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Author Topic: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!  (Read 33392 times)

3835

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Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« on: November 15, 2019, 06:25:56 PM »
No joke. Can’t believe it. More details to come. I heard it earlier and thought my friend had the info reversed. Made a call and I am floored.

 

ignitebowling

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2019, 06:38:35 PM »
Lot of people are going to have to reevaluate their stance on made in Mexico. I remember those post flooding ballreviews like it was yesterday
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tommyboy74

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3835

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2019, 06:48:54 PM »
It’s Motiv or Storm or Brunswick. I count 900 under the Storm umbrella. Not many options.

SVstar34

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2019, 06:53:00 PM »
As a business person, I'm really curious on the terms of the deal and why EBI did it

Juggernaut

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2019, 06:54:21 PM »
 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Learn to laugh, and love, and smile, cause we’re only here for a little while.

Impending Doom

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2019, 07:25:41 PM »
I'm flabbergasted.

BowlingforSoup

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2019, 07:33:57 PM »
Alright more balls at cheap closeout. ;D

lefty50

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2019, 08:12:32 PM »
So, let's see if I have this straight. Brunswick, who left many segments of bowling and moved what's left to Mexico, has bought EBI, and promises to keep all 7 brands active, built out of Mexico? Pushing out more American jobs?
Man.... I was just heading away from Storm too. My Statement Solid is great, and the Sauce was next, and Futura to replace my GB. Now I'm heading right back to Storm.... I agree, totally unexpected.

svengali

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2019, 08:51:36 PM »


But in all seriousness couldn't care less where the balls are poured. Keep the clearance prices coming and we're good.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2019, 08:53:12 PM by svengali »
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Walking E

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2019, 10:48:25 PM »
Well count me as stunned, and also saddened for the folks in Hopkinsville.

JamminJD

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2019, 11:01:37 PM »
Well count me as stunned, and also saddened for the folks in Hopkinsville.

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^

170 + people effected so sad for sure.. I know capitalism is king but it still burns none the less...

My friend had just started at EBI in January and told me several times that the numbers where good for EBI, he was totally floored yet he said the sales meeting they had last week gave him a weird feeling.

My understanding also is that Rob Gotchal was caught off guard as well...also sounds like Big B will retain all staffers at this time...

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2019, 05:01:26 AM »
I am not an official spokesman for Brunswick, so I respond here as a bowler who cares about bowling.  Brunswick has treated me like a king for many years, and I have loved my association with them.  Now... on to my response.

The people that used to own EBI are loaded, but some of their businesses have been in trouble financially, such as Banana Republic and Gap.  My guess is that they will continue to divest and simplify more, but it's just a hunch. 

Although this is a surprise to all, I look at it as another example of Brunswick's commitment to bowling, as opposed to EBI's former owners, who likely sold everything at a discount (otherwise, why would it be attractive to any prospective buyer) and walked away from bowling. 

Competition in the marketplace is usually a good thing, because it causes all involved to be better in order to compete.  The future for these 4 brands will be known at some point in the future, but at least they are owned by a company that cares about bowling. 

As I've said before, those of you who are stubborn enough to claim you're only buying U.S. products, while wearing clothing sewn elsewhere and driving cars assembled elsewhere, are limiting your options, but go ahead.  Your patriotism is selective at best.  I love my country, too, but this is a global economy whether we like it or not.

Storm is a great company.  Motiv has a smaller market share, but I wish them well because it's good for bowling to have the competition.  So, while I was surprised at Brunswick's acquisition because it seemingly came out of nowhere, I applaud it if it keeps bowling stronger in it's own little world. 

Bowling is not a "life or death" thing, it's recreation in an ever-increasing competitive market for people's recreation time and money.  I love bowling.  I want it to survive, but you've all seen the handwriting on the wall.  Bowling centers are closing at alarming rates because the property they sit on is suddenly more valuable than kept open as traditional bowling establishments. 

Time will answer many of these questions, but this should be viewed as a bowling company purchasing another bowling company.  Hopefully they can make it all work for the better of the game we love.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2019, 10:16:08 AM by notclay »

themagician

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #13 on: November 16, 2019, 07:50:32 AM »
Wild news, and as much as I don't love Brunswick being made in Mexico, they chose to do that versus go under. In this Ebonite acquisition, EBI was closing, regardless of a buyer or not, so Brunswick as Lane noted above is basically doing us a favor in buying the brands and technology, it will just be interesting to see what they do with it.

As a whole it's sad to see the bowling circle of manufacturers shrink again, but it would have been even worse if EBI just closed doors and not sold.
-Mike
-MOTIV Staff

CoorZero

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Re: Brunswick has bought Ebonite!!!!
« Reply #14 on: November 16, 2019, 08:49:53 AM »
Whew, Brunswick must have really wanted that KR Strikeforce contract back.