Phil Edwards

I hate to bring this up for fear of starting a flame war but I feel the need to say this for those of you out there who associate closely with the following statement. However, I'm sick and tired of folks trashing ADA, ADA products, ADG, and those folks who wish to have ADA products....

Aqua Design Amano has been a HUGE, I mean SERIOUSLY HUGE, supporter of the Aquatic Gardeners Association for many years. What do they get out of it? *nothing* They've advertised in the most expensive location in TAG for three, going on four years now, with 75% of those issues going to a country where ADA products weren't sold until very recently. Amano himself agreed to send and have translated AquaJournal articles to the AGA *FOR FREE*. He's even come to the US twice now for the AGA conferences for no compensation.

What do you call that? Poor financial management and business acumen? Hardly.

That's support for the AGA and the US planted aquarium hobby as a whole.

Yes, ADA products are expensive. They're expensive to make and expensive to ship 4500+ miles to Houston. They're also of extremely high quality, which, for those of us willing to pay for that quality perform very well and last a long time. That's quality *and* long term value.

Economics 101: Capitalist business is based on the ability and willingness of a population to spend their resources on a product. ADA and ADG are both businesses that have found a niche providing a product to a segment of a population with both the means and desire to purchase that product. If you're not willing to pay the prices needed to have these products, that's fine, don't buy the products. Just don't trash the product and those of us who have the desire and ability purchase them.

~Phil

Roy Deki

AMEN...Phil

pineapple

Eloquent advocacy Phil. You're wasted on the Pet Scene, maybe.

Thank you to Mr Amano and friends for their encouraging support.

Andrew Cribb

Phil Edwards

Thanks guys. I just wish there were no reason for such words.

Gomer

My large order of ADA gear as well as activism in another *cough*thread*cough* should say where I stand

And thanks for pointing out to others who didn't know, what ADA does for AGA. This last conference was just fricken sweet!

Roy Deki

I just can't wait for my subtrate system.

ryan_suiso

I lived in Japan for 5 years, '96~01. And I can say that the Japanese hobby is ummmmm different. Japanese can be a little fanatic when it comes to their hobbies. They always take it to the extreme no matter what it is. Fishing is one hobby that is like that. They have uniforms, spend loads of money on tackle and gear, and buy all the latest and greatest. Does that mean they catch more fish? No. My brother and I know how to fish and we usually out fish most average Japanese just because we know how to fish using our tools and techniques. Oh, and they hate to see that BTW. Same can be applied to other areas of interest in Japan. It is a TOTALLY different culture.

As for the whole snobbery that has hit some threads I can say that I pay for quality. I have used some of ADA's products for close to 10 years now with great success. I can't imagine setting up a planted tank with anything other then Aqua Soil and Step Series ferts. Maybe I am naïve, but I am stubborn as well. Why try something new when I know this work? I am not going to jump onto brand appeal bandwagon, but sex does sell. Plain and simple, ADA is sexy! Sure is might not sell very well in Iowa, but in Southern California it might. It is a niche market that might just work. For years people have been asking me for ADA products and I helped some of them. I know the market is there. Heck, If I had a little capital I would've professionally imported ADA's goods years ago.

I think the biggest challenge will be educating consumers by translating what is printed in Aqua Journal and product catalog into English. I know that this will dispel many peoples perception about ADA. The technical details that are buried in 6+ products catalogs, 100+ Aqua Journals, 8+ Do! aqua, and 6 Suikei. This is all in Japanese! If ADA wanted to make a good business decision they would release more info in English. In order for ADA's products and concept to sell in North America there need to be better corporate representation. As your post indicated, Amano has done a lot so far, but his products are still unknown. Also once people start to use them there will be more comfort by other to try it.

My 2 cents anyway......