Topic
MYOG Material Suggestions
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Make Your Own Gear › MYOG Material Suggestions
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Feb 7, 2011 at 2:21 pm #1268833
Hello Everyone,
I have been kicking around the idea of selling MYOG materials and would like to hear some suggestions what you would like to see offered.
I am thinking grosgrain in 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1 1/2".
Flat Nylon webbing in 3/4", 1", 1 1/2" and 2"
Flat Polyester webbing in 3/4", 1", 1 1/2" and 2"
Draw Cord and Shock Cord, Cord Locks, Mini Cord Locks, D rings, Ladder Locks, Line Locs, Side Release Buckles
Silnylon, Cuben Fiber, 70D Ripstops, Adhesive Transfer Tape, Thread, ETC.
I look forward to any and all feedback.
Thanks,
LawsonFeb 7, 2011 at 2:46 pm #1693698Since there's already a couple good small companies that sell those things, I buy those materials based largely on price. You might win some sales if you provided better information, such as ensuring that a particular webbing will with your ladder locks, or that your adhesive tape is backed by your long term experience with it.
Now if you could source some new material, that might make things interesting. Materials like ultralight wool that would be appropriate for summer long sleeve t-shirts, nylon like the Thorofare pants and 10D or lighter downproof fabric even if it doesn't have a DWR treatment.
Feb 7, 2011 at 2:47 pm #1693701Add 1/2" webbing and ladder locks and side release buckles sized for 1/2" webbing. Plus camlock buckles that work with 1/2" and 3/4" grosgrain if you can source them.
Feb 7, 2011 at 3:49 pm #1693724Hardware and roll goods don't really interest me just due to the fact there are about 20 other places to get that stuff. Although I would love to see someone sell some Lil Locksters – those are hard to find. I would buy 50 of those today.
I would like to see more people offer:
cuben by the yard
210D dyneema gridstop
10d or 20d nylon
4 way stretch meshI also see a lot of people ask for 3D Mesh too. Competition only benefits the consumer.
Ryan
Feb 7, 2011 at 3:57 pm #1693727Since there are already some established vendors in this small niche market, you might want to state what you are bringing to the party. That is, how does your company distinguish itself from the others?
–B.G.–
Feb 7, 2011 at 4:04 pm #16937291/2" webbing and hardwear
Dimension-Polyant fabrics (VX-21 and lighter)
Pertex Microlight and Quantum
Cuben (of course)I think some room exists in the market.
Feb 7, 2011 at 4:26 pm #1693741>Since there are already some established vendors in this small niche market, you might want to state what you are bringing to the party.
+1
There are three ways I see a MYOG material retailer being able to distinguish themselves:
1. Offer exclusive materials
2. Offer an extremely wide array of materials (one-stop-shop)
3. Offer materials at a lower prices
If I were contemplating it, the only attractive option would be #1. #2 would take a lot of investment. Presuming that your costs would be about the same as existing companies, #3 drives you into a price war and super-thin margins. Personally, I'd rather pay a couple more bucks per yd for fabric if I know I'm not starving the shop that's selling it to me.
Can you get your hands on some eVent? ;)
Feb 7, 2011 at 4:32 pm #1693748I agree with other posters that some info on what works with what and some personal experience with the product would be helpful. I know you have a lot of experience and have been impressed with your info and willingness to share it. I think that experience and info adds a lot to the product.
Here's an example from my experience to show what I mean.
My favorite buckle/web combo is 1/2" nylon webbing with 5/8" quick release adjustble ladderlock buckles. 5/8" webbing also works with 5/8" buckles, of course, but works more stiffly than the 1/2". Breaking strength for the 5/8" buckle is X lbs and breaking strength for the 1/2 inch nylon webbing is X lbs.
Feb 7, 2011 at 4:49 pm #1693755Thanks for the feedback everyone. I agree there is quite a bit of competition in this area so I hope my prices, customer service, BPL forum input, shipping rates and quality of materials will give me some sort of advantage. I plan to start off with materials I currently stock and then go from there. But before I do all the work to set up a section on my website I wanted to know if there was any interest. It sounds like there is not much which really surprises me considering the high prices some of these shops are charging. Not to pick on anyone but $.70 a yard for 3/4" grosgrain at Thru-Hiker. You can buy it from me, resell it for $.66 a yard and your prices would be cheaper and still double your money..
Grosgrain Prices Per Yard:
3/8" $.27
1/2" $.28
3/4" $.33
1" $.37
1 1/2" $.46Round Draw Cord Prices Per Yard:
1/16" Polyester $.15
3/32" Nylon $.20Lil Lockster 3/4" Buckles; $.35
Mini Cord Locks $.203D Spacer mesh 3.5mm thick; Sold by the inch, foot or yard??
I need to see what else I currently have in stock but I hope this gives an idea of pricing.
Feb 7, 2011 at 5:11 pm #1693767Lawson-
I think there is some interest and would encourage you to offer some items. You have some things going for you that places like Thru-hiker and others do not. Now then, about those (50) Lil Locksters…Ready whenever you are.
Ryan
Feb 7, 2011 at 5:31 pm #1693782Lawson, I think there is definitely room for competition. The other companies are marked by high prices, poor ecomerce sites and other "issues". I would prefer to buy from elsewhere…
Another vote for stocking dyneema gridstop and xpac.
