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The Rubbermaid Ordeal

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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
So we all heard about the buyout of K2 sports to the corporate supergiant rubbermaid, but what it seems that people are missing is what that entails.

As we all know, K2 has become a shitty brand as of late. Low quality products made in china, distancing themselves from freeskiing and whatnot, but what most people appear to be overlooking is what the K2 buyout actually means for most of the ski industry.

K2 Skis was a mega company of sorts within itself. Within the past 15 years K2 has acquired ownership of Line skis, Full Tilt boots, Volkl Skis, Marker Bindings, and this past year Dalbello Boots. When a giant company comes into play quality suffers. Rubbermaid will care more about mass output than overall quality of their products so expect even shitter skis. I think that all of these companies, most of which I respect, will start to lose their appreciation for their roots as we have already seen happen to K2. Which is a huge blow to the ski industry and how its run.

Fortunately there are tons of other great ski companies so we will always be able to find awesome skis, but what worries me the most for the realm of skiing, freeskiing especially, is the acquisition of both Full Tilt and Dalbello. While IMO Full Tilt Boots already aren't the best boots, Dalbello makes the best boots for me. I love everything about the company thus far great customer service, the best boots I've ever owned, the innovation each year, the company is awesome and I will hopefully Never get rid of my Lupo 130s.

What is upsetting to me is what I have heard from the boot experts in the shop I work at, and the mumblings of the reps that come to visit. If I am incorrect, please correct me because I want nothing more than for this to me wrong. I have heard that in the cases of both Dalbello and Full Tilt (more Dalbello though) our beloved 3 piece boot will be canceled as it costs more to make 3 different molds than just two and it would be more cost efficient to make regular old 2 piece boots. I have skied in all kinds of boots but the sweet sweet flex of my Dalbellos beats any other boot I've ridden. The fact that a major corporation will be taking away the only appeal of 2 great boot companies, which by the way are the only "good" companies that make 3 piece shells saddens me, and the pretty damn predictable quality shift towards shitty skis and other products of some of the most trusted and best brands in the industry is the same.

What does NS think of this? what do you think will happen in the near future to these brands?

tldr: the rubbermaid takeover likely means shitty products from, K2, Marker, Volkl, Dalbello, Line, Full Tilt, Ride, Adio, etc. As well as no more 3 piece boots.

P.S. if y'all have heard anything different please speak up I want nothing more than to be wrong.
Jan 12 2016 11:55AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,516
I hope that they do not discontinue the 3 piece boot from dalbello. I haven't heard anything yet about that.

Also since when is k2 shit quality? Their skis this year are pretty bomber and definitely fun.
Jan 12 2016 12:02PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,787
brov1Full Tilt Boots aren't the best boots


And that's where you made your first mistake
Jan 12 2016 12:05PM
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Ranch
Posts: 742 - Karma: 1,030
thats disturbing.if big name companies are doing this then there is a problem. good thing there are other companies that focus on quality like revision or armada. but wouldnt the big companies push them out? just a thought
Jan 12 2016 12:14PM
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Lbird
Posts: 401 - Karma: 2,188
I highly doubt Full Tilt would cancel the 3 piece design, considering it is their selling point, and they just came out with the descendant shell which is a brand new 3-piece.
Jan 12 2016 12:16PM
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snowpocalypse
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 3,525
While I understand your concerns I will challenge your thoughts and take a slightly different stance. In K2's 54 years as a ski manufacturer, K2 has been owned by as many as 10 different groups. Including Cummings Engines, 2 hippy brothers and Jardin Group. All vastly different companies with one thing in common. Making money. Ya know how not to make money? Make shitty product. K2 has seen the height of skiing in the 70's to the almost death in the early 90's and has survived it all. They are the largest ski manufacturer on the planet. They have progressed the sport for decades and will continue to do so. Are they the same company that was founded on Vashon and grew through grass root skiers in the PNW, no. Are they still committed to the sport we all love, you bet. How else are they going to keep the investors happy.
Are they a "core" brand? What is that anyway. Are the halls at K2 filled with people that live and breath skiing? Are the pros they hire skiing at the top level and helping to progress the sport? Has K2 put out some of the biggest game changers in skiing history (think 5500, Pontoon, Shaped skis and on and on)?
I'm not hear to tell you what to buy or ski. Or what is a Core brand and who is a sell out. All I'm saying is K2 knows skiing and will continue to produce top level product for years to come thanks to an influx of money from, Yes, Rubbermaid.
I can tell you Dalbello has NO plans on dropping the 3pc boot. I can tell you a ski made in China is still a good ski, some will argue but the facts are just that. I've spent 24 years of my working life in the ski industry and it is sad when a "CORE" company is sold off, but in my experience very rarely does it spell the demise of that original value of the company.

