It’s interesting how a handful of events and business trends seem to be converging in skateboarding at this time. They have, I think, the potential to change the industry and how it does business. The consumers, as always, will get what they want. For some companies- usually those willing to take a risk and do something a little […]
Look, I’m sorry about this. I’d really rather write about upbeat, happy stuff. It’s not my fault we’re in a recession, or are going to be in one, or whatever. I’m not making up these lousy economic statistics we’re seeing, you now. I don’t just sit here and pull them out of my ass, damn it. Sure, sure, everybody just
Stuck In A Rut; Another Recession Article Read More »
I’m sure that everybody who was in the snowboard business during the 1990-91 recession liked that one better than we’re going to like this one. Assuming, of course, that you even noticed the one in 1990-91. Ah, those were the good old days- when suppliers and retailers could sell whatever decks they could manage to get their
What To Do in a Recession? Hint: “Nothing” is the Wrong Answer Read More »
I guess this is a little incestuous, but the idea for this column came from reading Sharon Harrison’s “Ten Shops, One Question” in the June issue of this prestigious rag. The question was “What type of bearings are skaters in your shop buying?” What struck me was how each retailer had similar, but different answers. It
Product Selection and Merchandising: The Blackjack Analogy Read More »
The NASDAQ stock market rocketed towards heaven for several years. Its decline has been equally spectacular. Four trillion dollars of value have been wiped out in a year. It’s matched its worst fall ever in percentage terms, but it’s done it in half the time. Should we be surprised? No. The statistical concept of “regression to the mean” is working like
Recession? You’re Kidding- Right? Please? Read More »
Here we all are, back from ASR and boy are we excited. More brands, more excitement, hype, orders, deals, three page ads in Skate Biz. People can’t get enough of skateboarding There’s nowhere for business to go but up, and it’s got to be even better next year. Unless, of course, it’s not. As a business
Sell!? Maybe It’s Time to Think About It Read More »
I hold in my hand the Transworld Skateboard Buyers Guides from 1999 and 2000. Everything you could possibly want to know about decks, trucks, wheels, and bearings are in these guides. Well, okay, Transworld exercises some discretion in which brands make it into the guide and which don’t. All the product from each brand isn’t necessarily
Public Wisdom, Maybe; Comparing the 1999 and 2000 Buyers Guides Read More »
When a market gets hot, people start companies. Where the capital costs and entry barriers are low, they start more rather than less. When there’s enthusiasm for the industry and the lifestyle, they often start them for all the wrong reasons, and without adequate or any business planning. It looks like easy money, but it usually isn’t.
Building a Business; Issues for Would be Skate Entrepreneurs Read More »
It’s conventional wisdom that smaller companies are having an especially tough time meeting their financial needs, or even surviving, in the snowboard industry shakeout. It’s so conventional it’s taken for granted; even chanted like a mantra at times. And it’s true. But why exactly? What are the specific changes in the financial operating environment of smaller companies that’s
The Financial Impact of Consolidation; Why Is It So Hard on Smaller Companies? Read More »
I guess you can start by congratulating yourself. Though the snowboarding industry is still relatively small ($800 million at wholesale?) it’s continuing to grow at a rate most industries can only dream of and is clearly here to stay. You’ve been a part of that. But now, you are face to face with the results of
Now What Do We Do? Living With the Industry’s Success Read More »