As a retailer these days, only about 10% of our Harbour Lights sales come from collectors. The other 90% are visiting the Cape Cod area, and want to purchase a replica of a lighthouse they've seen. We have every current Harbour Lights on display in 3 cases, and with the flick of a switch, all of the GLOWS will light up. After that, just about every person will purchase a Chatham, Brant Point or Edgartown. Sales of the non-lit Nauset and Highland GLOWS, and "limited" Race Point are basically non-existent this year.
Often times we think we are the only people who support the HL lines. Little did we realize that the giftware/tourist sales are what brings the money in to keep the business going.
The average Harbour Lights customer today is not a collector. They don't care if it's a low numbered piece; they don't care if Bill or Nancy signed it; and they certainly don't care if it's a remake of a previously-made piece. They want to come into our store and find replicas of popular lighthouses they've visited. The light-up feature only makes it more realistic for them. In real life, isn't the lighting sequence of a lighthouse its most intriguing feature? Doesn't it make all of us just sit and stare?
What you say is very true, Jim. From a business standpoint, I'm sure you would certainly want a steady flow of customers boosting your retail sales on a daily basis. Selling a limited number of new releases to a limited number of people will not pay the bills. The views of the die-hard traditionalists are respected by Harbour Lights but it doesn't keep the company in business. We were the foundation the company was built on but not the sole supporters of their business world today.
These comments are not made to oppose or offend anyone else's comments, especially those lifelong Harbour Lights collectors. This is just an observation of what is happening on the retailer's end these days.
No offense taken, Jim. I appreciate your honesty in explaining the changing business climate for Harbour Lights. A company needs to do what it can to survive. This also applies to retailers who must change to keep up with the times.
I don't think Jim is saying that tourists are being catered to. He is just sharing his observations about what the average person buys when they come into his place of business.
"5lights", you are absolutely correct! Having a person in the know like Jim is a definite plus to the people who frequent the CF.
Well that's pretty much the final nail in my HL collecting coffin...I was barely hanging in there as it is...but it's obvious after this last post that the "new" HL only cares about tourists now...
Rock, I disagree with the part of your statement about the "new" HL only caring about tourists now. As long as Harbour Lights offers LE's in small edition sizes, I will feel they care about the collectors who make up the foundation this business was built on. The day they stop doing that is the day I will say, "You know Rock was right and I was wrong."
Bob
