Last month, I wrote about surviving a downturn, suggesting that this wasn’t just a downturn but a fundamental change in industry structure, requiring a change in the way successful companies competed. This month, I’d like to be more specific about how I see the industry evolving. It’s perhaps a bit pompous to do this, because my […]
One Possible Future; An Industry Model for Skateboarding Read More »
“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 “AHAA!” moment at the ASR show came early for me. I’d just flown in from the SIA winter sports show in Vegas and literally walked in the door at ASR when I heard that the ubiquitous ASR Board Trac seminar had already started. I was fifteen minutes late. When I walked in, they were questioning ten “typical”
We Win. Now What? Ruminations on the Future of Skateboarding Read More »
I walked out of ASR feeling positive about skateboarding and its market and will discuss why below. Still, when things look too good to be true, it’s been my experience that they usually are and I’m as susceptible to the hype as the next person. Let’s start, then, with this cautionary tale from Edward Chancellor book “Devil
Let me start by telling you, in no particular order, some things you already know. 1) Margins on hard goods suck, but carrying them draws customers in and legitimizes you as a skate retailer. 2) Truth be known, hard goods from different brands are pretty much the same. You may have some brand loyalties, but
Long, long ago in an industry far, far away (cue the heroic music), the sale of moss-covered, three-handled family gradunzels* had taken off. Now, gradunzels had been around for a long time, and they were manufactured by a dedicated group of companies, the founders and owners of which had been among the earliest users of
Sam And The Gradunzel-Eating Monster; It’s (hopefully) a fairy tale. Read More »
Most of us are in a different business than we were a few years ago. Retailer, brand, manufacturer, or even consultant, our customers have changed. There are only a handful of companies out there that can say they are snowboard companies. Others have adjusted their strategies, or aren’t around anymore. Remember the “C” word? Consolidation wasn’t just about a
Changes in Market Focus; The New Snowboarding Reality Read More »
The specialty shop in Vienna was all snowboards and snowboard products. It was mostly last year’s stuff and was all on sale. Word was that financial problems were preventing them from getting new stuff. Over at a big Intersport store, there was just as much space devoted to snowboard products and the deals were just as good. I’d
Hung Over, Jet Lagged, and Sleep Deprived; A View of the Industry from 37,000 Feet Read More »
One day, a few years ago, we looked up and had become “the snowboard industry.” Growth, friends, good margins, optimism, an endearing naivete about the future and a quotient of bullshit was all part of what made it fun. The boundaries were clear. We were on the right side of that boundary and knew what was up. If you
Just Who Are We Anyway? Perceptions of Market and Industry Evolution Read More »
Originally, it was enthusiast driven. People started companies because it was an important part of their lives and they wanted to be part of what was happening. It wasn’t just about a sport- it was an attitude and a lifestyle. At first bigger companies in related sports weren’t interested because the market wasn’t large enough. When they got
Future History; What’s the Price of Success Read More »