Mountain Equipment Co-Op at it again

[410001661]

I heard this and just had to giggle. Apparently MEC has found themselves in some financial trouble and was recently sold to a private equity firm. For those if you that do not know private equity firms buy up struggling companies and re-organize them so that they can become profitable within the 5 year mark. MEC started as a climbing Co-Op (ropes and hardware), then ventured into clothing, then boots and general camping equipment. Recently they expanded their offering to include bicycles, canoes and kayaks but it was still not enough to get their books in the black. MEC made sure to stay well away from the hunting and fishing community as it did not fit into their core values (even though we spend FAR more money on conservation than their target market) but it was not enough to keep them out of the RED.

So the private equity firm hires Jay Taylor to sit on the executive team and she are loosing their . Apparently Jay is the CEO of LALO Tactical - a very successful company that makes boots for police and the military. The article was quoted saying, "it makes specialized boots with names such as Intruder, sold in colours such as Black Ops and Ranger Green".

Maybe Biff and Muffy should have spent more on those hiking boots and GoreTex jackets for the walk downtown for a Latte and MEC would not be in this situation.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mec...740922?cmp=rss

[Fisherman]

I always found it to be a yuppy store, overpriced with nothing you couldn't find in other stores.

[greatwhite]

Members seem surprised that with their no voting single shares they have no power. Even if they did with the amount of money MEC is in debt for, they have no choice but to sell. Read one comment the other day that some members felt because it is a coop their debt should be forgiven.

[MikePal]

All I had to see was his post : "The shooter was an army veteran who said he wanted to kill white officers to demonstrate his anger over police shootings of Black men.
Taylor's message suggests people should buy a T-shirt to support the families of the officers who died..hashtags
#livesmatter, #policelivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter.

Which garnered the following response : "You know, this guy to me resonates guns, All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter," she said. "Whoever's making these decisions is obviously not in solidarity with people of colour."

It's not the sale at all..it's all about it now being run by a guy with different opinions that the membership.

Only went to MEC once....Fishman is right, a 'yuppy' store with way over priced clothing, made by kids in sweat shops in China.

I think Taylor is a wonderfull fit HaHa...

[410001661]

Members seem surprised that with their no voting single shares they have no power. Even if they did with the amount of money MEC is in debt for, they have no choice but to sell. Read one comment the other day that some members felt because it is a coop their debt should be forgiven.

LOL.....let me guess that hippy is from BC?

I admit I have been a member since mid 1980's when the only store around was Front Street in Toronto (beside Europe Bound). But like many other brands their prices went up and quality dropped off (most items are made off shore anyway). I do like their base layers and socks - and I do make a point to tell them what I plan on doing while I wear their products (LOL)

[gbk]

This is so typical of our times-times when reality is learned from Social media.

I hope one day all these people who are opposing MEC ways, will come forward, all saying- I am a vegetarian -or I am a pretender.