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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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^^^^Yup, it's all about the money and being able to look the shareholders in the eye. The easiest and fastest way to traditionally decrease your expenses is to reduce payroll. ^^^
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overwatch
climber
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Apr 18, 2014 - 01:36am PT
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Lot of good that link does
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the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
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Apr 18, 2014 - 08:55am PT
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Wow. I have not been on here for ages and when i do.. BD layoffs due to Obamacare? Wow- do you guys just sit around all day on the computer or do you still climb?
BD- now a publicly traded company and with that the PRESSURE to PRODUCE PROFITS as fast as they can for their share holders. When in that situ, things get cut, staff gets cut, more work dumped upon fewer people- just Ask Mitt and he can explain the wonders of capitalism.
Their product is solid, and they are looking to dominate in every category that they can, that is their agenda, like it or not.
Is this good for climbers, yes if you like the prices your paying for the products that are no longer made here. But that is the way of the world, so either get used to it or buy another brand..
ok i will leave now and let you guys toss me around with this thread. see you in 6 months..
Kurt
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Mi-Wuk
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Is anybody really suprised by this move from Clarus Co.?
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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yowtch, those are bad numbers for 2013--big loss. I'm surprised, as Metcalf always seemed like a sharp and conservative business leader--but perhaps they heavily invested in the mentioned clothing line?
I reckon they will need to get lean and clean to push back into the black. They can start by scrapping all that extra junk they added to the A5 portaledge design, and bring back the lean and clean lighter weight Alpine Double! ;)
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Is BD management out of their freaking minds?
Shorts: $150
Shoeller Jeans: $180
T-shirt: $70
WTF? I'm not afraid to drop a dime or two, but those are ridiculous price points. Pattagucci gone wild.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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I've recently done some comparison shopping for a "belay jacket"
Relative price for similar product?
Arcteryx - highest
Patagucci - BD similar for similar products
Mountain Gear - only slightly less with I think an inferior product
Marmot a bit cheaper than MG.
REI had their only BD for 1/2 price so I bought it.
And yes, the waist IS a close fit. If you ain't fit it might not fit.
None of these guys are selling in high volume except perhaps MtGear.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Wait, what about North Face? Isn't their Chinese made sh#t still up to par? I see everyone wearing it, so it must be good.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Did anyone find out if BD really had layoffs and how many?
What about the couple of BD staff who posted here a few times?
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Stolen/copied from http://www.backcountrytalk.earnyourturns.com/vb/showthread.php?1043-future-of-black-diamond-skis/page2
Black Diamond has laid off employees at its U.S. headquarters in Salt Lake City as part of apparent restructuring at the company, SNEWS has learned.
While the exact number isn’t available, at least a dozen people are suspected to have lost their jobs or are moving on, several sources familiar with the situation tell SNEWS.
Black Diamond officials declined comment on the news, stating that as a public company any information would first have to be disclosed to the markets. It is unclear whether the layoffs are just at the Black Diamond brand or if they involve the wider scope of Black Diamond Inc., including Gregory Mountain Products, Pieps and Poc Sports. The departed include some significant names in Black Diamond’s product division leadership including Ski Category Director Thomas Laakso and Packs Category Director Nathan Kuder. Laakso helped develop a less toxic and more efficient ski manufacturing process that Black Diamond used at its new ski manufacturing plant in China and Kuder played a key role in Black Diamond’s new fan-powered avy airbag, which made its big splash at Winter Market 2014.
It’s no secret that parent company Black Diamond Inc. is facing potential changes as it deals with an evolving business and budget realities. The company burned through cash to acquire Poc Sports and Piepsin 2012, and launch its apparel line in fall 2013.
