NIKE AND REEBOK Take Over

[jrgretzky99 1]

Is it just me or does anyone else miss the smaller companies that used to drive equipment competition in this sport? Are there going to be any small equipment companies left next year?

Bauer, CCM, Jofa, Ferland, Cooper (a long time ago), Winn Well, Sher-Wood, Hespeler who else is on the list as either going or gone? Tackla? I hope never. I'm not saying they are all done for but I mean come on, look at all of the marketing RBK is doing. I truly can't believe CCM is now with Reebok. Why doesn't New Balance buy out an equipment company?

[EBondo 233]

Why doesn't New Balance buy out an equipment company?

Cuz they did. They're in on the Warrior thing

[jrgretzky99 1]

Let me guess, Adidas is buying Easton? I'm just saying it seems like it's becoming a monopoly and like the rest of you guys that post in this forum. I love equipment and enjoy having a very large selection to pick from.

[Miike 1]

Actually i think Adidas was buying Reebok, but not putting there name on stuff for a long time yet... I think that was already discussed on the board.

[EBondo 233]

Correctomundo Miike

[Dougie8 0]

If you are saying Bauer is a Small company. Why is Nike and Bauer together now? and if Nike is taking over, doesn't that mean Bauer is too? Or did you not know they were or did you just make a Mistake?

[BK 0]

If you are saying Bauer is a Small company. Why is Nike and Bauer together now? and if Nike is taking over, doesn't that mean Bauer is too? Or did you not know they were or did you just make a Mistake?

"together now"

Last I heard, they have been together for a long time.. years now. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought its been 9 years.

[echi24 1]

they fully combined all lines of equipment from what i saw in the catalogue this year. bauer used to make alot of nike equipment and they were sold as separate brands even though we all knew nike owned bauer. this year its one mega brand

[Dougie8 0]

It hasn't been nine years, this has been the first year, that Nike has been in the catolauge and on the gear and stuff. Ex. the New logo?

[JGraz15 53]

Summary -

• Nike owns Bauer

• addidas owns Reebok owns THC (CCM, Jofa, Koho)

• Easton, Eagle & TPS are stand alones (for now)

• New Balance owns Warrior Hockey who bought Innovative

[sdh 0]

I believe montreal owns tackla?

I think the author's real point was that consolidation hurts innovation and ultimately consumer choice, which is unfortunately entirely true and how all industries seem to evolve.

It becomes increasingly difficult for the small innovator to gain entry into the market as an independent company and survive. merge or perish.

[BK 0]

Christian owns Harrow and will be going back to the Christian logo this year.

[jrgretzky99 1]

Thanks sdh,

That is exactly what I was trying to say. As far as Bauer goes I was generalizing.

[brew27 0]

I also miss the small companies, but for some reason I really enjoy the looks and feel of the new Reebok Equipment.

I bought the pants/helmet/ and stick. The helmet is ultra light and the best fitting helmet, the pants are very light and adjustable and the stick...well I got for a great deal so I could not pass up. I am a CCM man, so I guess I am keeping it in the family. :D

[beaucoup_fish 0]

It hasn't been nine years, this has been the first year, that Nike has been in the catolauge and on the gear and stuff. Ex. the New logo?

Nike has been on equipment for years, going back to the Ignite days.

I for one preferred the diversity of having more brands to choose from. I felt the quality was better back then as well, with what is now, essentially a three player market (Easton, NBH, CCM/RBK and Mission on the outside looking in with a cult following) there's not as much pressure to produce quality products. I hate most of Easton's new crap, and CCM, IMO has only been making strides to correct the quality problems of the early 2000s.

[donkey87 0]

I for one preferred the diversity of having more brands to choose from. I felt the quality was better back then as well, with what is now, essentially a three player market (Easton, NBH, CCM/RBK and Mission on the outside looking in with a cult following) there's not as much pressure to produce quality products. I hate most of Easton's new crap, and CCM, IMO has only been making strides to correct the quality problems of the early 2000s.

Part of the problem is the consumers. In recent years, the demeand has been for lighter and lighter products not durability. Look at the Bauer Endure, it was designed to be more durable, but not as light. As a result it has not sold as well as the top of the line composite sticks.

[Edge 0]

the endure actually did well at our shop for what we got in stock...

I personally think the larger companies buying the "smaller" hockey ones is a good thing. One it makes buying equipment easier, and it puts the minds of the different companies together to make a better product. RBK for example...I never liked things from THC such as helmets and gloves before RBK purchased them.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I believe montreal owns tackla?

I think the author's real point was that consolidation hurts innovation and ultimately consumer choice, which is unfortunately entirely true and how all industries seem to evolve.

It becomes increasingly difficult for the small innovator to gain entry into the market as an independent company and survive. merge or perish.

Montreal Hockey distributes Tackla in the US. Vaughn does (did) in Canada.

Harrow bought Christian.

[Jim A 4]

I have items with a Nike logo on it from 95/96...it is not new...

[Quintin 16]

The only thing I don't like is that they'll charge more because of the highly recognised logo/name.

[Jim A 4]

for the most part, until the recent slew of One90, etc..the wholesale costs of skates changed very little the past 10 years...dealers just began making a profit..thanks to Nike actually having the stones to make sure dealers at least held firm to MAP (Min Ad Price) which is significantly lower than MSRP

[Bengalpredator 0]

Here is an idea. How about only buying your stuff from small companies? I always try to buy from the small ones. (Salming, DR,Ballistik,etc.) I have found that some of them make better equipment then the big boys, but sometimes I have been burn. I had two Ballistick sticks break in there first game of use.

[beaucoup_fish 0]

Here is an idea. How about only buying your stuff from small companies? I always try to buy from the small ones. (Salming, DR,Ballistik,etc.) I have found that some of them make better equipment then the big boys, but sometimes I have been burn. I had two Ballistick sticks break in there first game of use.

I don't think that it's necessary to buy all your gear from small manufacturers. Rather, I think it's important to keep an open mind when it comes to gear and try to label small company gear as being crap because it doesn't have a massive oval "E"/NBH/RBK on it.

[Jim A 4]

D&R was not always a small company, they were well rep'd in the locker rooms between forwards, D and goalies..but when in the late 80's their 1500 series glove in leather or nylon was between 180 and 225 in most proshops...when you could get a bauer bdp for 79 or a CCM HG1 Team Canada glove for the same..and they jacked up prices on things like the Centurion line a good 30% people rebelled

if I like a product I'll use it.

[beaucoup_fish 0]

D&R was not always a small company, they were well rep'd in the locker rooms between forwards, D and goalies..but when in the late 80's their 1500 series glove in leather or nylon was between 180 and 225 in most proshops...when you could get a bauer bdp for 79 or a CCM HG1 Team Canada glove for the same..and they jacked up prices on things like the Centurion line a good 30% people rebelled

if I like a product I'll use it.

I remember when some of the Russian guys like AlMo and Fedorov were rockin' D&R gloves in the early 90s...and Louisville sticks...