.... those who are more concerned with the price or the monetary value of a Bonsai than the Bonsai itself, maybe, are missing the point. For me, its about the tree.
This is an interesting observation, and seems to be a valid one. I often heard this before, and sounds like coming from an honest and passionate view about bonsai.
But is this observation true? Are they missing the point? What point?
I hope you don't mind if I analyze this a little more in depth, since this view is held by many other bonsaists.
Let's say that I am a businessman, and have 5 million dollars to invest. My first opportunity is to buy a fast food franchise (McDonalds). I am not passionate about hamburgers, and in fact, I am a vegetarian. The only reason to buy this joint is because I want to invest my money into a lucrative business. But I do a great job running the franchise, I sell the best quality burgers in the area, and customers love to eat at my place. The question may arise: how come that I don't care about burgers, but I run my busines at the highest standard possible (i.e.:make the best burger in town)? The easy answer is, because I am a good businessman, and I understand the concept that a well-run business pays much better than a poorly run business.
After five years, the area is re-zoned, and I have to sell my fast food franchise. Looking for a new opportunity to buy another business, I run into a friend who has a bonsai nursery and a bonsai import-export business. He is struggling to survive, and is willing to sell for a very reasonable price. I see a great opportunity to buy the land from him (I see a good potential for appreciation), and I love the challenge to turn the business around and make it into a profitable one. My interest is strictly business, I don't particularly care about the bonsai itself. But I want to offer the same top quality product as in my previous ventures, and hire the best gardeners, contract a young and talented bonsai artist, and select the best providers to import from China and Vietnam.
In a few years I manage to turn the bonsai import and nursery business around, and make it really profitable. The customers are happy because they get a large variety of material at reasonable price. Since I am the only bonsai nursery in the area, a lot of new people take up the hobby. I also hire teachers to hold weekly bonsai classes. Everybody is happy. I particularly enjoy this business because it is more laid back and there is less pressure than in my former ventures. I even start to take up some interest in bonsai, myself.
Here is my question:
People who claim that those who do bonsai for business, and not because for bonsai's sake are missing the point.
What point are they missing?
The other argument is that they care about the tree, and not the money. This argument infers that caring only about the money is wrong.
But, as the above scenario has shown, the primary purpose of a good business is to make money. And a good business sells product that satisfies the customer's need. The bonsai hobbyists from the above story are thrilled to have the nursery around, because it satisfies all their needs. They couldn't care less about the owner's personal preference, views, or creeds.
At this point, someone could counter-argue: Well, we are concerned about those charlatans who rip off people and sell lousy products at exorbitant prices.
My response to that is: this is not how a well run business is done. There is good business and bad business. The good business thrives, the bad one has little chance to survive.
So, as you see from above the claim that people should care about the bonsai and not the money has no basis at all. As long as you can offer a valuable service to the bonsai community, it matters not what your primary motives are.
There is room for business in bonsai, and we can all benefit from it. Business is just as important as the consumer(hobbyist), since they offer products and services that the cosumer could not otherwise acquire.
