Trying to Build a Shaper's Directory

[surfer9joe]

I just launched http://www.customsurfboards.net , The idea being to build a custom surfboard directory of shapers and surfboard building resources.

It's almost empty right now, I prefer the shaper's/ glassers/ materials warehouse people themselves submit thier listings, because there is an ability to upload board/materials pictures and descriptions.

All directory listings will be free for at least a year while it gets built up.

Any suggestions regarding the site are appreciated also.

Should I have seperate categories for "shapers" and Surfboard Labels"? I wasn't sure...

 

[jollster]

i think ur idea is awesome. i think that many surfers will enjoy a site like this so they have some reference when they want to shape a board. good luck

 

[riderofwaves]

sweet idea. give me a year and you can put me on there

 

[rcopeman]

That is an really cool idea. Let us know when it gets more developed. Pictures under each shaper's name and maybe a number or address would be cool too. Good luck.

 

[surfer9joe]

The shapers have the ability to upload pictures and dimensions of boards, also banners and logos.

Really torn about having a seperate "shapers" and "Surfboard Labels" categories, should I combine them into "Surfboard Sources"?

 

[tom@daumtooling]

http://www.boardfolio.com/surflinks/surfboards.html
Here's a good resource

 

[dk]

id say combine them as one.

a shaper shapes under a lable most of the time.

make it 'surfboards" or something

 

[oakfoils]

surfer9joe,
Great idea! I just posted some info and images of some or boards and shapes. Nice site for shapers to post info and share images of their boards and shapes.

Good luck with your web site!

 

[jettylocal]

http://www.boardfolio.com/surflinks/surfboards.html
Here's a good resource

Thanks for the plug Tom. We're sifting through about 3,500 additional surf links right now, about 500 of which will be going into the surfboard section. We'll probably have to break up the page into subcategories somehow since the page is getting pretty long now.

surfer9joe: Best wishes for success in your new venture. Speaking from experience, running a free surf directory is not a great way to achieve financial security but if you approach it as a labor of love, it's a very worthwhile pursuit.

 

[surfer9joe]

Boardfolio= amazingly great site!! How many of you work on that site?

I do know about how hard it is to make any $$ off a free directory, but it IS a labor of love...

I'm hoping customsurfboards.net will gain some momentum soon, especially in search engines. Its only been up a few days and its #7 on google for "shapers directory".

I was hoping the shapers themselves would submit, so they "own" the listing, but I think I will have to populate it myself to start......

 

[jettylocal]

Ssshhh, can't tell..."internal company secrets" <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . Suffice it to say, however, you're just as likely to see me researching surf links on a workstation as you are to see me sweeping the boardfolio.com office floors.

Once again, good luck with your site. You've been added to our Surfboards page.