The North Face vs Patagonia - Patagucci | 3

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2020

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s the late 1970s and Patagonia’s living hand to mouth and looking for a way to stoke sales. But when founder Yvon Chouinard suggests making a jersey from an unusual fabric, Patagonia creates a mountain staple and finds its products becoming a favorite of the catwalk crowd.

Meanwhile, The North Face faces tough terrain as Asian imports undercut its American-made gear and the growth in backpacking sales flatlines.

But as both companies rise higher and higher up the corporate ladder, Chouinard and North Face CEO Hap Klopp find themselves wondering what it’s all for.

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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.
0:04.6	Download the app today.
0:07.0	It's 1976 and Melinda Schunard is walking through the corridors of the massive California
0:21.0	merchandise textile market in Los Angeles' fashion district.
0:25.9	She dips in and out of fabric mills showrooms.
0:29.2	She's hunting for a rare polyester fabric that's both insulating and water resistant.
0:35.2	It's called Pyle Fleas, Melinda's husband Yvonne, Patagonius founder, has heard that
0:40.7	North Atlantic fishermen wear pile fleece sweaters and he reckons rock climbers go crazy
0:46.6	for them too.
0:48.5	But first, they've got to find a supplier.
0:51.2	And so far, Melinda's search is coming up empty handed.
0:56.2	She turns a corner and spots the showroom for Maulden Mills.
1:00.1	She heads inside and approaches a salesman.
1:02.4	Hi, I'm after Pyle Fleas.
1:05.2	Do you supply it?
1:06.9	The salesman raises an eyebrow.
1:09.2	That's an unusual request, but yeah, we do.
1:12.4	I think there's some samples out back.
1:14.8	Give me a minute, I'll be right back.
1:17.2	The salesman returns carrying two rolls of fabric under his arms.
1:21.5	In ugly tan color, the other, an off-putting powder blue, the salesman places the rolls
1:27.6	on the counter.
	...

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