Surfing is an activity that has acquired a unique place for itself in the public conscience-not necessarily one defined by the endless pursuit of financial success. Yet that is not necessarily a fair depiction, and in fact there are more business opportunities to be had in the surf field than most people would imagine.
That's because surfing is a sport, an activity that captures the fascination of such a wide swath of the population, and which is incredibly popular with young, adult, and old people as well. And anything that stirs the emotions of so many people of such disparate descriptions has to present some viable business opportunities.
The most decisive feature of surfing as a sport from the perspective of an entrepreneur is that fact that it is a logistical nightmare to bring one's gear with them everywhere they want to surf, and therefore isn't even attempted by many. A surfboard is not a very wieldy object and transporting one can present serious, often insurmountable challenges. And, as any savvy entrepreneur ought to know, a challenge for one is an opportunity for another.
That's where starting up a surf rental business comes into play-something which can in the long run prove to be much more profitable and rewarding than at first imagined. Of course, it is important to ensure that a certain set of basic conditions is present before taking the leap: for starters, you need to be close to a well known surf location that presents good surf conditions for a good part of the year. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine how this idea could come to fruition.
An additional condition that needs to be met relates to the condition of the equipment you plan on renting out. While many surfers may not have the economic means to demand the best boards, etc., don't let this trend cause you to underestimate the nature of the business and specifically of the clientele. As broke as some surfers are, the coordination and exchange of information among the local, regional and global surfing community is surprisingly high...so if you get marked as a cheapskate, the reputation will be sure to stick with you and cause you to lose future customers.
Another business opportunity in the surf field lies in basically turning the previous idea into a complete service in several senses: not only offering equipment for rent, but also providing a means of transportation and even lodging, and whatever other services may be necessary. This is clearly an opportunity focusing on the traveling surfer audience, which is a surprisingly big community globally.
One of the advantages of this model is that you will target an audience with greater likelihood of having the cash to turn your efforts into something worthwhile. The basic idea is to offer the traveling surfer with a full array of services to meet all their needs while on a trip--in this case, to your particular area or near to it.
To launch such a business, the basic necessities are: having a fair amount of quality surf equipment; having sufficient time on your hands to satisfy the needs of eager visitors; and possessing the kind of flexibility and intuitiveness that make such an operation feasible. With these factors present, along with the support of a worldwide network of surfers and surf fans (mostly online), it is possible to develop a dream business that is centered exclusively on the sport (or the art) of surfing...and that is beyond words for many people.
That's because surfing is a sport, an activity that captures the fascination of such a wide swath of the population, and which is incredibly popular with young, adult, and old people as well. And anything that stirs the emotions of so many people of such disparate descriptions has to present some viable business opportunities.
The most decisive feature of surfing as a sport from the perspective of an entrepreneur is that fact that it is a logistical nightmare to bring one's gear with them everywhere they want to surf, and therefore isn't even attempted by many. A surfboard is not a very wieldy object and transporting one can present serious, often insurmountable challenges. And, as any savvy entrepreneur ought to know, a challenge for one is an opportunity for another.
That's where starting up a surf rental business comes into play-something which can in the long run prove to be much more profitable and rewarding than at first imagined. Of course, it is important to ensure that a certain set of basic conditions is present before taking the leap: for starters, you need to be close to a well known surf location that presents good surf conditions for a good part of the year. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine how this idea could come to fruition.
An additional condition that needs to be met relates to the condition of the equipment you plan on renting out. While many surfers may not have the economic means to demand the best boards, etc., don't let this trend cause you to underestimate the nature of the business and specifically of the clientele. As broke as some surfers are, the coordination and exchange of information among the local, regional and global surfing community is surprisingly high...so if you get marked as a cheapskate, the reputation will be sure to stick with you and cause you to lose future customers.
Another business opportunity in the surf field lies in basically turning the previous idea into a complete service in several senses: not only offering equipment for rent, but also providing a means of transportation and even lodging, and whatever other services may be necessary. This is clearly an opportunity focusing on the traveling surfer audience, which is a surprisingly big community globally.
One of the advantages of this model is that you will target an audience with greater likelihood of having the cash to turn your efforts into something worthwhile. The basic idea is to offer the traveling surfer with a full array of services to meet all their needs while on a trip--in this case, to your particular area or near to it.
To launch such a business, the basic necessities are: having a fair amount of quality surf equipment; having sufficient time on your hands to satisfy the needs of eager visitors; and possessing the kind of flexibility and intuitiveness that make such an operation feasible. With these factors present, along with the support of a worldwide network of surfers and surf fans (mostly online), it is possible to develop a dream business that is centered exclusively on the sport (or the art) of surfing...and that is beyond words for many people.
About the Author:
Damian Papworth knows real business opportunities are hard to find these days. This is why he created one in the surf travel industry
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