Hi All, Forgive my intrusion. Through my broad based activities a friend and I have been talking about who the best manufacturers of equipment are in the UK. My mate has just exited from a business he set up years ago and he now has teh cash to build a new business. He wants to build a portfolio of brands in the UK for the serious and serial adventurer. Businesses we are looking for are the top of the supply chain supplying into the retailers we all know. You're the experts, who should we be talking to and what do they make. We want tent manufacturers, carbon fibre poles and pegs, clothing, foot and eye wear etc. Got to be top quality and recognised and technological leaders. Any thoughts appreciated.
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 Something doesn't sound right here - you can't seriously be suggesting you are going to try to buy or invest substantial funds into companies based on the advice of strangers on an online forum? I've bought a few shares in companies based on the tips in the newspapers and online in the past, but surely when you get into the realms of buying companies you use professional people?
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 Without wishing to be rude, if you are asking, then it might be that you are not particularly suited for entering into this area. What kind of 'adventurer' do you want to attract? trekkers? long distance hikers? adventure racers? You will only know what works by using the items in the appropriate discipline. a good example is the neo-air- currently the best, most technologically advanced, lightest sleeping mat going. Except I wouldn't want to use it at for a trip to everest because the altitude would affect it, or it would burst and besides, it's not warm enough to camp on snow with....
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Appreciate your responses and they are reasonable questions/queries/criticisms. So to try and answer those questions. Obviously we are working with a number of professional bodies advising on companies for sale/in trouble in this arena. My friend, based in South Wales is also conducting his own research. My role, as broker, is to seek out opportunities that are not advertised, companies that are not for sale and that we can therefore approach. I dont normally use internet forums to conduct my research but in this instance the products we are talking about are sold to an enthusiastic consumer base that take a real interest in the products they buy. If you imagine I was working with someone buying up manufacturers of conveyor systems teh market is more defined and the end users less enthused (if you see what I am getting at). So to the products we are looking at. When I, wrongly it would seem, referred to the adventurer I was trying to define away from the weekend camper. We want the products that are as much about survival in extreme conditions as they are a retail brand. I take your point about neo air sleepin mats and that is the type of product we would want to build into our portfolio but in addition also to a sleeping mat that WOULD be of use at altitude and low temperature. As suppliers to the retail trade we are looking at a broad range. I had not really imagined that this area of research would be useful and was perhaps a little half witted in original post. I hope this clarifies things alittle.
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 I guess there is never any harm in asking!  I'm not an extreme adventurer, just a weekend walker, but there are a few great companies making good kit out there... but in truth, for those that do make good kit, I want them to carry on making it, rather than someone else coming in and taking over, the obvious danger is that whilst we're all in it for the profit, some are also in it for the love of the sport (activity), and that's help guide those companies to where they are now. If your friend is really serious about getting involved, how about taking a company that has maybe lost its way and needs a fresh input of direction and enthusiam? Not that I know of any, although I'm sure a few people could highlight those that have lost their way and are in danger of failing... they might be cheaper too 
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Thanks for that. We would certainly not be looking for any company to stop them doing what they do best but if being part of a larger group were to safeguard products and jobs all the better.
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 Is this a wind up? I suggest you "by" a spellchecker first.
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Not a wind up, posted before I realised my keyboard was missing out 'u' and 'o' intermittently and couldn't find a way of going back to edit the Title.
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 Have you considered buying into the 'Munkeyworks' brand. They specialise in inner tents and pole joiners for Golite Hex tents.
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 Blacks are in trouble, you could try and help them out ...
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Not come across Munkyworks and google has nothing to say on the subject. Not so sure about Blacks, not quite where we want to be in the supply chain
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so do you mean companies like alpkit and phd?
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FFS - Is this a wind up? I suggest you "by" a spellchecker first.
The guy has come on the forum for advice - he has not posted links to buying Nike trainers or such like and he has responded to initial scepticism in an adult manner - and your response ? A critisism of his spelling - we all make mistakes when typing so if you can't add anything just leave the thread. I can't add anything to your quest so for that reason... I'm out - and good luck to you too - there are plenty of less pathetic people here that will be able to offer some help.
erdited toi correcvt as spolling mistoke
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| Edited: 24/09/09 20:46 |
I don't know what the position of Buffalo is at the moment, but it's always struck me as a brand that manages to be quite well known yet also pretty difficult to get hold of. Certainly in the past when I've tried to buy odd bits of their gear it's been out of stock just about everywhere. Also, some of their lines could de with a bit of development. So might be ripe for investment? Just a thought.
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 Aaron, you don't work for Mike Ashley do you?
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are blacks in trouble? there the best of what we have round here since trekky field went crap
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Excellent feedback - Thank you. I don't work for Mike Ashley - I'm sure that would be an interesting challenge. As to comments about my spelling/typo - taken on the chin.
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Aaron, is your business friend looking to stay in the South Wales area? Have you considered an international asset and introducing it into the UK market? The more "extreme adventure" end of the spectrum is quite a specialist field and it would seem to me to be quite well covered at present with reputable companies who are holding their own, so this may mean a very large investment to get a share of their current business portfolio. Why not create a new business from scratch? This could be a distrubution asset that would buy direct from the manufacturer and sell on to either other retailers or to the public, whichever you deem to be more to your business style. A lot more effort, but maybe more satisfying? Scott.
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Aaron - looks like you might be getting innundated with products & designs If you want me to help test this out I'm climbing Kilimanjaro in four weeks, so happy to test it to 5,892m and to various known heights along the way! 
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