howies bought

howies bought (ht kester)

Comments

[Phil Smith]

I read about this on the Howies blog earlier today and although at first I was a bit sad I think the post gives a real sense of optimism about the whole thing. This is not akin to L'Oreal buying Body Shop or Cadbury's buying Green and Blacks. It is clearly a strategic move by a small company who recognise they have enormous potential!

[Phil]

I read about this on the Howies blog earlier today and although at first I was a bit sad I think the post gives a real sense of optimism about the whole thing. This is not akin to L'Oreal buying Body Shop or Cadbury's buying Green and Blacks. It is clearly a strategic move by a small company who recognise they have enormous potential!

[Mike R]

I think this could be very difficult for the Howies brand.

I know they need capital, but although the head of Timberland has a majority stake in his company, Timberland is still publicly traded, and is and as such is still beholden to the bottom line (legally).

What this means remains to be seen, and there is still the possibility that more shares in Timberland could be sold on, weakening the ability to make an ethical stance.

I really hate the "indie" idea that getting big money in equals "selling out", but really who's to say that this is any different to L'Oreal buying the Body Shop? Its fairly typical of ethical companies to get into this unfortunately, and I'm just alarmed at the naivete, sometimes. I mean, haven't you even READ "The Corporation"?!?

A co-op is the better way to go, but unfortunately no-one ever seems to take that option.

Watch this space.

[Ben Edson]

well i'm gutted...it's like suburb http://www.suburbstore.com/manchester.html being taken over by starbucks...

[Phil Smith]

It is different to L'Oreal taking over the body shop, or Cadbury's and Green and Blacks, or even Starbucks buying out your local coffee shop. The post from David and Claire suggests the impetus was with them, they chose Timberland, they set the agenda and they "will maintain creative control of howies as [they] always have done, and the same management team will continue to run the company from good old Cardigan Bay". This is unlike the other scenarios where companies offered existing shareholders so much money they couldn't turn it down!

[Mike R]

No, it's closer than you think.

If a majority stakeholder share decides that the Cardigan Bay premises is too costly and decides that it wants to move it somewhere else or shut it down altogether, then they can and will shut it down and move it, and David and Claire won't be able to do a thing about it (legally).

That is just one example. If that scenario doesn't exist, then it will do - the door to things of that nature have been well and truly opened up, and it is naive to think otherwise.

A box that even Pandora wouldn't dare to open.

[russell]

I guess it depends who the majority shareholder it. I hope Timberland can see the success they are making of it and stay as silent as possible. It could provide some cost savings to Howies if they can tap in to Timberlands larger contracts for logistics etc.

[steve collins]

i'm with mike r on this. will howies keep control over where their stuff is manufactured, and the conditions of the workers? or will it be farmed out to where it's cheapest? he who pays the piper...

i didn't buy howies to put money in timberland's pocket.