PS
I do not and have never worked for K2
I do not currently ski on any K2 product
I do respect the hell out of K2 sports and all they have done for our sport
Jan 12 2016 12:29PM
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ALaw
Posts: 2616 - Karma: 1,552
Sounds like you may have been misinformed. If anything the rubbermaid deal will be better for K2 than dealing with Jarden Corporation.
Jan 12 2016 12:54PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
No way they change the core product base unless it drastically improves revenue or they are operating at / close to a loss right now.

Bottom line..if they don't sell a good product no one will buy it. I have seen at work these buyouts and generally the bread and butter stay the same.

I love dalbello boots...not a huge fan of line skis or k2. Find their skis boring / heavy / damp feeling anytime I have used them.

There skis are based on pro's...if pro's start leaving the team than you have something to worry about. Otherwise I don't think it would make a huge difference because it was such a big company to start with.
Jan 12 2016 12:59PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7496 - Karma: 50,890
Rubbemaid is just the parent company.......
Jan 12 2016 1:09PM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
You are massively overstating the effect of being acquired by a parent, holdings company. Take for instance any household item you can buy... they are generally owned by two different holdings companies, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. While these companies have a controlling ownership in the brand, they are generally only the distribution engine behind the brand (the brand is able to leverage the supply chain of the holdings company to cost-effectively reach a wider market). If you think Procter & Gamble's marketing division are controlling the marketing campaigns of brands like Old Spice, you are incorrect.

To say that, then, a holdings company would make the overarching declaration that Dalbello will scrap the mold and construction that has made it a leading boot in the marketplace is a farce. The parent company acquires to satellite company to enhance profitability in a silo marketplace they do not currently inhabit. From there, Rubbermaid now gives access to a supply chain K2 and Dalbello may not previously have had access to.
Jan 12 2016 1:41PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
I really hope they don't discontinue dalbello or merge them with full tilt. Those things are the shit.
Jan 12 2016 2:21PM
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bait
Posts: 1226 - Karma: 3,579
It would be an incredibly incompetent decision for Full tilt to discontinue the 3 piece boot. Its the root of the brand, and the reason it was founded.

I have seen the quality at full tilt diminish though. My buddy has the Full tilt descendant, and the buckle is poorly attached to the shell, and they used metal buckles instead of cables to reduce production cost. I also don't see anymore cable covers with steezy ass shoe laces to increase after bang abilities.

There are however brands that we can rely on to never become so big and corporate like that.
Jan 12 2016 2:34PM
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onLINE
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 423
BenWhitK2 and Dalbello may not previously have had access to.


Dalbello ski boots now found in aisle 12 at walmart lol.
Jan 12 2016 2:36PM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
baitThere are however brands that we can rely on to never become so big and corporate like that.


why is corporate synonymous with bad? Becoming "big and corporate" is only bad when the controlling interest in the company is detached from the sport, the company's vision, and the root of the market.

Corporations are the reason we have mountains with high-tech lifts, money to spend on terrain parks and qualified staff, and a comfy pot to shit in.
Jan 12 2016 2:40PM
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therealsassy
Posts: 85 - Karma: 336
im not at all versed in the finances of such a takeover - but i think you can assume that Rubbermaid are buying K2 for one reason: money. What i mean is that k2 are killing and Rubbermaid want a slice. a huge company like rubbermaid aren't going to buy an already incredibly successful company like k2 and look to save costs - that what companies do to turn around a failing company.

i imagine this will make very little difference to what k2 are pushing = quality products
Jan 12 2016 4:02PM
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je_vt
Posts: 7 - Karma: 189
The 3 piece design is the reason people buy full tilts or dalbellos. Dropping the 3 piece design would be suicide for both companies, I highly doubt Rubbermaid doesn't realize that.
Jan 12 2016 4:28PM
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Rparr
Posts: 5371 - Karma: 42,521
Stock up on boots now boys
Jan 12 2016 4:57PM
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alta3773
Posts: 24 - Karma: 28
K2 is such a small portion of Newell Rubbermaid there is less than 1% chance that anything changes. no cost cutting or quality reduction that the K2 division does would be anything close to needle moving for a 10 billion dollar company.

