Today, Sole Technology owner Pierre André Senizergues, called Shop-Eat-Surf (apparently it’s his favorite shopping, eating, and surfing blog) and told them that he is officially “putting éS on hiatus.” Which is a nice way of saying putting the footwear brand out of its misery.
Sole Tech will deliver éS product through Spring 2012. Then the brand will go on “creative retreat,” Pierre said. . . “At the end of the day, it’s about being ready with the dynamic of economy, being focused and pushing what’s the best,” he said. “And what needs adjustment, you put back in the garage and retool it before relaunching it at the right time.”
Well, that’s one down. Wonder which brand will be the next to “take a break”?
[Link: Shop Eat Surf]
What sole tech doesn’t want its retailers to know: Altamont is also broke and will be closing its doors within the next 6 months but they have so much inventory on hand and contracts with pro riders that they have to stay afloat only as long as it takes.
RIP sole tech.
He must have to cut back so he can finish this: http://www.boardistan.com/?p=24285
How many people lost their jobs because of this?
Another one bites the dust. Votes for who’s next?
Pierre isn’t even running things anymore. Here’s an internal that went out months ago.
Team,
Good afternoon and I hope you are all well.
As you know when we met as a company a few months ago, I explained that since our sales did not match our projections for the year, we realized that we needed to engage a new strategy. We brought in a strong consultant team with advisors who have been conducting a review on every area of the company. They’ve been working closely with me and with key leadership to identify what needs to be done. We are now at the end of this analysis period and the plan has been drafted.
I want to remain transparent to you as we begin unrolling the new plan, as I know that we will be making some changes that will impact growth and our day-to-day working. Today, we make our first move in the new strategy and I’m appointing Domenic Aversa as our interim COO and Larry Hennessy as our interim CFO. Both have held similar positions in multiple companies in the past with great success. Our new interim COO and CFO will be in place until we begin seeing healthy growth.
In the coming week, Domenic, Larry and I will meet with the Executive Team and Leadership from across the company to discuss the upcoming changes in further detail. The Leadership team will then meet with their respective departments and share this information with all of you, so that you will stay informed.
These are significant changes, but ones that I believe are necessary to combat the challenging economy, the state of retail and unpredictable nature of manufacturing in China. Our goal is to stabilize sales, identify the key infrastructure of the company as it relates to our size and our operations and set us up for sustained business and growth. This will take some effort and tough calls will have to be made, but I believe this will be better for the benefit of Sole Technology as we continue to pursue what we are passionate about.
I appreciate your understanding and your collaboration going forward with Domenic and Larry. Thank you for your constant support, hard work and dedication especially in this time of change. Sole Technology remains great because of your contribution and my hope is that we’ll make it even better moving forward!
Sincerely,
Pierre Andre Senizergues
For more on Dominic and Larry, the guys at the helm of a ‘skater run’ company that’s committed to their roots:
http://www.morrisanderson.com/industry-experience/industry-team/
Hopefully this will open the eye’s of skateboarders and they will start buying brands that were created to make shoes for skateboarding. This is sad…
Check out Dominic and Larry,
how many nights do you think they spent bombing parking structures?
It’s obvious most of the comments are guys that are new to the game and have no idea of the contributions Pierre has made to skateboard footwear. Pierre practically re-invented the skate shoe in the early 90’s and developed professional skate footwear sponsorships of skateboarders that allowed dozens of dudes to stack big bucks…. even more Pierre has been innovative while keeping it pure.
Friends, ES is a legacy brand and will come back.
Dominic and Larry may or may not be part of a skateboard world, however they are seasoned professionals that understand the dynamics of business and how to keep a business in business.
If Pierre happens to read this blog….know that you have mad respect from a guy that has been in the game since day one and understands business. Be strong and continue to keep it real.
Haters….I don’t work for ST and I don’t work for anyone in the skateboard industry. And yes, I bomb parking structures weekly.
The best part about skate companies going out of business is that eventually, unemployed bottom-feeder bloggers in their 40s who don’t skate or contribute to skateboarding in any way (like the owner of this site) won’t have anything left to talk shit about.
Who’s the Guy above? Hating on a repost of an official realease from Sol Tech. Why not hate on the failed management who didn’t make the necessary changes in time to save es’. Sol Tech is a liberal progressive brand that lacks leadership with the balls to tell the owner that their eco stance was a money pit. Sol is riddled with management redundancies. Clock is ticking in Lake Forest.
shop, eat, surf is a website that charges industry executives so they could read about themselves…who’s gives a fuck.
eS is awesome! sucks a great brand is no longer and peoples lives have been affected.
thank nike for this, their shareholders would appreciate it.
LOL…BTW…it’s Sole Tech not Sol Tech……
Sole Tech is a great company and will remain a great company.
Failed Tech. Wonder how under water their campus is?
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