Which Outdoor Brand Would You Resurrect? Plus: Outdoor Industry News Lightning Round!
- colin7931
- Jun 2
- 37 min read
Today on the show Colin is joined by the regular Rock Fight Monday crew of Producer Dave and Outdoor Industry Insider Eoin Comerford (aka The Consigliere). And this week that crew hits the following topics!
Which brand would you resurrect? On the heels of last weeks Top 5 Outdoor Apparel Brands episode, the good folks at the Utah State Outdoor Archive reached out and asked us to memorialize the outdoor brands we've lost over the years. So we take a look at several of those names and talk about which brands we are missing the most. (04:38)
Industry News Lightning Round! Next we take a look at some recent updates to three stories we've covered on The Rock Fight. The latest court rulings on the Trump tariffs, Dick's first earnings report post Foot Locker acquisition, and a change20:20)
The Parting Shot! For this week's parting shot Eoin implores our industry to support emerging brands so we can help minimize the damage inflicted upon them by the decisions being made by our current presidential administration. (38:27)
Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!
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Episode Transcript:
Colin True
00:00:00.800 - 00:02:21.650
Okay, so I'm at my local outdoor shop and I see this hydration solution called Hydra Pack. Naturally, I assume it's for safely transporting a hydra. You know, the mythical beast, regenerates heads, needs moisture. Makes sense, right?
Turns out, no, not even close. Hydra Pack isn't for monsters. It's for humans. Humans doing all kinds of cool stuff outside running, riding, climbing thru hiking, even just hiking.
You name it. And it's not some glorified water bottle. We're talking about hydration experts who a modular, reversible PFAS free hydration platform.
We're talking high flow bite valves, plug and play hose systems, collapsible, heat resistant, ultra durable TPU reservoirs that practically clean themselves. It's hydration tech so advanced it might as well have been built for a mythical creature.
I mean, did you know that over 90 of your favorite outdoor brands already think so? And they use hydropak technology in their products. And get this, they even have a retirement program.
Re Pak takes old bottles from any brand and gives them a second circularity. No landfill, no dragon hoarding. And retailers. Hydra Pack is accepting new partners for their repack program.
And this is something you definitely want to get on board with. So, yeah, not a Hydra Pack, but the legendary Hydra Pack.
Learn more@hydra pack.com and hey, if you're wondering how Hydra Pack and the Rock Fight got together, well, it was because of our mutual friends at Darby Communications. Because finding incredible solutions to get a message out there. That's just what Darby does.
Welcome to the Rock Fight, where we speak our truth, slay sacred gals, and sometimes agree to disagree. This is an outdoor podcast that aims for the head.
I'm Colin True, and today we're hitting some outdoor industry headlines with producer Dave and Owen Comerford.
But before we get to that, come back to the Rock Fight this Wednesday to hear Shantae Salabera and I dig into some of the latest stories that come out of the outdoor world and community. Also tomorrow you're gonna get a new episode of Open Container with host Doug Schnitzbahn here on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.
Doug's guest this week, author and river guide Bridget Craw. Find Open container wherever you get your pods.
And lastly, if you're heading to Switchback in June, be sure to put the Rock flight live on your agenda for Tuesday, June 17th at 5 o' clock in the trailheads Theater. I'll be there with producer Dave, with Owen, with Shantae. It's gonna be the event of the summer. Don't miss it. All right, stick around.
We'll be right back.
Chris DeMakes
00:02:21.650 - 00:02:25.410
Welcome to the Rock Fight. Rock Fight. Rock Fight.
Colin True
00:02:27.490 - 00:03:52.070
Today's episode of the Rock Fight is presented by Oboz, who wants to share their love of hiking. And we want to help them by uncovering all the reasons we love to take the long walk, including the following reasons.
Number one, because summit selfies, well, you know, they're a vibe. Number two, because hiking is free cardio disguised as fun. Number three, to wear zip off pants unironically.
Number four, hiking means the Bridger Boot collection. The Bridger Ridge is here to help you smooth out the rough trails in front of you with enhanced stability and protection.
The Bridger Ridge is Oboz first boot with Gore Tex. So bring on the smiles and the miles and the Bridger Ridge.
And if you find yourself in or near Boone, North Carolina, stop in and see the good folks at Foot Sloggers, which is in the running for the best retailer name ever. And get yourself a pair of Bridger Ridges.
And this hiking appreciation moment is brought to you by Oboz of Bozeman, montana, certified B Corp, 6 million tree planter and inhabitant of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Oboz is the maker of premium quality footwear for the trail and the cupid to the outdoor world. Oboz love hiking.
Okay, it's Monday here in the Rock Fight, which means I'm here with Captain Owen Comerford and producer Dave. And guys, as first I've seen you since coming off the heels of last week's top five apparel lists, which we got surprisingly little hate for.
Is that just because we fucking nailed it? I mean, do people just have more opinions about shoes and gear?
Producer Dave
00:03:52.070 - 00:03:55.270
They're just tired from hate. Of all the other gear lists we've.
Eoin Comerford
00:03:55.270 - 00:04:21.690
Done, I think they were all still in a food coma from Memorial Day and just sailed right by. I do actually, though, think that your point about people having more opinions about gear is true. Right? Because there are so many options for.
For apparel and people have opinions. But, like, gear is. And footwear is basically gear as well. I think it's gear for your feet. It's just. It's much more personal.
I think for a lot of people.
Colin True
00:04:22.170 - 00:04:37.430
I think you're right.
Like, if you were showed up to a run and you had on, like, the main competitive brand of the brand I was wearing, I'd be like, hey, man, you're wearing the wrong shoes. Right?
You know, immediately would have an opinion about, like, why you're wearing the shoes that I don't like, where it says, like, oh, hey, nice arc' Teryx jacket. I'm wearing a Patagonia Jack. It cool, right?
Eoin Comerford
00:04:37.510 - 00:04:38.550
Yeah, exactly.
Colin True
00:04:38.870 - 00:05:43.630
Well, our top story today is presented by your hub for ultralight gear, Garage grow. Head to garagegrowngear.com and check them out.
So I heard from Chase at the Utah State Outdoor Archive this week who heard our episode about Top 5 apparel, and he wanted us to pour out a little bit for the many, many, many defunct outdoor brands. And it made me wonder if we could go sort of full pet cemetery and bring back some of our dearly departed outdoor brands.
Because he mentioned that they have probably hundreds of defunct brands in the archive at this point. Just brands that you kind of forgot that even existed or maybe didn't even. Didn't even know they existed.
So I thought I'd give you guys a list and let's see which ones we could bring back if we could. Like, you know, is it. And it's. Is it because the product that they were known for is missing?
