Happy Holidays to all!
We wanted to take a moment and give a quick update. For anyone who is wondering, Focus Kite Designs is still alive. As mentioned in previous post, Paul and I have both started new full time jobs. We wish you could make a living building kites but the reality is that you cannot. But we love it and we are keeping it going. The unfortunate result is that orders are taking a longer to process and not all kites are in production yet. We are working on this and trying to find the best solution to get more kites out on the market. Right now we are building Jinx, Jinx ULs and Skates.
We apologize to customers who have waited longer than we thought it would be and thank you for your understanding. If you need to get in touch with us, please email us at kites@focuskites.com . It is very difficult to reach us on the phone at the moment. Again, thank you for the support and understanding. Happy Winds to you all!
Hunter Brown
Focus Kite Designs
www.focuskites.com
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Update to Previous Post - Read Previous Post First!!!
This post is to clarify a few points in regards to the post before this one.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE POST BEFORE THIS, PLEASE READ IT FIRST AND THEN READ THIS ONE.
It has come to our attention that a few points may not have been very clear so we wanted to address them.
Paul and I both will still be working together as a team with Focus Kite Designs. We still are the two people running the company, designing, and developing new ideas. We will also still have our hands on EVERY kite that is shipped out. We hope that not having to sew all the sails ourselves, will give us more time to develop new innovative products.
Paul and I hope to be able to build all orders that are currently in before switching to the new sewers. If your kite will not be 100% built by us, we will contact you and let you know.
It is possible that there will be a short transition period as we switch to the new sewers. If you will be affected by this, we will contact you and let you know.
I want to stress again that we have nothing but the highest amount of confidence in the people we have selected to sew our sails. They have sewn for many US made kite brands over the years and probably for many you didn’t even know they did.
For you the customer, not much is going to change. We just wanted to be upfront with you and let you hear it from us. If you have ANY questions or comments regarding this, please ask us. You can post a comment on the blog, email us, call us at 910-466-1850 or post on our Facebook page. We want to hear from you especially if you have concerns.
Again, thank you for the support and we are excited for the future of Focus Kite Designs!
Hunter Brown
http://www.focuskites.com/
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE POST BEFORE THIS, PLEASE READ IT FIRST AND THEN READ THIS ONE.
It has come to our attention that a few points may not have been very clear so we wanted to address them.
Paul and I both will still be working together as a team with Focus Kite Designs. We still are the two people running the company, designing, and developing new ideas. We will also still have our hands on EVERY kite that is shipped out. We hope that not having to sew all the sails ourselves, will give us more time to develop new innovative products.
Paul and I hope to be able to build all orders that are currently in before switching to the new sewers. If your kite will not be 100% built by us, we will contact you and let you know.
It is possible that there will be a short transition period as we switch to the new sewers. If you will be affected by this, we will contact you and let you know.
I want to stress again that we have nothing but the highest amount of confidence in the people we have selected to sew our sails. They have sewn for many US made kite brands over the years and probably for many you didn’t even know they did.
For you the customer, not much is going to change. We just wanted to be upfront with you and let you hear it from us. If you have ANY questions or comments regarding this, please ask us. You can post a comment on the blog, email us, call us at 910-466-1850 or post on our Facebook page. We want to hear from you especially if you have concerns.
Again, thank you for the support and we are excited for the future of Focus Kite Designs!
Hunter Brown
http://www.focuskites.com/
Monday, May 3, 2010
Changes Coming To Focus
There are some changes coming to Focus Kite Designs and we wanted you all to hear it from us directly and not the rumor mill.
When Paul and I set out to form Focus we wanted to offer high end, hand built kites at the best price quality ratio we could. We feel that we have done a very good job of this and are thankful for the support we have received. We both have been in the industry for many years and we knew that we could not make a full living off Focus and all along have had other jobs and other sources of income. We continued with Focus because we love it and we saw potential for the future.
Most recently Paul has been working with his long time friend and mentor Kurt Degener at Avia Sport Composites. Avia Sport was recently purchased by Goodwinds in Mount Vernon, WA. Goodwinds is a rapidly growing company specializing in carbon and Fiberglass rods and tubes for recreational and industrial use. They stock all the accessories you need to build kites, RC planes & boats, and archery arrows. With the sale of Avia, Paul has accepted a position with Goodwinds. He will be their Sales and Operations Manager with his core task being account management and quality control. With Paul’s formal education in composite engineering and his background in the kite industry, this is an ideal job for him. He and his wife will be moving to the west coast at the end of May and they are very excited about the opportunity. Look for him to be showing up to kite events out that way now!
