[slackline]

http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1340295/peak-profits-business-rock-climbing/

[Jaspersharpe]

Really good that. Nice to see some actual figures to back it up for a change.

[Muenchener]

Yep, I found that interesting too. Striking how trivial the actual *climbing* part of the industry is; makes me we're fortunate  to have companies like DMM, Petzl, Sportiva making such excellent kit.

I guess for the like of DMM and Petzl the main business these days is largely rope access/military stuff, and the recreational equipment is pretty much a sideline because it was the founder's hobby (?)

[tomtom]

Great article. More than the usual 3 sources of info and some interesting soundbites...

Anyone fancy opening another bouldering wall in Sheffield?

[tommytwotone]

I'm game. We just need to make sure there's plenty of room near the Beastmakers for ironing boards.

[duncan]

Yep, I found that interesting too. Striking how trivial the actual *climbing* part of the industry is; makes me we're fortunate  to have companies like DMM, Petzl, Sportiva making such excellent kit.

That shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has worked in outdoor retail and has some insight into the relative profit margins of different items. Climbing is the window-dressing, often literally, to the serious business of selling anoraks to dog-walkers. Applies more widely too I imagine.

Good luck to Fred Stone, it was a ballsy move to set up a central London wall, and he knows who pays his bills (I'm not one of them!). The latest iteration of The Arch is the wall furthest evolved from rock-climbing training facility to soft-play for grown-ups so far.

[Paul B]

Yep, I found that interesting too. Striking how trivial the actual *climbing* part of the industry is; makes me we're fortunate  to have companies like DMM, Petzl, Sportiva making such excellent kit.

If we're talking anoraks here then sure, but for gear the relative profit margins do make me question why we have companies (especially more than 1 i.e. Wild Country / DMM) producing hardware!

[T_B]

If it was just about money, we'd all be working in London as traders. Ego and lifestyle come in to play.

[Stubbs]

Thanks for sharing Slackers, v interesting.

I guess it's easy to say that new climbing walls don't take custom from older ones when your potential customer base is a few million for London.

[AlistairB]

Really good that. Nice to see some actual figures to back it up for a change.

+1

[Johnny Brown]

'I still find the whole thing a little bit vulgar,' says Gresham, who is 43. 'But I try and participate, because I should.'

Jeez, that's a bit rich. Anyone else remember all those photos fifteen years ago where he and Tim competed to fit the most logos on their tight t-shirts whilst posing on hidden top-ropes? Pretty much the nadir of climbing photography. We can thank the democratising effect of digital photography for a little more realism nowadays.

[petejh]

Interesting article thanks Slackers.

'I still find the whole thing a little bit vulgar,' says Gresham, who is 43. 'But I try and participate, because I should.'

Jeez, that's a bit rich. Anyone else remember all those photos fifteen years ago where he and Tim competed to fit the most logos on their tight t-shirts whilst posing on hidden top-ropes? Pretty much the nadir of climbing photography. We can thank the democratising effect of digital photography for a little more realism nowadays.

Gresham and Emmett cashed in their souls in exchange for media profile long ago  If there are two climbers I most associate with pushing their profile in the media, it's these two tellers of preposterous tales.
Gresham has made some interesting comments recently about hype-versus-substance - in this month's issue of Climb for instance he makes an impassioned case against social media hype. I found myself completely agreeing with what he wrote whilst thinking it was weird coming from one of the climbers who set the bar for hype! (justified or not is a different question - plenty of people well below Gresham's level)

[dave]

Perhaps old age has brought about a road-to-Damascus style conversion?