it would be a good idea to just target female SUPpers? ie name the website SUP Gal or the like (no thought in that one) or should I leave it as a broader website. I recall Tim mentioned you should have a small target market.

[captaink]

Sadly, the forum at fitnessanywhere.com is down now, so I can not give you a link.

Well, one of the members made n ebook and youtube videos on how to use their TRX system with exercises especially for stand up paddle boarding.

So that would be one angle:
1. Choose equipment X
2. Make videos / ebook on how to use X to train for Y
3. Sell ebook and equipment X.

::captaink::