After closing my retail shop last fall I have been concentrating on Focus while deciding what I wanted to do next as a career. I’ve built a life here in Wilmington and have family in NC so I wanted to stay here if I could. I have recently accepted a job with Verizon Wireless and will be working retail for them. I’ve worked retail all of my life and am very excited to work with Verizon in the fast paced, ever changing, wireless market.
So what does this mean for Focus?
Not to worry. We are going to keep Focus Kite Designs going and there will be little change to you, our customers and friends. We are finalizing a deal to have our kites sewn by one of the top sewing companies out there. They are based here in the US and we know they will be able to produce our sails at the high standard we have set for ourselves or better. The kites will be framed by us so Paul or I will still have our hands on every kite. It is possible that there could be a little down time while we go through this transition but we are going to do out best to keep this to a minimum.
Paul and I are very excited about the changes ahead. We have always known this day would comje and we have done our best to prepare for it. We will keep you all posted as things progress. We assure you that Focus Kite Designs will continue to produce high quality, hand built kites and we will continue to develop new and innovative designs. Thank you again for all the support over the years!
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
When Paul and I set out to form Focus we wanted to offer high end, hand built kites at the best price quality ratio we could. We feel that we have done a very good job of this and are thankful for the support we have received. We both have been in the industry for many years and we knew that we could not make a full living off Focus and all along have had other jobs and other sources of income. We continued with Focus because we love it and we saw potential for the future.
Most recently Paul has been working with his long time friend and mentor Kurt Degener at Avia Sport Composites. Avia Sport was recently purchased by Goodwinds in Mount Vernon, WA. Goodwinds is a rapidly growing company specializing in carbon and Fiberglass rods and tubes for recreational and industrial use. They stock all the accessories you need to build kites, RC planes & boats, and archery arrows. With the sale of Avia, Paul has accepted a position with Goodwinds. He will be their Sales and Operations Manager with his core task being account management and quality control. With Paul’s formal education in composite engineering and his background in the kite industry, this is an ideal job for him. He and his wife will be moving to the west coast at the end of May and they are very excited about the opportunity. Look for him to be showing up to kite events out that way now!
After closing my retail shop last fall I have been concentrating on Focus while deciding what I wanted to do next as a career. I’ve built a life here in Wilmington and have family in NC so I wanted to stay here if I could. I have recently accepted a job with Verizon Wireless and will be working retail for them. I’ve worked retail all of my life and am very excited to work with Verizon in the fast paced, ever changing, wireless market.
So what does this mean for Focus?
Not to worry. We are going to keep Focus Kite Designs going and there will be little change to you, our customers and friends. We are finalizing a deal to have our kites sewn by one of the top sewing companies out there. They are based here in the US and we know they will be able to produce our sails at the high standard we have set for ourselves or better. The kites will be framed by us so Paul or I will still have our hands on every kite. It is possible that there could be a little down time while we go through this transition but we are going to do out best to keep this to a minimum.
Paul and I are very excited about the changes ahead. We have always known this day would comje and we have done our best to prepare for it. We will keep you all posted as things progress. We assure you that Focus Kite Designs will continue to produce high quality, hand built kites and we will continue to develop new and innovative designs. Thank you again for all the support over the years!
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Echo & Skate Video by Jared
Jared sent us this great video of him and his daughter playing with his Echo and Skate in front of the Raleigh convention center. His wife Nancy shot the video.
We really enjoyed seeing his daughter playing with the Skate. Nice work Jared! Thanks for sharing!
We really enjoyed seeing his daughter playing with the Skate. Nice work Jared! Thanks for sharing!
Ultralight Focus Kites from Jared H on Vimeo.
More Customer Photos
As we have told you in the past, we love to see customer's photos. Ed sent us these shots of Marty's Manta (white one) and his Manta (black one) flying. Thanks for sharing Ed!
Have some pictures of your Focus kite in action? Send them our way. We love to see them!
Have some pictures of your Focus kite in action? Send them our way. We love to see them!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A Customer's Echo Video
Here is a nice video of the Echo that one of our customers and Facebook Fans shared with us. We really like the location that this video was shot in. Great job and thanks for sharing!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Echo in the Wild
One of our customers, Brian Bishop, was kind enough to send us this picture of his Echo out in the wild. Thanks for sharing Brian!
