“Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Overall, Vegas showed signs of being the end of the beginning of the snowboard industry’s consolidation process. Which is convenient, since I’ve always wanted to use that quote. The first person who identifies […]
The End of the Beginning; Observations from Glitter Gulch Read More »
The buy/sell cycle seems to be on everybody’s mind these days. The brands are concerned because the decline of in season orders means they have to take more inventory risk. Retailers, on the other hand, are thrilled to be able to get quality product in season at discounts, though are perhaps concerned that it’s tougher to hold
Tackling The Snowboard Industry Buy/Sell Cycle Are We Trying to Fix the Wrong Problem? Read More »
If your only business is snowboarding, you need money for three reasons. First, your business should grow at least as fast as the industry, and that growth translates into more cash tied up in the business. Second, extreme seasonality and the extended dating customers are demanding requires more working capital. Finally, tough competitive conditions are probably reducing margins,
Money: That’s What I Want. Sources of Capital for a Growing Business Read More »
It doesn’t matter if you’re a retailer, distributor or manufacturer. It doesn’t even matter if you’re in the snowboard business. In every industry, companies get in trouble for the same basic reasons, and require the same things to recover All businesses in trouble share two characteristics: denial and perseverance in the face of inescapable change. It’s easy to
Getting In Deep Trouble; Why Companies Get There, and What it Takes To Recover Read More »
“Blanks are killing the industry.” “Yeah, but they give the skater a good deal.” “But pros are what builds the industry, and we can’t support pros on blank margins.” “The problem is that we have too many pros to support.” Etc., etc., etc. In this highly emotional debate, there’s some truth to everybody’s position. A lot of people seem to
Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde; The Dilemma of the Skateboard Factory Owner Read More »
It was three or four months ago that I stopped getting the nearly weekly calls and emails from somebody who wanted to open a new skate shop. As weeks dragged on without the sound of enthusiastic voices eager to make their mark in skateboard retailing I wondered if that wasn’t a sign of a market top.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Part II; Skateboarding will Survive a Slowdown Read More »