Last month I received a call from Kristin Nelson of www.nigelkayaks.com about running a series of ads in future issues of Sea Kayaker magazine. My mind was occupied on other things and it took me a minute to realize with whom I was speaking. However, upon making the connection I realized the significance of this call. Nigel Foster has, for quite some time, firmly established a well respected place in the sea kayaking community. His very enviable résumé is evident on his site: adventurer, guide, author, boat designer, paddle designer, video personality, public speaker as well as manufacturer of his own line of soft goods. And yet for quite some time Nigel has worked with other companies in helping to develop many products that carry his name. I’d not been aware of how many products and manufacturers he’d been involved with until taking a look at his new website. It never occurred to me how much of an impact he could have under his own auspices until I started reviewing his site.
Typically business models are established with one key product to reach an audience and then expand from that point. Nigel, on the other hand, has taken an alternative route. He built a reputation on his name and experience with a broad range of products. In realizing just how much Nigel has to offer, the significance of the new business hit me. Clearly, as he and Kristin enter into the marketplace with this new web store, they bring with them what certainly will be a unique voice in the industry. I’m certain that their new site will do very well and they are a welcome addition to the Sea Kayaker magazine family of advertisers. We wish Kristin and Nigel good luck on their new endeavor. We hope to see more products being produced under Nigel’s name. |
