K2's hoping to use Volkl's distribution channels in Europe to push K2 and Marmot products - and to eventually become a sports equipment giant like Nike and Reebok.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebu...ap1416431.html
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K2's hoping to use Volkl's distribution channels in Europe to push K2 and Marmot products - and to eventually become a sports equipment giant like Nike and Reebok.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebu...ap1416431.html
woah. its hard to believe marker has a 40% market share in the states.
Oh my god!:( :mad:
wh ycan't k2 just make skis in the us again and stop trying to be a worrld power. I think that if they become a giant like reebok or nike their products will suffer, like nike's and reeboks' do.
It's only natural that since K2 sucks, that they would also buy Marker.
I can hear the gapers running up and down the streets cheering for Markers being the only binding option for their K2 fours...
I wish they woild buy Killington. I wish anybody would buy Killington.
My K2 Fours have S900s thank you very much.Quote:
Originally posted by BlurredElevens
It's only natural that since K2 sucks, that they would also buy Marker.
I can hear the gapers running up and down the streets cheering for Markers being the only binding option for their K2 fours...
"woah. its hard to believe marker has a 40% market share in the states."
and they still cant make a binding that doesnt suck!
"K2 intends to maintain Volkl's automated manufacturing facility in Straubing, Germany. "
So K2 is moving Germany to China? Volkls will be shit within 3 years.
Marmot is a company I've been a huge fan of for a long time. Sure it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. It will be interesting to see what happens with this company.
Marker already sucked.
K2's bike frames totally suck.
that's a bummer about volkl. they still craft their skis with wood from their own forests in their own factories nearby the mountains where they practice their craft.
North Face was a cool company before they got sucked into the mass market.Quote:
Originally posted by LCC
Marmot is a company I've been a huge fan of for a long time. Sure it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. It will be interesting to see what happens with this company.
That forest better learn to speak Chinese.
Interesting that there's no referece to technica. Or did I miss them already being sold to someone else?
I hope K2 realizes they have a good thing with Volkl and don't go and fuck it up. I have hope considering the same company that owned marker owned volkl and let them stand on their own besides the whole integrated binding shit.
I agree - to a certain extent. I still like a lot of their products - but I bought a set of gloves that claimed to be Mountaineering/Mountain Sport and they fucking leaked (which was a problem with the hole snow neat hot skin). Perhaps I missed a step - but no wax or anything was included and there was nothing that said I had to treat them before use. That was annoying.Quote:
Originally posted by Benny Profane
North Face was a cool company before they got sucked into the mass market.
The brand-nameless gore-text mittens I bought in stow a couple of years ago still rule. They're lost a bit of their drying ability (I used to be able to go down, get pretty hot, and have toasty dry gloves by the time I got to the top of the chair lift, but the drying it slower now). Oh well.
[/OT moan]
edg
hmmm, so by the time Volkl gets sucked down the tubes by K2, will PM Gear be ready to fill the void for high end bomber skis?
An accurate appraisal, Mr. Sapp.
I am sure PM gear's kick ass ski will be among the many handmade kick ass skis around but why does everyone assume Volkl is the only sturdy & worthy ski?Quote:
Originally posted by DJSapp
hmmm, so by the time Volkl gets sucked down the tubes by K2, will PM Gear be ready to fill the void for high end bomber skis?
Stockli?
Blizzard?
DB?!?
Isnt volkl/marker/tecnica also in cahoots with nordica, elan, and dolomite?
It seems that having such a huge ski conglomerate would infringe on some anti-trust laws.
Technica is part of Volkl sports holding. Yeah, it is rather interesting that it wasn't mentioned in the article, as it's a major part of the Organization. Volkl Holding has owned Marker for quite some time.Quote:
Originally posted by Ski Monkey
Interesting that there's no referece to technica.
From SnowTradeNews:
Tuesday April 02, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY (press release) -- CT Holding AG, the joint venture between Tecnica and Volkl's major sharehold, H.D. Cleven, has purchased an additional 15% of Marker International GmbH.
The purchase brings CT's holdings in Marker to 98%. The transaction involved a cash payment of $2 million, reflecting a $3.5 million market value of the company's 15 percent equity interest less certain reductions totaling approximately $1.47 million previously agreed to by the parties.
edit: Far as I can tell, VSH has only been sharing computer facilities and warehouses with Elan-Dolomite, but it's not a stretch to assume they're also sharing production lines, components, etc... Damn - so my Volks might just be Elans with prettier topsheets?
My dos centavos FWIW: Despite the number of unhappy customers Marker may have with THIS particular group of people - They do produce a quality product that gives the "average" consumer many, many years of quality service. It's obviously not for everyone, but you can't deny their numbers or market appeal. **(Don't take it from me - ask Shane. Someone that I'd classify as beyond "average".)** It's a business, baby - and on the surface, this merge is going to make a monster..One that will probably benefit the entire industry. It's tough to go wrong when you merge 2 companies named K2 and Volkl.
Not really sure on who Tecnica is sitting with but here's some related info, for your Q CantDog.
http://www.tecnica.it
Covered by Jannell Chester
Tecnica has mastered the acquisitions technique. The company began as an Italian manufacturer of work shoes in the early 1960s and today offers a wide variety of sports gear including snow skis, in-line skates, and snowboards, as well as outdoor apparel. Tecnica's brands focus on the winter sports market and include Dolomite (skis and clothing), Lowa (outdoor and ski boots), Think Pink (sportswear), and Marker (ski bindings and outerwear). Its Nordica ski boot brand was sold to Benetton in the late 1980s and was re-purchased in 2002. The company also bought Benetton's in-line skate company Rollerblade in 2003 with Benetton acquiring a 10% stake in Tecnica.
It would be nice if Volkl stays just as it is, their production facility and use of their own forest is a unique process, hopefully it remains that way.
No way. There are plenty of other ski manufacturers out there. Especially after the PM Gear juggernaut gets rolling!Quote:
Originally posted by CantDog
It seems that having such a huge ski conglomerate would infringe on some anti-trust laws.
Forgive me, K2 devotees, but I can only hope that the kraut driven Teutonic drive for quality is not diluted by the avaricious seduction of profit driven greed.
*%#JG##%#%^$(#*(@#&*&#*&#**&*%&^$Quote:
Originally posted by JMO
K2 buys Volkl
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
^ This doesn't begin to cover the screaming I'm doing right now. Volkl makes such sweet and bomber skis, and on the rare occasion they fuck up the latter they take good care of their customers. Just look at last year's Gotamas. They're warrantying them no questions asked, even for shit like topsheet damage. It's rare nowadays to find a company that values it's reputation and thus its customers so highly.
I'm getting really sick of all these fucking corporate mergers. Don't get me wrong, in some cases it works out wonderfully. But then you look at what happened in the music industry with labels, radio stations, and concert venues and you just cringe.
If they screw up Volkl, I'll have to send my vile army of assasins after them... or something. They better not fuck up Volkl :(
Watch for Marker motion/rail/piston systems integrated onto K2 skis. :mad:
Less competition... less innovation... less selection. BOOOOOOO!
OK that would qualify me... topsheet damage... where did you hear they would warranty for that? I want the new construction so they die this next season.Quote:
Originally posted by Arty50
They're warrantying them no questions asked, even for shit like topsheet damage.