Is it because, hey, was this a cool brand and we miss it or a personal bias? So of the list Chase sent me, the list I have is Bibbler tents, Frostline kits, Vasque footwear. A little recent addition to this list.
You know, maybe there's still hope there for Vasque. Somewhere somebody out there is listening. Dana Design. Complicated, given the.
Eoin Comerford
00:05:43.630 - 00:05:44.870
Dana Designs. Plural.
Colin True
00:05:45.350 - 00:06:05.050
Yeah, designs. Excuse me. Thank you. I gotta fix the doc. Designs.
And also, you know, relevant, given what's happening at Mystery Ranch and the involvement of Dana Gleason. And then I have a smuggle for number five. I have moonstone or cloud veil.
I kind of feel like those were sort of like the two apparel brands of du jour of the late 90s, early 2000s. And, you know, you would only bring back one of the two if you could.
Producer Dave
00:06:05.050 - 00:06:08.450
So I think there's a missing brand here from this list, though.
Colin True
00:06:08.450 - 00:06:09.330
Colin White Stag.
Producer Dave
00:06:09.330 - 00:06:16.210
We can't get White Stag early Winters. Yeah, let's go back. No, no way. Old.
Eoin Comerford
00:06:16.290 - 00:06:20.770
How about Go Lighting yourselves dramatically here at this point. Go Light.
Colin True
00:06:20.770 - 00:06:24.410
I feel bad. I should have brought Go Light. I worked for Go Light. I should. I should have the property.
Producer Dave
00:06:24.410 - 00:06:27.010
I'm adding it to the list right now. It's just going.
Colin True
00:06:27.090 - 00:06:28.050
Clearly the winner.
Producer Dave
00:06:28.290 - 00:06:31.050
Yeah. Right now, if you're over the age.
Colin True
00:06:31.050 - 00:06:34.380
Of 40 in the outdoor industry, you probably spent at least a year working for Golight.
Producer Dave
00:06:35.010 - 00:06:35.570
Go Light.
Colin True
00:06:36.130 - 00:06:37.730
Oh, it's one word, Dave. There's no space.
Producer Dave
00:06:37.730 - 00:06:44.370
Just to let you know it was a typographical error. Please stop format.
Colin True
00:06:44.610 - 00:06:49.650
I thought this Is all these. These are the brands that kind of stuck out to me when I saw the list. You know, what did you guys do? You have any memories?
Producer Dave
00:06:49.890 - 00:06:54.130
I have a couple others that I didn't think made the list, though, either, though. I think if you're adding, I mean.
Colin True
00:06:54.690 - 00:07:03.660
Well, it would be fun to do a draft, but, man, it would take some research because we'd actually have to inform everybody who the brand was when we're drafted. We couldn't just assume that people knew if.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:03.890 - 00:07:10.850
If you're under 40 and listening to this podcast, you're like, what are they talking about? Who are these brands?
Colin True
00:07:11.730 - 00:07:14.850
That's a pretty big presumption that anyone under 40 is listening to this podcast.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:15.170 - 00:07:17.650
That is fair. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
Producer Dave
00:07:18.130 - 00:07:26.010
You know, I do think, though, like, Moose Jaw you mentioned, I mean, that's an outdoor brand that's no longer with. Sorry, does that belong here?
Colin True
00:07:26.010 - 00:07:27.370
You gotta make Owen cry on the pod.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:27.370 - 00:07:30.050
You are exactly tearing up a little bit over here.
Producer Dave
00:07:30.050 - 00:07:47.070
Right? And then, you know, just to stay topical, I mean, you could look at the entire portfolio suite of liberated brands. I mean, my God, you're talking.
Vulcan, Billabong, Quicksilver, Roxy, Ruka, Spider, Element, Von Zipper, dc. Oh, my gosh. All grouped together in one Titanic.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:47.550 - 00:07:49.230
They're still. They're still alive.
Producer Dave
00:07:49.470 - 00:07:52.750
Yeah, they are. It's the holding company that we don't get to.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:52.830 - 00:07:54.350
What about Jerry Cherish?
Colin True
00:07:55.310 - 00:07:55.870
Jerry.
Eoin Comerford
00:07:56.030 - 00:07:56.510
Jerry.
Producer Dave
00:07:56.510 - 00:07:57.950
Oh, yeah, that's a good one.
Colin True
00:07:58.270 - 00:08:07.310
That's a good one. No, the Authentic brands, the future Authentic brands episode we mentioned last week. That's gonna happen. We can't forget to do.
Producer Dave
00:08:08.020 - 00:08:19.660
And the other one I wanted to add to this is. It's an outlier, but in, you know, in the kind of the way YETI has redefined the whole kind of cooler segment.
The coolest cooler, you know, I don't know if you remember the coolest cooler.
Colin True
00:08:19.660 - 00:08:21.100
No, I don't remember the coolest cooler.
Producer Dave
00:08:21.100 - 00:08:25.540
In 2014, they were the. I think, the most successful Kickstarter.
Eoin Comerford
00:08:26.180 - 00:08:27.100
Oh, that thing.
Producer Dave
00:08:27.100 - 00:08:36.660
Concept ever. They raised, like, $13 million to build the ultimate party cooler with a blender and a Bluetooth speaker and a USB charger.
Colin True
00:08:36.900 - 00:08:38.580
This sounds like a Saturday Live slash.
Producer Dave
00:08:38.820 - 00:08:53.840
It is not. And they raised 13 million. 2062,000 supporters helped fund $13 million, and within five years, they'd spent all the money and went bankrupt.
And nobody got their cool. 20,000 people didn't get their coolers.
Eoin Comerford
00:08:55.840 - 00:09:13.940
Because they didn't really design the thing. It was just this hodgepodge of ideas. And then they realized that when they like, oh, fuck, you know, how do we actually make this thing?
Because it was priced at like some ridiculously low price, like, I don't know, like 200 bucks or something. There was no way you could do all for, for that price. It was a, it was a, it.
Producer Dave
00:09:13.940 - 00:09:19.580
Was a $2,200 cooler, which, you know, in today's market would probably be just fine. It'd be mid range.
Colin True
00:09:19.740 - 00:09:24.900
But the coolest cooler, which brewery did the party ball? Was that Coors or was that Bud?
Producer Dave
00:09:24.900 - 00:09:25.580
That was Coors.
Colin True
00:09:26.540 - 00:09:31.260
I feel like if the party ball came out in 2025, it would be a Kickstarter, you know, it would not be like, by.
Producer Dave
00:09:32.060 - 00:09:35.860
Well, anyway, I wanted to add Cool is cooler to the list. I mean, you know, cool is cooler.
Colin True
00:09:35.860 - 00:09:46.370
With a party ball. Sounds great. Well, so what do we. So who do you, what are your memories? Do you guys remember Bibbler tents?
