MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: 08micsta on January 01, 2009, 06:04:44 pm
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Hello everyone
Welcome to 2009 and I hope everyone an absolutely fantastic year.
I would like to take some time to introduce everyone here to my company currently known as Brand Art creations. I have a very specific reason for doing this tonight.
Brand Art Creations specializes in the sourcing, branding and manufacturing of various products for either personal use or to promote your company. I have however decided to be different from the other companies that do this sort of work too. I want to create what the customer wnats. Not what he sees in a catalouge.
So here is the task.
I want you guys to think up a variety of goods, or accessories that you would like to see in your GTi. It can be door inserts as seen by Gulfstream or even the branding of your edition 30 placque on a gearstick. A certain butterfly tells me that most of the parts for your vehicles are in fact manufactured in South Africa. With the rand being very weak this gives you guys a great oppertunity for high quality and affordable goods as seen by the MK5 Golf GTi Calendar.
My first prject that Im currently working on:
WhiteGTidriver a member on our "sister" forum visited SA in October and purchased from VW a spoiler for his vehicle. According to him and the people at VW nobody has this in the UK and its not available.
What is it?:
If you look on the lip of your bonnet you get stone chips etc. Now in SA VW sell carbon fibre stone guards that clip onto that lining. This looks fresh and does not damage the vehicles paint like some bonnet bra's do.
Why?:
The product looks very good on the GTi and flows along the bonnet edge in the front. A bit like a spoiler. Not only is it trendy but it also protects the paint.
Whats unique about it?:
This is where I want my company to be a step ahead. I want to have either .:R32, Edition 30, or Golf GTI branded onto the carbon fibre. I may have it either engraved, screen printed or have actual placques made up. You can choose which you want and I can do a few group buys.
I do have a picture that WhiteGTidriver sent me of his but just need to download it still and try find a way to upload it (Im using my phone to post this). When I do get the pic up I please try imagine the branding in the middle of the spoiler.
Who would be interested in this product? How much would you be willing to pay? And who has suggestions for other products?
Your help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your suggestions.
Mike
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As I'm sure you already realise, we need to see pics.
Personally, I think that branding it would make it look like a stick-on accessory and therefore naff. If it was visibly branded I probably wouldn't buy it, even if I liked the product.
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As I'm sure you already realise, we need to see pics.
Personally, I think that branding it would make it look like a stick-on accessory and therefore naff. If it was visibly branded I probably wouldn't buy it, even if I liked the product.
Lol, powerful words from Mr Robin!
Agree though, pics would be nice if you can source them!
Credit to you for starting your own business :happy2: :happy2:
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That is fair. I will have a picture up on the fourth. My net connection here (im away on holiday) wont upload images. I will try make a plan though. The branding if there would be branding would be in the gti font. And i have seen roof mercs etc with these spoilers and the branding and it looks good. Obviously. Im im taking personal orders i can always arrange one thats not branded. Mike
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Can you email the pic to anyone and they can host?
I'll do it (lee.cripps(at)mac.com) if you need me to.
Cheers,
Lee.
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^^^^
Of course, there's branding and there's branding - I think that any branding shouldn't compete in its visual emphasis with the car's oem badging. I also think that including the word "Golf" is a negative - The GTI is more than just a Golf imo.
We all look forward to the pics :happy2:
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Hello guys. I have emailed richard. The only of the car if he wouldnt mind hosting it for me and posting it up here. So hopefully have a pic in the next 24 hours. Unless someone wants to give me an address quickly and resize it as well as post it up here for me too. I would really appreciate it. Mike
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send it to me Micsta you know the address. :rolleye:
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Thanks tc. But i emailed it to cocopops. Hopefully he can get it up. Im running my 3g connection here and it refuses to upload. . . I feel like a right tart here.lol. Mike
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(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.skitch.com%2F20090101-fyk4db6tajug54fhs8se9y8rnn.jpg&hash=7a8a8d98975425266d03167bd6669d19507ffbc9)
Quick enough? ;)
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Brilliant! thank you very much. You guys can see that as it is. Its kinda just dull. Thats why i suggested the branding. Mike
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Is that what it looks like properly fitted?
There's a gap to one side above the right headlamp. Is that normal or just improperly fitted? If it covered that bit too, I'd be more interested.
As for branding, I wouldn't do much more than add 'GTI' in red. The CF alone is enough.
