Thank you so much! This is all insanely helpful. By any chance do you have a picture of a kendama you made with your lathe? Also can you point me in the right direction for buying a lathe?
It was started by Jake Weins' brother Eric. Him and with his 2 buddies started it when GT decided to bring kendama manufacturing into the US which later brought RWB into the picture with the Craft for KUSA. Watch the GT video on YouTube to learn more
@Eric H you should ask yourself a few questions first: 1. What is it I want to do with this company? You ought to have something unique that is driving you. 1. Am I filling a void with this company? There are many kendama companies already. (Some say too many) I don't think there is a finite "pie", but how are you expanding the pie of kendama buyers? What can you offer that nobody else can? 3. Am I really starting a company or am I interested in turning some kendamas? Starting a company involves filing paperwork, raising capital, etc. How will the returns be distributed? Who is responsible for corporate accounting? How can you legally protect yourself and so on. You may be better off just treating it as an artisan who makes his own products. Realistically most companies you see started this way. there are tons of services to get a decent website for free or close to free.
I am thinking about honing in my burning skills and making a design your own burn pattern. I don't know if any other companies that do that
For a bit more on philosophical and business aspects you might check here: ARE THERE TOO MANY KENDAMA COMPANIES? IS KENDAMA PROFITABLE? THOUGHTS ON SMALLER COMPANIES
Info for anyone that wants to start a kendama company. Post anything you know about: Marketing Selling Manufacturing Building Etc.
How to start a kendama company (feat. Cobra kendamas) https://www.cobrakendama.com/blogs/news/how-to-start-a-kendama-company
Bump! Bump! Bump it up! This is a great thread and something I've been pondering in my particular situation. I'm in a position, time, and place where this may be a lucrative little business opportunity. There is a Kendama South Africa company that a man started for his young boys, but they don't have the experience, skills or knowledge to market it correctly. They've been sitting on an abundance of stagnant inventory for quite some time. Cape Town is a very vibrant and trendy little city. Sandwhiched between Table Mountain and the cold Atlantic Ocean, there's truly no place else like it. Theres a huge extreme sports market present and evident in; mountain biking, rock climbing, downhill longboarding, surfing, bmx, skateboarding, kitesurfing, paragliding, camping, etc... Everywhere I've taken and jammed kendama, I recieve a TON of attention. No one here has the slightest clue what I'm doing or playing, but they love it. The amount of interest I've generated at outdoor markets, concerts, board shops, bus stops has surpassed anywhere else I've played in the world (America, Australia, Asia, and now Africa). It's to the point, where my partner has even suggested, I should capitalise on this. Now I'm working to determine, what's the best way to do that, and will the time invested be worth the return. I'm not looking to become an international brand competitor, but rather attempt to start a craze in Cape Town. Why wouldn't people just order from abroad? Plainly, because the postal system here is corrupt beyond imagination. Packages go missing and are stolen at an incredulous rate. I'm currently in negotiation with the owner of Kendama South Africa and offering to take over his current marketing/sales strategy plan in exchange for a ratio of sales. If I'm able to liquidate the inventory at a timely rate, I'll take a portion of the profits and have a CNC manufacture turn out some higher quality product and increase the sales price. I'm looking to hear back from some of you veterans of the community. What do you guys think? Realistic or ridiculous? How many kendama companies have actually recieved a legitimate return on their initial investment? Is it worth a go? Anyone have any name or logo suggestions? Marketing/social media strategies? I'm all ears. I'm seriously considering it and excited at the prospective business venture. It's not the first company I've started and it won't be the last, but quite possibly could be the most fun! Peace and love. All my best.
