Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

This is for everyone that has bought EzFenders and those who are thinking about it.
How important is the "EzFender" that I have milled into the side. My milling costs are astronomical and that little word costs 1 complete process that my machine shop says is un-important. What do you think? I'll let this run for a while to get an idea if I'll keep it or drop it from the process. I know which way I prefer, but since I own the company, I'm exempt! This is for all my buddies here to decide. Your thoughts have helped me out since I started selling these.

So I ask.....
Would that little word on the side entice you to buy EzFenders? Yes or No?

Thanks guys!

I hate to say it but yes. IT's the brand! IS EZF just as costly?

curtiscapk wrote:I hate to say it but yes. IT's the brand! IS EZF just as costly?

Yep, I can mill whatever on it, its 5 more milling steps. Tool rise to change bits, tool lowers to cut. Mill rotates the ezfender to align it, the tool pushes in, mills the word. Each step costs $. I looked at stamping, that requires a side swipe to release the raised material caused by the stamping process. Stickers and labels... No way. too cheap looking.
The packaging that will be in the stores will be very nice. Hard clamshells with nice labeling. So the EzFender name will be right there when buying them. The web sales will be in the same loose packs, because of shipping cost.

It makes no difference to me but I know your product, there are times when people look at the boat and I'm not around to tell them that it's ez fender if you sell your boat and the name is not on it then the next people won't know what they are, but I think you need to leave your name on it because it's your branding, again love your products keep up the good work.

redbeard wrote:It makes no difference to me but I know your product, there are times when people look at the boat and I'm not around to tell them that it's ez finder if you sell your boat and the name is not on it then the next people won't know what they are, but I think you need to leave your name on it because it's your branding, again love your products keep up the good work.

I was a bit bored anyway, so I went and played around a bit.
I would think maybe changing the logo may save some some time and money and still be effective. The image above could be done in as little as two lifts if the EZ were ran together top and bottom of course the outline of the fender would be it's own.

I couldn't care less what they say. But you should.

pay the $$$ for them and absorb the cost. Because once the packaging is thrown away, how will you identify them to potential customers?

Look at it this way...

Joe Troller is fighting to rig his fenders at the dock, and he sees this beautiful boat with no one around tied up with these nifty devices on them, and he thinks "Gee, that sure is a better way. I wonder how I can get some of them?" If you have EZFenders on them, at least he can do an internet search and find you. Without that, he has no way of knowing how to buy them.

Tim

Cowracer wrote:I couldn't care less what they say. But you should.

pay the $$$ for them and absorb the cost. Because once the packaging is thrown away, how will you identify them to potential customers?

Look at it this way...

Joe Troller is fighting to rig his fenders at the dock, and he sees this beautiful boat with no one around tied up with these nifty devices on them, and he thinks "Gee, that sure is a better way. I wonder how I can get some of them?" If you have EZFenders on them, at least he can do an internet search and find you. Without that, he has no way of knowing how to buy them.

Tim

Exactly!

The name on the side would not matter to me personally, but it could be an effective way to advertise for you. I agree that stickers are not the way to go but are there other, more cost effective ways to get the name on there? What about laser engraving or laser marking? I don't know much about the cost or reliability of these methods but it could be another way for you to put the name on there.

scubadad wrote:The name on the side would not matter to me personally, but it could be an effective way to advertise for you. I agree that stickers are not the way to go but are there other, more cost effective ways to get the name on there? What about laser engraving or laser marking? I don't know much about the cost or reliability of these methods but it could be another way for you to put the name on there.

Possibly, but then I have costs in postage to and from another vendor for another process.

Brian I couldn't think of what it was called this morning but have you looked into pad printing your name on to them

I think it is important but then again on my boat, my mooring cover is covering them so no one can see mine. BTW Bryan, I think these are great and I still owe you photos.

Out of curiosity, how much does that step cost?

That logo is .75 per unit. My new store packaging cost is .87 per pair. Overtons and Walmart want to low ball me on their cost. To the point where I'm loosing money, per packaged pair, to have them stock them. They are looking for a 150% profit margin. To sell them at my cost and have them make 150%, will put the price at $43/pair. I would never pay that much for them. I know nobody else would, either. That's my stumbling block. I can't get them into those stores. So I am looking for different cost savings, and I will not sacrifice it, in the design. I did a spending survey in December. In one week, I sold 44 pairs at $21.95 The next week, I sold out of inventory, 312 pairs, at $19.95 shipping was the same, both times. $2.00 made the difference. Getting below the $20 mark was telling me what to expect for the retailers to realistically be at to sell them.
I can get where they want with cast extrusions and they will be exactly the same as the milled units. But that logo is my nightmare. to have the extrusions made, cut, milled and drilled, then sent out twice for engraving and anodizing, and return shipping, the cost is right back to where it is now.
I'm convinced I need it. I just need your input, and so far we are thinking exactly alike!
Not sure about a paint pad. I did that in the very beginning and didn't like the outcome, but that was 7 years ago. Might be something to try again.
I was gonna buy an industrial engraver and do it myself. But I'm still working at the plant, overtime is a bitch and I frankly, barely have time to keep a shine on my truck. But, my retirement dollars are going into my business. I'm planning on pulling the pin in 4 1/2 years and want the Ez's to carry me through my copper years (don't see them being too golden, yet), then hand it to the kids when I croak! Which may be sooner than later, with the stress of this!

Etch the name on them, most company's are using lasers to put names on

HandymanHerb wrote:Etch the name on them, most company's are using lasers to put names on

Yes they do. That would also be another process that will need to be sent out for and there again 2 way shipping costs. To ship out 300 units costs about $35 one way. Double that, the cost of out sourcing the process and I'm back to square one.
My only alternatives are to keep the logo, process as is, or to drop it completely.
From the responses I received so far, the logo will stay milled as is.
But lets keep this going! Great ideas! I love brainstorming!