As someone who has an affinity toward the K2 ski brand due to its American heritage, I've been watching the brand struggle for quite some time now with share loss.
I always expected this past season to be a transitional year due to ownership change as well as management change. That said, as I look to next season, I must say that I am completely underwhelmed from what I am seeing thus far. Given their recent struggles, I believe the brand needs much bigger changes versus what I'm seeing so far.
To be fair, the new Recon boots that @Philpug previewed seem very interesting. However, K2's heritage is skis, and I just don't think they're doing enough given their recent struggles.
Let's help K2 management out and give them some ideas, because frankly I don't think the path they're on right now is anywhere close to getting it done. And feel free to say I'm wrong on this. I already anticipate @Philpug chiming in about how good their carving skis are, but unless the market decidedly starts shifting in that direction, I just don't think that is nearly enough.
For those who think the brand has been heading the wrong way for several years now, what would you change?
A) Do you disagree and K2 is in fact doing enough and just fine thank you very much?
B) Do you think the lineup is generally fine but marketing/other factors are the reason for underperformance?
C) Or it's not marketing such much as it's the actual skis/lineup? If so, what would you change, what are they missing?
D) Is being manufactured in China a huge stigma to overcome no matter how good of a ski they produce?
E) Is K2 so far gone in your eyes that it would take a miracle to revive it back to where the top selling brands/models are right now or you simply now have apathy for the brand after years of perceived mismanagement that you really don't care one way or the other at this point?
I always expected this past season to be a transitional year due to ownership change as well as management change. That said, as I look to next season, I must say that I am completely underwhelmed from what I am seeing thus far. Given their recent struggles, I believe the brand needs much bigger changes versus what I'm seeing so far.
To be fair, the new Recon boots that @Philpug previewed seem very interesting. However, K2's heritage is skis, and I just don't think they're doing enough given their recent struggles.
Let's help K2 management out and give them some ideas, because frankly I don't think the path they're on right now is anywhere close to getting it done. And feel free to say I'm wrong on this. I already anticipate @Philpug chiming in about how good their carving skis are, but unless the market decidedly starts shifting in that direction, I just don't think that is nearly enough.
For those who think the brand has been heading the wrong way for several years now, what would you change?
A) Do you disagree and K2 is in fact doing enough and just fine thank you very much?
B) Do you think the lineup is generally fine but marketing/other factors are the reason for underperformance?
C) Or it's not marketing such much as it's the actual skis/lineup? If so, what would you change, what are they missing?
D) Is being manufactured in China a huge stigma to overcome no matter how good of a ski they produce?
E) Is K2 so far gone in your eyes that it would take a miracle to revive it back to where the top selling brands/models are right now or you simply now have apathy for the brand after years of perceived mismanagement that you really don't care one way or the other at this point?