My career was specifically about working with smaller specialty brands of an athletic nature and developing their presence in specialty and non specialty retail outlets, like big box and department stores. I have watched this scenario play out many, many times....both with the brands I was working with and with the brands we were competing with. That background is one of the reasons I found Don Amos's (Rocketman) spreadsheets on British gun values so fascinating. Frankly I find the whole examination of brand value fascinating. It's a window into human nature, especially insecurity regarding expertise.
I would characterize this process as inevitable. And it's usually because the founders have a passion for the actual things they are doing. Subsequent, professional management, whether hired to replace a founder stepping aside, the next generation of private ownership or because private equity (or if big enough a public offering) has a different outlook. It's simply ROI. Depending on who gets hired sometimes that orginal passion gets strung out for several more decades or it dissipates in a couple years.
Obviously each situation has nuances, but what i described is what happens. The only question is how long does it take. Sounds like Simms nose dived quickly.
The article ends on a rather sour note about the future. It's important to remember that future is the future of existing brands. What always happens, in every catagory, is that the magic of capitalism holds sway. Young companies see opportunity where others have vacated and step in. Motivated retailers looking for a edge and a point of differentiation take a chance. Avid consumers discover something new. It takes a while but new brands appear, fill a niche and gain a following.
Last edited by canvasback; 12/20/25 09:00 AM.
