Heard from a credible source that Kona is done. Employees told today, PR tomorrow. RIP
(Small chance a buyer will step in but not holding my...
Heard from a credible source that Kona is done. Employees told today, PR tomorrow. RIP
(Small chance a buyer will step in but not holding my breath).
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to not pay attention to the voting in these forums. It's seemingly less meaningful than that of youtube/reddit lol
With the death of Kona basically comes the death of 425mm chainstay dual 275 bikes.
Final nail in the coffin. At least Marin makes a great dual 275 bike. (430 aint bad either)
I wish I had seen this earlier... Good discussion here...
Regarding Shimano, I don't think that they decided to not ramp up production, but more like...
I wish I had seen this earlier... Good discussion here...
Regarding Shimano, I don't think that they decided to not ramp up production, but more like they couldn't. Between certain areas they work in being hit hard by covid and a factory fire, the options were limited. And, when you factor in approximately 18 months to build a new factory and get get it up and running, maybe they were the only company in the industry to understand the boom wouldn't last.
Trek.. Their "right sizing" the company via SKU reduction tells me that they feel that what they have already committed to for 2024 and 2025 will carry them through 2026.. They don't seem to be optimistic about the next couple of years. It will be interesting to see what 2027 and 2028 looks like..
Right now, I see some of these smaller frame only companies having an edge.. They aren't committed to large orders that they have to place 12+ months in advance with Taiwan. Plus, they don't have a large staff to pay and a lot of them have a loyal core base.
Mid sized companies like Kona are probably most at risk. They make to play in the same pool as the big 3, but they don't have the financials to compete.. BOGO on bikes?? Talk about a big liquidation move..
I suspect more craziness over the next year or 2.. Back to filling out job applications..
The 4 part podcast focused on the boom during the pandemic from the Escape Collective stated that Shimano has a long held business rule of sustainable 5% growth year in year and didn’t move from it as they have been around long enough to see booms and busts go by.
I wish I had seen this earlier... Good discussion here...
Regarding Shimano, I don't think that they decided to not ramp up production, but more like...
I wish I had seen this earlier... Good discussion here...
Regarding Shimano, I don't think that they decided to not ramp up production, but more like they couldn't. Between certain areas they work in being hit hard by covid and a factory fire, the options were limited. And, when you factor in approximately 18 months to build a new factory and get get it up and running, maybe they were the only company in the industry to understand the boom wouldn't last.
Trek.. Their "right sizing" the company via SKU reduction tells me that they feel that what they have already committed to for 2024 and 2025 will carry them through 2026.. They don't seem to be optimistic about the next couple of years. It will be interesting to see what 2027 and 2028 looks like..
Right now, I see some of these smaller frame only companies having an edge.. They aren't committed to large orders that they have to place 12+ months in advance with Taiwan. Plus, they don't have a large staff to pay and a lot of them have a loyal core base.
Mid sized companies like Kona are probably most at risk. They make to play in the same pool as the big 3, but they don't have the financials to compete.. BOGO on bikes?? Talk about a big liquidation move..
I suspect more craziness over the next year or 2.. Back to filling out job applications..
The 4 part podcast focused on the boom during the pandemic from the Escape Collective stated that Shimano has a long held business rule of sustainable...
The 4 part podcast focused on the boom during the pandemic from the Escape Collective stated that Shimano has a long held business rule of sustainable 5% growth year in year and didn’t move from it as they have been around long enough to see booms and busts go by.
Agree. It's been posted a couple of times previously and it's really worth your time if you're interested in this topic.
The seasonality of hiring workers in east Asia was an eye-opener to me (tl,dl; workers are primarily from rural areas and hired in the big industrial centers on annual contracts around Tet; if there's no work they stay home for the year and there's no/minimal chance to bolster your workforce until the next hiring cycle).
Check out the anonymous comment from someone claiming to be an employee- sounds very much like other experiences I’ve heard from companies taken over by private equity.
https://bikerumor.com/what-happened-to-kona-bikes-sea-otter/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABpjK5yzmM2S1wkcHh9odGI1uQgxUfMhy23_WbAaSCJxmwmugPnPGj2ir16w_aem_Aem3XR5BvPnR1q3aDqGJgd1hTtBkmcjWu9Xp4y0htdE-WOGled_3Nr8a9sEhpxZ7nL4
Check out the anonymous comment from someone claiming to be an employee- sounds very much like other experiences I’ve heard from companies taken over...
Check out the anonymous comment from someone claiming to be an employee- sounds very much like other experiences I’ve heard from companies taken over by private equity.
