Purposeful. In a word, that’s how I’d describe the show. There was the quiet hum of business being done and if the aisles weren’t as full as I’ve seen them in the past, and the noise level was somewhat subdued, it was because the booths were full of people focused on doing business. Sure, I miss the good […]
Two issues ago, I suggested one possible future for the skateboard industry that I really don’t want to see happen, but which we all have to consider. Last issue, I suggested some questions you needed to ask to figure out the financial impact on your company. This issue, let’s drill down one more level and […]
Store One I would guess the girl was 14. She was at this big box sporting goods store with her parents picking out a board, boots and bindings. She didn’t say much and was following her parent’s lead. Their credit card I suppose. It isn’t easy, you know, to hang around through the whole sales process- […]
Apologies to the Alka Seltzer people for bastardizing one of their old advertising slogans. It just sort of sprang into my head the moment I saw Dwindle’s announcement on their Chop Chop Wood Shop. I assume it occurred to somebody that the name might be offensive to the Chinese, but this is probably just some form of […]
“They may put me out of business and they can’t even put a wax on a board!” said the snowboard retailer about the Zumiez down the street. I talked to him enough to know that he wasn’t kidding and he wasn’t being sarcastic and he wasn’t just trying to make a point. After a bunch of […]
You started it because it was going to be fun. You were younger- a lot younger. And perhaps just a bit naïve and optimistic. You didn’t know what it was about margins that made everybody think they were gross, but what the hell. If you could hang with your friends, do what you loved and have a few beers […]
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 […]
In previous articles, going back to when skating was growing like the proverbial weed, I’ve talked about issues related to a downturn. Things like expense control, if you should sell your business, characteristics of a maturing market, cash flow management, the impact of a recession, and the potential impact of foreign competition. Given the continuing, current conditions […]
It began, I suppose, a couple of months ago when somebody at Burton sent me their complete catalog, buying book, whatever you want to call it, including prices and terms. Damn near five pounds it weighs according to my handy, dandy bathroom scale including colorful blue binder. It contains all of the Burton Company’s brands and certain […]
My very first article for TransWorld, which became Market Watch, was on foreign exchange. I guess in some sense we’ve come full circle. But it’s never much fun ending up where you started, so I want to ask your help in keeping Market Watch valuable to you and occasionally controversial. It use to be, when the pace […]