As of December 31, 2013, Black Diamond Inc. reported cash reserves of $4.5 million with a total debt of $38 million with $19.7 million left available on a revolving line of credit In February, Black Diamond Inc. CEO Peter Metcalf revealed to investors that the company is exploring options to sell either all or parts of its Gregory Mountain Products brand to help fund future retail and e-commerce investments,
At that time, Metcalf indicated the company would shift from its recent acquisition strategy to focus on organic growth, particularly at Poc Sports and Black Diamond Apparel, as well as seek a senior executive leadership candidate for its lifestyle brand management and general management, specifically in the areas of apparel, retail and e-commerce. Black Diamond Apparel and POC independently represent the company’s most significant long term opportunities for compounded multi-channel multi-year revenue growth and profitability,” Metcalf told investors. “We prefer to invest our capital resources in the growth and development of our fastest growing assets, rather than acquiring additional brands.
While Black Diamond doesn’t release brand- or category- specific results, at least one analyst on Wall Street told SNEWS he isn’t surprised to hear some of the cutbacks coming from the hardgoods side of the business. “It would seem natural,” said Andrew Burns, a research analyst with D.A. Davidson & Co. “We believe the core equipment side of the business, excluding apparel, has slowed somewhat, which we see as part of a general slowdown across the outdoor industry.”
In November 2013, D.A. Davidson downgraded Black Diamond stock from buy to neutral based on those concerns, he said. But beyond those immediate hurdles, Burns said, “we still think it’s a well run company with great plans.”
David Clucas- April 16, 2014
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Mi-Wuk
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he isn’t surprised to hear some of the cutbacks coming from the hardgoods side of the business.
I bet pins, hooks, etc will be the first to get the chop, then they will move what little manufacturing remains stateside to the China plant.
Clothes sell a lot better than all that low margin climbing gear.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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A dozen people out of a large organization isn't a "layoff" - it's called "weeding" - and it's generally a good thing.
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Mi-Wuk
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A dozen people out of a large organization isn't a "layoff" - it's called "weeding" - and it's generally a good thing.
I'm sure those dozen people feel a lot better knowing they were weeded out, as opposed to being laid off.
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Mi-Wuk
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China is evil.
Can't have gear manufactured here.
Please don't put words in my mouth. It doesn't matter really if they opened their assembly plant in China, India, or Australia. They obviously did not do it to increase the product quality or reduce cost for the consumer.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Please don't put words in my mouth. It doesn't matter really if they opened their assembly plant in China, India, or Australia. They obviously did not do it to increase the product quality or reduce cost for the consumer.
They might not have done it to increase quality, but manufacturing in China doesn't necessarily mean bad quality. Apple is generally regarded as pretty high quality stuff, and mostly made in China. And I think BD's gear stuff made there is still made to 6-Sigma standards.
And while they may not be dropping prices, it may help to keep prices low. Judging by the financials mentioned above, it's not like they are running Apple-type margins on the stuff.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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I'm sure those dozen people feel a lot better knowing they were weeded out, as opposed to being laid off.
Depending on whether they applied for unemployment benefits, it could make a big difference (in general, laid-off -> get benefits, fired for cause -> no).
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Moof
Big Wall climber
Orygun
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A dozen people out of a large organization isn't a "layoff" - it's called "weeding" - and it's generally a good thing.
All too often it is really just silencing the dissenters. Those who have been ringing the alarm bells that management has their heads up their off-width and are taking the company in the wrong direction often get canned before the non-performing suck-ups.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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All too often it is really just silencing the dissenters. Those who have been ringing the alarm bells that management has their heads up their off-width and are taking the company in the wrong direction often get canned before the non-performing suck-ups.
Very true.
edit: If BD management thinks they are going to save the company by selling $150 shorts and $180 jeans, I want what they are smoking.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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With your razor sharp tongue you've probably been weeded a few times yourself. After efficiently clearing my considerable angst here, I'm all smiles and yeses when I step away - they love me - in fact I'm probably one of the easiest guys in my group to work with. Same fuk'n job for the past 16 years, never weeded - seen a lot of it, though.
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