We always love to see pictures of the kites we've built out being used and enjoyed. If you have a picture, feel free to share it with us!
We always love to see pictures of the kites we've built out being used and enjoyed. If you have a picture, feel free to share it with us!
Hunter Brown
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Skate gets a Update!
The Skate has been one of our most popular kites since the formation of Focus Kite Designs. It has been out for over two years and it is time for an update. We are excited to announce a new graphic for 2010!
One of the exciting things about this new graphic is that it allows for two distinctively different options. If you color the body and the upper wings the same you get a very different look.
There are also some very interesting options the new graphic lends itself to. Here are a couple of examples from the colorizer.
Easier Travel & Shipping!
Another new feature the Skate gets is the ability to fold up shorter. We heard the demands to make the Skate easier to travel with and we have done it. Now the Skate folds up to almost half the length. This will make traveling by air easier with the Skate and allow us to ship to countries we previously could not due to package length.
We are very excited to share this news with you. Please let us know what you think of the new graphic.
We plan to have the website updated with new pictures and colorizer very soon. We are starting to build the new graphic so go ahead and place your order now! We can email you the colorizer so you can play with color options.
New Skate Graphic Special!!!
If you place an order for a new Skate before we get it on the web site, we will make you a Skate in the new graphic with your choice of colors and waive the custom fee. That is a $25 savings. Once we get it on the site, we will have stock color options and will have to start charging the custom fee. We are also going to have to raise the price slightly due to the extra work in the sail and frame. But this will not happen until the new Skate is on the site. So don’t wait! Get your orders in now!
How to order the new Skate before it is on the site?
If you want to place a order for a new Skate, email us for the new colorizer. Then once you decide on colors, place an order on the site for a Skate in any of the stock colors. In the comments section of the checkout process, let us know you want a new Skate. Email us your color selection. We will confirm all the details with you before your credit card is processed. Or you can place your order by over the phone by calling us at 910-466-1850.
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
One of the exciting things about this new graphic is that it allows for two distinctively different options. If you color the body and the upper wings the same you get a very different look.
There are also some very interesting options the new graphic lends itself to. Here are a couple of examples from the colorizer.
Easier Travel & Shipping!
Another new feature the Skate gets is the ability to fold up shorter. We heard the demands to make the Skate easier to travel with and we have done it. Now the Skate folds up to almost half the length. This will make traveling by air easier with the Skate and allow us to ship to countries we previously could not due to package length.
We are very excited to share this news with you. Please let us know what you think of the new graphic.
We plan to have the website updated with new pictures and colorizer very soon. We are starting to build the new graphic so go ahead and place your order now! We can email you the colorizer so you can play with color options.
New Skate Graphic Special!!!
If you place an order for a new Skate before we get it on the web site, we will make you a Skate in the new graphic with your choice of colors and waive the custom fee. That is a $25 savings. Once we get it on the site, we will have stock color options and will have to start charging the custom fee. We are also going to have to raise the price slightly due to the extra work in the sail and frame. But this will not happen until the new Skate is on the site. So don’t wait! Get your orders in now!
How to order the new Skate before it is on the site?
If you want to place a order for a new Skate, email us for the new colorizer. Then once you decide on colors, place an order on the site for a Skate in any of the stock colors. In the comments section of the checkout process, let us know you want a new Skate. Email us your color selection. We will confirm all the details with you before your credit card is processed. Or you can place your order by over the phone by calling us at 910-466-1850.
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Lincoln City Indoor Kite Festival this weekend!
On the 27th and 28th of March, Lincoln City, OR is hosting its annual Indoor Kite Festival. Some of the best fliers in the country have been invited to participate and help make the event the success it has been every year. Focus is proud to announce that Lisa Willoughby and Paul de Bakker have been invited and together with the cream of the crop in indoor kite flying, will perform and compete.
The LC event is different from others in that the main event are 3, hour-and-a-half longs shows produced and choreographed by Lee and Debbie Park from Aerial Experience, where kite fliers and other performers are actors, all cooperating and playing within the bigger framework.
The event has been going on for years now and has been a great success, it must be one of the very few events where a city rallies up a paying audience to see kite fliers perform and we love it!!
