He tweet'd last week:
"If you find something you love, you should never sell your love.
When other people own your dream, destiny is no longer in your hands."
So, what happened?
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Howies co-founder quits, but why?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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His canoe sank on the way to work.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Why would anyone care what a trouser salesman has to say?
Posted 2 years ago # -
presumably a fall out with Timberland who now own/ part own the brand
Posted 2 years ago # -
Er, this sort of thing isn't unusual. The pattern is usuaully something like:
Business is founded and grows.
Only way to realise value from business, and get it to the next stage, is a trade sale or VC investment.
Trade sale/VC investment means founder loses control of his baby.
Brand is no longer his "own".
He quits.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm guessing its a fake 'Im now going to set up a new brand based on my fake ethics-bollox and charge you £100 for hemp-faux trousers made in China but eco-loving crap'.
Watch this space. Its part of the guerilla-marketing.
'Take your customers with you on a new adventure'.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Probably just got fed up having someone to answer to. Once you are your own boss do you really want to work for somebody else doing the same job?
I should expect he will be back with another clothing company before long. Hopefully their clothes will be a little cheaper.
Posted 2 years ago # -
grievoustim and Ourmaninthenorth have it.
I had two interviews with Howies a couple of years ago. Personally I found David a bit unfriendly and communications with them a bit chaotic. To be fair I think he was just very passionate and very single-minded about his vision. The deal with Timberland probably limited his ability to do this...
Posted 2 years ago # -
...but added to his bank balance nicely
As above, time for a new BS brand I reckon - probably claiming power to the people and other anti-corporate stuff to hook in a new group of buyers who fall for it
Posted 2 years ago # -
As above, time for a new BS brand I reckon - probably claiming power to the people and other anti-corporate stuff to hook in a new group of buyers who fall for it
Exactly. Probably had a restrictive covenant in the contract 'can not start a business that would be classed as a competitor within x amount of time'. times now expired and hes off to start something new- always the way in business. Watch the people who like the 'power to the people' sheep-following. They'll see something else to buy and show totheir friends.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hopefully their clothes will be a little
cheaperbetterPosted 2 years ago # -
KINGTUT - Member
His canoe sank on the way to work.POSTED 16 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
*snigger*
Posted 2 years ago # -
i have two howies merino tops and they are ace. i agree the are pricey but they are good quality. T shirt line went downhill a long time ago though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
T shirt line went downhill a long time ago though.
Agreed - those are what I am basing my comments on to be fair - I went through a stage of buying a load a couple of years ago and they have all long-since been consigned to the duster drawer - badly fitting and random sizing/shaping.R. Ubbish.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have two Icebreaker merino tops- one is 10yrs old, the other about 5. Whats your point baw jaws?! Basics should last especially if they are ridiculously overpriced.
Posted 2 years ago # -
From the link written by the remaining Howies bods:
So David for every t-shirt you packed, every box you shifted, every bill you paid, every word you wrote, every wrist you slapped, every layout you changed, every back you patted, every product you complained about, every person you inspired, you should feel so darn proud.
Sounds a bit condescending i think. Hard feelings maybe?
Posted 2 years ago # -
my point was the howies merino tops are pricey but I think they are good quality. thought that was implicit?
Posted 2 years ago # -
baw jaws- no offence meant. I just dont get why people like Howies. Its conflicting at best.
Posted 2 years ago # -
He tweet'd last week:
"If you sell out and go corporate, you should have the decency to shut up about it whilst pocketing the cash."
"When other people own your dream, you'd better get another one to sell on"Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah, guessing it must be issues with Timberland. It never really made sense in terms of brand ethos (eco-friendy, anit-corporate, etc..) to accept investment from a huge corporation. Surely it went against everything they stood for? I do like some of their stuff and vaguely agree with their principles but wish they could do it in a less pretentious, "look how cool we are" way. Also wish it wasn't so ridiculously overpriced!
Posted 2 years ago # -
The brand ethos was to make money by dressing it up in a faux-ethical message (admittedly backed up to a reasonable extent but I'm confident that the driver was the image rather than the ethics). Just look at the founders' background and tell me that's not right
Posted 2 years ago # -
I saw an interview with him and his wife back last year sometime I think. It seemed a very double edged interview in that they were saying 'Timberland is great' but it was also combined with an awful lot of 'how do you keep total control of a business you sold to another owner'. I am not surprised if they have quit, as the sulky rebellion was already in writing, so it was just a matter of time. Basic issue very much seemed to be wanting the money and the control - but you only get to pick one in this sort of situation I would think.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wales has millions of sheep. Why use NZ sheep and send the wool to China and back to Carnaby Street in the name of Mother Earth?
