Rudder Kickers

Before the pandemic, I did a round of boat shows every year as a maritime carver. It was hard work lugging stuff to and from, setting up, selling and breaking down. But It was also great fun- you spent tie with some wonderful people who were selling other maritime related goods and services. There was lots to talk about during breaks and dinners. One topic that always came up was Rudder Kickers.

What is a rudder kicker?

What’s a Rudder Kicker, you ask? It’s someone who shows up at your booth, asks thousands of questions, expresses great interest, but walks off without a sale. These are not momentary contacts; they are full-on conversations. They want to know all the details: what’s the warranty period, how was it made, how long can I use it, can I use it for (here add in the idiotic choice of the hour), and please disclose all the trade secrets on how it was made. After this, they wander on to the next booth and do it again to someone else.

Around dinner, we vendors discuss our days. Did you see that pair of lovers who should have gotten a room? What about those disruptive teens? And then, of course, we’d talk about the rudder kickers. Some of these people show up year after year at particular shows. So much so that you greet them, ” and how are you doing this year, Mr. Jones!” You are courteous. Mr. Jones might, at last, make a purchase.

Now, some rudder kickers are special. At one show I did in Maine every spring a particular elderly gentleman showed up year after year, asking intelligent questions about carving. Over the course of years I grew to know a bit about him, and welcomed him to my booth. He was a retired trade carver who’d trained in European shops. He was welcome to sit with me in the booth and talk for a half hour before he moved on.

There is a lot more going on at a show than meets the consumer’s eye.