The post, to save you a click:
I’m posting anonymously due to potential repercussions, but as someone who works at Kona under Kent Outdoors, I feel compelled to share the distressing realities we face and urge you to take action.
Kent Outdoors is currently run by short-sighted individuals who are utterly disconnected from the communities, sports, and people attached to their brands. Their lack of understanding and interest in cycling and any other sport has not only led to poor decision making but also to a toxic corporate environment where Kona and their other brands are suffering greatly. Under their management, Kona has accumulated millions of dollars in unpaid debts to our suppliers (Fairly and Hodaka), with no attempts made to negotiate or even communicate, effectively planning to stiff them. This strategy isn’t limited to Kona; it’s a disturbing pattern that is evident across all brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella. I urge all suppliers and partners across the board that do business with Kent Outdoors to be careful. Everyone should be seriously concerned about this pattern of non-payment and poor business ethics.
The working conditions here are more than just poor—they’re abysmal. Communication is practically non-existent now under the new management, creating a chaotic environment where decisions are made without transparency or employee input. The stress of potentially not getting paid has been a reality for some of us, adding to an overwhelming sense of job insecurity. Long hours, and weekend work, is the norm all without additional compensation or even basic recognition of our hard work.
The only individuals who seem to survive and even advance under the current regime are the “yes men” those who align too readily with a flawed agenda, lacking critical engagement or genuine passion for the brands. This has caused significant unrest among other brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella, who are equally upset about these new leaders. Their inability to effectively manage people, combined with a lack of fundamental understanding of the communities they serve, is rapidly destroying the companies. These leaders are not just failing; they are actively dismantling the very essence of what made all of these brands successful.
The company is not just being led poorly; it’s being led by individuals who don’t seem to care about the damage they’re doing to the brands, communities, or people. Any company considering a partnership with Kent Outdoors should seriously reconsider. Any customer should consider carefully buying products from our companies since who knows if we will even have the parts to support them.
In light of these issues, I am calling on all community members to join us in boycotting all Kent Outdoors brands. We need to demonstrate that these destructive practices are unacceptable. By uniting and applying public pressure, we hope to initiate a significant change in Kent Outdoors’ direction and leadership to a model that values the employees, respects the community, and truly understands the sports industries they are part of.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can lend. Let’s stand together to save Kona and the other brands we cherish.
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to...
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to not pay attention to the voting in these forums. It's seemingly less meaningful than that of youtube/reddit lol
With the death of Kona basically comes the death of 425mm chainstay dual 275 bikes.
Final nail in the coffin. At least Marin makes a great dual 275 bike. (430 aint bad either)
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's throwing off your exit polling results and election projections
The post, to save you a click:
I’m posting anonymously due to potential repercussions, but as someone who works at Kona under Kent Outdoors, I...
The post, to save you a click:
I’m posting anonymously due to potential repercussions, but as someone who works at Kona under Kent Outdoors, I feel compelled to share the distressing realities we face and urge you to take action.
Kent Outdoors is currently run by short-sighted individuals who are utterly disconnected from the communities, sports, and people attached to their brands. Their lack of understanding and interest in cycling and any other sport has not only led to poor decision making but also to a toxic corporate environment where Kona and their other brands are suffering greatly. Under their management, Kona has accumulated millions of dollars in unpaid debts to our suppliers (Fairly and Hodaka), with no attempts made to negotiate or even communicate, effectively planning to stiff them. This strategy isn’t limited to Kona; it’s a disturbing pattern that is evident across all brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella. I urge all suppliers and partners across the board that do business with Kent Outdoors to be careful. Everyone should be seriously concerned about this pattern of non-payment and poor business ethics.
The working conditions here are more than just poor—they’re abysmal. Communication is practically non-existent now under the new management, creating a chaotic environment where decisions are made without transparency or employee input. The stress of potentially not getting paid has been a reality for some of us, adding to an overwhelming sense of job insecurity. Long hours, and weekend work, is the norm all without additional compensation or even basic recognition of our hard work.
The only individuals who seem to survive and even advance under the current regime are the “yes men” those who align too readily with a flawed agenda, lacking critical engagement or genuine passion for the brands. This has caused significant unrest among other brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella, who are equally upset about these new leaders. Their inability to effectively manage people, combined with a lack of fundamental understanding of the communities they serve, is rapidly destroying the companies. These leaders are not just failing; they are actively dismantling the very essence of what made all of these brands successful.
