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Outdoors – February 2010
It’s been a tough couple of years for most companies, with banks completely screwing us all, in part at least thanks to Big Bad Gordy’s rules and regulations put in place during his tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The tough times are far from over, too, for most of us.
As ever, though, there’s great gear to be stocked left and right. We’re falling over ourselves with quality outdoor clothing, backpacks, tents, accessories – you name it. Competition for manufacturers and distributors is incredibly fierce, especially after the period of uncertainty that surrounded Blacks until very recently.
Interestingly, in their interim management statement, Blacks seem to point the finger at their landlords, stating that some of their sites did not make profit because they were ‘over-rented’. Call me naïve if you will, but I’m fairly sure the tenancy agreements were entered into voluntarily by Blacks. There surely can’t be any bleating about that after the fact, can there? Even if the company were managed by others at the time of the agreement?
Since closing 87 stores and putting the O’Neill retail arm of the business into administration late in 2009, it seems Blacks and Millets have done really rather well. I doubt the landlords of the stores they closed because they were over-rented have done so well, but it’s hard to know where to lay that blame. With the landlords, for charging high rent for top commercial space? Or with Blacks for renting it, with the numbers writ large on the lease for all to see at the time of signing?
I wonder, if after entering into CVAs, whether Blacks/Millets will still be top of the tree for outdoor gear companies to visit first with the new stock, or whether the independent will benefit?
I could go on forever about this and related tat, but I’m sure you have better things to do – like selling some of that great gear I started out this column thinking about.
If you’re going to ISPO, do enjoy it – great show, great city. I’ll be there too, as the Outdoor side of the show seems to be growing in strength year on year. If you see me there, do say hello.
Jon Bruford - Editor, SGB Outdoor
Tel: 01584 877177
Email: jonbruford@yahoo.co.uk