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Im not entirely with you on that one stealth. The right side should look exactly like the left side does. Im more than certain its correctly fitted. What are the feelings on this product? yes no?
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Im not keen on the product. I think it over-complicates the front end of the car (haha I'm not exactly one to speak really am I, with a huge great big black vinyl on the front of mine).
At the end of the day, some will love it, some will hate it. I think your also not helped by the fact that it is a hideous piece of photography - although I'm guessing that that photo was taken in a rush and not planned!
A clear film would be better to protect the car from stonechips - but I appreciate that that does your business plan no favours :grin: :grin:
I think your business idea is a good one, and when you find the right products to use it on, it will be good! (Obviously I know that this was why you started this topic!)
Best of luck :happy2:
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I was talking about the gap over the drivers' side headlamp
Too confusing.
Big gap over the offside headlamp. Can't see the nearside headlamp fitting. Essentially, if there was no gap, I'd go for it. I'd prefer a bonnet bra because it covers the whole front edge of the bonnet.
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Hello guys. As robin says etto. I have honestly not seen the product on the car. And wont buy one unless there is some interest as they are rather expensive in rands. I have asked for a few more pics. The gap you are refering to is prob due to the pic. The flash has probably bounced off the white paint and that with the strong contrast of the cf makes the gap look big. Perhaps better pictures will help. This like the bra can also easily clip on and off. Etto right?
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I'd need to see more pics but it certainly looks of interest to me so far Mike. I think the colour of the car will be a big factor and maybe white isn't the best for your advertising shots. It would look better on a darker colour IMO. :happy2:
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It looks better than I thought it would but as everyone is agreeing - Better pics and in daylight will show how it is. Is it something which could be easily undone and stolen?
Much better alternative to bonnet bras I think.
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Hello guys. I agree not the greatest of pics but i have to admit. I didnt give him much time. I have emailed richard for more pics of the car front on. Side on etc. I might change his cars colour for this so you guys can see what it looks like on red. Black. Etc. Robin. As far as i know you have to open the bonnet to remove it. So not too easy. Im waiting till the 9th for my parts man at vw to get stock. Then i will take a look myself. Mike
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OEM bonnet bra preferred and US-spec items already come with a GTI badge...
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.static.flickr.com%2F3138%2F3054227556_fc8dab1730.jpg%3Fv%3D0&hash=d352ecec940ec0527743696f147300bb3c7b2f29)
Having said that a lot of VW items come from SA... but I prefer to buy direct from Deutschland.
I'm not 100% certain that carbon fibre piece is an OEM though, it's not listed on Votex (and everything OEM is listed on Votex...). Looks very aftermarket as well.
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Hello. The carbon fibre stone chip guard that i want to sell is supplied by vw. Its a geniune vw part designed for the mk5. I do not know why vw uk dont supply it or why other companies dont supply this product. I am still doing my research on this product though and will have more info when my vw parts guy gets stock. Mike
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Not to be jerk or anything, but what's the VW part #? I'm aware of many of the SA-availability bits (my rear trim plate is one for instance) but have never encountered this.
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I mean this is the nicest way possible, but you really shouldnt waste your time and resources on this. The retail sector is brutal at best and these are testing times for any business.
Your bringing to market, something that is already available, all be it overseas. By the time you sort the supply then you'll need to worry about HRM customs an excise, you will hemerage profit from every pore when you get to this point.
The biggest problem i can see, is the fact the product is just for the mk5 golf, who's going to buy one? Most enthusiasts and tuners/barrys have limited funds at the moment as a lot of people are being put out of jobs. The lust for buying parts will still be there but the funds wont.
As a group buy or something in small numbers yes, but you wont make any profit on them.
As i say im not trying to be an arse i'm just trying to help :smiley:
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^^^^
I think that Dirty Five is being realistic - There's no point in being anything but honest in an opinion, even if it's not what you want to hear.
You'd stand more chance with a product which isn't available from other sources.
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Hello guys. I appreciate everyones advice. The idea of this was to get a feel for what potential buyers would be interested in. Evidently there is no market for this in the uk and I therefore wont stock it. Thats what makes research so important. I felt that it was an oppertunity that needed to be taken which is why I also believe in being positive. The worst that can happen is a potential buyer will say they dont like it or belittle the product. Its etto and i thank everyone for their contribution. Mike