Richard,
Like any other business there are many paths to success. All involve
dedication and hard work. One only need look a the rate of attrition in
any other small business (restaurants spring to mind) to know it isn't
easy nor guaranteed. The US is full of successful businesses fullfilling a niche. My stance is that we ignore the multi million dollar cottage industry at our peril.
You are obviously comfortable dismissing successful models out of hand.
Folks who are selling their fleeces (from whatever species)at profitable levels. Folks selling high quality alpaca products at a price point that illustrates that consumers will pay top dollar for quality... And you obviously have an opinion on a successful model for the US alpaca industry. We are all ready to read your suggestions and model for success in the US market.
Please illuminate us.
Blue Skies
Jennifer Powers
Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
Browns Valley, CA
--- On Sat, 11/22/08, suekodu <humhojl120@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: suekodu <humhojl120@hotmail.com>
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Sent to Alpaca site...held, not posted by site...
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 9:04 AM
--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogro ups.com, Jennifer J Powers <jpowers@... >
wrote:
>
> Richard,
>
> a cursory look at the US marino sheep world will show you a large
> group of very successful individual sheep ranches that each have
> found their own niche. While on a wholesale level wool is nearly
> worthless these ranchers sell their product at a profitable price
and
> they sell it before shearing day. One such ranch is just down the
road
> from me.
>
>
>
> The current US alpaca market has been built on a breeders model
> as there weren't enough alpacas to supply any level of "fleece
market".
> We are in the process of transitioning to multiple levels and
> models. This is simply reality.
>
>
>
> My question to you at this point is are you here to help or are you
> simply interested in nay saying? There are successful models to
> follow. Thus far many alpaca breeders have simply been waiting for
> someone else to make it happen. It's time to do it for ourselves.
>
>
>
> Blue Skies
>
> Jennifer Powers
>
> Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
1) Actually a cursory look suggests that the US Merino sheep world is
limited to a small group: there are only some 115 registered breeders
(source: American And Delaine-Merino Record Association) . I suspect
the net economics of fiber production, processing and sale for these
Merino owners won't be that much different from the alpaca figures I
quoted.
At least Merino producers have to outlay considerably less capital in
acquiring the sheep, compared to alpacas, and they can add value too
by the sale of lamb as meat.
In any event, whether or not some of these few breeders have found a
profitable niche outlet, clearly their small model can't be
translated to every US alpaca farmer, with 4581 registered AOBA
breeders, so as to avoid the reality of the US wholesale price,
influenced as it is by the worldwide market for alpaca fiber and
other specialist fiber.
2) There is already a world market for alpaca fiber, it's just that
it's mainly supplied by South America, so the "breeders model"
argument for the US – multiplying herd numbers until there are
enough alpacas to supply some larger market – isn't convincing. In
fact, with respect, you have said yourself not to look for success
in large scale wholesale outlets.
3) I am interested in helping by trying to establish, and discuss,
the realistic prospects for the alpaca industry, supported by
rational and verifiable data. In that way, hopefully fellow
contributors to forums like this can explore together what successful
model(s) there may or may not be, and make informed choices about
how/whether to be involved in the industry.
Richard
Maidstone Kent
UK
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