Months and months of planning will soon reach fruition in early 2008. Our first sample set for the S15 just arrived. Here’s a sneak peak.
What’s interesting is that Japanese branded wheels (and other Japanese products) were marketed primarily for the Japanese Domestic Market with overseas markets being considered secondary. As the economy weakened in Japan, U.S. became the focus as the first targeted market outside of the motherland. Since the markets and business cultures are quite different, Japanese companies went about this in various methods slowly, but surely showing their true colors.
Some companies waited to pull the rug out from underneath their U.S. liaison as soon as sufficient brand recognition was established (usually by their U.S. liaison) before cutting out the middleman (their U.S. liaison) and setting up shop themselves. Other companies compromised quality, but cashed in quickly adapting to the marketplace combining their brand mystique with U.S. adapted, affordable pricing (which usually meant branded as Japanese, but made elsewhere and of less quality). And even other companies had the right intention, but due to misfortune, didn’t meet the right people and simply faltered. And finally, a handful of companies realized that trust, relationships and long-term growth were the key and slowly went about their way. Then of course, there is the Volk Racing TE37 phenomenon which is in a class all its own. Uncompromised quality, exceptional design, great marketing, impeccable timing and a bit of luck created a certain magic..coupled with a price point that screams, “You play by our rules. Take it or leave it.”. The TE is a timeless wheel. The market is very saturated and confused right now so I don’t see another TE37 phenomenon occurring for a long time, if ever, in the United States or anywhere else. But enough about the TE37. After quite a bit of ranting and raving, Kyoho has decided to take our advice on design (and we’re grateful) as well as an unexpected yet interesting chance by debuting the TM-02 overseas prior to Japan. More information (on the TM-02) to come soon..