Wind Turbine Home Furnishings? [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

Wind generators and "Hip Hues Personal Fans." And you thought Surplus Center,
Lincoln NE product mix was strange :-)

Wind generators have been available by mailorder for decades. Sears sold wind
machines. That's how most farmers bought them before WWII. At one level, the
Internet is just another mailorder catalog. Many people have dreamed of the day
when renewable energy equipment would be low priced, readily available and easy
to install. We are not there yet, but getting closer.

Don't worry about losing business to Target, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc.
There will always be a need for skilled workers. Plumbers had similar
discussions years ago when Home Depot, etc. began selling residential water
heaters at 30% off list. Plumbers complained that they would lose business to
the DIYers and that people would die from tainted water. The truth is DIYers
never were customers and Mr. and Mrs. Allthumbs still hire plumbers to install
water heaters. Real plumbers (not roto-rooters) make more money now than ever
before. Don't worry. Be happy.

Businesses compete by being better, faster, cheaper. It is hard to be cheaper
unless you are Sam Walton's kin (WalMart) or own Costco. It's hard to be faster
unless want to tie up your money in a warehouse full of expensive wind machines
and PV. But is is impossible for discounters, warehousers and mailorder houses
to be better than you. Your real competition is other Wrenches. Don't worry. Be
better.

Don't waste time with Target - unless you are giving your business card to the
Target manager to snag referrals. Are you listed with Bergey as their local
installer? What differentiates you from the competition? How have you
positioned your company to optimize your competitive advantage? Stop sucking
lemons and enjoy the lemonade.

"Roy Butler, Four Winds RE" wrote:

> Yup....right next to the teddy bear bulletin boards! You should have seen
> the e-mail I sent to Steve Wilke at Bergey....and the reply I got! It was a
> very interesting exchange.....and led absolutely no where! Installing
> dealers can't get XL.1s....how's Target or the general public gonna deal
> with the lead times?
>     My main question is this.....we all know the large amount of hand
> holding that occurs when we have a do-it-yourself customer (those of us who
> work them anyway!). How the heck is Target going to deal with that....and
> design services....and troubleshooting...and...well, you get my point!
>     Now THERE is Pain & Loathing....fer sher!
> Roy Butler
> Four Winds Renewable Energy
> Arkport, NY
>
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