Feb 7, 2011 at 5:51 pm #1693799Lawson,
"It sounds like there is not much which really surprises me…"
Get it up and running on your site and I'll be there to place an order. The projected prices in your post have me waiting in the wings to place my order.
Things that I would look for would be the Dimension Polyant XPAC, 4 oz PU/DWR nylon Oxford, down proof .9 oz breathable ripstop, synthetic insulation like Climashield that doesn't require quilting, silnylon, CT2K.08 .75oz cuben fiber, and Gutermann polyester thread on the mini cones.
It is the prices on Cuben that have kept me from trying it out on shelters and packs.
People this man backs up what he sells! He is offering us MYOG types what we need for less! He will also work with you on custom orders at a fair price for the stuff that he manufactures. Plus he'll ship for free in the U.S. if you spend $20.00 or more.
The last time I ordered MYOG supplies for a project I spent over $55.00 and almost $5.00 of that was shipping. Just the savings in shipping alone can reduce the cost per item ordered even if his price is the same as long as you spend the $20.00.
Bring it on Lawson! I have a list of items that I was getting ready to place an order for with another vendor. I can wait for a little while until you're ready.
Party On,
Newton
Feb 7, 2011 at 6:19 pm #1693823There have been quite a few people waiting for Climashield Apex.
Feb 7, 2011 at 7:14 pm #1693863Hi Lawson
> Not to pick on anyone but $.70 a yard for 3/4" grosgrain at Thru-Hiker. You can buy it from me, resell it
> for $.66 a yard and your prices would be cheaper and still double your money..Ah yes, but … I suspect you have not factored in ANY overheads. Suppose you had to hire someone else to do all the order handling: then you would quickly discover what it really costs. For small items, it very often costs more for the handling than for the goods themselves.
Anyhow, the market is already quite full of vendors. Competing in that arena is excessively hard work. Don't bother.
Now, if you have the capital, one place you could really do a LOT of business would be importing good UL Si/PU coated fabrics from Asia. Stock American silnylon is just too porous to be acceptable any more, and I KNOW that one can get really goods UL waterproof fabrics in Asia. My problem is that they will only sell it by the (big) roll.
Things you would have to watch out for:
* You would need to use an escrow system at first and check EVERY roll of fabric for water pressure rating. You can NOT trust them to meet specs.
* You would need to make it clear on your web site that this fabric is not being sold for tents as it won't meet those ridiculously stupid fire-safety regulations applicable in some States.
* Cut fabric is always sold on a no-return basis.Cheers
PS: you get good fabric, I will buy.Feb 7, 2011 at 7:22 pm #1693871As a few posters have said it makes the most sense to offer exclusive materials. So maybe I will start off with Xpac, Cuben Fiber, and Silnylon. Any preference of colors? Do you guy's prefer 1sts or 2nds? How about 1sts at 2nds prices :)
Feb 7, 2011 at 7:32 pm #1693881Roger said * You would need to use an escrow system at first and check EVERY roll of fabric for water pressure rating. You can NOT trust them to meet specs.
Ditto that … and it has nothing to do with which continent the fabric comes from. We have friends who wanted to get into the clothing design/manufacturing business 30 years ago.
The fabric received from a domestic weaver LOOKED just like the samples but exceeded shrinkage spec by about 300% … discovered after the fabric was cut. A couple years later and many many thousands $$ in expert and legal fees later they were able to limit their losses (not eliminate them).
Feb 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm #1693894Hey Roger,
Thanks for the input but I am not interested in buying Asian made silnylon.
I have heard you talk highly of the Asian silnylon on several occasions and it just so happens that a guy emailed me last week trying to sell me Chinese silnylon for $1.15 a yard. He had a 1,000 yard minimum and worked with quite a few sewing factories. I will see if I can find his contact info for you so you can look into bringing your tent design to market. I am sure they would be less then $20.00 a piece done.. You could turn around and sell them for $500.00 each and I am sure after all the overhead there would be more then enough profit left over.
Feb 7, 2011 at 8:08 pm #1693898Dark colors! grey… Black…
Feb 7, 2011 at 8:14 pm #1693902If I had to pick a single color for all three materials, it would be light gray. If 2nd's only means the color is messed up, then I'm totally okay with that.
Feb 7, 2011 at 10:20 pm #1693954I would LOVE to see some woven 100% dyneema/spectra (not gridstop) offered in several weights.
Feb 8, 2011 at 1:16 am #1693975Hi Lawson
> I will see if I can find his contact info for you
That would be very nice, thank you.Cheers
Feb 8, 2011 at 5:55 am #16939951/16" shockcord (not the round elastic i can get local) at a fair price would make me happy.
Feb 8, 2011 at 6:44 am #1694011I inquired about this stuff a month or so back. Your talking $60.00 a yard with a 500 yard minimum at the mill. I am not sure where Dan McHale is getting it but from what understand thats about the "standard" price.
Feb 8, 2011 at 6:46 am #1694012maybe offer better kits than the other sites. Tarps, clothing, packs, quilts
Feb 8, 2011 at 8:41 am #1694029Lawson,
+1 on rare materials like Xpac, cuben fiber in all its various forms, dyneema X, (eVent…?!), maybe some nice Schoeller softshells, etc
Basically anything people are having a hard time finding. It doesn't seem to make much sense (for you) to just duplicate what the other vendors are selling. As a consumer competition helps though.
Also maybe some nice gaiter hooks, better than those flat ones like Quest sells which saw through shoelaces.
Good luck.
Andy -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.