First off i am not a company owner so you don’t have to listen to anything i write. A summarized version will be at the end. Let’s look at it from how past companies have done it. When companies like Kendama USA, Krom, and Sweets started off their products they made them relatively affordable. This is because there were SO MANY new faces in the community, no one knew what a Kendama was and if they only had to spend less than $20 USD to try this toy out it was fine with them. We jump to 2018 and now they have pro models, a mass produced series, and a premium series. For your community, I would first start off with affordable Kendamas and then expand to getting premium ones when people start recognizing quality. The second important thing to consider is sponsorship. Whoever you sponsor is going to be an ambassador for your brand. See all the big companies and what they do. They don’t have to be the best player out there but someone that is active in the community (hold events and jams), mature enough to take criticism, and able to get out of their comfort zone and push Kendama within the community. Some of my favorite players are TJ from KUSA and Jake from GT. They might not be the flashiest players but they pushed Kendama to the next level and were someone that kids can see as role models and that helps. I don’t think it’s rediculous to start a company in a country like South Africa but just remember that it’s not easy. There are so many companies that die out because they didn’t create a community when the scene was at the largest or they set a terrible reputation for themselves with super low quality kendama or copying another company’s design. I would look at Kendama ISR as an example for your situation. They made Kendama huge in Israel and have some of the best players in the world with their own style of paint and design. That might be a company you can consider emailing questions to since they’re really chill people. TLDR; -Start cheap and then go premium so you can spread Kendama regardless of price -find good sponsorship that can help build your brand and community. -Instagram is probably your best outlet for reaching out and creating a reputation for global audience.
I agree with @Thomas Ishikawa, it sounds like what you want is to bolster a local community, and so having a great price point for first time players is huge. Promotion is important, but it sounds like you can do a good job of that just getting out there and putting it in front of the general public. Local fairs/festivals are always a good time to 'advertise', as most people who attend such events are open and receptive to new experience. I guess more specifically, make sure the deal you arrange with that company is good for you (not just short term, but long term). I'd be careful to not to do a bunch of awesome promo work, grow a scene, and then have them capitalize on it, and leave you behind. Also, FWIW, finding a shop to CNC manufacture kendamas for you is NOT a simple task. I've been through it a couple times, and most woodworking/spindle turning shops are NOT used to the sort of precision that kendama players demand of a good product. Many times, they'll be used to making less detail oriented items, like stairway bannisters, not precision problem-pieces like a tightly fit sarado. It is difficult (though not impossible) to get a new shop up to speed on what is required to make a good dama.
Bingo bango bongo. Good to hear from you Alex. Thanks for your response and very good points. The gentleman who now owns the company knows little to nothing about the intricacies of kendama, but he's fallen in love with it and double downed. He's purchased a over a thousand, what appears to be (will attach a pic), Sunrise kendamas. Can you perhaps give me an idea of what he maybe paid per piece for that many? I've told him straight up that I'm considering starting my own deal. Yet, my playing experience and knowledge is something he definitely needs right now to help KendamaZA really get going. I'm no pro, but I can make playing kendama look cool. Whereas, he and his network can barely go from cup to cup. My general thinking, correct me if I'm worng, on the plan is similar to Kendama London's apparent strategy. Where we sell other companies kendamas, until we can afford to make our own model for distribution. So, I'll start by selling Kendama ZA models and then eventually import in some nicer models. Before, hopefully finding a CNC manufacture willing to tackle the project. I originally envison in the future having African indigenous woods manufactured in small batches to sell at higher prices. Granted, that I can find a manufacture willing to do it at a reasonable price and there is a scene willing to buy the product. It's definitely an extensive undertaking. Maybe it would be smarter to just partner up with him. We have a lot in common from our professional careers and lifestyles. I tackle Cape Town and he takes Johannesburg. Although, I really wanted my own thing. I have some seriously innovative ideas for both design and marketing. What do you guys think? Worth giving this a go? Pic related.
@cbwalsh24 I think if you're motivated to do it, you should find some way to make it happen. I'm sure theres a good potential market in SA, its no small job kickstarting a scene, but motivated players are the super-necessary step one in any case. I guess my general recommendation is to choose an option that doesn't leave you with much risk (ordering a big stock, etc), but still enables you to help grow the scene. Doing some promo work in partnership with ZA and then aiming to work independently later might be a good route in that regard. Hmm I'm not sure if the Euro-Sunrise production has ever made 'Tributized' kendamas, so that model may come from a Chinese production. Pricing could vary pretty widely, depending on being Euro-made, vs buying an overstocked Chinese-made model on the cheap. I'm tentative to throw a number at it, without knowing more info (I don't want to give the wrong impression unfairly). If KendamaZA follows a keystone markup scheme, you could just work backwards from their retail price to make a guess at it.
For all those who've dreamed of running their own company, shop, or other kendama-related business, the million dollar question is always: "What is it like running a kendama business?" I hope the owners and managers of kendama companies and stores can share some insight on this! It may serve as motivation (or a cautionary tale lol) for bright-eyed slayers dreaming of creating a brand of their own.
@Emil Apostol We had a similar topic going previously so yours has been merged. Also check here: Custom Kendama Company