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I cant see how they can move marketing out of that building! The building IS their marketing. This news cant be good for the big O die hards. I wonder what Janard is thinking?
Oakley Announces Structural Changes as Final Move by Luxottica’s Organizational Streamlining
Read more at http://business.transworld.net/news/oakley-announces-structural-changes…
Oakley Announces Structural Changes as Final Move by Luxottica’s Organizational Streamlining
Read more at http://business.transworld.net/news/oakley-announces-structural-changes…
The comment section of that link has a few more interesting pieces of info.....One of which I posted below.
"It seems this article conveniently left off the fact that 400+ people lost their jobs today at the Oakley HQ. People were laid off so jobs can be moved to other states and other countries. Luxottica killed this brand and were absolutely terrible in doing business internally and with the public. From treating their employees like numbers, to implementing cheap manufacturing processes which are proven to yield lower quality (ultimately creating more known defects which were brushed under the rug). To them it is all about how much they can squeeze out of this company, not how to grow the brand or servicing the customers which keep Oakley alive. These lay-offs were completely avoidable. Customer Service, Warranty, Operations, Sales, Web, Accounting, and many other departments were dissolved today. From the start of this integration, these employees were lied to and put through a very unprofessional hell. Processes were implemented by luxottica which set everyone up for failure. People were told their jobs were safe only to find out that they were being laid off. They ran this brand into the ground and destroyed the Oakley DNA. I watched it first hand from the inside and out. Lux grabbed Oakley, wrapped their hands around its neck, and strangled it. 400 local people had to go home today and tell their loved ones that they were let go from a company they once loved. I am so glad that they went to the press before any employee could actually tell anyone what was going on. I hope everyone knows what really happened, not just the Lux version."
Sad.
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When you're involved in an organization and the owner decides to cash out it is probably time to leave, like it or not. I don't know that much about Oakley but it's the same old story time and time again for companies that were once great.
Buisness has its ups and downs but be respectful to those that made your comapny go, even when your company can no longer go.
Devastated. LUX has officially dismantled everything it took decades to build. Shakes head. Rolls eyes. Deep depression. Building Oakley took inventions wrapped in art and an army of great people. It now has been reduced to a bottom line number. Sad day for me and everyone who invested their heart and soul in the "O".
But....bless him and his new ventures like Red, big fan and I appreciate his feeling...but really he reduced it to a bottom line number when he cashed out, and that a company like LUX reduces things to a bottom line number going forward is about as shocking as Captain Renoux discovering gambling at Rick's.
Sometimes you can't eat your cake and have it, too. There's a little eyeglass company back east named Shuron that has been around since the 30's and 40's whose designs have been ripped by most other manufacturers, including LUX's Ray Ban (eg. Ray Ban's clubman). Shuron frames are about half the price.
You want to preserve culture, don't give up control.
Pit Row
These changes at Oakley were inevitable with a buyout. Jim built a multi-billion dollar business and sold it at the right time. Luxottica is a monopoly. Watch the 60 minutes on them, it's pretty good.
Fuck. For a smart guy, he was either blinded by $$$$$ or not street smart at all. This is what these companies do. Buy, gut people, use the brand name to profit. He should have seen this coming if he really cared about the company and the brand he built
Trust me, coming from the inside, Jim truly cared about the brand, the innovation, the design, the culture, and the employees. Even after the sell, he would be in the Oakley offices trying to direct the design team in the right direction. He was in meetings with the LUX executives... sometimes getting into heated arguments with them on what they were trying to do. Although he had no official say, he tried.
In any case it sucks knowing 400 folks lost their jobs in a deceitful move by Lux. I'll never buy another Oakley product again. Sure glad I already support and have 10+ sets of EKS Goggles.
I was able to ride their pump track and jumps in Foothill Ranch with friends a couple years ago.
As a long time OC resident, that company is special to a lot of us. Very sad to see it go.
The BMX jumps and pump track are awesome. They used to have a half pipe as well. The full size indoor basketball court was cool too, but that was removed years and years ago to make room for office space.
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