https://endurance.biz/2021/industry-news/wattie-ink-is-now-spaero-triathlon/?amp
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Looks like they’re ditching the fake punk rock/Hot Topic poser look; I’m totally in favor of that, anyway
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To be fair, it trended toward that once Ryan started thinking he knew more about the brand and the graphic design aspect of the Wattie Ink brand that Heather and Sean created. Would have been nice for him to have allowed them to keep the Wattie Ink name when they parted ways with Ryan but I’m sure he preferred to kill the brand and make then watch rather than do the right thing. Time will tell if this new Spaero rebranding will succeed.
I’m just curious how Brennan Cassidy can be COO at both Eliel and Spaero simultaneously. I guess the thinking is that Eliel is pure cycling and Wattie/Spaero will be pure triathlon. Cool guy, though - have done some rides with him.
Sean & Heather are no longer involved? Did I miss something?
Sean & Heather are no longer involved? Did I miss something?
Sean & Heather are no longer involved? Did I miss something?
Long story short, they parted ways with Ryan since he held a majority investment in their Wattie Ink brand and their visions were different. They have moved on (without the Wattie Ink name) and started a new venture.
https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ost=7522768#p7522768
Steve,
Thanks for that.
I literally just found out about the Wattie Ink situation via that link. Even though I follow Endurance Sports closely, I had not seen this. However, it’s been an extraordinary year+ in the Endurance Sports business - A year of Races/Events cancelled, and on the product side of things, record sales and record challenges with supply chain disruption. It’s been the most crazy, and abstract year this business has perhaps ever experienced!
Whenever there is talk of a smaller brand that is grass-roots start-up, growing, expanding and then facing, being bought by a bigger entity, which is a common exit strategy. Perhaps not from the get-go, but when faced with the challenges of a Start-Up, mounting debt, mounting other business issues and challenges, and a Buyer or Buyers, waving BIG cheques in your face, it’s a crazy situation. I’ve known several good friends, in this very business who have been faced with this. ( I’m now adding Sean to that list!!)
A good read to understand more about this, and still one of the BEST business books I have ever read is Gary Erickson’s “Raising the Bar” - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29691.Raising_the_Bar Erickson is the Founder of Clif Bar. The book opens up with Gary sitting at his desk, with a multi $million offer from an undisclosed buyer of Clif Bar in front of him on his desk and him going through the thought process of what he is going to do!
I don’t know what the situation was behind the scenes with Wattie Ink - but the Erikson book and the Clif Bar Story is mandatory reading for anyone working for a company in this situation or owning a business or brand facing this situation!
I stuck to their more classic designs but I have almost exclusively Wattie Inc gear. I like it because of the quality.
Made in the USA generally means better quality and uniformity of sizing etc… Spaero Triathlon’s making a statement about made in Mexico is evidence of quality concern. Otherwise what’s the point? Being close to the border makes no difference. You take 4 steps over the border and it’s a different planet.
Just throw them in the heap with the other brands
I stuck to their more classic designs but I have almost exclusively Wattie Inc gear. I like it because of the quality.
Made in the USA generally means better quality and uniformity of sizing etc… Spaero Triathlon’s making a statement about made in Mexico is evidence of quality concern. Otherwise what’s the point? Being close to the border makes no difference. You take 4 steps over the border and it’s a different planet.
Just throw them in the heap with the other brands
Bingo. They kept claiming “Made in the USA” while quietly selling crap made in Mexico. There are threads talking about the item quality over the last year and the deception of selling gear that was made in Mexico. They claimed it was to the same standards but we all know that isn’t possible. I have a tri suit I bought fomr them this past year and it started falling apart after just 1 ride. I have tri suits of theirs that have lasted for years when they used to be made to higher standards and made in the USA.
I stuck to their more classic designs but I have almost exclusively Wattie Inc gear. I like it because of the quality.
Made in the USA generally means better quality and uniformity of sizing etc… Spaero Triathlon’s making a statement about made in Mexico is evidence of quality concern. Otherwise what’s the point? Being close to the border makes no difference. You take 4 steps over the border and it’s a different planet.
Just throw them in the heap with the other brands
Bingo. They kept claiming “Made in the USA” while quietly selling crap made in Mexico. There are threads talking about the item quality over the last year and the deception of selling gear that was made in Mexico. They claimed it was to the same standards but we all know that isn’t possible. I have a tri suit I bought fomr them this past year and it started falling apart after just 1 ride. I have tri suits of theirs that have lasted for years when they used to be made to higher standards and made in the USA.
Made in (Central) America?
I’m just curious how Brennan Cassidy can be COO at both Eliel and Spaero simultaneously. I guess the thinking is that Eliel is pure cycling and Wattie/Spaero will be pure triathlon. Cool guy, though - have done some rides with him.
Effectively they were the same company, just two different brands.
Made in the USA generally means better quality and uniformity of sizing etc… Spaero Triathlon’s making a statement about made in Mexico is evidence of quality concern. Otherwise what’s the point? Being close to the border makes no difference. You take 4 steps over the border and it’s a different planet.
Just throw them in the heap with the other brands
High end production of textiles, be it cycling, triathlon is moving to China and Mexico. Even some of the most revered brand names in cycling, with some of the longest & richest storylines in the sport are eyeing production out of their traditional production homes. You might as well throw just about everyone in that heap and within 5 years, everyone.
The problem is a lot of smaller brands don’t have the relationships to do business there, or at least insure the quality. You can’t just decided to move production there, DHL samples back and forth and boom you’ve got the same quality product. That’s a fingers crossed game with your products.
Mexico isn’t Central America.
** I have a tri suit I bought fomr them this past year and it started falling apart after just 1 ride. I have tri suits of theirs that have lasted for years when they used to be made to higher standards and made in the USA.**
Here’s a general conclusion that I have come to over the last number of years about custom cycling kits - quality has gone precipitously downhill over the years. I’ve had cycling kit that has lasted one season, and only been worn and washed (gently) a few times, and it’s done - colours fading, elasticity and fit starting to noticeably go. How can this be?
I have some older Sugoi and Louis Garneau kit from many years ago - that is still in great shape!
Made in (North) America
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I stand corrected! I thought MX was part of Central America.
Also wasn’t aware that Greenland was considered NA.
Made in (Central) America?
Not to be the geography police (but kinda to be the geography police), but Mexico is in North America.
don’t worry, we already have the SGP (Slowtwitch Geography Police) on it 
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I stuck to their more classic designs but I have almost exclusively Wattie Inc gear. I like it because of the quality.
Made in the USA generally means better quality and uniformity of sizing etc… Spaero Triathlon’s making a statement about made in Mexico is evidence of quality concern. Otherwise what’s the point? Being close to the border makes no difference. You take 4 steps over the border and it’s a different planet.
Just throw them in the heap with the other brands
Bingo. They kept claiming “Made in the USA” while quietly selling crap made in Mexico. There are threads talking about the item quality over the last year and the deception of selling gear that was made in Mexico. They claimed it was to the same standards but we all know that isn’t possible. I have a tri suit I bought fomr them this past year and it started falling apart after just 1 ride. I have tri suits of theirs that have lasted for years when they used to be made to higher standards and made in the USA.
Made in (Central) America?
Central America is in North America.