The company is not just being led poorly; it’s being led by individuals who don’t seem to care about the damage they’re doing to the brands, communities, or people. Any company considering a partnership with Kent Outdoors should seriously reconsider. Any customer should consider carefully buying products from our companies since who knows if we will even have the parts to support them.
In light of these issues, I am calling on all community members to join us in boycotting all Kent Outdoors brands. We need to demonstrate that these destructive practices are unacceptable. By uniting and applying public pressure, we hope to initiate a significant change in Kent Outdoors’ direction and leadership to a model that values the employees, respects the community, and truly understands the sports industries they are part of.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can lend. Let’s stand together to save Kona and the other brands we cherish.
What a total bummer. I suspect nothing is happening by accident, and the Kona employees are getting the classic vulture capital playbook. Like the employee wrote, "it’s being led by individuals who don’t seem to care about the damage they’re doing to the brands, communities, or people." Yup.
This is a friendly reminder that Oliver Stone wrote "Wall Street" and the Gordon Gecko speech as an indictment of business practices in America, but instead it's regularly cited, year after year, as an inspiration to people working in finance.
Pretty bad for the people at Kona.. That post seems to go hand in hand with what we just saw ar Otter..
In regards to a couple of other brands that were mentioned..
Niner.. Maybe in the same boat as Kona? Bought by a big company and we really haven't seen much since.. Do they retain the core Ninerds?
Alchemy.. Cool bikes but they never seemed to really take off.. Maybe the drop bar business is keeping them alive?
Revel.. Probably the one that has been the best of those 3 that were mentioned. They have released new bikes, still marketing them.. They seem like they haven't gone crazy expecting large sales numbers..
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to...
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to not pay attention to the voting in these forums. It's seemingly less meaningful than that of youtube/reddit lol
With the death of Kona basically comes the death of 425mm chainstay dual 275 bikes.
Final nail in the coffin. At least Marin makes a great dual 275 bike. (430 aint bad either)
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's...
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's throwing off your exit polling results and election projections
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree head tube 76 degree seat tube 435mm chainstay 29er/MX all mountain bikes. Bonus points if they have nearly identical kinematics. Cool colors are the best marketing tool.
Pretty bad for the people at Kona.. That post seems to go hand in hand with what we just saw ar Otter..
In regards to a...
Pretty bad for the people at Kona.. That post seems to go hand in hand with what we just saw ar Otter..
In regards to a couple of other brands that were mentioned..
Niner.. Maybe in the same boat as Kona? Bought by a big company and we really haven't seen much since.. Do they retain the core Ninerds?
Alchemy.. Cool bikes but they never seemed to really take off.. Maybe the drop bar business is keeping them alive?
Revel.. Probably the one that has been the best of those 3 that were mentioned. They have released new bikes, still marketing them.. They seem like they haven't gone crazy expecting large sales numbers..
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to...
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to not pay attention to the voting in these forums. It's seemingly less meaningful than that of youtube/reddit lol
With the death of Kona basically comes the death of 425mm chainstay dual 275 bikes.
Final nail in the coffin. At least Marin makes a great dual 275 bike. (430 aint bad either)
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's...
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's throwing off your exit polling results and election projections
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree...
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree head tube 76 degree seat tube 435mm chainstay 29er/MX all mountain bikes. Bonus points if they have nearly identical kinematics. Cool colors are the best marketing tool.
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's...
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's throwing off your exit polling results and election projections
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree...
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree head tube 76 degree seat tube 435mm chainstay 29er/MX all mountain bikes. Bonus points if they have nearly identical kinematics. Cool colors are the best marketing tool.
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down the hill so you don't lose energy for your next climb. Also integrated drop bar/stem combo with cable routing through the headset. For speed.
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down...
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down the hill so you don't lose energy for your next climb. Also integrated drop bar/stem combo with cable routing through the headset. For speed.
Jump on that quickly.. There might be dozens of bike sales in your future..
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down...
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down the hill so you don't lose energy for your next climb. Also integrated drop bar/stem combo with cable routing through the headset. For speed.
Jump on that quickly.. There might be dozens of bike sales in your future..
Also, can I get an Ebike version?
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about as fast as your normal biking friends (don't wanna leave friends behind), and so the battery dies after about an hour. So that you are forced to buy the range extender and give up a water bottle slot.
But don't worry. We will be integrating a hydration system within the carbon frame with a hose that leads directly to your face. Also it will come stock with Mountain Dew Baja Blast (further Baja Blast refills are up to the consumer).
