In both cases, Adidas - later Amer - and Quiksilver purchased some manufacturing assets, intellectual property and distribution networks, but failed to acquire both the vision and passion that once habited Georges Salomon or Laurent Boix-Vives, their founders and leaders. Once the transaction completed, that precious fuel for success quickly dried up and started to expose many chinks in the armor of yesteryear’s behemoths. Because of its seasonality, the snow business is profoundly dysfunctional, highly challenging and in the absence of unbridled passion there’s no way it can survive and thrive. Making money can't be its sole driver and a pragmatic understanding of this arcane business plus a boundless love for the sport are the prerequisites for success. What companies like Rossignol and Salomon need are more passionate and hands-on managers and less Wall Street-obsessed executives…
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A declining French ski industry?
Ever since Jean Vuarnet made Rossignol famous by taking the 1960 Olympic Gold in Squaw Valley and Jean-Claude Killy’s 1968 triple Olympic Gold in Grenoble finally vaulted the French ski industry as the long term leader in the snow industry, France's once unbeatable ski brands are now pointing their tips… downhill. When Salomon and Rossignol started to sell to third parties (Adidas and Quiksilver) that golden legacy started to unravel. 
In both cases, Adidas - later Amer - and Quiksilver purchased some manufacturing assets, intellectual property and distribution networks, but failed to acquire both the vision and passion that once habited Georges Salomon or Laurent Boix-Vives, their founders and leaders. Once the transaction completed, that precious fuel for success quickly dried up and started to expose many chinks in the armor of yesteryear’s behemoths. Because of its seasonality, the snow business is profoundly dysfunctional, highly challenging and in the absence of unbridled passion there’s no way it can survive and thrive. Making money can't be its sole driver and a pragmatic understanding of this arcane business plus a boundless love for the sport are the prerequisites for success. What companies like Rossignol and Salomon need are more passionate and hands-on managers and less Wall Street-obsessed executives…
In both cases, Adidas - later Amer - and Quiksilver purchased some manufacturing assets, intellectual property and distribution networks, but failed to acquire both the vision and passion that once habited Georges Salomon or Laurent Boix-Vives, their founders and leaders. Once the transaction completed, that precious fuel for success quickly dried up and started to expose many chinks in the armor of yesteryear’s behemoths. Because of its seasonality, the snow business is profoundly dysfunctional, highly challenging and in the absence of unbridled passion there’s no way it can survive and thrive. Making money can't be its sole driver and a pragmatic understanding of this arcane business plus a boundless love for the sport are the prerequisites for success. What companies like Rossignol and Salomon need are more passionate and hands-on managers and less Wall Street-obsessed executives…
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