Spring is here!!!! In some parts of the country boats are starting up again in earnest, docks are being repaired, and skiers are getting ready to kick it into gear. Those parts of the country could use more great RipNsix t-shirts. For the parts of the country where lakes are still frozen over...maybe you should consider the RipNsix sweatshirts and beannies.
After several months of mostly idle chatter, four water aficionados sat around a table in November 2005 contriving a water ski and wake board apparel company. That conversation ultimately birthed RipNsix, Inc. I was one of those four original founders. Of the many different business aspects we discussed, one of the most serious discussions focused on how we would measure success for our new company. The conversation centered around two basic ideas; 1. We were starting this company because of our love of watersports, not because we were expecting a lump sum retirement in a few years, and 2. Waterskiing is viewed by some as a dieing sport. No business with purely business aspirations would be wise to venture into a shrinking market. With those two items in mind we realized that this was a business of love more than profit, but we still didn’t have a measurement for success. Eventually we came up with various sales, profits, and web traffic numbers as our indicators and measuring sticks for how we are doing. However, at the time I told the others that I would consider the company a success when, and only when, I saw someone in random every day life, that I had never met before, wearing a piece of our apparel. Yesterday, Memorial Day 2008 it happened. I was skiing in California’s Sacramento Valley Delta (just outside Golden Gate Ski Club’s sweet little lily pad ski course) when a Ski Nautique drove by. No wakeboarding rack on this thing. It was a ski boat for serious skiers. The driver had on our ash waterskier logo design t-shirt. I can tell you I was excited, but let me tell you again. I was excited. Suddenly the spring chill of the water wasn’t nearly so painful. It feels great to reach a goal like that. All in all it has been a tough year to be in the watersport industry. Boat sales are way down, gas prices are up, and economy is scaring some people. Put all that together and result is a lot of people wishing they were on the lake, but a lot fewer actually being there. Or, if they are there, spending the kind of money they might have spent in the past on a trip to the lake. We have definitely felt it here at RipNsix. Our web traffic is still growing (as it has each year since we started the website) but our sales are way, way down. Decreasing sales are not something a business owner ever wants to see, but as long as we can sell enough product to stay in business we will keep supply a great website and great apparel. Besides, there are always days like Memorial Day. Several minutes after the RipNsix wearing boat driver passed us, we saw him in a different slew of the Delta. I waved him down and introduced myself. He said the shirt he was wearing was the first shirt he had gotten from us and since then had gone back to the site to buy more clothing for himself and as gifts. A happy customer. It doesn’t get much better than that, especially a happy customer that knows, Life’s Better Wet!
I recently got an email from one of our customers down in South Africa reveling in the waterskiing he is doing. It is, after all, right in the middle of summer in the southern hemisphere. Today I talked to one of my buddies about getting a day of snow skiing in. He said, "What I really want to do is go waterskiing." Even though I would like to get in at least one more day on the snow, in my heart I agreed with him. While many parts of the US are still under lots of snow, and bad storms are still rolling through, those of us on the west coast have enjoyed a run of beautiful weather. Sixty eight degrees (Fahrenheit) may not be summer scalding hot, but after all the cold weather we have had it is plenty warm to be in short sleeves and shorts. Short sleeves and shorts are lake apparel, lake apparel means water sports.
Partially due to the weather and partially due to my schedule this has been the first winter in many years that I didn't get out for any waterskiing or wakeboarding. The thing about being on the water in the winter is that if you take a month off, you won't get back out there for the rest of the winter. For one, your body will no longer be adjusted to the freezing (sometimes literally) cold. For two, your mind will turn to mush thinking about forcing your no longer acclimated body back in to the cold water. Say what you want about dry suits, it can still be a cold experience. But then the sun comes out like it has here recently and all that cold is forgotten. Spring fever? forget spring fever, we are talking summer fever and waterskiing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Oh, and there is always the barbeques and lounging in the sun with family and friends.
We here at RipNsix are looking forward to a great summer on the lake and a great season of supplying out customers with the best in water sport apparel. We are working on some exciting developments including a new direct load video section. Forget You-Tube, think Ski-Tube. We are also trying to put together some alliances so we can supply water sport equipment directly to you at the best prices on the web. I will personally make sure to keep everyone up to date on the progress with my letters right here on this page. Check back in often to find out what is going on in RipNsix world.
When you aren't here checking out the new features to our site make sure you are on the lake. And when on the lake what better to be wearing than some great apparel purchased from this very site. Keep Rippin and remember, Life's Better Wet!
