Are you madabout kit cars      
 "We've Got Kit Cars Covered" Information about Madabout-Kitcars.com Contact Madabout-Kitcars.com         Home of UK kit cars - madabout-kitcars.com Various kit car write ups All the latest kit car news Kit car related and general discussion

Search
Manufacturers
Kit Cars
Kit Car Data sheets
Picture Gallery
SVA Knowledgebase
Clubs & Communities
Build cost estimator
Kit cars for sale
Knowledge Base 
KitcarUSA.com
Classic-Kitcars.com
 

Go Back   Madabout Kitcars Forum > Mad Build Area > Tribute Automotive Builds

Tribute Automotive Builds Discuss your Tribute kit build

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 3rd January 2016, 19:05
Tribute Automotive's Avatar
Tribute Automotive Tribute Automotive is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,622
Tribute Automotive is on a distinguished road
Default Tribute automotive 2016 news

Since starting TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE back in 2010 I have realised that survival in the kit car business world can be reliant on introducing new ideas and new kit models to the market place on a regular basis to keep customers engaged and interested. To this end we have introduced 10+ models under the TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE banner since the launch of the MX250, some proving more popular than others, but all have been a progression to where we are as 2016 begins.

2015 was a good business year for TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE, but a difficult one for me personally for various reasons. This has made me take stock of life and work, which everyone needs to do at sometime, and make some changes. The Development of new kits has been slow in 2015, with only the 250 SWB for the Z3 making it to the market place. The development side of the business is where I derive most enjoyment, although the least immediate financial reward. There are many new TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE products in the pipeline which will hopefully be received with the customer enthusiasm that previous models have had.

I do not want to go down the well trodden kit car business path of expansion and collapse that so many companies have taken before, so a plan to move forward has taken shape. Some TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE kit models are already made under licensed deals from third parties, the MRS200 and imminent DINO for example, with others such as the SAMMIO range and HARDY COUNTY HOT RODS (HCHR) manufactured by us but sold by the mould owners under their own company names. My plan is to licence out some of the existing 100% owned TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE moulds/products to other companies hence removing the sales representation, and to varying degrees the manufacture, of the chosen kits. The split of exact models are still in negotiation, but our own HOT ROD (not HCHR) models (1932 3 and 5 window Model B's, 1927 Model T along with 2 additional imminent models) will be going as a package, with builds, to a local firm. There will be a certain amount of "introductory overlap" with website, internet and phone representation whilst product/market place familiarisation takes place. Overflow of lamination and steel fabrication work may also be outsourced. Some changes to existing trade/retail pricing and contracts (verbal and renewable written) may have to occur. All of this will not extend current quoted delivery timescales, it may even improve them.

Once everything is in place there will be more time for kit development, and importantly more time for family and friends.

17 weeks to the Stoneleigh Kit Car Show. Our order book is full for months ahead. Roll on 2016.
Reply With Quote
Available from eBay
  #2  
Old 3rd January 2016, 19:44
Drummajor Drummajor is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 748
Drummajor is on a distinguished road
Default

Good luck guys and well done.
See you soon
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3rd January 2016, 21:01
y cymro's Avatar
y cymro y cymro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Swansea
Posts: 803
y cymro is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribute Automotive View Post
The development side of the business is where I derive most enjoyment....


Good luck to you and Dan and TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE. You deserve to do well.

When will the Stingray C2 and Shelby Coupe be emerging
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3rd January 2016, 21:03
hurnleft's Avatar
hurnleft hurnleft is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Posts: 412
hurnleft is on a distinguished road
Default

Hope you all goes well for you giving improvements to health and home life, work enjoyment and profitability.
Cheers, Bob.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 4th January 2016, 09:03
Patton's Avatar
Patton Patton is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cullompton, Devon
Posts: 328
Patton is on a distinguished road
Default

Hi Chris and Dan I hope life and work serve you well and are no longer a chore, onwards and upwards for 2016, I'll see you both soon....
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 4th January 2016, 09:31
Paul L's Avatar
Paul L Paul L is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wembley, London
Posts: 5,056
Paul L is on a distinguished road
Default

Chris - Good luck with the new arrangements in 2016, I really hope it all worked out well for you.