Utter Hogwash.
Posted 2 years ago # -
hora - sorry, re-read my post and I sounded like a w@nk
I dont subscribe to the whole howies thing, but I dont think its fair that they get a bashing every time. there are loads of clothing manufacturers out there who sell overpriced sh!t but these guys market themselves (rightly or wrongly) as wearing their heart on their sleeve and being passionate about what they do. some folk will buy into it, some wont. It does come across a bit w@nky to me but good luck to them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I saw an interview with him and his wife back last year sometime I think. It seemed a very double edged interview in that they were saying 'Timberland is great' but it was also combined with an awful lot of 'how do you keep total control of a business you sold to another owner'. I am not surprised if they have quit, as the sulky rebellion was already in writing, so it was just a matter of time. Basic issue very much seemed to be wanting the money and the control - but you only get to pick one in this sort of situation I would think.
Sadly I've been around the block a fair few many times in life soo far.
I read it as a business deal was done. The old owner (somewhat of a keyman in the brand agreed to be kept on for a specified period) until the transition is safe enough that the established customer base doesnt leave. Restrictive contract conveyance preventing old owner setting up a rival brand for a certain period expires and marketing-savvy old owner sends out vibes that are easy to be construed by established customer base. Sorry, Im really cynical but business is business.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Scruff - something I recall from a drunken conversation about merino. (Yes that does make me sound a little odd, must be the Welsh blood) Is - these fancy dan merino sheep can only thrive in NZ. So breeding them over here isn't viable but I could be wrong. Any sheep breeders out there?
Re the ts I've had similar probs. Used to rave about them but recent purchases have left me a little disappointed on the quality. And the Sundown jacket I bought, I got a hole in the pocket in less than a week. But as it was a sale item couldn't be bothered complaining.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There are lots of buisinesses that try to sell on the "we're your friends" schtick - ST is a glaring example. Do not forget that people are in business to make money, and if they do so from a certain set of principles, then that's better than not having them, but just because Howies - like ST, or Innocent, or a host of others - market themselves in a chummy way, doesn't mean that they are not in it to make money.
I have no problem with the Howies marketing approach; it doesn't irk me, and neither does it ensnare me. I don't object to people running businesses on ethical lines - surely it is better than not doing so? And no-one is perfect - we can pick holes in everything. Everything is a compromise. But I would rather have the option of having ethically sourced merinos than no option at all.
Timberland, though undoubtedly a large business, does have an ethical streak to it (they are quite proud of the CSR work they do, and require their employees to take part in the same), and rather more so than most other clothing businesses. That's why the Hieatts were apparently happy to sell to Timberland.
It is not unusual for the sale of a business of this type (i.e. built from scratch by the then owners) to have, as part of the deal, a significant transitionary period, whereby the original owners are retained - effectively as consultants - to manage this transion with the new owners. It is cost effective for the new owners to pay handsomely for this, while still spending an awful lot less than they would do on change management consultants.
And, of course there would have been restrictive covenants. That's normal practice in any transaction. Most are unenforceable, but that doesn't make any difference.
Hieatt will find it hard to let go, but he has shown entrepreneurial spirit once, and so will likely do something again. Whether his next business projects bring in new consumers, or take from Howies, will entirely depend on what he does. My suspicion is that he won't go into the clothing business in a big way, but will probably pursue something else.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That fact that you're all talking about this means that Howies has had a certain amount of impact... Is that a little bit of jealousy in there too?
Good luck to him and his next venture, whatever it is.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That fact that you're all talking about this means that Howies has had a certain amount of impact.
So does Coca Cola and McDonalds. Doesnt mean you will buy their products.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is it possible to run out of clichés?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Made you post though
ooops and mePosted 2 years ago # -
So does Coca Cola and McDonalds. Doesnt mean you will buy their products.
That's gotta be one of the pooerst compariosons I've ever read.........
Posted 2 years ago # -
Damn straight!
Pepsi and Burger King then Posted 2 years ago # -
Howies are a classic case of eco-greenwashing to make people "feel better" about their rampant consumerism.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Chimptastic - I asked the same thing on a fram trip in the Borders (I was there with the kids, honest
Got a similar answer that Merino weren't suitable to the UK though can't remember why. It might have been something to do with the very low value of wool (even if it is Merino) but can't really remember.Lovely helpful lass at the farm tho' - Cream o'Galloway (around Dumfies-ish), well worth a visit with the kids
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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