I have written a case study on the windsurfing industry.
The publisher requires some modifications before it is published as part of a book. Most of the reviewers' comments were on the following issues, and I hope you can help me on these:
?Internationalization of the sport. Is it possible to have some market data? What are windsurf board's sales figures for overseas market? Is there a pie that show which part of the world represents the highest sales volume? Which markets are growing the fastest? Asia (and where in Asia) ? Latin America (where)? Europe?
?Number of windsurfers today. I came across those data : 418,000 in 2004 (from this article at the bottom of this page www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2005/06/03/Closing-Bell-June-3-2005.aspx?hl=windsurfing&sc=0
, but the data are old (2004), and the number seems artificially high (probably because of extrapolation). Are there any other more recent data?
?What are the suppliers of raw materials (polystyrene, Clark foam, resin, wood, kevlar) used to make boards? Are these provided by specialized/niche player or small and medium-sized firms, or are these just product lines of larger chemical firms
?How is the wholesale business organized?
Thanks all
I'd be really surprised if a central repository of the data you seek exists. It would be much easier to get data for something like car sales than windsurfer sales as 99% of cars sold are registered with a government authority who can release that data.
Meanwhile 0% of windsurfers sold are registered and many are home made. To get some worthwhile data it may be worth asking Cobra in Thailand but who knows if they'd give you that sort of information. Perhaps you can ask the Gaastra factory in China about sails, as from what I believe they make most of the new sails on the market, but again who knows if they would be prepared to give you production data.
Same goes for the number of windsurfers. Most windsurfers don't join any association. One of windsurfings main attractions is its freedom and lack of regulation. Also how do you define a windsurfer? Someone who has windsurfed in the last week, month, year, decade?
The wholesale side of things should be interesting as from what I understand most production boards are made in one factory in Thailand and most sails are made in one factory in China. It would be worth an examination to see how the manufacturing changed from many manufacturers in many countries to mainly two.
Try looking at the Financial reports of companies like Gaastra,Fanatic,JP etc. You will probably have to start by identifying the parent companies and go from there.
Dont worry about balance sheets and income statements,just concentrate on reading the spiel from the CEO.
Anyway,just a thought.
I would contact the manufactures directly if you want quality data. I did a similar thing on a number of occassions during my MBA. Once you prove your credentials most companies are willing to provide the information providing you commit to using it appropriately.
You should also offer to present your market findings, analysis and outcomes back to the the companies that have provided the data. This can be very useful for them and gives them more incentive.
One of the companies my MBA team worked with ended up adopting our reccommendations and rolling out an ad campaign that we proposed.
A bit of research brought up this page:http://winlok-china.com/about-us.php
This seems to be the Gaastra factory in China as they have copied the two Gaastra towers from Holland.
Perhaps you could ask them?
In regards to company reports and CEO spin, that would depend on the laws of the land where the company is and whether the company is public or private. I'd hazard a guess and say most of the companies involved in windsurfing are private and thus don't have to release much information.
On the other hand it would be in their interest to have a good idea of whats going on with the windsurfing market so possibly they might be interested in assisting your research.
yvanboniec - are you writing a case study or are you putting together a business case for a loan application? It's standard practice to take advantage of people's kind nature by asking for contributions to a book or project rather than saying you're looking to secure some cash to go into business.
As an aside....
This page really interested mehttp://winlok-china.com/product-ODM-SAIL.html
This has happened in the mobile phone business. Where manufacturing was outsourced to chinese manufacturers, they began marketing their own products... EDIT: admittedly these guys are not marketing, they are just designing for others to market, but it's a step up from building to someone else's spec.
HTC are an example of this.
If the companies that make sails start marketing sails too, then that will really shake things up. I can't see the sail brands having the legal budgets, nor political clout, that the phone companies have so there's a fair chance we'll start seeing sails that look a lot like other sails over the next few years....
I think OEM sails are already on the market. I saw some sails that looked very similar to Ezzy sails for sale on eBay.
Tis the danger of outsourcing though it would be cool when all the Aussie banks outsource to the Phillipines, India or wherever and for all of a sudden for Aussies to get cheaper loans from banks in those countries.
I would say
(1) Yes. Europe. Maybe
(2) 2.572 million (ish)
(3) I think anyone with a brain could answer that one themselves. Seriously - you are asking if Kevlar(TM) and resins are supplied by niche manufacturers just for windsurfing manufacture, or "larger" firms. Think about what boats, planes, race cars, tennis racquets etc are made from and there is ya answer
(4) Windsurf wholesale is very complex and totally different to any other wholesale. I think they buy things from the manufacturer and then sell them to a shop, making a profit in the process.
Any more questions for your business loan application? 
Thank you guy. This is neither for a business plan, nor for a business loan application (though I found this idea amusing).
I was about to upload the case study for everyone to discuss it, but I realized that maybe my publisher would not like the idea. So I decide to focus on more specific issues such as those raised in my first post.
Looking forward to reading this publication. Especially the section stating "and according to Mark_australia from Seabreeze (complete avatar included in appendix A - Referenced Literature), there are 2.572-ish million windsurfers in the world as of March 2012".
What is this activity, this so called sport you call "windsuffering?"
PS: I, like many of you, are suffering due to lack of wind"
Certainly the figure on 2.572-ish million windsurfers in the world as of March 2012 is nice to know, but without any source/reference, it would not pass the book reviewing process.
If you don't mind, I would like to keep the name of the book and publisher confidential for now.
Oh, so it has to be peer reviewed? No problems, we can edit the post on this forum to include a reference to your future publication for all numbers. Then you can reference the forum as your reputable source. I learned this trick this morning from some dudes that were at my front door with a "Watchtower" magazine...
How many cyclists are there in the world?
Therein lies your problem. When does someone start and stop being a cyclist? Is being able to ride a bike enough or do you want to only count the 'regulars'?
Regardless I look forward to reading your secret peer reviewed publication when it is anonymously published under your forum name to an expectant audience. Please continue to post here right up until publication date so that we can be involved in your publishing journey.
The alternative is that you are a student and you're asking us to help you finish a paper and you can't reveal that this is your research method....
There is this set of data, but it dates back to 1991.
Brooks C. National Data on Windsurfers. The University of Michigan. sponsored, in part, by the American Windsurfing Industries Association. 1991
I was looking for something more recent. Any ideas? I could not find any recent academic publication, so I am turning to people in the field.
Geez just make the stuff up as you go. That's what everybody else does.
Then list a few vague references in the back that when you look them up they have nothing to do with the point being made.
Oh. you've already done that have you? And now your looking for the few vague references to quote. OK. 
Hi Yvan, I've got $500000 that belongs to you in my bank account. This African guy gave it to me just before he died.
Cheers.
I am happy to help with the $500,000 hoops, if u can send that thru in 100 dollar notes i will see that it is passed on
Sorry Zach , the $500000 goes to Yvan. That's who the dead African guy said it was for.
I was talking to this really sexy Russian girl the other day though and she said she really likes you. She just needs money for air fares. She'll send you a picture soon.
LOL
