The North Face vs Patagonia - Blazing Trails | 2

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2020

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s 1970 and The North Face’s new owner Hap Klopp is on a mission to turn the dirtbag outdoor store he bought into an industry trailblazer. But with outdoor activity still a niche pastime, he’s going to have to do more than create gear – he’s going to have to create a market too.

But Klopp’s not the only one tapping into new opportunities. Climbing equipment maker Yvon Chouinard is about to make a chance discovery in Scotland. It will lead him into the apparel business through a new venture called Patagonia.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to business wars at free on Amazon music.
0:04.8	Download the app today.
0:07.0	It's summer 1970 and the North Face's owner, Hap Klaub, is driving through Yosemite.
0:21.9	Between the tall red furrors lining the roadside, he catches glimpses of El Capitan's massive
0:27.2	granite face.
0:29.4	It's been two years since he bought the North Face for $60,000 and this former high school
0:34.8	quarterback has been moving fast ever since.
0:38.0	The North Face is no longer just a retailer.
0:40.5	It's now a manufacturer, too, producing high quality outdoor clothing, sleeping bags,
0:45.1	intense, in a small factory in Berkeley.
0:48.7	Gear so good, it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
0:52.9	But there's a problem.
0:54.9	Every fall and winter, sales collapse as the cold weather obliterates interest in camping
0:59.8	and hiking.
1:01.1	And if the North Face is going to survive, Klaub has to stop that seasonal downturn.
1:07.3	And that's why he's come to Yosemite.
1:12.4	He parks at the National Park's headquarters in Yosemite Village.
1:16.3	He's gotten to know this building well in recent months and now he's back, hoping yet again
1:20.8	to win over the officials inside.
1:24.4	He heads into the headquarters meeting room where officials are waiting for him to make
1:27.6	his case.
1:28.6	Good morning, everyone.
	...

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