Steve wrote:I don't know many people who would consider dropping £1000+ on a BBQ.
Agreed Steve, I don't know many people that would be happy to blow £140 on a decent weber kettle. There is a chicken and egg situation with the BBQ scene in the UK. The mentality is that BBQ is burning burgers and sausages on the three weekends we get some sun is where it's at.
There will never be sufficient money in the fabrication of smokers here in the UK to make it worth the investments of metalwork shops etc. The guys that built mine have expressed an interest in building custom smokers for those that want them so, let me explain the cost of my clone to me to you.
Steel £740
Insulation £140
Stainless Hinges £35
Rope Seal £20
Miscellanous (Handles, Ball Valves, Wheels Etc) £240
Labour £320
Total Cost: 1495 (This is cost, Without the pain job)
Now in order for Steve to turn this into a business he would need to be able to make sufficient profit to part cover rent, business rates, Employee NI, Employers Tax Contributions etc etc. We chewed over a retail price at around £2400 + Vat (£2880) Going back Steve (Heyes') point I still can't see who will spend that.
If we consider this has no trailer, no axles (Would need to be braked) then it's easy to see the cost. I think Nerius sells his big rig (Not the train) for nearly 5k. I'm not sure how many of these he has sold to date.
Plus, building to other peoples specs brings it's own problems. What happens if he builds you a smoker to the spec you asked for and it doesn't burn efficiently or your smoke levels aren't what you want etc etc etc. He would need to have a customer service side. Something he would prefer to avoid!
Compare this to his current revenue stream, fitting recovery bodies to transit chasis, he can turn one around in three days and bring in 5k, no complaining the ramp is too steep or the kia picanto doesn't look right up there blah blah blah. Don't get me wrong, he can and will do BBQ's even clone a Jambo, but it will cost. The buyers just need to realise that they will be fitted in around his real jobs.
I think if the UK circuit continues to grow at the same rate then more people will perhaps invest in bigger cookers. I would hate to see circuit snobbery like you see on the Caravan Club sites. I think we should all bear in mind that there are some of the best cookers (Rigs) on the planet doing the rounds on the KCBS circuit in the states and Harry Soo kicks their asses time and time again.
There is some good work going on in the UK but it is and will probably only be at a local mates rates arrangement. Take John Hargate, Berties, Al, Nerius, Neil's Dad, My guys for example. All are what we would refer to as tinkerers and are playing with fabrication nothing on a commercial scale but who knows.
These are just my thoughts, but I think importing tried and tested smokers is gonna be the way for sometime to come. I would loved to see a UK Brand, if anyone is interested then my Welder guy is happy to build them under the brand Sherwood Smokers. But I won't tell him to cancel to ford contract just yet