shed9 said:
Baremeg55 said:
shed9 said:
I appreciate the comments on this thread are bore out of real world frustration, however I simply don't buy the idea that Festool product development and supply is lead by marketing. In my opinion, Festool products are engineered by people who actually use them.
Hate to pop that bubble, but, market in does drive the business. Marketing determines the price of the product, with some rationalization from the manufacturing cost side.....
No bubble burst Baremeg55.
Based on your initial and follow up responses I'm not sure you fully understand business as much as you think you do. Not all companies follow the same path in terms of development. Not all businesses can or will adopt the one single business model that only you are aware of.
German manufacturing is highly regarded for several reasons, however if you think that the core reason is down to marketing then you have some major gaps in your knowledge of the business world.
No offence meant as I'm sure you meant none yourself [smile]
Shed9, I stand by my comments and my knowledge of the corporate world.
My earlier response was directed at Kev based on his last paragraph (see response 1 of thread), and I quote - "Don't get me wrong, there's certainly avenues for improvement, but I really don't see Festool as a marketing driven company - they're just responding to their market. As it changes they probably will too." Well, responding to their market IS and of itself market driven!
Festool is not unlike other companies, they market themselves as the go to leader in high quality, dust free tools. One of the best set of tools on the market, if not the best on the market. Period!
Festool is not driven by a group of engineers that sit around contemplating "what can we invent next"!!! I would offer that for the most part, those ideas are driven by the front line Festool employees that interact daily with their customers, understand or identify the issues, or need of a new device XXX, and relay that back to the mothership. Those front line people are the company's sales and marketing people, not the engineers. You could probably even include the instructors as well as this forum, in a way, as a marketing method, and no doubt some tool designs have been generated from the participants within.
Festool is in business for one purpose and one purpose only..... TO MAKE MONEY! They accomplish this, again, by sound engineering, and manufacturing great products. That great German engineering is their forte, but no, it is NOT their driving force. $$$ is the driving force.
If anyone thinks Festool is driven (or run) by engineering, they are delusional, period. Engineering has helped create the Festool image, and through those designs we, the end customers, can chose from a list of products that carry many features and benefits, which the sales and marketing people help push and makes us all too aware and create that desire/need/want to own said equipment.
Further, as a few have pointed out in this thread, and in many posts within this forum, that "Festool takes care of it's customers". Well, that's NOT the engineers, it's the front line guys, your sales folks, Shane, the service centers, etc... How many people have echoed their appreciation for Festool "making things right"? Is that an engineering function, or is it a marketing position? Has that marketing position influenced you to perhaps buy that other new tool, or proclaim to the unknowing that Festool is the product to end all products?
To cite one other example, and a darn good one!!!! That oft quoted "30 Day Return Policy"....... well boys, argue that one with me why don'tcha? If that isn't one of the best marketing ploys, what is? Does it help generate sales, you bet! Does it help get people off the fence and buy a tool, you bet!! Does it perhaps get people to keep that tool instead of returning it, because of whichever feature or benefit, you bet! Does it perhaps get someone to swap out that tool for a different tool, thus, still generating that sale, you bet?
The majority of businesses, and those of Fortune 500 companies are lead by CEO's with business degrees. I can't comment on Festool managements qualifications, but I'm fairly certain that their business plan (not engineering plan) is similar to any other company, including some of the guys on this forum. Did you buy whichever Festool solely based own it's design, or perhaps DID it offer you some mechanism to generate more profit by reducing your labor time, or easier ability to cut down sheet material, or offer the customer a dust free environment? No doubt engineering takes a role in the portfolio, but it still comes down to marketing, Festool or yourselves, that creates the sale!!!
And shed, thanks for taking it to the personal level, although your perceived notion of my abilities and knowledge is equal to exactly doodlysquat... no offense...
And Kev, I never said marketing RUNS the company. I stated marketing is the driving force behind the company, perhaps not the only force, but no doubt that marketing (read BRANDING - does it get any clearer than that???), the trademark, those features and benefits, backed by the sound engineering, is THE driving force behind this company that helps generate the revenue said company hopes to achieve.
I stated I wasn't going to contribute further to this thread, however, a few comments above led me to realize some additional clarity on marketing existed.....
I own some flame retardant coveralls. I will now put them own, go to the workshop, and generate some saw dust (but how will I know because that CT26 is sucking it all up, which for my health, is a good thing, and by the way, another great marketing position)!!! Have a safe, productive day!
