Who Shapes the Reefing Industry?

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about who shapes the reef aquarium hobby. Is it the companies, hyping products and livestock that mold the hobby for their benefit? Or is it the Reefers, telling the industry which products and livestock they want? Maybe both? What do you think?

 

[1112-425XL]

It may have started out as the hobbyists, but as soon as the company's realize the opportunity for huge profits they manage to shape it to their advantage.

 

[Enderg60]

Companies hyping new lights that arnt really any better than the previous model, but NEW SELLS. And dont forget adding stupid names to corals so you can over price them.

There is not a lot left that is actually customer driven anymore.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Our willingness to spend money, more and more of it, pure and simple.

Pet products are recession proof, everyone knows we are suckers for our pets.

 

[lynn.reef.nerd]

BRS

 

[Dom]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about who shapes the reef aquarium hobby. Is it the companies, hyping products and livestock that mold the hobby for their benefit? Or is it the Reefers, telling the industry which products and livestock they want? Maybe both? What do you think?

Good question!

Consumers shape the market.

Supply is based on the demand. And we (the Reefers) make the demands.

So I would answer that we, the Reefers, shape the industry.

 

[harrylarry]

Me

 

[Dom]

It may have started out as the hobbyists, but as soon as the company's realize the opportunity for huge profits they manage to shape it to their advantage.

The companies are only developing and marketing what we seek.

We need to be more disciplined! When you are willing to pay $600 for a typical Zoa frag that has a fancy name, it is hard to blame the industry.

 

[Dom]

Companies hyping new lights that arnt really any better than the previous model, but NEW SELLS. And dont forget adding stupid names to corals so you can over price them.

There is not a lot left that is actually customer driven anymore.

The people who spend the money are the people who drive the industry, whatever it is.

 

[Dom]

I think companies like BRS promote lots of new stuff and have a lot of "support videos" which are really marketing videos.

 

[Northern Flicker]

I wonder if vendors are starting to see the affects of the economic situation yet? In my industry (hydraulic equipment used in forestry), we are starting to finally see orders start to weaken.

Interest rates changing will definitely eat up some of that discretionary spending for a lot of us.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

To everyone saying consumers don't drive the market stop buying all the garbage you are complaining about and things will change. Companies aren't forcing people to buy stuff people are just wanting to buy the trendy gear and it's not even that good. I don't buy any of the big three products people complain about but guess what, most people here here do. Most people cry about aperture meanwhile they have ai or eco tech lights, ai or eco tech pumps and a Neptune system on their tanks. I use reefbreeders, jebao and ati for most of my stuff. All great products for the price.

I appreciate your enthusiasm and response. I am just asking for people's opinions, and they are entitled to those without explanation. I would like to keep this conversation civil, and see what people think. Thank you!

 

[harrylarry]

Exactly. Us consumers drive the market. Unfortunately this used to be a very niche hobby and thus prices dated low. These days everyone is like OMG gotta have a cool IG tank and ppl are trying to get others into this hobby for some unknown reason… The more ppl get into this hobby the more it gets mainstream and the higher prices get due to shear demand and hype.

$50 for a cup of cheato
Several hundreds of dollars for run of the mill green corals.
1000% percent markups on fish

Yet ppl keep buying cos they have to have the best and most rare and colorful. This hobby only has itself to blame for trying to make it more mainstream.

I for one don’t try to get anyone into this hobby and actually dissuade them from even starting!

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Please point out where I was not being civil or not letting people be entitled to their opinion

I'm not accusing you of anything. Just asking for politeness. I interpreted your comment as a confrontation to others who disagree with you. If I was wrong, I apologize. But, I am nobody, so feel free to express yourself how you see fit.

 

[1112-425XL]

Not pointing blame at anyone. Consumers want what they want and Company's are in business to make money. That's how it works.

 

[marinesnow]

Generally speaking consumers drive the demand, HOWEVER businesses can manipulate the market to their advantage, at the expense of the consumer and the free market such as: monopolies, fixed pricing and collusion, deceptive advertising, and unfair trade practices.

I won’t point any fingers, but a single entity buying up the competition, especially market leaders should raise an eyebrow.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Not a fan of electronic communication because of this. Wasn't trying to come of as confrontational and I can be a little blunt sometimes so I get where where you are coming from. No disrespect to anyone intended I was just describing what I see on here.

Same here. I can't hear the inflection of words by seeing them on a screen. I appreciate your opinion.

 

[LadAShark]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about who shapes the reef aquarium hobby. Is it the companies, hyping products and livestock that mold the hobby for their benefit? Or is it the Reefers, telling the industry which products and livestock they want? Maybe both? What do you think?

Chicken and egg question. Both supply and demand side can be drivers, where supply side tries to create demand or find demand, and demand side, well, demands/consumes, lol.

It's really just basic economics. Nothing different in the reefing industry compared to others. Even premiums we see for items are due to what people are willing to pay.

 

[Goaway]

If anyone remembers the age when no one wanted diamonds because they are so abundant... And if people remember why we started buying them again...

Maybe we need to be more aware of how we're being manipulated.

So all in all... Consumers drive the market. Giving into the gemics and hype, maybe things wouldn't cost an arm, leg and a kidney.

 

[QuickrdenU]

I see this a lot in many hobbies within the past 3 years. Covid babies come into a new hobby and feel like they will be better the more they spend. There is no greater example than in cycling. A bunch of $12,000 bikes out there only going 18mph.... Moral of the story, we have a great deal of power in our spending habits. But people for the most part don't want to think that way. They want their instant gratification and they want it NOW! Of course companies will take advantage of that. I don't blame them. If someone is willing to overpay for your items, you'd be a fool not to sell a bunch of them.