They were sort of like, like, like the, like top of the pyramid tent back in the day.
Eoin Comerford
00:09:46.610 - 00:10:15.880
Well, well, yeah. And like when I.
So I joined the iterative industry in 2008 and you know, they had been acquired by black diamond in 1997, and I think at the time they still had some tents in the line that were called Bibbler, but it was. You could buy them under the Black Diamond. And really now the tents, really, really?
If you look at Black diamond tents today, a lot of it is influenced by Bibbler. And even the tents, like the Ahwahnee tent is still sold today just as a Black diamond tent.
Colin True
00:10:15.880 - 00:10:18.200
So the DNA's still there. Yeah.
Eoin Comerford
00:10:18.200 - 00:10:23.160
So, I mean, okay, if you still want to buy Bibbler tents, you can buy Bibbler tents. Really? I think.
Colin True
00:10:23.400 - 00:10:41.880
All right, so they're out. So Bibblers, we don't need to bring Bibbler back. What about Dana?
I mean, I feel like Dana is worthy of a conversation given that we're probably going to lose Mystery Ranch later this year. Yeah, that's the rumor, as I've heard about on this podcast. So what do we think about Data Designs? Do we miss Dana Designs?
Data Designs was a big deal in the 90s.
Eoin Comerford
00:10:42.920 - 00:10:43.320
Sure.
Producer Dave
00:10:43.640 - 00:10:44.120
Yeah.
Eoin Comerford
00:10:44.280 - 00:11:01.880
But I think you're sort of at a similar. Similar, but different in that. Yes, it was sold to K2 in 95, and then ultimately it was merged into Marmot.
So you could say that it, it influenced some of the Marmot pack designs, but ultimately, really, the successor of Dana Designs is Mystery Ranch.
Colin True
00:11:02.120 - 00:11:04.680
Right, right. So that's just going to become yeti.
Eoin Comerford
00:11:05.000 - 00:11:07.720
Yeah, but, but so they did bring back the end designs.
Producer Dave
00:11:07.720 - 00:11:08.080
It was.
Eoin Comerford
00:11:08.080 - 00:11:08.680
It was.
Colin True
00:11:09.000 - 00:11:19.720
And now it will just be Yeti. Kind of like how Bibbler is in BD. Got it. Has anyone sold anything to K2 and had it worked out? Work out? Do we. Can we. We. Is there.
Is there a win in that?
Eoin Comerford
00:11:19.800 - 00:11:22.760
That. No comment.
Colin True
00:11:23.080 - 00:11:31.560
Sorry. K2 taking shots over here. But like. And then they sold the K2. Like. Oh, no. That's the moment of like VH1 behind the Music. Like, oh. Then things.
Producer Dave
00:11:32.740 - 00:11:34.820
The scenes and then they went K2.
Colin True
00:11:36.020 - 00:11:37.380
We're going full K2.
Producer Dave
00:11:37.620 - 00:11:38.180
Yep.
Colin True
00:11:38.580 - 00:11:43.060
What about my combo of Cloud Veil, Moonstone? Did you guys have any memories of those brands?
Eoin Comerford
00:11:43.140 - 00:12:33.110
Definitely Cloud Veil. But I mean, Cloud Veil has had so many reincarnations over the years. I mean, because it was an iconic look at the time.
Sort of blending this sort of western, like the western yoke on the jackets with more of a performance product. Super cool. But to me, similar to these other two, Cloudvale lives on today in Steel. Right.
Because the founder, Stephen Sullivan really went on to and kind of getting that whole sort of mountain vibe in their product. And I did a little bit of research. Cloudvale actually exists today. You've got Cloudvale Mountain Shop.
Somebody owns the brand and is sort of slapping it on what looks like some relatively generic outdoor product.
Colin True
00:12:33.590 - 00:12:45.150
I guess to that point, Go Light still exists, I think. I think if you go to golight.com I believe it is.
Someone else must have bought the brand name because then they sell like just cheap tech tees or something like that on there. But we're.
Producer Dave
00:12:45.150 - 00:12:47.270
But we're living in the memory of what they were.
Colin True
00:12:47.830 - 00:12:48.670
Oh, yeah.
Producer Dave
00:12:48.670 - 00:13:01.380
You know, absolutely. Cloudville, like you said. I think they definitely had a look and defined the mountain lifestyle before we put a name to it, like in that.
In the way we do today. They also had big.
Colin True
00:13:01.380 - 00:13:04.620
It was a big deal in Jackson. I mean, that was like part of like the community of Jackson was.
Producer Dave
00:13:04.620 - 00:13:36.150
And they also had pretty hip advertising and messaging. Like they were, you know, they were in all kind of the more underground media sources back then.
Not the big glossies, but definitely in all the free papers that you'd get in the coffee shops and. And the specialty stores. And they're just. It was very real on. Let's call it, you know, core messaging in the sense.
It was definitely aimed at the community of dirtbags and enthusiasts, which really added to their credibility. It was good stuff, I think, actually.
Eoin Comerford
00:13:36.390 - 00:13:59.650
Sorry, back to Cloudvale for a second. But I think actually there could be a market there.
You think about the huge success of the whole Yellowstone franchise and this sort of romanticizing of that kind of whole Montana, Wyoming kind of space. Right. So if you were to bring that back, some of that sort of Western vibe, but into a performance product, I don't know.
I think there could be something there.
Producer Dave
00:13:59.970 - 00:14:01.250
Performance Rawhide.
Colin True
00:14:01.490 - 00:14:03.730
Like bolo ties with your Gore Texas.
Eoin Comerford
00:14:03.730 - 00:14:06.290
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Dyneema.
Producer Dave
00:14:06.290 - 00:14:07.570
Gore Tex bolo ties.
Colin True
00:14:08.530 - 00:14:09.690
Dyneema bolos.
Producer Dave
00:14:09.690 - 00:14:10.290
That's amazing.
Colin True
00:14:10.290 - 00:14:15.530
Lloyd. Lloyd, come on. We're in your segment right now. Lloyd, get on that. We do that on garage growing gear. Dyneema bolos.
Eoin Comerford
00:14:15.530 - 00:14:21.810
Well, actually, it's a boa. It's a boa that you use for the bolo.
Colin True
00:14:22.290 - 00:14:39.270
Dave is just. All right, we're going to lose Dave. He's going to spend the rest of the episode creating a boa bolo. Genius. Good. Good job, Owen.
Why did Owen leave the pod? Well, he hit it big with his boa bologna.
Producer Dave
00:14:39.270 - 00:14:42.910
That's right. And his waterproof rawhide collection.
