Wakeboard Specific Clothing

msimpson · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 5:39 am Post subject: Wakeboard Specific Clothing

Last spring I started a post about a wakeboard specific line of clothing that I was going to start. I finally am at the point that I can afford to do it. My question is about marketing. I am asking your opinions on how I should market my products? I am going to start with hoodies, T-shirts, and beanies. Please give me your honest opinion. I want to know what wakeboarders want!
Thanks!

bigfoot0922 · Outlaw Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Posts: 212 City: Belmont

tight tricks on the clothing, nothing stupid looking, no bad colors.

Tigerblp · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 7:28 am Post subject:

I like the name and graphic you posted. Do you have a website? One good way to promo your product would be to send some of your clothes out to video companies, like sidewayz or steven hahn productions or bump films, and try to sponsor one of their videos like that. Or, try sending some stuff to The Wakeboard Camp, they're good promotion.

crazywaker · Newbie Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 5 City: USA

well, I'm a wakeboarder, so I guess that's makes me elligible (sp) for this discussion.
You want a catchy logo, something that people will recognize, something simple so you can do die cut stickers.
Sooo many "wakeboard" clothing companies have popped up and think they are great because they put their logo on a bunch of shirts and hats in different colors. That's not a wakeboard clothing company, that's a bunch of people spending lots of money putting a logo on a shirt.
"Wakeboard" clothing companies make clothing for wakeboarders (master of the obvious..huh). We can get shirts from anyone, with anything on it. All board companies have their own shirts, so do wetsuit companies, shops, boat companies, etc. You get the idea.
Now that I have killed your motivation, I'll tell you what I want in a clothing company...stuff that you CAN'T get from all the other companies out there. Boardshorts that are made, not mass ordered from some catalog so that you and ten other surf companies have the same design. I'm not saying break out the sewing machine, just design some different shorts. Think about the use that they will get from wakeboarders, side impacts, wet and dry, and wet and dry. Make some long shorts for the women, shorts that fit the ghetto booty girls, shorts that fit pin legged guys, shorts with cargo pockets. Stuff that people have been looking for but no company would provide. Shirts are easy, I can start a company if all I have to do is slap a logo on a shirt. You have to set yourself apart. Don't just put your logo on there, design a catchy picture to go on it. Doesn't have to be someone wakeboarding neccessarily, there is a lot more to boarding than actually riding the board. Think about all aspects of the lifestyle, not the sport, then put that in your design I can help you think up some cool designs if you want. Not trying to get the in here, just want to see a clothing company do something different.
Wow, long post, sorry about that, but I've just watched clothing companies come and go over the years, and want someone to break out of the mold.
I have lots more ideas, private message me if you are interested, I never check email, too lazy.

gvw686 · Addict Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 664 City: Columbus

dont make everything have the same graphic on it. also be creative with it, make something thats unique. send me a pm too, im going to school for graphic design and get bored a lot and would help you out with some design stuff if i can. also i have been wakeboarding for like 10 years now so i have seen a few clothing companys come and go too, and also know the wakeboarder lifestyle.

msimpson · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

This is exactally what I am looking for. Please keep the comments coming.
CRAZYWAKER..........You and I think a lot alike!!

gvw686 · Addict Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 664 City: Columbus

msimpson, wheres jamestown? i used to live in lorain ohio up by cleveland, i might know you.

msimpson · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 9:19 am Post subject:

We are down by Dayton, Ohio
Shawnee lake is a small private lake perfect for water sports.

Pope · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 526

dunno about the "slob" angle... wakeboarding is an all ages thing... sorry not picturin' my pops in a "slob" shirt...

Don't think i would wear one either

gvw686 · Addict Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 664 City: Columbus

i think its about the grab, but one problem i can see is that it looks like a right foot forward person doing a tindy grab. might want to change the photo to something thats not questionable

derrick · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 723 City: Orlando

I think you should change the name/graphic personally.

King of the Tigers · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 10:57 am Post subject:

I give you props for pursuing your passion!

However, not to be a jerk but I think you should rework your logo of the man on the wakeboard. It is unclear.

If I want a wakeboard related product I want it to look excellent.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Wouldn't wakeboard specific clothing be board shorts and/or rash guards?

buckthis · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 11:44 am Post subject:

why stop at wakeboard gear?start selling hamburgers(the slob berger is the best!) and candy(suck on a slob!)and towels(i got a slob on my knob!)

wakepics · Addict Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Posts: 600 City: Bourbonnais...

How about some cool board shorts for women...long ones some cute rash guards for Chicks....that's all I can think of. Not sure about the name but if it looks good and fits nice I'd wear it!

Partyb · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 12:16 pm Post subject:

Will you sponsor me? I would send me a free t-shirt and stickers and I'll wear them around to promote your company. Just kidding. I think you also need some shorts, not just shirts, beanies and hoods. Wakeboarding is a warm water sport, so beanies and hoods are of limited use. Especially down here in FL. Hand out many stickers, mail them out for free if requested.

You gotta get out there. To the shops, to the contests, and to the grassroot events, mission to ride, etc. Start by handing out stuff free at these events. Mail some shirts for free to some of the schools/camps.

holdsworth · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 1:01 pm Post subject:

i would take pictures of riders doing raleys and hoochies and grabs and stuff and outline it and fill it with a color that would match the basic color of the shirt (ex: black shirt with a solid red rider....etc.)

also make various shirts of wakeboard manufacterers (sp?)