Focus will also unveil something new in LC, stay tuned for pictures and an event report!
www.focuskites.com
The LC event is different from others in that the main event are 3, hour-and-a-half longs shows produced and choreographed by Lee and Debbie Park from Aerial Experience, where kite fliers and other performers are actors, all cooperating and playing within the bigger framework.
The event has been going on for years now and has been a great success, it must be one of the very few events where a city rallies up a paying audience to see kite fliers perform and we love it!!
Focus will also unveil something new in LC, stay tuned for pictures and an event report!
www.focuskites.com
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Echo 2 Stack Video by Devin
One of our good friends and customers, Devin, just sent us this video of him flying his two stack of Echo’s. Devin is a college student at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and a very accomplished kite flier and musician. We really appreciate him taking the time to put this video together and share it with us.
Direct Link
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
Direct Link
Hunter Brown
www.focuskites.com
Monday, March 15, 2010
Photos from Scott
One of our customers, Scott Hertenstien, sent use these photos of his custom Skate flying. In one of the photos you can see his custom Manta in the background. Thanks for the photos Scott!!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Jared Haworth on his Jinx UL
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year! - January Update
2010 has started, and we at Focus wish everyone a wonderful new year, full of happiness and great kite flying days!
As we write this, we are getting ready for the new season. Hunter will leave for a road trip to Florida in a couple of days, to take some vacation time, product testing and hopefully make some pictures and video of our kites. On the way back up, he will be meeting up with Lisa and me for the 2010 Treasure Island Kite Fest and Sport Kite Competitions. We will have some free time before the event to get some much needed photos and videos of our kites, some of which are long overdue. We are keeping our figures crossed for good weather! We are very much looking forward to the first event of the year, to meeting many friends and to hopefully fly kites in our T-shirts.
Soon after the Florida trip, expect the new Jinx page to be up, complete with colorizer and video. We are already in full swing building the new Jinx and we do have the colorizer available by request. We just haven’t had the time yet to update the website. So, if you are thinking about getting a Jinx, please send us an email (kites@focuskites.com) and we will send you the colorizer to play with directly.
Also keep checking back for news of a new Demo Program that will allow you to test our products on your home beach, field or gym. We are finalizing details and will be announcing it soon!
Do you Facebook? If you don’t already know, Focus does! We are grateful to have over 400 fans and we invite you to join in the fun. Just search for Focus Kite Designs in Facebook or chick the link: Focus Facebook Page
We are looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring and hope to continue to provide you with products that provide many great flying experiences. When you see us at a festival, please come up and say hi, it would be our pleasure to get to meet you!
Paul de Bakker
http://www.focuskites.com/
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Monday, December 14, 2009
New York Kite Festival - Rockaway - By Lisa
I was able to attend one day of the NY Kite Festival. The festival was held on September 12 and 13 on Rockaway Beach, NY not far from Coney Island and was run simultaneously with the Rockaway Music and Arts Festival.
Sunday was a sunny day with a variable light northwest wind which increased toward the end of the day. There was a great group of kite fliers representing several clubs including many fliers from South Jersey Kite Fliers, Wings over Washington, and a group from New England. Dave Gomberg was also on hand to fill the sky with large kites. The Dallmers had What the Duck flying too.
A large group of quad fliers were there to put on a show with team quad flying. Pete Dolphin spent some time taking KAP shots of the quad kites doing formations around some of the larger kites. When the wind was light and most of the big kites came down, I put up the Manta near the beach access. It was the only kite flying at times. Many of the beach goers stopped to ask questions or tell me how much they liked the kite. They wondered why it was flying when others were not. They also liked how large and steady it was in the sky. Many of the other kite fliers wanted a turn to fly it.
While the Manta was being passed around, I went up to the boardwalk to fly the Skate around the crowd. Since the boardwalk area was sheltered from the west wind by a large old stone building, it was like flying indoors. It was so much fun to fly it around people. Some seemed to like the kite close to them and others (remember this was New York) were not. The security guards had a great time with it. I gave one of the guards a quick lesson and he loved it. He flew it around the people while his fellow guards cheered him. Paul Berard even took a turn flying the Skate with me. Toward the end of the day, the wind turned more from the water and I was able to enjoy some team quad flying.
The day seemed to end too early for everyone. As the sun set and the wind dropped to nothing, we all made plans for the next time we could get together and fly.
Lisa Willoughby
http://www.focuskites.com/
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