Colin True
00:14:44.350 - 00:15:00.080
Oh, my goodness. All right. Well, the thing about Moonstone is that I always looked at Moonsumer working retail as like, Moonstone was there with, like, a Patagonia.
Like, if it had that logo on it, I just wanted it. It was just. I just. The brand was cool. Maybe beyond the product. That's my memory of Moonstone more than anything else.
Eoin Comerford
00:15:01.040 - 00:15:06.560
This one predates me, but. Okay, can you guess who owns Moonstone today? Don't look at the notes. Who owns Moonstone today?
Colin True
00:15:07.280 - 00:15:11.600
Same. I wouldn't. I would have thought it would just be, like, available. Like, I didn't know somebody actually owned it now.
Producer Dave
00:15:11.840 - 00:15:15.120
A card and gift supply company out of Chicago?
Eoin Comerford
00:15:15.200 - 00:15:18.880
No. None other than Columbia Sportswear Company.
Colin True
00:15:19.040 - 00:15:19.680
Come on.
Eoin Comerford
00:15:20.080 - 00:15:31.780
Yeah, yeah. So Moonstone, it went through. It was like a million people touched this thing. It was sold to oig, the outdoor industry group.
Then Esprit, then Jerry for a hot minute.
Colin True
00:15:31.780 - 00:15:32.700
Esprit.
Eoin Comerford
00:15:32.780 - 00:15:56.730
Esprit. Remember that? But then it was sold to Pacific Trails, which was ultimately bought by Columbia in 2006.
And they still use Pacific Trails, I think, for a while. I don't know if they still use it, but, yeah, as part of the Pacific Trails deal, they got the Moonstone ip, but I don't think they've ever used it.
But I think it would be cool. Bring that.
Colin True
00:15:56.730 - 00:16:03.530
Bring it back. I think you could bring it back as a capsule collection inside of Mountain Hardware or something like that.
Then we should talk to Troy about that when we see him at Switchback.
Eoin Comerford
00:16:03.530 - 00:16:14.330
Absolutely. Especially in the sleeping bag category, because that's where they were really Known obviously they did some Gore Tex Jacks and stuff.
But yeah, the Mountain Harbor Moonstone collection would be cool.
Colin True
00:16:14.650 - 00:16:18.090
That would be really cool. Dave, do you approve of that idea?
Producer Dave
00:16:18.490 - 00:16:28.730
Yeah, I'm already taking it beyond sleeping bags and into kind of the prana space of techno shaman lifestyle. You know, that could be cool.
Colin True
00:16:29.450 - 00:16:50.220
I put Frost Line on it because it's a kit like you would make your own. And I feel like in these sort of anti technology era that I feel like we're gonna be.
There's gonna be young people who are gonna, you know, gonna go back to having flip phones or dial up phones and they'll want to make their own things. And I feel like there's there. There for that is a small category of make your own apparel, make your own sleeping bags, those kinds of things.
Eoin Comerford
00:16:52.930 - 00:16:55.970
Yeah, I don't totally buy that, but maybe.
Colin True
00:16:58.290 - 00:17:05.810
I feel like that's a segment that is underserved. People want to make their own stuff. Rumple could have a Frost line kit. Make your own Rumple. Sew it together yourself.
Producer Dave
00:17:07.010 - 00:17:08.530
I think that already exists.
Colin True
00:17:08.690 - 00:17:12.210
Yeah, that's right. Just go to Joann Fabrics and buy some fabrics.
Producer Dave
00:17:12.210 - 00:17:15.250
Exactly right.
Colin True
00:17:16.790 - 00:17:29.190
The last one. Well, before we get to the ones that Dave added to the list, Vasque, I think Vasque is the one that listed.
Could probably still come back because the Sundowner was such a. That's the brand. Like it's just. Somebody should just pick that up right now and just make the Sundowner, please.
Eoin Comerford
00:17:30.550 - 00:17:31.190
I agree.
Colin True
00:17:31.670 - 00:17:33.390
Do you have some words about Go Light, Dave?
Producer Dave
00:17:33.390 - 00:17:34.390
Well, you know, Go Light.
Colin True
00:17:34.390 - 00:17:34.590
No.
Producer Dave
00:17:34.590 - 00:18:15.730
Go Light's a viable part of branding.
If you're talking about defunct brands that had a moment that probably have viability today and I don't know what somebody's doing it then, but the idea of a Go Light within, I mean, look at where Ultralight has gone since Sense Them. Right, right. It's.
It's become its own standalone category where they were out there kind of talking about it by themselves and one of those maybe where they were a little too early, you know, for, for kind of a mainstream or adoption of it.
But I, I've always thought that the brand, what it stood for and what it could be, it never actually got the brand never really got to what it could be from a larger category kind of icon. So yeah, I think there's definitely.
Colin True
00:18:16.580 - 00:18:22.820
We'll dig into why when we do our 10 part series about the history of Go Light. I think there's that much to say about a 10 year old brand.
Producer Dave
00:18:23.460 - 00:18:24.140
That's right.
Colin True
00:18:24.140 - 00:18:27.620
But if Go Light was around today in the way that it was back then, you know where it would be sold?
Producer Dave
00:18:27.860 - 00:18:28.420
Tell me.
Eoin Comerford
00:18:28.420 - 00:18:29.460
I just Grown Gear.
Colin True
00:18:30.100 - 00:19:07.540
Garage Grown Gear, which is an online destination for all things ultralight backpacking gear. They carry everything you need for your next adventure into the wild with a pack that won't weigh you down.
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So go check it out via the link in the show notes garagegrowngear.com and shout out to Shantae Salavera because we didn't say GGG in the copy this week so she can rest easy.
Producer Dave
00:19:09.140 - 00:19:21.160
I did have one brand that we didn't get to that was founded in 27 or 202007 and then four year later was gone. And that was the South Butt. I don't know if you remember the south, but.
Colin True
00:19:21.160 - 00:19:27.280
Oh my God. Yeah, that was like when life sucks or the Life is Terrible, like all the parody sort of things were coming out.
Eoin Comerford
00:19:28.240 - 00:19:29.280
They got sued, right?
Producer Dave
00:19:30.080 - 00:19:36.800
Sued right out of existence. That's exactly right. I believe they called that sued to the ground. Right.
Eoin Comerford
00:19:37.280 - 00:19:42.360
If I remember the story correctly, it was like a college student somewhere that came up, right?
Producer Dave
00:19:42.360 - 00:19:54.920
Yeah, yeah. And you started seeing stickers around places and stuff like that. You know, again, kind of the classic underground marketing.
And then I think he, you know, like, hey, maybe I can sell stuff. And that's when the lawyers circled the.
Colin True
00:19:54.920 - 00:19:57.200
Wagons and that's when he knew he had fucked up.
