So how many of you all think Nopi has what it takes to become "popular" again?

[Doppelgänger]

See edited post above.

I could see a solid storefront being a good bet. Physical presence with parts and service will go better than just trying to resurrect the name. Hold meets there to show off their product and prove their seriousness. To me, the name itself has a stigma that will be REALLY difficult to shake.
The scene is not dead by any means though. Look at some of the shops out there like Forged and TopSpeed....who seem to be doing quite sell. There is a forumla to succeed here...

[quickdodge®]

I could see a solid storefront being a good bet. Physical presence with parts and service will go better than just trying to resurrect the name. Hold meets there to show off their product and prove their seriousness. To me, the name itself has a stigma that will be REALLY difficult to shake.
The scene is not dead by any means though. Look at some of the shops out there like Forged and TopSpeed....who seem to be doing quite sell. There is a forumla to succeed here...

The only thing I have to add here is that you really can't compare two entities like NOPI and TS/Forged. One is a shop selling a broad assortment of parts for a broad assortment of interests while the others are specific shops catering to a more higher dollar niche...racing/performance. The scene itself, like you said, seems to be in a lull or rut. I don't see it being alive because of Topspeed or Forged. If these guys were keeping it alive, you'd see more threads on here documenting a member's experience and car. Bringing up UAB reinforces this thought as you remember, Mike, they did damn near 1/4 to 1/2 of IA member's cars back in their heyday. But again, you're trying to compare an auto accessory store with a high performance shop.

[Sammich]

The only thing I have to add here is that you really can't compare two entities like NOPI and TS/Forged. One is a shop selling a broad assortment of parts for a broad assortment of interests while the others are specific shops catering to a more higher dollar niche...racing/performance. The scene itself, like you said, seems to be in a lull or rut. I don't see it being alive because of Topspeed or Forged. If these guys were keeping it alive, you'd see more threads on here documenting a member's experience and car. Bringing up UAB reinforces this thought as you remember, Mike, they did damn near 1/4 to 1/2 of IA member's cars back in their heyday. But again, you're trying to compare an auto accessory store with a high performance shop.

at the same time though, alot of the people actually doing 'real builds' dont have accounts on here...they dont show their's off by posting up 'build threads' etc. speaking in broad terms, not knocking anyone w/ actual, viable build threads

[quickdodge®]

at the same time though, alot of the people actually doing 'real builds' dont have accounts on here...they dont show their's off by posting up 'build threads' etc. speaking in broad terms, not knocking anyone w/ actual, viable build threads

While you're right, and I already thought of that (just didn't include it), but you've also got to think about the ratio of people doing builds of that caliber to the people just throwing IHEs and such on their cars. Probably less than 10 out of every 100 people are going after "professional" builds out there. While most may be interested in what these shops do, most aren't eager to throw down that much money on their own car. Especially if they can do most of it themselves. Most every car that Chad has posted for Forged have owners who aren't even members of IA, much less post about it. And I would go further and say that maybe half probably don't really even do the internet thing, either.