Independant Intructors: why? pros & cons?

[divetrainerpete]

Independent Instructors or anyone else for that matter, need a significant amout of capital to open a shop. In my case I have a low six figure number invested. My return on investment will be measured in many years. To own a shop is not necessarily to be able to dive alot. What we all love to do - dive, and running a shop can be mutually disadvantageous.

In the meanwhile many local shops rip off independent instructors. I was one. I was teaching diving because I love it. But when I found out the shop I was teaching for, gave me a "25% key man discount" but was actually starting from 10% over MSRP, I got pissed and opened the shop.

I figured: "Why should I, as a certified insured instructor have to pay bloated rip off prices for gear to a shop that abused their position?" Fortunately I had alternatives. I own another very successful business and so I had the wherewithall to do something about it. Thats why I have the program for Independent Instructors. And by the way, the program is thriving.

Independents are small business people who should be supported. Shops, including mine, don't have, deserve and should not be granted virtual monopolies on distribution for the area they're in. Our program helps fix this.

[The Publisher]

I can't imagine why a dive store would not give employees equipment at cost plus shipping.

The most important thing would be the added draw/benefit of such coupled with the morale boost this would give compared to profiting off your success team.

Additionally, by having your team members equipped with pro gear that may have higher margins, your sales may be positively impacted by having students desiring to purchase products they see your staff using.

To raise your employee equipment purchases prices 10% above msrp, then discount it 25% off that is a morale crusher and represents an attitude of fostering an adversarial relationship with what is supposed to be your key success team players.

[Papa Bear]

Well said! I see it all the time, "We want what you have" will produce more sales!

[Rich B]

I embrace independent instructors and even new stores but I want to see them help the industry grow. That is not a matter of selling it cheaper or talking down other instructors, stores or agencies. Bring something good to the table, earn a honest living and treat people right.

[Papa Bear]

I embrace independent instructors and even new stores but I want to see them help the industry grow. That is not a matter of selling it cheaper or talking down other instructors, stores or agencies. Bring something good to the table, earn a honest living and treat people right.

I agree but, unfortunately with that attitude you are often labeled as "Not caring" or a "SCUBA mill only interested in profit". What most don't understand is the business model, they know diving but don't understand marketing. The above is a prime example of someone who doesn't understand. Our industry needs heroes and more positive exposure Clean up dives, charities, and other community activities are also good. Telling the truth about the environment is also important because how many think the reefs are about to disappear or die "So why bother"? We are systematically killing hope and our industry is at the front line. I like videos and photos that show the beauty and pristine areas that encourage people to "See for themselves". It is a much harder sell when "Jaws" type movies and news stories scare so many out of the water. We see people during thunderstorms playing golf, yet one bad shark story and "I am not going into that water".

Independent contractors are the standard of the industry, but what isn't is how they are treated by LDS! I have been a champion of contractual agreements between the parties so that all know what is expected of both parties and in addition I think it makes the "Real" Independent contractor what they say they are

A wise man once told me that "You don't bite the hand that feeds you"!

[The Publisher]

I confess to having had to look up "keyman pricing" but it appears more streamlined than my longer winded explanation, so thanks for the linguistics lesson Thal

[BillGraham]

This seems a good place to ask "Do you know how to make a million dollars in the dive industry?"

[thalassamania]

I can't imagine why a dive store would not give employees equipment at cost plus shipping.

The most important thing would be the added draw/benefit of such coupled with the morale boost this would give compared to profiting off your success team.

Additionally, by having your team members equipped with pro gear that may have higher margins, your sales may be positively impacted by having students desiring to purchase products they see your staff using.

To raise your employee equipment purchases prices 10% above msrp, then discount it 25% off that is a morale crusher and represents an attitude of fostering an adversarial relationship with what is supposed to be your key success team players.

I can't imagine why a shop would not do everything they can to get employees keyman pricing on the items that they want to sell to the students.

[LANCE]

Every one is bringing up valid points, being an independent instructor is difficult in more ways than just discounts on gear and the like. With out a recognized organizational name behind the independent instructor. It can be difficult to get insurance, supply certification cards to students and to have those cards recognized by dive companies. There are hundreds of dive instructors who don't have instructor certifications from "recognized" organizations. It does not make them any less safe or responsible. Some of them are fantastic instructors with a wealth of dive knowledge and a complete understanding of what it takes educate and evaluate new divers. Then there are the independent instructors who are certified by recognized dive agencies, who,because they are independents, don't receive the same support as "employed" instructors. It can be very frustrating to operate a business as an independent. Diving is a business for most instructors and one of the few ways to insure success is to write a business plan, execute that plan and do the foot work and research to insure success.