SBG Needs Your Help...
Apr 30, 2011 8:41:47 GMT
Post by GUEST on Apr 30, 2011 8:41:47 GMT
Most of you know that SBG has been having some pretty serious financial issues the last few months..
Sure enough, its a reflection of the sword industry as a whole really - there are quite a few vendors who appear to be in severe financial distress, several manufacturers who are really starting to look a bit shaky and while it does reflect the general economy at the moment, there are some factors specific to the sword industry (such as the November export lock on swords in China to name one of the most notable) that hurt it even more than what a general downturn in non-essential goods might otherwise bring about..
SBG tries to help these vendors and manufacturers out as best as we can - but right now, at least since late last week, SBG itself is trouble and could do with just a little help to get it back in the fight..
It's no secret that we are primarily funded by sales from the SBG sword store, and one of the problems there is that sales from the store are translated from US dollars to Australian dollars.. But since June last year, when one US dollar was worth AU$1.17 - it's now down to AU$0.94. Which basically means the sites profits are down over 20% just because I am Australian (not to mention, we never actually get these rates - paypal is currently giving around $0.89) so that alone has us hurting bad. But combine this with losses from the Proswords line in November, a tax backlog that has just been paid and emptied all accounts, site start up debts that are now almost impossible to service (we never made enough money to start to pay it back) and now a struggling ecomony with few sales, higher manufacturer prices and finally advertisers pulling the pin on us to try and save money, and SBG has been king hit against the ropes and seeing stars (not the sexy Hollywood type, the cartoony 'hit in the head ones'!)...
Now I've always come back hard when I get pushed, I don't fold without - as Musashi would say - drawing both swords and giving it my all. And even with all of these factors stacked against me personally, I KNOW SBG can recover - I've put in too much blood, sweat and tears to let it go without one heck of a fight. But right now, to continue to rather poor boxing/fighting analogy - the final round is looming. And I need people there in the SBG corner - just some short term help to be able to stand back up and bring the fight to the enemy (in this case, the SBG coffers)..
I HATE asking for favours, but this time - if I don't, I'd be doing everyone a disservice if I just go it alone - the recovery will be that much slower and that much harder.
So from now until the draw on the 20th of May, I have opened up another round of our '50/50 draw compeition' - as well as offering a straight 'donation' option on this page here: www.sword-buyers-guide.com/SBG-Fundraiser.html
Plus I've also listed a few new swords in our store news section here: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-guide.com/news.html
I'm trying not to be too dramatic with this situation because I know that failure is not an option for me here and no matter what, I can and will go it alone if necessary. But right now, I could use just a little bit of help - and I've tried to do this in such a way that I am not asking for something for nothing because asking for a hand out goes against every fibre of my being..
I've got to do the finishing touches on the May edition of the digest right now. I know many of you guys are doing it tough too, so don't feel bad if you cannot help at all - like I said, I'm not one to quit and I'll push through this no matter what. But if you see something you like in the store (especially the new DSA models or the latest Hanwei sale on the Lion Dog Katana) or can enter the 50/50 draw or make a donation, well, it would make a world of difference right now.
I now return you to your regular program..!
Thanks folks and sorry if this comes across the wrong way. I must admit at times it has all gotten on top of me for a little while, but I'm not one to wallow. Lifes too short for that.
- Paul
Sure enough, its a reflection of the sword industry as a whole really - there are quite a few vendors who appear to be in severe financial distress, several manufacturers who are really starting to look a bit shaky and while it does reflect the general economy at the moment, there are some factors specific to the sword industry (such as the November export lock on swords in China to name one of the most notable) that hurt it even more than what a general downturn in non-essential goods might otherwise bring about..
SBG tries to help these vendors and manufacturers out as best as we can - but right now, at least since late last week, SBG itself is trouble and could do with just a little help to get it back in the fight..
It's no secret that we are primarily funded by sales from the SBG sword store, and one of the problems there is that sales from the store are translated from US dollars to Australian dollars.. But since June last year, when one US dollar was worth AU$1.17 - it's now down to AU$0.94. Which basically means the sites profits are down over 20% just because I am Australian (not to mention, we never actually get these rates - paypal is currently giving around $0.89) so that alone has us hurting bad. But combine this with losses from the Proswords line in November, a tax backlog that has just been paid and emptied all accounts, site start up debts that are now almost impossible to service (we never made enough money to start to pay it back) and now a struggling ecomony with few sales, higher manufacturer prices and finally advertisers pulling the pin on us to try and save money, and SBG has been king hit against the ropes and seeing stars (not the sexy Hollywood type, the cartoony 'hit in the head ones'!)...
Now I've always come back hard when I get pushed, I don't fold without - as Musashi would say - drawing both swords and giving it my all. And even with all of these factors stacked against me personally, I KNOW SBG can recover - I've put in too much blood, sweat and tears to let it go without one heck of a fight. But right now, to continue to rather poor boxing/fighting analogy - the final round is looming. And I need people there in the SBG corner - just some short term help to be able to stand back up and bring the fight to the enemy (in this case, the SBG coffers)..
I HATE asking for favours, but this time - if I don't, I'd be doing everyone a disservice if I just go it alone - the recovery will be that much slower and that much harder.
So from now until the draw on the 20th of May, I have opened up another round of our '50/50 draw compeition' - as well as offering a straight 'donation' option on this page here: www.sword-buyers-guide.com/SBG-Fundraiser.html
Plus I've also listed a few new swords in our store news section here: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-guide.com/news.html
I'm trying not to be too dramatic with this situation because I know that failure is not an option for me here and no matter what, I can and will go it alone if necessary. But right now, I could use just a little bit of help - and I've tried to do this in such a way that I am not asking for something for nothing because asking for a hand out goes against every fibre of my being..
I've got to do the finishing touches on the May edition of the digest right now. I know many of you guys are doing it tough too, so don't feel bad if you cannot help at all - like I said, I'm not one to quit and I'll push through this no matter what. But if you see something you like in the store (especially the new DSA models or the latest Hanwei sale on the Lion Dog Katana) or can enter the 50/50 draw or make a donation, well, it would make a world of difference right now.
I now return you to your regular program..!
Thanks folks and sorry if this comes across the wrong way. I must admit at times it has all gotten on top of me for a little while, but I'm not one to wallow. Lifes too short for that.
- Paul
