Greg, thank you for your posts.
Most people don’t understand the front end that goes into launching one yoyo, let alone something as complex as a yoyo in a new/different metal as Titanium.
The biggest thing for me, the start up costs, costs to test, and upfront financial loading that you must do in order to have a successful launch.
The YYF crowd fund was genius. Inbound marketing is the new direction in the industry and they have done it very well. When the cost of raw materials is exponentially higher than other materials we are used to, the cost of entry into the market may be too much risk for any company, even one as big as YYF. Due to this, one of two choices must be made, try to offset the cost (crowd fund) or do a small limited run (as Jeffrey did).
The crowd fund idea gave them what they needed to really go “crazy” with it and offer some pretty exciting things to the community, and we all appreciate the excitement. It gave them intense “hype” or what we in the industry call “inbound marketing”. Enough brand recognition that people come searching for you as opposed to the traditional branding approach of 10+ exposure moments for you to decide if you want to purchase.
JP on the other hand did it in a much smaller way, but still effective… his funds were limited and fronting the cost of this run came out of his pocket. He is not looking to get rich, ask Chris at CLYW, one of the most sought after and successful return top companies, he is not rolling on 20s… or maybe he is… haha
The yoyo world is not one of high earnings, but these guys are trying to do something for us junkies and yet, we constantly bash… it’s too small, too big, I want 500, I want a limited run…
We are SPOILED, we have new and exciting throws every two weeks now. I blame no one but the buyers, the throwers, for acting like spoiled children and not appreciating that we are living in the peak of yoyo history. I ordered an Evora, because I could see that Jeffrey put so much love into his throw. I didn’t order a YYF, not my cup of tea… I want a CiTizen, there are certain CLYWs I don’t like, there are some I LOVE… it’s a great time to be a thrower, we have more options than a fat kid has fast food choices on a main thorough way.
I appreciate what Ben did, what Jeffrey did, what Chris does what Paul Dang and the OD people do, what Joey at 2 sick, Colin at OUT, what every person that has decided to create a yoyo does, take the risk to make us more excited about this fun, silly hobby.