Our view:
- This is almost certainly a good deal for Joe Matuska - he is a good guy and deserves to have good stuff happen to him.
- It is terrible news for the Canadian staff, several of whom we know and respect. We hope they land safely on their feet!
- We don't carry Bending Branches paddles, but the industry seems to think well of them, so hopefully the AquaBound brand is in good hands.
- However, as a Canadian dealer, it was wonderful to deal with a Canadian manufacturer. Prices will almost inevitably go up here in Canada because of increased freight costs, brokerage fees and the strengthening US$.
- AquaBound was the many-time winner of the Accessory Supplier of the Year in the paddlesports industry, in large part because they kept a massive inventory of paddles on hand to fill orders on the fly. Most paddle manufacturers don't, and we wonder where Bending Branches will go with this. Only time will tell on that.
- When we think back to other recent Canadian manufacturers being moved to the USA (Necky & Current Designs come to mind), we remember that it was a disaster for a year (or much longer in Necky's case). These moves are never as simple as they seem on paper. Hopefully, that won't be the case here, but we are not holding our breath, just in case.
Regardless of everything else, it is a terrible shame whenever another quality Canadian manufacturer gets swallowed up by the Americans. We will continue to carry AquaBound, until there is a good reason not to do so.
{rokintensedebate}
