Honest exit interviews in action sports industry are rare. But apparently Dave Appel is one of those rare honest guys. Last October, Dave was cut when Burton moved The Program back to home base in Burlington. And now, in an interview on YoBeat.com, he lays it down so straight it gives us the chills. Here is a slice:
“For the record”…I don’t think I was a product of the economic downturn at all. I was a product of piss-poor management. When I started at Forum, snowboards made up less than 50% of the hardgoods department and when I left, it made up 67%, not too mention my category had the highest grossing margin at The Program. Also, for the first time in Forum’s history, they won 4 Goodwood awards, 2 years in a row while I was there. In regards to the way the boards ride and hold up, I was a one-man show. The graphics of course were done by the artists we all know and love. So, “They” “downsized” and relocated my department from one person (me) to a team of 8 people. It was complete and utter bullshit.
For the rest of one of the best industry interviews we’ve read all year, click the link.
[Link: YoBeat.com]
Dave Appel is the real deal yo!
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