204Waker · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject:

"Its not a sport, its a way of life"

Scott0 · Outlaw Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 160

I am just 6' 2' and a half and im tired of f**kin wearing shorts that dont even come below my knees or they dont fit my waist

Leggester · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 1:42 pm Post subject:

Why would you want shorts to come below your knee? Are you perhaps a young ghetto fella that has to feel like he's wearing his big brother's hand me downs?

Swass · Guest

Don't mind him. He has an elastic waist band in his board shorts. If you look carefully, they probably have "OP" on them somewhere.

Leggester · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 1:50 pm Post subject:

Geez, you notice ( and remember ) more than I gave you credit for!

msimpson · Posted: Oct 20, 2003 3:24 pm Post subject:

I will definately go for board shorts and rash guards too. I guess I was just thinking about the next few months here in Ohio. COLD!! I forget about the lucky ones in the SOUTH!
I am also glad that all of you have been honest.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!

graphik · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 727 City: miller lake

I've been a graphic Designer for quite a while and been on a board since I was 11 (not always a wakeboard) and I think it's a good start. Promotions are a great way to get things rolling. You need to get the word out so that it is free advertising. Look to good examples of this. Monster Tower talking things up on the boards, backed it up with a good product and they are doing well. If you are competing against the Quicksilvers and Billibong then you need to do something different then they are. Offer something cooler. The problem with most of this stuff is that the shirts all come from the same manufacturer and they just have different images screened onto them. You're already different in the fact that you are rider owned instead of a large company. If your clothing isn't going to be all that different, then your company attitude should be. I was at an x-cup stop in the summer and they had this company there that was doing the same thing as you. I think they were called Squalo. Cool stuff, cheap at the stop. Do up some stuff and get out there and push it. It's the only way you'll know.

As far as the image and logo go... I think it needs some work to stand out. It almost looks a little OP from the 80's to me. But it's a great start, and I wish you the best. I think we all wish we could follow our dream jobs.

kerriokie · Outlaw Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 231 City: Cincinnati

The guy on the logo needs to stand out more. Maybe a little more detail on what he's doing. The "SLOB" could be sharper i.e. Not bubble shaped font. I think the font used for "SLOB" almost makes it too feminine. The color combination is good.

As for gear..... speaking from a female perspective.....sizes that fit all shapes. We're all not 13 girls w/o any hips. There are definitely a lot of us female boarders who like the trends in wakeboarding fashions (long and short board shorts, skater shorts) but who are also Bootylicious in the back and want them to fit. Just my 2 cents worth.

Glad to see another Ohio native getting in on the action.

indywakechica · Addict Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 645 City: Indianapolis

One of the things that gets me about 'gear' is the price. Maybe I'm too big of a cheapskate or don't care about namebrands that much or a combination of both but lotta that stuff is way too expensive. Take boardshorts for example...there ain't no way I'm going to pay $40+ on a pair of shorts of any kind. This sport is expensive enough without having to dish out mega bucks on what I'm wearing. So I'd keep price in mind.

And I second what kerriokie said. Don't forget about the girls with lil junk in tha trunk Smile

Dees · Posted: Oct 21, 2003 10:23 am Post subject:

20 dollar board shorts would be nice. you would sell a lot at that price

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

I wear shorts that either come down to or are past my knees...does that make me a "young ghetto fella that has to feel like he's wearing his big brother's hand me downs?"

Leggester · Posted: Oct 21, 2003 11:16 am Post subject:

Joe, yes, it does. Where on earth do you think that style came from?

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Leggester, you forgot to consider one thing...

I'm a 36 waist and 4 foot tall!

Leggester · Posted: Oct 21, 2003 11:24 am Post subject:

Hehehe, Joe, my sympathies. Why not just wear Tighty Whities then? Mr. Green

Dees · Posted: Oct 21, 2003 11:33 am Post subject:

~AiR~ · Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 32 City: Muskoka, Canada

Just to add my 0.02$ I think that the logo should be a bit more stylized/geometric/symbolic. That way people will regonize your company as soon as they see that logo, and you can stick it everywhere (tags, stickers, pockets, hat). Besides that if it looks cool thats just an added incentive for people to buy your shirt/ shorts/ hat etc... over an already established brand. Not trying to bash your design or anything... Smile

wakepics · Addict Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Posts: 600 City: Bourbonnais...

Stickers....yeah that's the way to really get your name out! So many of my friends collect stickers. Don't forget to go to tons of wakeboarding fest and give some stuff out. Try Midwest Wake Fest. Good luck!

msimpson · Posted: Oct 21, 2003 3:43 pm Post subject:

I am really appriciating all of the feedback. Many of you mention designing something different that other companies do not offer. What kind of things are you thinking of? I am really in to durability! I want my products to last for a long time. I have had board shorts that blow out after one good crash. That will not happen with my stuff. I also ride with a lot of girls that complain about shorts that don't fit. I will be working with female riders to find what they want. I just want to offer what wakeboarders want. That simple! Thanks again for taking time to respond!