Producer Dave
00:19:57.360 - 00:19:59.040
That's right. That's right.
Eoin Comerford
00:19:59.280 - 00:20:01.440
You don't mess with the North Face ip.
Producer Dave
00:20:02.160 - 00:20:08.250
That's right. You know, those ice axes can be used for other things, so. That's right.
Colin True
00:20:08.250 - 00:20:10.810
Not only are you going out of business, we are going to slaughter your family.
Producer Dave
00:20:11.690 - 00:20:15.050
All memory of you will be gone. That's right.
Colin True
00:20:15.770 - 00:21:26.820
You fucked with the wrong brand. Oh, that's funny.
All right, next topic is presented by Lem's Footwear, who's looking for retailers to come and say hi when they and see what Lems can offer their shoe all when they exhibit at Switchback next month. So we got a couple of quick updates in sort of a Rock Fight lightning round that we've some things we've covered here before on the rock fight.
I'm going to. I might even play some Lightning Round music or sound Effects or something just to make producer Dave happy because he likes that stuff.
So the first topic I do, okay, last Wednesday, this is an evolving story and we're recording this on Friday, May 30th. So if this has changed by the time this episode comes out on Monday, that's when we recorded it and that's why we didn't address the changes.
So Last Wednesday, a U.S. court of International trade ruled that President Trump's tariff policies are illegal.
And then the very next day, on Thursday, the next day, the ruling was put on hold as a federal appeals court considers the case. So, oh, and we gotta talk about tariffs again for a second. Is this a case for optimism?
Like, hey, maybe the first ruling holds and we kind of go back to where it was before? Or will this ultimately just slow things down towards a long term resolution?
Eoin Comerford
00:21:28.340 - 00:22:59.260
No optimism. No, no. I mean, basically this is. Yeah, sorry, Mr. Happy Pants.
Again, not really surprised if I'm getting that phrase, but no, but basically this is just going to be whack a mole.
So the fact that they went for this is kind of wild because they used the International Emergency Economic powers Act or IEEPA to the COOLs and basically that gives the President special powers to confront urgent threats to the company. It actually doesn't mention tariffs at all. They just made that shit up. Right. And so it was a bit of a stretch from the get go.
I don't think they're even going to try to fight this long term because they're just going to move it to something else. Like they've already got section 301, section 232, which is more like national security stuff that they have in place today.
Or they might go to Section 122 of the Trade act of 1974, which specifically allows the President to impose up to 15% tariffs for up to 150 days.
So I think at a minimum they do that to kind of keep the current like 10% minimum thing in place, you know, buy themselves some time and then, you know, figure out how to, how to, you know, get their agenda handled it a different way.
And they can actually, after the 150 days, they can, that can be extended by Congress or they can actually impose even bigger tariffs, but after a, like a, like a common commentary period. So it's not quite as maybe rapid as they would have, would have liked, but they'll, they're not going to get off the tariff thing.
Colin True
00:22:59.420 - 00:23:05.990
That's above like an hour of optimism, like, hey, the system works.
Producer Dave
00:23:06.150 - 00:23:20.950
No, no, look, even if the tariffs were completely went away. They're still not optimistic in the sense of the disruption and the continued disruption and the uncertainty. It just. It's just silly.
Colin True
00:23:22.390 - 00:23:35.490
All right, the next story we want to follow up on was Dick's had their earnings call, their first one since the Foot. The Foot Locker acquisition that we talked about just a couple of weeks ago here on the Rock fight.
Owen, takeaways from the earnings call that the Dicks had upped earlier this week.
Eoin Comerford
00:23:35.570 - 00:23:37.010
I mean, overall, it was a good quarter.
Colin True
00:23:37.250 - 00:23:37.650
Comp.
Eoin Comerford
00:23:37.650 - 00:25:02.160
Sales up 4.5%, which is really quite solid. Also, they improved their gross margins by 41bps. So, I mean, win, win from that perspective.
The interesting thing, though, was despite the fact that they beat on the top line, they only reaffirmed their guidance for the year, which was up 1% to 3% comp. So that would tell you. Oh, okay. So, yeah, we're doing 4.5% now, but we're not expecting to really do much in the rest of the.
I think they're especially worried about Q4 because they were up over 6% this last Q4, and they're like, oh, how do we anniversary that thing? But from that perspective, I think they're reaffirming that and they're saying, reaffirming it while taking into account all the tariffs.
The interesting thing there is that their guidance says that they're going to expand their gross margin by 75 basis points, 0.75%. That is, after they've taken into account the tariffs.
So I think there have been a lot of questions about, hey, will retailers see some margin compression because of the tariffs? Right. As the brands try to absorb some of it and they say, hey, you take some of the pain, we take some of the pain, yada, yada.
I think the answer is the retailers, or at least the ones that have the power, the pricing power of Dick's, are not taking any of the pain. In fact, they're looking to expand margins. So, yeah, I think that was. Was interesting.
Colin True
00:25:02.160 - 00:25:07.680
I noticed that there was a, you know, there was. There's someone on the call who hasn't been heard in a little while.
Eoin Comerford
00:25:07.840 - 00:25:23.920
Yeah, yeah. Fun, funny. You know, when. When the stock, you know, plummets after you announce an acquisition, suddenly Mr.
Ed Stack shows up after four years of absence. And actually, I listened to the whole call so that you guys didn't have to. You're. You're welcome.
Colin True
00:25:23.920 - 00:25:24.400
Thank you.
Eoin Comerford
00:25:24.400 - 00:25:27.680
Thank you. But yeah, Ed was on there. It was.
Colin True
00:25:28.400 - 00:25:30.240
We were busy making AI Bolo ties.
Eoin Comerford
00:25:30.240 - 00:25:30.750
There you go.
Colin True
00:25:33.220 - 00:25:33.460
But.
Eoin Comerford
00:25:35.460 - 00:25:55.540
Clearly he's been doing the rounds with major stockholders, trying to convince them that this was an amazingly good idea.
The quote was, we understand that there's really a group of people out there, shareholders, that would really prefer we just continue to do what we were doing. Like, ah, okay, yeah, it's good you understand that.
Colin True
00:25:55.620 - 00:25:58.100
You must have heard that over the last couple of weeks.
Eoin Comerford
00:25:58.820 - 00:27:15.880
They definitely heard that. And then he goes on to say what the street needs to understand is that, like it or not, we don't make investments or decisions for a quarter or two.
We make those decisions and investments for a lifetime. And we do know that it's up to us to prove to the street and to everybody that this was the right decision to make.
So, you know, so they're basically saying, hey, we get it. Sort of put up or shut up. Make this thing happen. Personally, I think this is like a legacy deal. Right. Ed is 70, right. He's thinking about his legacy.
