rcaffin wrote:kathmandu is the eight biggest outdoor sports brand in the world.
Hardly - according to half a dozen business web sites. Large in Au/NZ, yes.
Unless you have a reference and the figures?
Cheers
Roger
Although the New Zealand–based outdoor gear and apparel maker is the eighth-largest gear manufacturer in the world, with 162 stores worldwide
esterday, New Zealand retailer and outdoor equipment maker Kathmandu announced their acquisition of Montana-based Oboz Footwear for up to $75 million ($60 million upfront with a $15 million earn-out). A long time supplier to Kathmandu, Oboz’s vast network of retailers in the US and Europe provides the company with a ready-built sell-through strategy for entry into new markets.
Up until now, Kathmandu has been very reliant on the Australasia market, with a failed attempt at a brick-and-mortar strategy in the UK a few years ago. Much like REI, the retailer has a collection of own brand products — mostly apparel in Kathmandu’s case, a large percentage of which is for fall and winter.
Footwear is one of the fastest growing and least seasonal sections of the outdoor market so the acquisition diversifies Kathmandu’s product offering. It also gives them immediate access to all of Oboz’s current US and European retailers to sell through Kathmandu product, promising to do the same in return for Oboz back at home.
“We’ve been looking at the US market for some time, and when you look at the customers and retailers Oboz have in the US, it’s a dream distribution for us,” said Kathmandu chief executive Xavier Simonet. “If we could work with the Oboz customers in the US and launch Kathmandu with them, that would be brilliant because they’re core authentic outdoor retailers and we can tap into that knowledge for sure.”
Even though Oboz doesn’t operate any stores themselves in the US, Simonet has not ruled out opening combined stores selling the two brands. In the meantime, expect to see more Kathmandu products hitting the shelves at your local outdoor store relatively soon.
Zapruda wrote:Agreed Wayno.
But on the flip side of all this is that small cottage companies like MLD, Nunatak, Locus Gear, Tier gear etc are thriving right now.
People do like custom made gear, me included so maybe there is a market for what Moondog is talking about. Interesting times for gear.
Moondog55 wrote:I would say that now is the time to start an email campaign if we want Macpac/Rays to improve some aspects of the gear or bring in new gear that more perfectly matches our expectations.
In my case I suggested a stretched Olympus with 4 poles and dual symmetrical vestibules but there is also a case for a stretched version with an extended vestibule at one end
rcaffin wrote:That may apply to the bike market - I would not know.
But I note that many of the best-known UL cottage companies in the States are managing to stay as they were. They tend to be privately owned and are providing an adequate income for the owner - so why hassle? Why change? In addition, they often rely on a local community of workers - a real local community. Why change?
CraigVIC wrote:Spotlight group holdings, ie. Anaconda, has acquired Mountain designs.
Neo wrote:I think for many, online shopping is the future. Especially for those in regional areas wanting something more than Big-mart...
My success rate is 9.5 when ordering online, and if not then returns/exchanges are quite straight forward.
Neo wrote:I think for many, online shopping is the future. Especially for those in regional areas wanting something more than Big-mart...
My success rate is 9.5 when ordering online, and if not then returns/exchanges are quite straight forward.
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