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about...
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about as fast as your normal biking friends (don't wanna leave friends behind), and so the battery dies after about an hour. So that you are forced to buy the range extender and give up a water bottle slot.
But don't worry. We will be integrating a hydration system within the carbon frame with a hose that leads directly to your face. Also it will come stock with Mountain Dew Baja Blast (further Baja Blast refills are up to the consumer).
Gotta grab that product placement money... The influencers will be all over that feature..
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about...
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about as fast as your normal biking friends (don't wanna leave friends behind), and so the battery dies after about an hour. So that you are forced to buy the range extender and give up a water bottle slot.
But don't worry. We will be integrating a hydration system within the carbon frame with a hose that leads directly to your face. Also it will come stock with Mountain Dew Baja Blast (further Baja Blast refills are up to the consumer).
Gotta grab that product placement money... The influencers will be all over that feature..
Today's video is sponsored by Liquid Death...
Gotta grab that product placement money... The influencers will be all over that feature..
Today's video is sponsored by Liquid Death...
That face when a square section is randomly welded inside my front triangle and you ask if its for a proprietary frame storage bag and I say "No, but if you're in NEED of a stylish website today... YOU TOO can promote your business online with SQUARE SPACE" (and then proceed to drop in to the easiest line at San Clemente and go over the bars on the second gap jump)
It was obviously not good. But did we know they want to offload the company?
It's hard to imagine a future for Kona when they just laid everyone off. You can buy the name and IP but getting the whole Kona business machine started again with all new people sounds like a big ask given current bike industry market trends.
It's hard to imagine a future for Kona when they just laid everyone off. You can buy the name and IP but getting the whole Kona...
It's hard to imagine a future for Kona when they just laid everyone off. You can buy the name and IP but getting the whole Kona business machine started again with all new people sounds like a big ask given current bike industry market trends.
after GG shut down I had a chat with someone in the know (at least partially) about efforts to sell things off. the amount they were asking for just the branding wasn't cheap, but without the assets (which were being offered separately) it seemed like a moot point (this was before things went to auction). definitely wouldn't have had the same spirit; sounds like a similar situation w/ Kona unfortunately.
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the unemployed journey and all the opportunities it will afford me to be poor. Feeling so blessed and thrilled to spend all day indoors eating day old takwaway and chips"
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the...
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the unemployed journey and all the opportunities it will afford me to be poor. Feeling so blessed and thrilled to spend all day indoors eating day old takwaway and chips"
It's a strange way of saying my new cooperate overlords showed me the door.
It's a strange way of saying my new cooperate overlords showed me the door.
Total speculation…
I don't know.. For some people, it's the thrill of the startup and creating something new. Once it's established and doing well, they get bored and get the itch to do something new. That is how his post reads to me... I've known a few people in the industry like that..
I don't know.. For some people, it's the thrill of the startup and creating something new. Once it's established and doing well, they get bored and...
I don't know.. For some people, it's the thrill of the startup and creating something new. Once it's established and doing well, they get bored and get the itch to do something new. That is how his post reads to me... I've known a few people in the industry like that..
That's fair and true. Wondering minds are prevalent.
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the...
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the unemployed journey and all the opportunities it will afford me to be poor. Feeling so blessed and thrilled to spend all day indoors eating day old takwaway and chips"
It's a strange way of saying my new cooperate overlords showed me the door.
Total speculation…
Does Revel even have corporate? They seem small enough that this does actually sound like Miller's own decision.
Although, I have been debating on getting a Revel vs a Santa Cruz lately, and the stability/security of the company is a huge consideration for me. This isn't exactly helping my Revel choice.
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the...
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the unemployed journey and all the opportunities it will afford me to be poor. Feeling so blessed and thrilled to spend all day indoors eating day old takwaway and chips"
Does Revel even have corporate? They seem small enough that this does actually sound like Miller's own decision.
Although, I have been debating on getting a...
Does Revel even have corporate? They seem small enough that this does actually sound like Miller's own decision.
Although, I have been debating on getting a Revel vs a Santa Cruz lately, and the stability/security of the company is a huge consideration for me. This isn't exactly helping my Revel choice.
I think there is stability; just the money that came in 2-3 years ago is likely now making more of the decisions. Could have been a planned transition... could be something else.
