( ISSUE FIFTY-FIVE: THE LOST COMET )

[KENDALL CALDWELL]

29 JAN, 2007

7 KNUTS

THE LOST COMET

By James Porter
The industry of broomstick making is a competitive one, though international Quidditch sensation Kyna Byrne says that a good Quidditch player can work with any broom. With so many different makers, it becomes nearly impossible for new companies to break into the market. However, it seems that more established companies are even having a hard time keeping up. The comet series have virtually dropped off the face of the broomstick making planet, and we can only wonder what happened?

Since 1995, the Comet series has been coming out with a new racing broom every 4 years. While the new models never came as often as the top of the line brooms such as the Nimbus series and the Firebolt series, they were released at a steady pace with vast improvements from the previous model. However, the last Comet racing broom was released back in 2002. If they were to have kept with the one broom every four years plan, there should have been a new model at some point last year. And yet, we were left wanting by the broomstick maker.

Perhaps they realised that their business plan was utter rubbish? Their most recent release, the Comet 350 is priced the same as the Firebolt. Though there is nearly a ten year difference in release dates, the Firebolt is without a doubt the better broom. With a top speed of 150mph, the Firebolt far outshines the newer Comet 350, which tops out at 90mph. In terms of racing brooms, speed is always the most important factor when customers are deciding which to purchase.

So what will the makers of the Comet series do? Will they come up with a new pricing plan or will they declare bankruptcy? Can they compete with the market when far superior brooms are an equal or better value? Will we see a new Comet within the next four years?

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