Like some little statement like that is going to stop me...
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Actually, this is vastly different from previous conversations about the Isuzu aftermarket. Starting a business with the goal of only/exclusively serving an Isuzu aftermarket or approaching a manufacturer to produce a very Isuzu specific part is one thing. An existing and established company branching out by offering products that would work, maybe with minimal tooling or modification, with Isuzus is very much another.
The prior example is difficult because it requires mucho capital to be invested to pursue a gain that is ultimately limited or a very low flow. Regardless of the market, if there is not enough to service the debt or maintain an adequate cash flow, then the business is toast.
A manufacturer producing a very specific product (i.e. gears) also incurs a certain amount of setup cost for a product that may or may not be a profitable use of their time or previously invested capital. If they can make and sell more things to another market with the same amount of effort it would take to sell to the Isuzu market, then they will always choose the other market.
Joe's idea of a company diversifying their products to match Isuzus is great. Universal parts are a no-brainer, but for the rest of it, a simple bracket or other modification may be all that is needed to offer an established product to a new market. Their capital costs are covered, that same product can be shipped to a Jeep or Isuzu owner without them worrying about paying overhead on Isuzu parts. This is gravy. Almost all of the revenue is above the marginal cost it took to produce the piece. This is not just profit, but extra profit. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I encourage it. Actually, I guess my question is: if your company produces this stuff, why not just update the application guide? Or, even better, how much work would it take to modify a rack to fit an Isuzu? What about other parts?
Michael
