40,000 Utilikilts Sold

[Riverkilt]

This month's issue of the Utilikilts newsletter has an interview with Jay Craig

http://www.utilikilts.com/newsletters/2006-07/index.html

In his answer to the first question Jay indicates Utilikilts has sold about 40,000 kilts to date.

That is impressive.

Imagine what the total recent sales of contemporary klits must be when all the USA Kilts, RKilts, Freedom Kilts, et.al. are added in.

Kilts is happening!

Ron

[Kilted KT]

ok, so that accounts for Hamish's collection..any news on what the rest of the world has bought?

[Pour1Malt]

ok, so that accounts for Hamish's collection..any news on what the rest of the world has bought?

aye- thot's whit ai wuz thinkin....


39,000 tae Hamish and ainly 1,000 tae the rest o' the planet... sad really...

[RockyR]

40,000? That's it? we do that in 2 months! HAHAHAA.

No thanks. I don't get enough sleep as it is!

[TechBear]

40,000? That's it? we do that in 2 months! HAHAHAA.

1) Utilikilts has absolutely no advertising budget. All sales are generated through word of mouth, events where they have a booth, and people who stumble upon their website or Seattle store.

2. Utilikilts has a very strong commitment to selling only items made by local craftspeople using all American made materials. Several of their more popular fabrics are regularly out-of-stock, as finding an American supplier is often very difficult. That can restrict sales.

3. Utilikilts is so committed to seeing kilts be worn that events are staffed by volunteers who are paid in clothing rather than money. These "gifted" kilts do not count as sales, but do represent a portion of the company's output.

And yet, for all that, most people seem more likely to recognize a Utilikilt than a USAKilt :rolleyes:

[Kilted Taper]

pssst.....I think he was kidding.....

[TechBear]

pssst.....I think he was kidding.....

I figured that I know USAKilt is doing well, but I doubt even they are selling that many every few months. I would not object to be told otherwise, though.

The point I meant to make is that Utilikilts is not being run as a "grab as much money as possible as soon as possible" enterprise. 40,000 units in about six years... not many items that started out as an avant-gard arts project can say that. That they have sold that many, with no advertising budget and with a business philosophy that can squeeze the bottom line, is worth bragging about.

I'm very happy that both companies -- not to mention all of the other kilt manufacturers, both formal and casual -- are successful.

[possingk]

I figured that I know USAKilt is doing well, but I doubt even they are selling that many every few months. I would not object to be told otherwise, though.

The point I meant to make is that Utilikilts is not being run as a "grab as much money as possible as soon as possible" enterprise. 40,000 units in about six years... not many items that started out as an avant-gard arts project can say that. That they have sold that many, with no advertising budget and with a business philosophy that can squeeze the bottom line, is worth bragging about.

I'm very happy that both companies -- not to mention all of the other kilt manufacturers, both formal and casual -- are successful.

I think it is a tremendous accomplishment that Utilikilts have sold 40,000 kilts, especially without advertising budgets etc. I also hope that you are not implying that USA Kilts, or any other kiltmaker on this forum is "being run as a 'grab as much money as possible as soon as possible' enterprise" as a person who has met the folks at USA Kilts in person, and one who has learned so much from the other kiltmakers on this forum, I can't say anyone of them is running an enterprise such as that. It actually upsets me that it was even implied.

Once again, I am really happy that Utilikilts made it to 40,000 that means that kilt wearing is spreading, and that can only mean good things for not only Utilikilts, but all the kilt makers around the world. I look forward to getting my first Utilikilt some day, but I look forward to getting any kilt, so that may be a moot point.

I hope this thread goes back to what it's intent was to recognize a great company for it's accomplishments.

[Kilted KT]

1) Utilikilts has absolutely no advertising budget. All sales are generated through word of mouth, events where they have a booth, and people who stumble upon their website or Seattle store.

2. Utilikilts has a very strong commitment to selling only items made by local craftspeople using all American made materials. Several of their more popular fabrics are regularly out-of-stock, as finding an American supplier is often very difficult. That can restrict sales.

3. Utilikilts is so committed to seeing kilts be worn that events are staffed by volunteers who are paid in clothing rather than money. These "gifted" kilts do not count as sales, but do represent a portion of the company's output.

And yet, for all that, most people seem more likely to recognize a Utilikilt than a USAKilt :rolleyes:

you forgot #4 and #5

4. Utilikilts are great for swimming, skydiving, skiing, soccer and any other sporting event.

5. Members of Xmarks probably provide enough business by themselves to make utilikilts a viable business entity now, and will for a long time to come.

[JackK]

1) Utilikilts has absolutely no advertising budget. All sales are generated through word of mouth, events where they have a booth, and people who stumble upon their website or Seattle store.

I stumbled upon Utilikilts seeing Patrick wearing his on Tech Tv back in '03. I happened to be in Seattle that summer so just had to try one on. Don't know if it was Uncle Otto's help, the fit of the UK, or the lovely employee saying 'nice legs' as she decended the stair case, but that was the first of my (5) UK's

Jack