Level of affluence... (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Hope: sales, job market, to buy)

[Counting Down]

I've thought for years about the possibility of turning one of my hobbies into income when I retire, and I'm curious about whether the local populations of Coeur d'Alene and/or Sandpoint have enough disposible income to make it a possibility. Let me state here that I don't mean to be insulting to anyone... it's just that I keep reading about how the local job market does not pay very well and it raised the question to me.
Anyway... as to the question... if someone were to open a business producing strip-built canoes and kayaks, do you think there would be a market for them? They require a considerable time to produce and would have to sell in the $3000-$4000 range, but I'm hoping they would be considered works of art as much as usable boats.
I don't think I'd be producing more than 8-10 a year so sales wouldn't have to be huge. I'm guessing that some of the people moving to Northern Idaho to retire might have the money, but not too many of the local working folks would want to spend that much for a boat... what do you all think?

[bigtrees]

My band teacher from high school does that now, and yes, they are beautiful boats and command quite a price.

I would say you can probably sell them, but it's really not worth the money. Many people who want to make money from a hobby want to maximize the time they spend doing the hobby and minimize the sales aspect. Unfortunately, it will take a lot of sales work to sell your boats. You'll probably attend a number of art fairs and spend the day at booths with your goods waiting for the right person to come along to buy one, or to pound the pavement to get your boats in the galleries and stores. Most people say the sales part is not the fun aspect of making boats as a retirement gig.

With that said, there is plenty of money in CDA to sell boats. Lots of people who can afford boats live there. I can't say if they will buy boats, I just know they can afford to if they want to.

Hope that helps.

[Rickers]

Boats like that get damaged way to easily for an active paddler, give me a cheap poly boat anytime ! If I paid that kind of money for a boat I'd be afraid to use it ! People with boats like that don't go down rivers in the north Idaho area without having to do repairs after each trip. I love boats like that but they aren't very practical except on lakes or to show off as a status symbol. I think you would have no problem selling them though !