The timing with the other industry news certainly makes my brain go to the worst, admittedly without any first hand knowledge of this situation.
after GG shut down I had a chat with someone in the know (at least partially) about efforts to sell things off. the amount they were...
after GG shut down I had a chat with someone in the know (at least partially) about efforts to sell things off. the amount they were asking for just the branding wasn't cheap, but without the assets (which were being offered separately) it seemed like a moot point (this was before things went to auction). definitely wouldn't have had the same spirit; sounds like a similar situation w/ Kona unfortunately.
"moot point" is this alluding to a different colorado based cycling company interested in buying GG?
I like how people downvoted this as... Premature info (now proven legit) or as a means of frowning on the death of Kona. I'm learning to not pay attention to the voting in these forums. It's seemingly less meaningful than that of youtube/reddit lol
With the death of Kona basically comes the death of 425mm chainstay dual 275 bikes.
Final nail in the coffin. At least Marin makes a great dual 275 bike. (430 aint bad either)
The 4 part podcast focused on the boom during the pandemic from the Escape Collective stated that Shimano has a long held business rule of sustainable 5% growth year in year and didn’t move from it as they have been around long enough to see booms and busts go by.
https://share.transistor.fm/s/7b8fe06f
Agree. It's been posted a couple of times previously and it's really worth your time if you're interested in this topic.
The seasonality of hiring workers in east Asia was an eye-opener to me (tl,dl; workers are primarily from rural areas and hired in the big industrial centers on annual contracts around Tet; if there's no work they stay home for the year and there's no/minimal chance to bolster your workforce until the next hiring cycle).
https://bikerumor.com/what-happened-to-kona-bikes-sea-otter/?fbclid=PAZ…
Check out the anonymous comment from someone claiming to be an employee- sounds very much like other experiences I’ve heard from companies taken over by private equity.
The post, to save you a click:
I’m posting anonymously due to potential repercussions, but as someone who works at Kona under Kent Outdoors, I feel compelled to share the distressing realities we face and urge you to take action.
Kent Outdoors is currently run by short-sighted individuals who are utterly disconnected from the communities, sports, and people attached to their brands. Their lack of understanding and interest in cycling and any other sport has not only led to poor decision making but also to a toxic corporate environment where Kona and their other brands are suffering greatly. Under their management, Kona has accumulated millions of dollars in unpaid debts to our suppliers (Fairly and Hodaka), with no attempts made to negotiate or even communicate, effectively planning to stiff them. This strategy isn’t limited to Kona; it’s a disturbing pattern that is evident across all brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella. I urge all suppliers and partners across the board that do business with Kent Outdoors to be careful. Everyone should be seriously concerned about this pattern of non-payment and poor business ethics.
The working conditions here are more than just poor—they’re abysmal. Communication is practically non-existent now under the new management, creating a chaotic environment where decisions are made without transparency or employee input. The stress of potentially not getting paid has been a reality for some of us, adding to an overwhelming sense of job insecurity. Long hours, and weekend work, is the norm all without additional compensation or even basic recognition of our hard work.
The only individuals who seem to survive and even advance under the current regime are the “yes men” those who align too readily with a flawed agenda, lacking critical engagement or genuine passion for the brands. This has caused significant unrest among other brands under the Kent Outdoors umbrella, who are equally upset about these new leaders. Their inability to effectively manage people, combined with a lack of fundamental understanding of the communities they serve, is rapidly destroying the companies. These leaders are not just failing; they are actively dismantling the very essence of what made all of these brands successful.
The company is not just being led poorly; it’s being led by individuals who don’t seem to care about the damage they’re doing to the brands, communities, or people. Any company considering a partnership with Kent Outdoors should seriously reconsider. Any customer should consider carefully buying products from our companies since who knows if we will even have the parts to support them.
In light of these issues, I am calling on all community members to join us in boycotting all Kent Outdoors brands. We need to demonstrate that these destructive practices are unacceptable. By uniting and applying public pressure, we hope to initiate a significant change in Kent Outdoors’ direction and leadership to a model that values the employees, respects the community, and truly understands the sports industries they are part of.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can lend. Let’s stand together to save Kona and the other brands we cherish.
I don't know if this is bad voting etiquette, but I use the downvote button for bad news, aka the death of Kona. Sorry if that's throwing off your exit polling results and election projections
What a total bummer. I suspect nothing is happening by accident, and the Kona employees are getting the classic vulture capital playbook. Like the employee wrote, "it’s being led by individuals who don’t seem to care about the damage they’re doing to the brands, communities, or people." Yup.
This is a friendly reminder that Oliver Stone wrote "Wall Street" and the Gordon Gecko speech as an indictment of business practices in America, but instead it's regularly cited, year after year, as an inspiration to people working in finance.
