I not in a position to be an authority but I'd say that the MacGregor Yacht Corporation is pretty close to the perfect business model. They fulfilled a need and with thier own money, courage and imagination and built an exceptionally* profitable business.In sum, most, if not all, new businesses start with someone motivated by self-interest being alert to some problem that others face. A new business then requires someone with imagination, ability, and courage to follow through with practical solutions to that problem. This was precisely the case with Roger and Mary Lou MacGregors business.
The MacGregors believed that the retractable keel feature of their boat made it a better boat than the competitions. They sought to cut costs, and thus to cut the selling prices of their boats, through the application of assembly line techniques and the standardization of parts in the fabrication of their sailboats. Neither the assembly line process nor the standardization of parts is new, of course. But the MacGregors made a new application of these familiar techniques, for historically the cruising sailboat manufacturing business has been a custom work business.
Some things that might have improved along the way:
*Closer attention to quality.
*Cut costs a little too much - trailers for example.
*Produce more than one boat line simultaneously.
However, the object to produce boats as cheaply as possible and therefore as profitable as possible was acomplished.
Regardless, your sure have to admire Roger. Even though he pi$$ some off at times.
* I think it is exceptionally profitable
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but that's not nearly as cool as these little boats!!!