Layoffs Reported at Sole Tech
adamsullivan
- February 09 2009
- 1,472 views
- 31 comments
TransWorld Business is spending some time at Sole Technology’s Lake Forest offices to learn what each of its brands have planned for Fall 2009. While on site, we had a chance to talk with Brenda Springer, Sole Tech’s public relations group manager, about how the company is changing and evolving. While recent rounds of layoffs continue to sweep the industry, Sole Tech announced last week that it had also experienced a cut in staff. Despite the layoffs, Sole Tech remains “a company who is charging ahead and is confident in what the future holds,” according to Springer. She also provided the following statement:
“As you know, when retailers face setbacks in their business, we feel the impact. Restructuring is never a fun topic; in fact, it’s not a topic we even want to discuss because it is pretty painful to go through. We did experience layoffs, but the rumors we’ve heard flying around on numbers are not correct – not even close – it’s been amazing to us to see how people are speculating and exaggerating numbers. What’s important for people to know is that compared to other players in the industry, we’re actually faring well and the restructuring that took place today did not carry the same weight that we’ve seen recently from others action sports companies.
The benefit of working for Sole Technology is that it is privately owned and does not have to meet the aggressive demands of share holders. Pierre is a businessman who is focused on cultivating a sustainable business. He has invested wisely and has planned for the long term - Sole Technology remains steady and stable. Retailers are challenged and our focus right now is trying to get out there and support them as best as we can. We have some exciting products hitting the market, we have some amazing riders on board who are bringing energy to our brands and elevating skateboarding – we’re staying positive despite some of the tough decisions the industry has had to face as of late.”
Stay tuned to TransWorld Business for more information about Sole Tech’s Fall 2009 lines.
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February 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
So how many people did they lay off?
February 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
It’s hard out there for a pimp right now.
What company is next with lay-offs? Burton?
February 9th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Pierre André’s got a strong pimp hand, and he ain’t scarred to use it when employees is actin’ a fool.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
“We did experience layoffs, but the rumors we?ve heard flying around on numbers are not correct ? not even close ? it?s been amazing to us to see how people are speculating and exaggerating numbers.” — Brenda Springer, Sole Tech?s public relations group manager
Hey Brenda, if you want to end the speculation and exaggeration, just say how many people got laid off. What’s the big freaking secret? Everyone agrees that this kind of news sucks. So why not just state the facts and move on?
February 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I heard it was 82.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
i guess the ones still at Sole Tech are “staying positive Despite layoffs ” THEY STILL HAVE FREAKIN’ JOBS !
February 9th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Who would win in a CEO French-off? Pierre at Sole Tech or Laurent Poopyvein at Burton?
February 9th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
all I can say skate/surf/snow industry is some stale poop right now …. after the smoke settles, kids are gonna way too smart for most of these lame ass companies who lost their mojo
February 9th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
i still got my job at sole tech but i feel for those who were let go….keep ya heads up
February 9th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Well, since Laurent can’t skate and might even ski on occasion, Pierre wins no contest.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
They already laid off…they axed the cali design office and move the program to burlington.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Thanks not his real name is it??? Poopy vien.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
way to rub in that you still have a job ass hole LOL!
February 10th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Why not job-share PR ?
February 10th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
If i could just hear of one H.R. person getting canned i could smile my way through unemployment.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
More layoff’s??? Just fricken greeeeaaattt!!! Puff’n Stuff ROCKS! Where’s Witchie Poo?
February 10th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
i see a chord has been struck at last , so will somebody at Sole Tech or from Sole Tech tell me what a ” core ” skate company needs with a Public Relations Group anyway? I guess the days of Marketing guys and gals throwing down a few hundred bucks for best trick etc. as a Market tool are over too , sad.
This is something Pierre’ should be able to relate to , the battle cry of the French Revolution was “kill the lawyers , Kill the Rich ” . Maybe skateboarding’s revolution should be ” lose the H.R. / P.R. suits !” Who’s with me ! ? !
February 10th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
it looks like TWRumorMill unearthed a rumor but only fed the monster. where’s the facts? the #’s? “Spending time”? Is TWRumorMill interning @ sole tech?
February 11th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I HEARD LAURENT OWNS A BUNCH OF QUIK STOCK AND IS PISSED.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:42 am
I HEARD IT IS-
February 11th, 2009 at 2:44 am
I HEARD IT WAS JUST 99 RED BALLOONS THEY CANCELED ORDERING FOR A PRE-PRESIDENTS DAY BASH O RAMA
February 11th, 2009 at 2:44 am
I HEARD THEY THROUGH KAKA AT LAURENT
February 11th, 2009 at 2:45 am
I HEARD THEY WILL
February 11th, 2009 at 2:45 am
I HEARD THAT
February 11th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Dun:
-Zip it, you ignorant…
You refer to NO sources, what so ever.
Everybody can say they “heard something”, fool.
And turn off that stupid caps lock of yours.
I know a little bit via the team managers, what’s likely to happen.
Can’t reveal details, of course.
But it won’t be all sunny.
What’s more interesting is Burton.
I “heard”, LOL, that the team director Rene Hansen has quit/gotten the boot.
Rumours, they’re not. He’s out of the chair.
Heard it at the X from “pretty” stabile sources.
What I’d like to know, is the reason…
-Anybody?
Tnx
February 11th, 2009 at 8:13 am
It’s politics as usual over there. If you don’t agree with certain people they will eventually find a way to clip you. “For right or wrong”. It’s really a shame, but that’s what you get over there. Is anybody really surprised?
February 11th, 2009 at 9:57 am
That article was written by Sole Tech PR. That’s not journalism. Come on TWB.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Tnx for reply, dude.
Rene Hansen has been the Marketing Team Director, and Jake has been extremely pleased with his work.
That’s why I’m surprised on this one.
As for sources, JP Solberg was on Burton for some time, Stian is his bro’ and team-mate of mine.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
The article wasn’t written by PR people, dummy. It was written by a TWS staffer, with quotes. Pull your head out. I’ll tell you how many people it was — it was 14 people. There, now shut up.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:57 am
I HEARD FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE, QUOTE UN QUOTE, THEY WANTED TO USHER PHELPS INTO THE HOTSEAT TO HELP RUN THEM INTO THE GROUND WITH STYLE.