STOP FREAKING OUT ABOUT NOTHING!!!!
Jan 12 2016 6:14PM
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Lbird
Posts: 401 - Karma: 2,188
baitI have seen the quality at full tilt diminish though. My buddy has the Full tilt descendant, and the buckle is poorly attached to the shell, and they used metal buckles instead of cables to reduce production cost. I also don't see anymore cable covers with steezy ass shoe laces to increase after bang abilities.


I saw a deal with Twall where he said that he decided not to do the shoelace thing this year because he was tired of it or something.
I am disappointed with their decision to start using a tongue liner tho, the intuition wrap liner is awesome.
Jan 12 2016 8:18PM
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bait
Posts: 1226 - Karma: 3,579
LbirdI am disappointed with their decision to start using a tongue liner tho, the intuition wrap liner is awesome.



It was done to reduce the cost of production. I am sad to say that I see a definitive shift in the company's motive. Customer-Profit
Jan 12 2016 8:34PM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
baitIt was done to reduce the cost of production. I am sad to say that I see a definitive shift in the company's motive. Customer-Profit


again, you're overstating the corporate profit motive. they used the tongue liner on TWO boots in their men's line-up, the classic and the descendant 4. these are boots on the lower end of the price and performance spectrum. this is no way represents a company-wide shift to cutting production costs. TWO boots, with MSRP's under $400, marketed at the novice to intermediate skier. Do some research before you spew misinformation.
Jan 12 2016 8:56PM
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MIHoodlum
Posts: 245 - Karma: 256
Bottom line, "people of Walmart" will soon be on K2 products. That is what this deal is about.
Jan 13 2016 1:20AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
i can tell you that next year there is no shreditor 92 or shreditor 102... they got rid of both and now just have a 96mm underfoot "park ski"
Jan 13 2016 10:18AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5206 - Karma: 20,187
freeskibum82i can tell you that next year there is no shreditor 92 or shreditor 102... they got rid of both and now just have a 96mm underfoot "park ski"


every fucking jabroni and their mom has a pair of k2 skis already even if they don't even ski, idk what your point is
Jan 13 2016 10:23AM
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ALaw
Posts: 2616 - Karma: 1,552
freeskibum82i can tell you that next year there is no shreditor 92 or shreditor 102... they got rid of both and now just have a 96mm underfoot "park ski"


Because two brand new skis are coming into those categories. Stay tuned and you'll see what's coming.
Jan 13 2016 2:48PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
ALawBecause two brand new skis are coming into those categories. Stay tuned and you'll see what's coming.


i know.. i have next years book in preparation for SIA
Jan 13 2016 2:57PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5206 - Karma: 20,187
RiseHoaxesBottom line, "people of Walmart" will soon be on K2 products. That is what this deal is about.


w_skierevery fucking jabroni and their mom has a pair of k2 skis already even if they don't even ski, idk what your point is


meant to quote this, oops
Jan 13 2016 3:03PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
w_skiermeant to quote this, oops


you do realize that k2 will never be in walmart right? Walmart will not get into the ski business. Walmart capitalizes on products that everyone regardless of location needs/wants. Skiing is to niche for that. nothing will change for k2. they will still continue to make great recreational skier skis and keep pumping out the same ski with a different graphic year after year..
Jan 13 2016 3:59PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5206 - Karma: 20,187
freeskibum82you do realize that k2 will never be in walmart right? Walmart will not get into the ski business. Walmart capitalizes on products that everyone regardless of location needs/wants. Skiing is to niche for that. nothing will change for k2. they will still continue to make great recreational skier skis and keep pumping out the same ski with a different graphic year after year..


I never said they would

All I'm saying is people who think this purchase means k2 skis has become "corporate" and will start showing up in department stores should know that k2 already is one of the top selling ski brands ever and is sold in generic sports stores all over.
Jan 13 2016 5:03PM
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