He's thinking about what am I going to leave?
You know, and if he can, if his Legacy is a $20 billion retailer or a 21 or $25 billion retailer, that's a lot more than a 13 or $14 billion retailer. So I think there's a bit of that going on here.
And actually, in this deal, it's becoming clearer and clearer that this Footlocker entity will report directly to Ed.
So there'll be a separate, you know, a separate Dick's Group, which is under Lauren Hobart, the CEO, and then there'll be a CEO, I'm sure, for Footlocker, that will report to Ed. But Ed is going to be calling the shots, and he is going to be making a big part.
He'll be a big part of the team that will be dedicated to bringing Foot Locker on board.
Colin True
00:27:16.200 - 00:27:31.660
That's interesting. Yeah, it is kind of reminiscent of like, almost like a big media deal where it's like, hey, look, you know, we're going to change the landscape here.
And it's like, we are interested in fundamentally changing the way footwear is dealt with in the active space. Right. That's clearly what they want to do here.
Eoin Comerford
00:27:31.660 - 00:27:32.260
Oh, totally.
Producer Dave
00:27:32.260 - 00:27:38.660
I believe that's called monopoly, Colin. That's the working term we've got for this new group.
Eoin Comerford
00:27:39.300 - 00:27:41.940
Yeah. Well, let's clarity.
Colin True
00:27:42.500 - 00:27:45.780
Is the federal FTC going to have an issue with this acquisition?
Producer Dave
00:27:45.860 - 00:27:49.380
Not this one, but yeah.
Eoin Comerford
00:27:49.860 - 00:28:07.589
I think, as I said on the last of years, couple call, you know, I don't think they would have done this under the old administration, but under a Trump administration with A Republican friendly Ed Stack, you know, involved. I think that, you know, I don't know this, but I think they probably got some indications that this thing was going to pass before they.
Colin True
00:28:07.589 - 00:28:08.830
It's going to pull the trigger.
Eoin Comerford
00:28:09.150 - 00:28:09.630
Yeah.
Colin True
00:28:09.710 - 00:28:20.590
It's not paramount where they have to like, you know, sue 60 Minutes for, you know, $20 million for some bullshit reason just to get the Sherry Redstone thing through. Right. I mean, this is going to buy. I'm sure this will be fine.
Eoin Comerford
00:28:22.100 - 00:29:12.430
Plus, Lauren Hobart made the point on the call that even as big as they are, their market share is still, I think, only 6% of the sporting goods industry. So I think that it would be tough, I think, for the SEC to really quash this, but you never know. But yeah. So Lauren Hobart was fawning about Ed.
She's like, Ed, obviously he's an incredible retail expert. He's got operational excellence, incredibly strong brand relationships, real estate development relationships.
I mean, it's such a wonderful thing that he's going to be able to bring all of that expertise and partner with the Foot Locker leadership team to drive both businesses. So they're going to get the full Ed treatment and hopefully unlock a whole bunch of sales and margin, I guess.
Producer Dave
00:29:13.860 - 00:29:38.140
Well, I think it's interesting in that little diatribe, you know, calling out the really the real estate aspect of this, because I do think that's probably one of the most important pieces of this deal. Right. Versus just even the shoes themselves.
It's the how many, look, Foot Locker locations there are, which ones are probably going to go away, but which ones super reinforce the. The Dicks kind of crossover. I think that's a big piece of this.
Eoin Comerford
00:29:39.090 - 00:30:06.060
And the Dick's folks are extremely strategic about their real estate. They really are. All joking aside, the operational excellence absolutely exists within Dick's. You look at their profitability, you look at how.
At their labor models, et cetera, they know how to run a store and if they can successfully take some of that DNA and implant it into footlocker, hey, they might be on something.
Colin True
00:30:07.260 - 00:30:25.860
I mean, that's a. Operations is something that probably we could spend a whole episode talking about. I mean, operations almost always wins. Right?
And if a lot of times, if you go look at some brands who are struggling or whatever, take a peek behind the curtain at how they're running things.
Even if it's a good brand, if it's good product or whatever, it's like it's usually something in that side of the business that is causing the problems, right?
Eoin Comerford
00:30:25.860 - 00:30:41.400
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you can Good operations can cover up a lot of sins elsewhere in terms of. In terms of the retail, but I think they've got the combination of.
Of differentiated merchandise and good operations. Right. And that's what really is the secret sauce.
Colin True
00:30:43.000 - 00:31:22.100
All right, well, interesting. I guess we'll wait to see Ed Stack rolling around in his Air Force Ones because he's going to be leading the Foot Locker team.
Some Dockers and some Air Force Ones. That'll be how he shows up to the next call, maybe. All right, last one in this part of the pod.
So after their second best winter ever, but also a winter that was a PR nightmare, given the strike that went down in Park City, Vail Resorts is swapping out CEOs. Kristen lynch is, quote, stepping down, and Rob Katz is returning to the role he held from 2009 to 2021. Another kind of media comp here. Right.
This has shades of Bob Iger returning to Disney to write the ship. I mean, you think that's. Owen, do you think that's a fair comparison?
Eoin Comerford
00:31:22.500 - 00:31:58.300
I think it's spot on. You know, I mean, you've got sort of this previous star CEO who went to.
Who became the chairman coming back as the CEO because you've got an underachieving company that's under pressure from an activist investor. Check, check, check, check, check. Right down the list. I mean, it is basically the same deal.
And like the activist investor was calling out the fact that since Lynch's appointment in 2021, Vail stock has dropped 47%, while the S&P 500 has gained 39%. So it's. Yeah, yeah.
Colin True
00:31:58.300 - 00:32:05.340
And you marry that up against the, you know, the, the earnings they put. Or the results at the end of a season have been never higher. Right. For the past few years.
Eoin Comerford
00:32:06.130 - 00:33:44.720
Well, never hire. Yes. In terms of revenue, but they've been under strain in a lot of other ways, too.
And I think that the big thing is that the Epic Pass has basically plateaued. Right. They've kind of squeezed all of the blood from that stone.
And for the first time last year, actually, the number of epipasses they sold was down. Down. Okay, so it was down 2%. Now, they were still able to increase sales by, you know, some.
A few percent, but that's only because they hiked the price by 8% on the Epic Pass. So the pass that was originally $579 when it was launched in 2008, last year it was over $1,000. It was 1050 or so. So.
So, yeah, I think we're getting to A case where it's like. And it's pushing people out right, from an affordability perspective. And then those that are stepping up.
If you're spending $1,000 on an epic pass, you're like, well, I'm going to go to as many, I'm going to get in as many ski days as I can. Which then leads to overcrowding.
