Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

For all the start up companies

profile picture
TheClap.
Posts: 21664 - Karma: 4,140
http://skiingbusiness.com/13958/features/the-ski-industry-is-out-of-control/


solid read, as it is true


inb4 tl:dr
Jul 24 2012 5:17PM
0 0
profile picture
JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
This has been a growing thought on my mind. Good read
Jul 24 2012 5:22PM
0 0
profile picture
Boooshank
Posts: 1650 - Karma: 160
Right with the overwhelming walkin's into shops.

Decet read.
Jul 24 2012 5:35PM
0 0
profile picture
crab_pretzel
Posts: 3919 - Karma: 622
prettymuch spot on. ive definately seen this the most in softgoods in my opinion. not just big brands trying it out, but i mean the countless smaller brands trying to make their mark. i kinda hope the exposure the sport gets in the olympics could introduce a huge amount of new people into skiing, and create a big enough market so that it doesnt outgrow itself like it seems to be now
Jul 24 2012 6:06PM
0 0
profile picture
.peter
Posts: 1222 - Karma: 63
but regardless more competition among industry members means a better environment for the consumer. Which should mean that we will all get better or at least more desired products from the brands we like/ want to support at a better and fairer price. THe brands that can make themselves either original or exceptionally desirable have already and will continue to grow as the ski industry moves forward this basic growth economics not anything new.
Jul 24 2012 6:11PM
0 0
profile picture
Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
http://www.thehopebrand.com/ is a very good example.
Jul 25 2012 12:04AM
0 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,232
haha saw this one coming!
Jul 25 2012 12:08AM
0 0
profile picture
SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
Captured it perfectly.
Jul 25 2012 12:23AM
0 0
profile picture
wrichmond
Posts: 562 - Karma: 369
Excellent article
Jul 25 2012 2:22AM
0 0
profile picture
vault.
Posts: 469 - Karma: 91
worth reading!
Jul 25 2012 2:48AM
0 0
profile picture
rareison
Posts: 10263 - Karma: 219
Oh shit
Jul 25 2012 11:47AM
0 0
profile picture
Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
you would think so but what ends up happening is that these smaller brands can't compete with the big boys when it comes to getting into shops. remember, retailers have to buy the product first then sell it off. the big brands offer deep discounts to broaded their presence in a shop and that in turn means bigger profit margins (return on investment) for retailers.

what this article is saying is that, at what point does it become impossible for these smaller brands to compete? they may be making a better/more desireable product but at the end of the day, if they have no way of getting that product to market, they need to pack up shop and close. unfortunately selling online, direct to the customer isn't always a viable option since there really is no way to forecast your sales.
Jul 25 2012 12:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
I really disagree with this as a fundamental fact in your standpoint.

The internet is rapidly changing the face of consumer habits everywhere. The entire world is changing with technology at a blistering pace of innovation, often too fast for big companies to keep up.

Smaller brands have more power to focus on a niche product, as well as new distribution models that side step the traditional system. One simply can not say that the indie brands are screwed because they won't compete in shops, because who knows if shops will be the next battleground?

I think more the point of this all, and the thing to realize is that hyper focus on high-end is the problem. Too many people vying for pieces of an ever-decreasing pie.

If anything, what we need to do is embrace the gaper. We should not be so hostile and unfriendly to people who want to give the sport a try, we should be working to get them on a pair of simple, inexpensive skis with an inexpensive lift ticket and a fun experience.

We have a chance with Newschool skiing to do this. Finally you actually don't have to have been skiing for 22 years to enjoy yourself on the slopes... patch of snow, cheap sticks and a box and you're good.

Too many of us spend too much time in-fighting about traditional models, whether that be shops, media, ways of skiing or whatever. We don't spend the time growing the market like we should have.

In a way - just like in the tech world - there's MORE opportunity for a startup brand to completely shatter the traditional model and open up a new part of the market that wasn't there before.

Jul 25 2012 3:47PM
0 0
profile picture
dodgey
Posts: 590 - Karma: 266
Click for larger image
Jul 25 2012 3:59PM
0 0
profile picture
Shlobby
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 303
I totally agree. As technology is improving more and more people have access to the internet with the younger generation coming in. As bad as it is I feel local shops will need to start getting their stores online and start competing with these online shops for sales. If not I could see many of them start to disappear because they simply cant compete with these big online stores anymore. The internet is helping these smaller companies through social networking and spreading there name thats for sure but on the other hand it seems like there's a new company everyday trying to sell the same product with a different name on it. It all comes down to what the customer wants and whats the best bang for your buck.
Jul 26 2012 1:10AM
0 0
profile picture
RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Every ski you purchase is a vote for what you want the ski industry to produce.
Jul 26 2012 1:51AM
0 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,232
This is true. In fact, I'd argue online sales probably save loads of the small guys. Their product maybe be in less demand locally, but over the entire country/region/world that they ship to, it overall makes them successful and able to stay afloat.

Online shopping is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Jul 26 2012 7:47AM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Very true -

However there is a really dark flipside to this too. Much of the ski industry relies on the local shops for sales, especially for people who are just getting into it.

When we buy direct from manufacturers, or purchase from big online shops we crush that local store business.

Without local shops, there would be no rental market, and we would really start to crush new entrants. Plus, when was the last time you bought boots without trying them on? I know that it might work for some people, but for those of us with weird feet this would be a total disaster.

There's arguments on all sides of this, both good and bad. One thing is for sure though, the industry is going through some massive sweeping changes.

The biggest lesson I'd give to everyone is twofold:

1) Adapt or die

2) Do NOT forget about getting new people into the sport.

Jul 26 2012 8:42AM
0 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,232
Yes, indeed. Totally forgot about boots. If only my local shops carried full tilts....
Jul 26 2012 8:59AM
0 0
profile picture
Parks.
Posts: 5612 - Karma: 1,093
The shop I go to only has one pair...the wallischs -____-
Jul 26 2012 10:14AM
0 0
profile picture
tcgoldman
Posts: 704 - Karma: 723
this is a great thread, thanks very much. it give me a bit of hope that in the future i can create a small ski oriented business that has a possibility to succeed.
cheers.
Jul 26 2012 2:57PM
0 0
profile picture
Dan-Man
Posts: 7488 - Karma: 3,621

SKIING is officially gone down a bad path and is fucked.

it is no longer raw, but full of lil bitchz who spend there rich resort town parents money on BS they aren't even good enough to use.  skiing is hipster now and it makes me sad.

I'd just quit if i was you.

Jul 26 2012 2:59PM
0 0
profile picture
tcgoldman
Posts: 704 - Karma: 723
Click for larger image
Jul 26 2012 3:17PM
0 0
profile picture
Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
Considering that skiing is ultimately a rich white person's sport, this was bound to happen. With popularity comes people like that in larger numbers. But that's not to say that skiing is dying or headed in a bad direction, it's simply more popular
Jul 26 2012 3:55PM
0 0
profile picture
gwhitey
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 312
holla
Jul 26 2012 6:59PM
0 0
profile picture
TheClap.
Posts: 21664 - Karma: 4,140
dolla
Jul 26 2012 7:00PM
0 0
profile picture
gwhitey
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 312
BILLS YALL
Jul 26 2012 7:07PM
0 0
profile picture
TheClap.
Posts: 21664 - Karma: 4,140
rack city
Jul 26 2012 7:12PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)