HARDGOODS 25/26

[Msteff]

I second Pow’s comments. I sincerely doubt given their location that they could truly treat their employees like trash even if the desire was there. I also am skeptical the desire is there given everything the leaders of the company have said, but who knows that could just be a public facade (doubt it but could be).

[Kevington]

Are you able to elaborate? It’s only Rome I’m actually interested in as I’ve really liked some of their boards and bindings in the past but now they got scooped up by big N. Aside from production in Dubai, what shittiness are they up to?

Generally I try to be mindful of what I buy and keep it on a Mothership/Nobile vibe as globally speaking they are built next door for companies which are legit in my, admittedly idealistic eyes.

Well the Mothership isn't as cute as it looks. Heard how they are treating the workers and not really wanna buy a Capita more than GP87 made board.

Gonna need to be specific.

Find it hard to believe and not because of any Capita fanboying.

It’s the absolutely crazy EU employee/employer regulations in place which at an operation the size of the Mothership that makes it almost impossible to treat employees like shit without swift and harsh repercussions.

Exactly. I’m far from an expert on such matters but I always thought the only reason to produce snowboards for the US and Euro markets in China (or Dubai) was to avoid precisely those employment regulations. Probably some environmental ones too.

[AyAyRon]

Are you able to elaborate? It’s only Rome I’m actually interested in as I’ve really liked some of their boards and bindings in the past but now they got scooped up by big N. Aside from production in Dubai, what shittiness are they up to?

Generally I try to be mindful of what I buy and keep it on a Mothership/Nobile vibe as globally speaking they are built next door for companies which are legit in my, admittedly idealistic eyes.

Well the Mothership isn't as cute as it looks. Heard how they are treating the workers and not really wanna buy a Capita more than GP87 made board.

Gonna need to be specific.

Find it hard to believe and not because of any Capita fanboying.

It’s the absolutely crazy EU employee/employer regulations in place which at an operation the size of the Mothership that makes it almost impossible to treat employees like shit without swift and harsh repercussions.

Yeah the Mothership is in Austria for fucks sake, the workers probably have more rights there than anywhere on the planet. I'm sure their are employee grievance and shitty manager issues here and there but come on.

[pow_hnd]

At this point, for many reasons, I just want nothing to do with, or to provide any sales to ANY brands owned by the Nidecker Family.

Are you able to elaborate? It’s only Rome I’m actually interested in as I’ve really liked some of their boards and bindings in the past but now they got scooped up by big N. Aside from production in Dubai, what shittiness are they up to?

Generally I try to be mindful of what I buy and keep it on a Mothership/Nobile vibe as globally speaking they are built next door for companies which are legit in my, admittedly idealistic eyes.

At this point they are essentially functioning as a VC/PE group. Buying up brands, the brands they already had are on license back deals, i.e. Jermey Jones doesn't actually own Jones snowboards and just a whole other slew of things about them that I myself am not stoked on and many people in the industry consider them a little bit less pile of shit operation as Authentic Brands and Jamie Salter but in the same vein.

[C.Fuzzy]

At this point, for many reasons, I just want nothing to do with, or to provide any sales to ANY brands owned by the Nidecker Family.

Are you able to elaborate? It’s only Rome I’m actually interested in as I’ve really liked some of their boards and bindings in the past but now they got scooped up by big N. Aside from production in Dubai, what shittiness are they up to?

Generally I try to be mindful of what I buy and keep it on a Mothership/Nobile vibe as globally speaking they are built next door for companies which are legit in my, admittedly idealistic eyes.

At this point they are essentially functioning as a VC/PE group. Buying up brands, the brands they already had are on license back deals, i.e. Jermey Jones doesn't actually own Jones snowboards and just a whole other slew of things about them that I myself am not stoked on and many people in the industry consider them a little bit less pile of shit operation as Authentic Brands and Jamie Salter but in the same vein.

This was where my head was at on it too. Their ability to redirection shape and shutter any and all brands seemingly at want strikes of PE type shenanigans.

I'm also curiously skeptical of how they're buying up brands. If normal snow sport brand activities were so lucrative we wouldn't see them constantly on the fight for survival. Where is this funding coming from?

A brand that merely existed for decades without any real hype or community support suddenly goes on an acquisition spree and funds several new upstarts...

It appears "core" bc it's private but... in my head it doesn't add up. But maybe they got meme coins galore. Idk.

[pow_hnd]

Are you able to elaborate? It’s only Rome I’m actually interested in as I’ve really liked some of their boards and bindings in the past but now they got scooped up by big N. Aside from production in Dubai, what shittiness are they up to?

Generally I try to be mindful of what I buy and keep it on a Mothership/Nobile vibe as globally speaking they are built next door for companies which are legit in my, admittedly idealistic eyes.

At this point they are essentially functioning as a VC/PE group. Buying up brands, the brands they already had are on license back deals, i.e. Jermey Jones doesn't actually own Jones snowboards and just a whole other slew of things about them that I myself am not stoked on and many people in the industry consider them a little bit less pile of shit operation as Authentic Brands and Jamie Salter but in the same vein.

This was where my head was at on it too. Their ability to redirection shape and shutter any and all brands seemingly at want strikes of PE type shenanigans.

I'm also curiously skeptical of how they're buying up brands. If normal snow sport brand activities were so lucrative we wouldn't see them constantly on the fight for survival. Where is this funding coming from?

A brand that merely existed for decades without any real hype or community support suddenly goes on an acquisition spree and funds several new upstarts...

It appears "core" bc it's private but... in my head it doesn't add up. But maybe they got meme coins galore. Idk.

They are a very wealthy "old money" European/Swiss family. They made furniture and all sorts of other stuff for almost a century before getting into snow.

From what I have been told, the youngest sons who are running most of the show for this snow stuff are super passionate about snowboarding and truly love it, but it doesn't change the fact that they are rich kids playing with mom/dad/grandma/grandpas money that they themselves didn't do shit to earn originally.

[Msteff]

Once again I completely agree with Pow and all that he has said. Fuck PE bros, fuck entitled little rich brats, fuck private equity in all its forms, and fuck nidecker.

[casjcade]

In tax paradises like switzerland you can have several PE on top of privately owned brands, and never have to disclose that information.

[unsuspected]

First hand info from a former Capita employee. Boards are built by underpaid and overworked Slovenian guest workers.
Of course its not like China or Dubai or even Taiwan but still made hesitant to buy a Capita.

[casjcade]

Didn't Mothership rise from the old Elan factory anyways? Slovenian brand with factory in Austria. There are Slovenian workers in lots of industries in Austria and Italy, as there are Poles, Slovaks and Hungarians in some other EU countries with higher wages.