It's a classic kind of tragedy of the commons issue where you've got this finite resource and people who, you are allowed to take as much of it as they want. So everyone takes as much of it as they can until it becomes absolutely unusable, quite frankly.
You know, you see some of the lines and this, this was before all the strike stuff. I mean, just the lines at these, at these resorts, it's. It's a shitty experience, you know.
Yeah, they're going to really have to rethink how that whole, how that whole thing works.
Colin True
00:33:45.600 - 00:34:06.230
What's the ceiling for the ski world? I mean, to have another year like this.
We're constantly that the up against the climate change and the growth of ski continues to see unbounded in a lot of ways every year it's like, visitation's up, visitation's up. I mean, is that just PR tweaking, you know, good PR tweaking to kind of like present the industry in a positive way?
I mean, would you invest your own money in snow sports, Owen?
Eoin Comerford
00:34:06.870 - 00:35:16.990
Not really, because visits are up. But it's mainly because of this fact that you've got these unlimited passes. Right? Because it's interesting.
It used to be back in the day that, that visits and equipment sales kind of went hand in hand. Right? Good, Good ski season from a visits perspective meant good equipment sales. Those two have now been completely, you know, changed.
And so you talk to somebody who's, who's running a ski store, it's like, no, I mean, we haven't had a great. Yeah, we had, we had a great season in whatever that was 21, 22.
But since then it's been really rough and then there'll be other seasons where it's just up and down. So yeah, the epic pastness of it all has really changed that, that aspect.
Because also it used to be, hey, if we get good snow, that would also then drive visits which would then, you know, it was all kind of linked. But now it's just like, hey, you're buying your epic pass in whatever it is, August, way before the snow season. And so, you know, and then part.
That's the other part of the problem. Is with some of this climate change stuff. If.
If you get fewer and fewer good snow days, that even further concentrates all those people that spent all that money on that pass back in August trying to get onto the mountain.
Colin True
00:35:17.520 - 00:35:19.360
Yeah, Dave, you gonna start skiing this winter?
Producer Dave
00:35:21.280 - 00:35:22.960
No, my epic pass ran out.
Colin True
00:35:24.160 - 00:35:26.720
We can't leave Ikon out of this too, right? Isn't Ikon? That's the other one.
Eoin Comerford
00:35:26.720 - 00:35:27.760
Icon's the other one. Yep.
Colin True
00:35:27.760 - 00:35:34.000
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then there's the Indy pass. Get your Indy pass. Go. Go see an independent resort. That's the way to go.
Eoin Comerford
00:35:34.240 - 00:35:34.880
Exactly.
Producer Dave
00:35:34.880 - 00:35:36.080
Epic and indie.
Colin True
00:35:36.480 - 00:36:08.250
All right, well, that segment is brought to you by Lemz. At Lems, we're all about creating footwear that fits the way your feet are naturally shaped. Comfortable, fun, functional, and ready for anything.
One of our newest releases, the Trailblazer, is a wider, roomier version of our popular trailhead, and it's quickly becoming a top seller this spring. The Trailblazer. Also a producer, Dave Favorite. He's been kicking around some Trailblazers lately.
We're stoked about the response and can't wait to show it off. Come check it out at the Switchback event in Nashville, June 17th to the 18th, or snag a pair now@lemshoes.com yeah. You like the Trailblazers?
Producer Dave
00:36:08.410 - 00:36:12.170
I do like the Trailblazer. Trailblazers. Super comfortable out of the box.
Colin True
00:36:12.970 - 00:36:14.330
Yeah. That's a good shoe.
Producer Dave
00:36:14.330 - 00:36:15.370
Really. Right, right.
Eoin Comerford
00:36:15.930 - 00:36:17.930
What type of shoe is the Trailblazer?
Producer Dave
00:36:18.090 - 00:36:19.610
It's an outdoor sneaker.
Eoin Comerford
00:36:19.770 - 00:36:20.170
Yeah.
Producer Dave
00:36:20.170 - 00:36:23.210
Yeah. I'd call it a sneaker more than even a full trail shoe.
Colin True
00:36:23.290 - 00:36:25.370
Shades of 90s ACG, I'd say.
Producer Dave
00:36:26.970 - 00:36:31.490
Yeah. Well, color wise, for sure. Yeah, but. But yeah, no.
Eoin Comerford
00:36:31.490 - 00:36:31.810
Great.
Producer Dave
00:36:31.810 - 00:36:41.940
Wide toe box, super comfortable. The cuts on the heel come down. They don't like hitting weird spots. It's substantial. It's a good shoe. It is. It's a well made shoe.
Colin True
00:36:42.100 - 00:36:43.300
Their fit is really awesome.
Eoin Comerford
00:36:43.300 - 00:36:43.700
And that's.
Colin True
00:36:43.700 - 00:36:52.020
That's the. When. When I gave my. My joy was talking about the switchback sandal, which is, you know, looks like. That looks like the bedrocks.
Eoin Comerford
00:36:52.020 - 00:36:52.300
I just.
Colin True
00:36:52.300 - 00:37:16.630
I could not get over the fit. I give them credit. Their fit is excellent. They really obviously spend a lot of time on the fit of their shoes. You're listening to Rock fight Radio.
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Colin True
00:38:27.470 - 00:38:37.790
Back to the show. All right, time for the parting shot. And Owen, I think you have our parting shot today.
Eoin Comerford
00:38:37.790 - 00:41:28.690
I really wanted to put a call out there to all of our listeners to help support small outdoor brands. They really need your support right now.
The current uncertainty about tariffs, regulations, public lands of and what that's going to do to visitation of national parks, tourism, the overall economy, all of the consumer uncertainty, all of that stuff, it really overly impacts small outdoor brands. And they're the livelihood of innovation and passion within our industry.
And quite frankly, without your support, some of those brands aren't going to make it. Okay. So, so what I'm asking our listeners to do is just think about how they, in their roles can help emerging outdoor brands.
So if you're an outdoor enthusiast, you're listening to this pod because you just love the outdoors. Really consider an emerging brand for your next purchase. And by the way, be willing to pay full price.
And when you get the product, write a nice review, interact on their socials and just talk them up. Okay, so that's one. If you're a retailer listening to the pod, just consider adding buys from more emerging outdoor brands. Okay?
And you know, when you are, when you do that, don't just stick them in the back of the store. You know, you're buying pants and you just stick them on the jet rail in the back of the store.
You know, consider more exposure on the shop floor or on your website or in your marketing.
You know, put them up front and actually you'll, you'll get a good return because people will see that it's not the same old stuff that's in every other store. Right. So.
But make a big deal of it for sales reps, those show, I know at least a few that listen to this show think about taking on a mentoring and emerging outdoor brand. And I get it. They're probably a bigger pain in your ass than they're worth. Right?
