Quiksilver may have to sell Rossignol

[leroy jenkins]

Hey Leroy, a whole bunch of them are made in Spain and Tunisia rather than France already...So not much better really!

I know, but never miss a chance to make fun of a frenchie right?

[rideit]

I wasn't aware that it (nike winter goods) ever reached the market.
The stuff I tried was lent to me by one of their sponsored atheletes for beta testing. Everything from four way stretch waterproof softshells on up to waterproof/breathable puffies...what have you seen at the outlet?

[cj001f]

I wasn't aware that it (nike winter goods) ever reached the market.
The stuff I tried was lent to me by one of their sponsored atheletes for beta testing. Everything from four way stretch waterproof softshells on up to waterproof/breathable puffies...what have you seen at the outlet?

Clemenson & Dolenc were both signed by them back in 03ish as tele skiiers.

A few GTexish jackets and a few jackets floating around on Nike people in that era. Product reviews popping up for products that can never be found (like their 'approach' shoes ) perhaps they never really reached "the market"

[jonski]

The Nike outdoor goods are fairly easy to find over in Yurp - the UK for sure. There stuff is very good quality, but I think jalf of teh problem is that they are bit like Marker - until they come out with a unique product most people aren't gonna give them much time.

However, well put together GTX pants for about 60-70% of the price of the nearest competitor definitely sparks interest - If you hit the clearance outlet, you get an evn better deal.

Leroy - apparently not!

[beaterdit]

I could see the squads being one of the first things to go if they start trimming their offerings down. Lets hope it isn't so.

As I underatand it, the Squads are already essentiallty gone. The new dark green ones are apparantly highly watered down, with no metal and more side cut. Nothing like the old 'team inspired' one.

[gravitylover]

They didn't pull out of just the bike shoe thing they pulled out of all bike related pieces. They left Trek scrambling for their house brand softgoods too.

[Spats]

Companies like Quiksilver and Nike are fundamentally fashion companies.

Fashion companies are entirely a matter of style and managing brand perception. If you do it right you can sell $0.50 T-shirts for $22, $3 sunglasses for $130, and so on.

Sports equipment is much harder to make. The quantities sold are much lower, and they actually have to perform their specified task, not just look like something someone else has. Designing and manufacturing a ski is a lot more complicated, time-consuming, and expensive than manufacturing clothes -- and your margin is much lower. It's a much worse, lower margin business to be in.

The only way it makes sense for a fashion company is if they can sell a whole bunch of softgoods off of the branding success of their sports equipment. I don't see Rossignol or Dynastar being able to move trucker hats in Hot Topic.

[Core Shot]

they are just skimming the cream off the top

of the cesspools of excitement,
where Seth Morrisson once stood.

[/end zappa]

[rideit]

Fox Racing is a 100% different company than Fox-Shox.
Absolutely no overlap in any way.
Two different beasts, both with excellent, working models.

Common misperception.

[renoenvy]

Fox Racing is a 100% different company than Fox-Shox.
Absolutely no overlap in any way.
Two different beasts, both with excellent, working models.

and horrible dealer service

oh, and by the way, tech talk jongs

[tenB]

I wonder if this will result in the move Nike has been rumored to be considering for years about venturing into the winter sports market.

Nike hasn't been so good in producing top level equipment in any outdoor sports. Their golf and baseball equipment is a prime example. Lots of fashion and colors, but not well designed and built like shit!

They should stick to footwear and spandex.

[cinnepa]

Nike hasn't been so good in producing top level equipment in any outdoor sports. Their golf and baseball equipment is a prime example. Lots of fashion and colors, but not well designed and built like shit!

They should stick to footwear and spandex.

maybe baseball, but their golf clubs and other golf related items (shoes, shirts, etc) continue to sell big, along with a growing number pro's playing their equipment.

[marshalolson]

DIBSS!!!!

pm sent! pics of the profit/loss sheet?

[cinnepa]

DIBSS!!!!

pm sent! pics of the profit/loss sheet?

ha, just info from a few shops around here....they suckered me into a driver and fairway wood.......and shoes..........................................and hat.

[The Reverend Floater]

The fundamental mistake made in this case was neither a matter of branding nor a matter of niche expansion. The problem was forecasting. Like almost every other snow industry company, Quick/Rossi supposedly forecasted to match 05/06 numbers (read: Massive winter) and when 06/07 fizzled like it did, the company found itself with a shitload of problems including massive surpluss, increased COGS and too many red numbers. Combine this with decreasing snowsports enthusiasts and the usual challenges of integration, and you're fucked no matter who you are. Just my $.02.

[tenB]

maybe baseball, but their golf clubs and other golf related items (shoes, shirts, etc) continue to sell big, along with a growing number pro's playing their equipment.

Nike might be selling lots of golf equipment, but very few pros are playing it. Tiger is the only one on tour playing the Nike driver, and he can't hit a fairway with it. He's also 20 to 30 yards shorter than the longer hitters on tour with that driver. His irons have a Nike logo on them, but they are made by mizuno, and the general public cannot buy them.

My point was that Nike makes great footwear, but their sports equipment has never threatened any of the top equipment manufacturers in golf or baseball.

[KevinDineen]

This is just analyst pot stirring and mainstream ski-bashing. As the article mentions, Quik's stock is actually up, and the only quote from McKnight (claiming to say he's indicating a sale) is that they are considering "every possible alternative." I doubt they're going to rush to dump rossi at a loss after building the mountain center that's about to open in Park city, and considering how they've been integrating skiing into all their brands. This is about three guys talking shit, and the LA times and WSJ taking the bait.