Could I make a simple plea to all kiters in Australia?
Please support your local kite shop.
I think it's probably fair to say that very few local kite shops would exist these days if not for the rise of stand-up paddling in the last few years.The established kite brands have every type of kite you could possibly want, I think.
I always find it somewhat amusing when a kiter comes in panicking cause he forgot his pump or broke something or other and wants to get a quick replacement part, so he can get out on the water. If the local kite shop doesn't exist anymore, what would he do. Go online and wait X days for his bit to arrive?
I don't know of any kite shops making bucket loads of money. Most would make more working the same sort of jobs you work in and would then be able to go kiting as much as you do. And there have been several kite shops close down in recent times as testimony to this.
I'd be interested to read your opinions on this, but I'll probably be too busy rummaging through drawers trying to find some bit worth ten dollars for a 10 year old kite that someone is trying to fly in 10 knots.