You're not going to get a great commission on those initial opening orders. But you know what? Take one under your wing. Educate them on what it means to become a good outdoor brand and really help them to become something.
And you never know, you may have the next coat of Paxi, the next hydro flask, whatever, that will really grow with you. And I mean, I had some reps who grew with brands like arc' Teryx and absolutely killed it over the years.
So think about that as you bring on these brands. And finally, for the big brands that listen to the show, and we know they do because they were all excited to be part of our apparel top five.
Look for collabs, look for other ways to work with these brands. Bring them along. It doesn't have to be a competing brand.
Maybe you're a snowjacket brand and you collab with the goggles or a helmet brand or whatever, but let's work together, let's support these brands and let's support the overall industry. Industry.
Colin True
00:41:29.730 - 00:41:32.290
I've heard the North Face does a collab every once in a while.
Eoin Comerford
00:41:33.250 - 00:41:35.930
Not so much with emerging outdoor brands, but. Yes.
Colin True
00:41:35.930 - 00:41:37.330
Well, maybe they should do that.
Eoin Comerford
00:41:37.570 - 00:41:38.610
Right? Yeah.
Producer Dave
00:41:38.850 - 00:41:40.690
Skims an emerging outdoor brand.
Colin True
00:41:40.770 - 00:41:41.730
Yeah. What's that?
Producer Dave
00:41:41.810 - 00:41:43.730
Is skims an emerging outdoor brand?
Colin True
00:41:43.730 - 00:41:44.210
Yes.
Producer Dave
00:41:44.610 - 00:41:45.010
Right.
Colin True
00:41:45.090 - 00:41:50.770
Because they've entered the outdoor space. They're emerging in outdoor emerging.
Producer Dave
00:41:50.930 - 00:42:37.130
I do think it's important though, when we talk about a collab, it's not necessarily you have to create a new specific piece of product that you get behind. It could be complimentary just on social media. Media.
It could be just in terms of introducing your audience to these folks and just creating, you know, promoted posts and things like that, where you're just, you're like, like Owen said, you're just kind of giving them a leg up into, you know, helping them get out there and keep this industry fresh. Because that's really what, that's how the big brands benefit from this.
We need to have a vibrant, you know, kind of current underneath there, keeping new people in and interested.
And I think it's really important and I really think it was really great of you to call fits for being one of those brands you would support like that. Owen, that was just absolutely.
Eoin Comerford
00:42:38.250 - 00:42:39.930
But There are blacked out during that.
Colin True
00:42:39.930 - 00:42:40.810
Part of the conversation.
Eoin Comerford
00:42:40.810 - 00:43:52.710
But, like, there are examples. So, for example, Burton is working with NARA to really to introduce the Go Fly zipper technology on ski bibs.
And actually there's a coordinating undergarment, too, or a base layer. Sorry, coordinating base layer that works with the shefly technology as well. So there you go. There's a big brand.
Burton, you know, I'm a big fan working with an emerging brand to really not just, quite frankly, not just give NARA and that technology a heads up. But quite frankly, I think it's great for Burton because Burton comes out of this looking. Looking like a brand that really has, you know, their.
Their finger on the pulse of what's going on, thinking differently about. About how they work for. For.
For female athletes on, you know, that are on the mountain and, and making their life better and easier, you know, especially if you're. If you're a backcountry skier, backcountry snowboarder. So, yeah, I mean, look for those sorts of things where you can really work together.
And it truly. It's not. This. This isn't like a charitable thing. This is. This is like, win, win stuff, I think, all around.
Producer Dave
00:43:52.710 - 00:43:54.510
If you do it right, that's really.
Colin True
00:43:54.590 - 00:44:12.490
Would you do it like, if mc. Would you rather see, like, another attempt by Merrill to, like, enter apparel in a meaningful way?
Or, hey, they partner brothers or something, right? Like, hey, look at this awesome new shoe. And here's our apparel partner on this shoe. Like, that would be way more interesting, right?
Like, do what you're good at and bring somebody else who's good at what they do and do something together.
Eoin Comerford
00:44:12.490 - 00:44:15.610
So Romero works with Burton on a really amazing shoe that.
Producer Dave
00:44:15.850 - 00:44:16.210
Oh.
Eoin Comerford
00:44:16.210 - 00:44:17.570
Oh, sorry. No, maybe not.
Colin True
00:44:17.570 - 00:44:22.330
Oh, they did. That still burned into my memory. I still have nightmares.
Producer Dave
00:44:22.490 - 00:44:27.130
We're going to add letters to the Alphabet to accommodate the naming conventions of the next collab.
Colin True
00:44:27.130 - 00:44:32.010
We went through the English and Greek Alphabet, and we need more. Yeah, Latin is that. I'm going to.
Eoin Comerford
00:44:32.010 - 00:44:33.130
Yes. Arabic.
Colin True
00:44:35.110 - 00:44:50.229
All right, that's the show for today. We want your emails. Please send them to myrockflightmail.com the Rock Fight's a production of Rock Fight, LLC.
Today's episode was produced by producer David Karstad. Art direction provided by Sarah Gensert. For Owen Comerford, I'm Colin True. Thanks.
Producer Dave
00:44:50.229 - 00:44:56.630
Who is Owen Comerford? Wait a minute. You did not use the word consigliere today in any discussion.
Colin True
00:44:56.870 - 00:44:57.750
I called him captain.
Eoin Comerford
00:44:57.750 - 00:44:58.310
You did.
Producer Dave
00:44:58.550 - 00:44:59.450
Right. But that.
Colin True
00:44:59.520 - 00:45:07.280
That is not for the outdoor industry insider. The consigliere Captain Owen Comerford. I'm Colin True. Thanks for listening.
Producer Dave
00:45:07.520 - 00:45:08.160
Thank you.
Colin True
00:45:08.880 - 00:45:16.080
Take us out. It's Chris Demaicz. He's gonna sing the Rock Fight Fight song. We'll see you next time, Rock Fighters. That was great.
Producer Dave
00:45:16.320 - 00:45:23.120
Good call, Dave. I kept waiting for it. Just waiting for it. Come on.
Chris DeMakes
00:45:23.360 - 00:46:19.020
Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight. Rock fight.
Rock fight welcome to the rock fight where we speak our truth Slay sacred cows and sometimes agree to disagree we talk about human powered outdoor activities and big bites about topics that we find interesting like pop culture music the latest movie reviews Anti is the English this is where we speak our truth this is where we speak our truth Rock fight Rock fight Rock fight Welcome to the rock fight Rock fight Rock fight welcome to the rock flight Rock flight Rock fight Rock flight Rock fight Rock fight Welcome to the rock fight Rock fight Rock fight.