I really can't add much. I do have to say, I met Ryan a number of times before Mirai opened. He was in the middle stages of planning and beginning the execution of opening Mirai. At the time Ryan talked openly of bench marking a niche in the USA bonsai market. He wanted to take his experience of the Japanese market, and help create a niche of similar quality and priced trees.
Ryan trained at Kimura's nursery. Kimura does not sell $25 trees to novice bonsai growers in Japan. In all likely hood at Kimura's, the lowest priced trees are probably more expensive than Ryan's median price. Likely more than $4000 to get an entry level tree from Kimura's nursery. Ryan's stated goal was to develop a similar niche in the USA. I'd say he has done well.
He has worked hard to create a brand name, which is not just marketing, you have to have the skills to back up the marketing. He also encourages one and all to duplicate his efforts. He is very open, he shows how he does pretty much everything. He encourages others, he encourages potters, by selling their pots for far more than they have the courage to market their pots at. He is Benchmarking a niche. And is hard work is making it easier for other artists. For example, Bjorn likely has noticed it is easier to ask better prices for his trees, and his work, in part because Ryan has absorbed the initial price shock. As long as Bjorn is perceived to be a little less expensive than Ryan, he has a steady clientele without having to fight as hard for the higher prices.
I think Ryan's prices are fair, he is offering value for the prices he asks. And he is not asking those who can not afford these trees to buy them. He is marketing to the niche that can afford the prices he asks.
So I do not knock Ryan at all for his pricing structure.