Pretty bad for the people at Kona.. That post seems to go hand in hand with what we just saw ar Otter..
In regards to a couple of other brands that were mentioned..
Niner.. Maybe in the same boat as Kona? Bought by a big company and we really haven't seen much since.. Do they retain the core Ninerds?
Alchemy.. Cool bikes but they never seemed to really take off.. Maybe the drop bar business is keeping them alive?
Revel.. Probably the one that has been the best of those 3 that were mentioned. They have released new bikes, still marketing them.. They seem like they haven't gone crazy expecting large sales numbers..
Just my opinion...
(scribbles on a note pad)
Just starting my Vital "State of the Sport" survey.
So far what we've learned is the industry needs more 64 degree head tube 76 degree seat tube 435mm chainstay 29er/MX all mountain bikes. Bonus points if they have nearly identical kinematics. Cool colors are the best marketing tool.
I doubt there’s many core people left at Niner. I don’t know many mountain bikers that would move from Colorado to Ohio. https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2023/12/12/united-wheels-…
I was referring to the customers.. Is there the "It's not really a Niner anymore " mentality with them?
As for staff, I wouldn't leave Colorado for Ohio either..
So, what is the next big thing?
Reverse mullet. Only climbing. No more downhills. Uphill both ways just like how my grand pappy went to school every day. We will shuttle you down the hill so you don't lose energy for your next climb. Also integrated drop bar/stem combo with cable routing through the headset. For speed.
Jump on that quickly.. There might be dozens of bike sales in your future..
Also, can I get an Ebike version?
Oh every single bike will be an ebike but with the latest and greatest underpowered Fazua battery (to keep weight down) so that you go about as fast as your normal biking friends (don't wanna leave friends behind), and so the battery dies after about an hour. So that you are forced to buy the range extender and give up a water bottle slot.
But don't worry. We will be integrating a hydration system within the carbon frame with a hose that leads directly to your face. Also it will come stock with Mountain Dew Baja Blast (further Baja Blast refills are up to the consumer).
Gotta grab that product placement money... The influencers will be all over that feature..
Today's video is sponsored by Liquid Death...
That face when a square section is randomly welded inside my front triangle and you ask if its for a proprietary frame storage bag and I say "No, but if you're in NEED of a stylish website today... YOU TOO can promote your business online with SQUARE SPACE" (and then proceed to drop in to the easiest line at San Clemente and go over the bars on the second gap jump)
https://road.cc/content/news/kona-bicycles-winding-down-and-sale-307945
It was obviously not good. But did we know they want to offload the company?
It's hard to imagine a future for Kona when they just laid everyone off. You can buy the name and IP but getting the whole Kona business machine started again with all new people sounds like a big ask given current bike industry market trends.
Agreed. When it comes to buying IP and product lines Nukeproof is a much better proposition than Kona...
Kona would be a total revamp where Nukeproof would be set up shop, order product and go...
after GG shut down I had a chat with someone in the know (at least partially) about efforts to sell things off. the amount they were asking for just the branding wasn't cheap, but without the assets (which were being offered separately) it seemed like a moot point (this was before things went to auction). definitely wouldn't have had the same spirit; sounds like a similar situation w/ Kona unfortunately.
Not shutting down, but some leadership change at Revel:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adam-miller-b0462338_bit-of-an-update-hereim-officially-leaving-activity-7188298601192665088-IM8o
You've gotta love Linkedin....
"I am beyond proud to be forced out of a company I founded and I am super excited to embark on the unemployed journey and all the opportunities it will afford me to be poor. Feeling so blessed and thrilled to spend all day indoors eating day old takwaway and chips"
It's a strange way of saying my new cooperate overlords showed me the door.
Total speculation…
I don't know.. For some people, it's the thrill of the startup and creating something new. Once it's established and doing well, they get bored and get the itch to do something new. That is how his post reads to me... I've known a few people in the industry like that..
That's fair and true. Wondering minds are prevalent.
Does Revel even have corporate? They seem small enough that this does actually sound like Miller's own decision.
Although, I have been debating on getting a Revel vs a Santa Cruz lately, and the stability/security of the company is a huge consideration for me. This isn't exactly helping my Revel choice.
I think there is stability; just the money that came in 2-3 years ago is likely now making more of the decisions. Could have been a planned transition... could be something else.
The timing with the other industry news certainly makes my brain go to the worst, admittedly without any first hand knowledge of this situation.
"moot point" is this alluding to a different colorado based cycling company interested in buying GG?
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