That's frightening to see the chain of ownership and think how much money people have made by gambling on the company with money that isn't their own.
Helly Hensen is "majority owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of Canada’s largest pension funds. "
That's frightening to see the chain of ownership .........
Helly Hensen is "majority owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of Canada’s largest pension funds. "
Did they deserve to succeed as a business
They made stuff that was barely affordable, was rather moderately styled so didn't follow the high street fashion of that year but did the job and they claimed it was so well designed and made that it would last for many years.
And it did and never looked dated so people didn't buy often. That's a great service for a generation of sailors but it's not a long term business.
Don't forget they have a big (probably exceeds sailing) presence in the equestrian market.Did they deserve to succeed as a business
They made stuff that was barely affordable, was rather moderately styled so didn't follow the high street fashion of that year but did the job and they claimed it was so well designed and made that it would last for many years.
And it did and never looked dated so people didn't buy often. That's a great service for a generation of sailors but it's not a long term business.
Well I hope HH continue to provide the excellent service and support I have been fortunate to receive from Musto
They've been obviously been struggling ever since Musto & Hyde lost me from their employment about 45 years ago!
They've been obviously been struggling ever since Musto & Hyde lost me from their employment about 45 years ago!
Haha ... I left in about '75 (sorry for drift: I remember, among many others: Donald Forbes, Gerry Ledger, Hugh Bourne, Catherine Cross, Dave Felton, George in the stores, John Farrow, Bob Finn, Chris Henderson..... ).
We bought our current offshore kit in 1988/90 to compete in the China Sea races out of Hong Kong. We are now based in Sydney and still have the same kit. We don't wear it much. The climate in both locations demands protection from the sun rather than wet and cold. On the China Sea Races pyjamas were the best kit, light and 'relatively (for then), sun proof.
Musto and others simply do not cater for many who sail in warmer weather, which I assume covers an awful lot of the southern part of America, Oz, the Med, SE Asia and the Pacific Islands. It was mentioned on another thread, Snook's? - but just look at the ads for new yachts - no-one is ever shown wearing decent foul weather gear - yachts are built for the sun, not rain.
In fact our 'offshore gear' is horrendously warm - and we bought some lighter weight HH stuff some time ago. It does have its place - we wear the offshore kit in the winter and sometimes need it overnight.
It might have been expensive at the time but it is so well made and has so little use - it will outlast us,
Wrong business model If you manufacture to last a Volvo race, great - but for the rest of us - its excellent but overengineered.
I hope HH have a. very, cunning plan.
Jonathan
So now you know why I wear Musto gear up here!
Musto has been bought by Helle Hansen - another great British manufacturer in foreign hands. (see here)
Have they manufactured anything in the UK? I thought it was all from the far east?
I think its called China.
All, well nearly all, your anchors, anchor chain, come from China, except Knox (and Maggi) - and who supports Knox (Spade and Fortress) - its a sad reality,
Jonathan
+1 to that. Sent a c.7 yr old MPX jacket to them earlier this year for a damage repair fully expecting to pay a decent sum, came back beautifully repaired with a note that there had been no charge.
My day to day raincoat is something of similar age but much cheaper and is still as smart and functional as the day I bought it.
Have had good stuff from HH in past times but have nowhere the brand confidence in them that I have in Musto. Expensive yes but very much the best IMHO.
We may well have crossed paths! I can't remember precise dates*, or any of the names (apart from Keith Musto (as occasional visitor) and whatsisname Hyde) - I wasn't there long - but it was in an (ex RAF?) shed out at Rawreth.
*I think I remember Elton John's 'Rocket Man' playing on the radio while I was there, which (having looked it up) would make it 1972, though maybe later.