Men's Warehouse Trying To Buy Allen Edmonds! PLEASE NO!

[avsmusic1]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles...151892364648738?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_business

I stumbled across this article today and my stomach dropped. I wouldn't say I hate MW - they are a perfectly acceptable solution to an entry level market need. However, I feel virtually certain they would ruin the iconic shoe brand that so many of us have come to love.

 

[professorchaos]

Ack!

 

[Face Bannon]

Just switch to Alden if need be. The companies are very similar.

 

[Trent0341]

I really hope this doesn't happen. I'll definitely be looking for another company (most likely Alden) if this does happen.

 

[avsmusic1]

I've been debating the alden swap but the price tag on the AE can be tough enough as it is. If this deal goes down then I may just have to stock up lol

 

[JaDo]

I thought Jos. A. Bank was buying Men's Wearhouse.

Edit: I only saw the first sentence of the article, but it looks like the JAB acquisition of MW is still possible.

 

[Perrito-Incognito]

I thought Jos. A. Bank was buying Men's Wearhouse.

Edit: I only saw the first sentence of the article, but it looks like the JAB acquisition of MW is still possible.

Still possible, but I believe the AE purchase (IF it goes through) is supposed to help prevent JAB's purchase of MW.
WSJ had good article on it today.

 

[BullGoose]

Yikes!! That cannot be good.

 

[jpakstis]

I thought Jos. A. Bank was buying Men's Wearhouse.

It sounds like MW's purchase of AE might be a way to keep JAB from purchasing them.

As an AE fan, I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach. I think MW is trying to upgrade their brand. They chucked George "You're Going to Like..." Zimmer and brought Joseph Abboud back and bought his line (including his factory in New Bedford, MA). I don't think this is as much of a "death knell" as it first seemed. Now, if it was JAB buying AE.

As for buying Aldens instead as they are essentially the same. Yes, they are very similar, except for price. A big difference in price.

 

[framos242]

Nooooo!!!!! It should be the other way around....

 

[avsmusic1]

It sounds like MW's purchase of AE might be a way to keep JAB from purchasing them.

As an AE fan, I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach. I think MW is trying to upgrade their brand. They chucked George "You're Going to Like..." Zimmer and brought Joseph Abboud back and bought his line (including his factory in New Bedford, MA). I don't think this is as much of a "death knell" as it first seemed. Now, if it was JAB buying AE.

As for buying Aldens instead as they are essentially the same. Yes, they are very similar, except for price. A big difference in price.

I'm with you that it doesn't mean certain death, but it's hard to look at it optimistically. I feel fairly comfortable stating that it will mean more bad than good in the long run.

I wasn't kidding about me previous post either, if this deal goes through then it's very probable that I will pick up a couple "safety" pairs to hold me over for the next 10+ years and then just keep an eye on ebay.

 

[Trent0341]

I'm with you that it doesn't mean certain death, but it's hard to look at it optimistically. I feel fairly comfortable stating that it will mean more bad than good in the long run.

I wasn't kidding about me previous post either, if this deal goes through then it's very probable that I will pick up a couple "safety" pairs to hold me over for the next 10+ years and then just keep an eye on ebay.

I agree that it doesn't mean certain death. The problem is that I'll have no way of knowing (most likely) for years how or if it will affect AE. The risk isn't worth it in my opinion. I may follow your strategy of buying several pairs. This would give me the opportunity to see how the acquisition would affect them and let me know if I should move to something else or stay with AE.

 

[jpakstis]

I'm with you that it doesn't mean certain death, but it's hard to look at it optimistically. I feel fairly comfortable stating that it will mean more bad than good in the long run.

I'm not trying to make a larger point, I'm just asking: when the current owners (Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison) purchased the company, I wonder what the reaction was like? I've only really "known" AE as a brand since 2010-2011.

 

[avsmusic1]

Good points. I'm just worried. The previous chairman made claims that they could save as much as 60% if they were willing to offshore the mfg to China. I'm truely worried that, as the owership becomes progressively more broad and corporate, the new leadership wont be able to fight the short-sighted appeal of making such a move.

p.s. I don't know it I made this clear but when I say that I'll pick up a few pairs I mean I will purchase some of the pre-buyout inventory

 

[Greek Trojan]

It sounds like MW's purchase of AE might be a way to keep JAB from purchasing them.

As an AE fan, I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach. I think MW is trying to upgrade their brand. They chucked George "You're Going to Like..." Zimmer and brought Joseph Abboud back and bought his line (including his factory in New Bedford, MA). I don't think this is as much of a "death knell" as it first seemed. Now, if it was JAB buying AE.

As for buying Aldens instead as they are essentially the same. Yes, they are very similar, except for price. A big difference in price.

Yeah that is the main concern. For many people here (and in general), AE are one of the few widely available brands of quality traditional/leather dress shoes. I wouldn't worry about it yet as its not worth the worry but, as mentioned, the temptation is high for a new CEO/ownership to stealthily move manufacturing overseas, lower quality/take shortcuts, and rake in large profits with consumer lag for several years before they catch on to the quality dip.

 

[StillShaving]

I would expect that any new buyer of Allen Edmonds company to understand that most if not all of their brand value is based on making quality shoes in USA. With traditional styling, recrafting, and great customer service being part of the mix. Their marketing tag line is "An American Original", so I doubt the new owner would move production offshore as it would damage the value of what they just purchased. At least one might hope.

That said, I imagine that the average young man in his 20's has never heard of AE, so with enough capital infusion their could be a marketing push around styling versus quality or origin. But I would not expect that approach, as it would probably fail.

 

[graysonhenryrussell]

A&E was sold in 2006 & believe me what they are putting out today is not even close to the shoes before 2006. I have been using their shoes since the late 60s.

 

[Cuttingboard]

I thought Jos. A. Bank was buying Men's Wearhouse.

Edit: I only saw the first sentence of the article, but it looks like the JAB acquisition of MW is still possible.

Both terrible!

 

[mhdena]

If enough people were buying their shoes (you could also insert any company product here) there would not be a reason to be bought.

 

[mretzloff]

If you ask me, Allen Edmonds' ship sailed the moment they decided to start manufacturing shoes outside of the USA.