Take care, Paul.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 4th January 2016, 09:45
Roadster's Avatar
Roadster Roadster is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 935
Roadster is on a distinguished road
Default

Happy New year Chris and Dan.

Your plan sounds wise, you never have a shortage of good ideas and the results are always great.
I know its a business and we all have to make money but I hope you can keep your love for what you do.

Wishing you every success in 2016
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 4th January 2016, 09:51
WorldClassAccident WorldClassAccident is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,558
WorldClassAccident is on a distinguished road
Default

Shall we start a sweep-stake on how many new Tribute models will appear at Stoneleigh this year?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 4th January 2016, 20:07
davecymru's Avatar
davecymru davecymru is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1,671
davecymru is on a distinguished road
Default

Good luck with however you end up chopping things and as long as you end up enjoying rather than resenting what you end up with then that is all that matters!!

Best of luck matey!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 4th January 2016, 21:48
priceofhistoys priceofhistoys is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 56
priceofhistoys is on a distinguished road
Default

I wish someone would step up and get some of this stuff to the US market. Keep up the good work
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 4th January 2016, 22:51
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

If I were not old and broke, I would be asking about a licensing arrangement!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 4th January 2016, 23:18
Danny_HUFC Danny_HUFC is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Alicante Spain
Posts: 880
Danny_HUFC is on a distinguished road
Default

Honestly I dont really understand this statement at all. Not sure if its just me but if I was in your shoes Chris/Dan I would be thinking of employees and expansion, you should never look at old business failures and not wanting to go down the same route. Other kit car businesses are not the same ase yours. Ive never seen a business with so much potential as tribute automotive. It seems a shame.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 5th January 2016, 03:51
Car photographer Car photographer is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 545
Car photographer is on a distinguished road
Default

Sounds interesting - wish you the best of luck - looking forward to seeing what's coming up
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 5th January 2016, 07:45
Tribute Automotive's Avatar
Tribute Automotive Tribute Automotive is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,622
Tribute Automotive is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny_HUFC View Post
Honestly I dont really understand this statement at all. Not sure if its just me but if I was in your shoes Chris/Dan I would be thinking of employees and expansion, you should never look at old business failures and not wanting to go down the same route. Other kit car businesses are not the same ase yours. Ive never seen a business with so much potential as tribute automotive. It seems a shame.
Danny, Think one man burger van VS multiple Burger King franchises.....
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 5th January 2016, 08:25
smash smash is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 678
smash is on a distinguished road
Default

If the product is good, licensing is a great profitable model with no everyday running headaches/risk apart from having to be able to monitor units sold by licensee (and that is the key to whole thing)

Good idea, best of luck
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 5th January 2016, 10:19
ned ned is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 132
ned is on a distinguished road
Default

Sounds like the way forward to me Chris good luck in everything you and Dan do in the future , looking forward to the new products .What is the burger van going to be based on ?
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 5th January 2016, 12:35
Lucky@LeMans Lucky@LeMans is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,142
Lucky@LeMans is on a distinguished road
Default

As long as quality is good and prices are still competitive then this is a good business model.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 5th January 2016, 12:55
WorldClassAccident WorldClassAccident is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,558
WorldClassAccident is on a distinguished road
Default

If Tribute did burger vans...

Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 5th January 2016, 18:39
Mister Towed's Avatar
Mister Towed Mister Towed is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,328
Mister Towed is on a distinguished road
Default

If Tribute did Pizza vans...

Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 5th January 2016, 19:23
landmannnn landmannnn is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coventry and the Limousin
Posts: 549
landmannnn is on a distinguished road
Default

Good luck with it Chris.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny_HUFC View Post
Honestly I dont really understand this statement at all. Not sure if its just me but if I was in your shoes Chris/Dan I would be thinking of employees and expansion, you should never look at old business failures and not wanting to go down the same route. Other kit car businesses are not the same ase yours. Ive never seen a business with so much potential as tribute automotive. It seems a shame.
Danny, if you do the maths (on Chris' behalf), if he employed someone at £30k pa cost to employ, he would probably have to sell an extra 60 to 100 kits per year just to break even. All very well in theory, but the market for these kits is pretty limited.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +0. The time now is 09:31.

copyright © madabout-kitcars.com 2000-2024
terms and conditions | privacy policy