tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post5131779955680980631..comments2024-03-17T14:10:05.912-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Is Selling Out Selling Out?Chuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-12513991449981981872010-12-27T19:06:22.899-06:002010-12-27T19:06:22.899-06:00Paula Moore in the Denver Business Journal last we...Paula Moore in the Denver Business Journal last week caught a few more clues that this deal in done.<br />The Stranahan’s trademark was transferred to Proximo last Monday, according to a check of Colorado Secretary of State records Thursday. And on Dec. 14, Proximo acquired Stranahan’s Denver-area real estate for $3.07 million, Denver County property records show.<br /><br />http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2010/12/23/stranahans.html<br /><br />I can't help but think that Stranahan's silence about all this has actually devalued the business significantly. I hope Jess cashes the checks fast.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-12125779660914817512010-12-23T19:09:26.557-06:002010-12-23T19:09:26.557-06:00I think these kinds of deals show that the larger ...I think these kinds of deals show that the larger distributors/brand owner corporations control the market. Of course, with vodka some would say there's not much craft involved and so you could sell that brand (as above) to do more interesting things.<br /><br />However there is the very real question of why the public purchases a vodka such as Hangar One. Do they see it as better, or do they see it as local? If the latter, will they remain loyal to that brand. Maybe they won't. Or maybe the new owner will simply find many more new customers who think they're small.<br /><br />The "craft" distilling movement (not sure it's an industry) is really being supported by a small group of purchasers willing to pay higher prices for something made on a small scale instead of an industrial one. There has to be a reason for people to buy those products, and if they become made by a smaller version of Diageo, in a similar industrial manner, there might not be much point for the purchaser to pay the premium.<br /><br />While experimentation is a good thing for the industry, especially everything outside of vodka, the never ending stream of special whiskey/bourbon releases celebrating this-that-and-the-other with the only goal to increase the bottom line. I guess it's to be expected that if you can get a 20% or 30% premium or a portion of the whiskey that might have been blended into the product anyway, why not? With the secondary effect that if the people willing to pay a premium are buying the special stuff they might not have enough left over to buy the local, craft stuff.<br /><br />I think part of this too is that there isn;t as much brand loyalty as there might have been long ago.Delaware Phoenixhttp://www.delawarephoenix.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-6167043896599935192010-12-23T09:22:34.336-06:002010-12-23T09:22:34.336-06:00A very interesting subject that can definitely go ...A very interesting subject that can definitely go either way. While I'm not ever happy to see a small company five way to a larger one, I must say that at St. George/Hangar One here in the Bay Area, Proximo has only helped them grow and make even more experimental stuff. Basically Proximo bought the vodka and now helps churn it out at such a volume that Lance & Dave now have the bank to focus on other more interesting spirits. As a result we've seen the Firelit Coffee liqueur, our K&L St George Single Malt aged in apple brandy barrels, dungeness crab-infused vodka, and all kinds of other wacky fun stuff. I think the piece of mind that Proximo gives them by paying the bills, allows for more creative work that we here are really enjoying.David Dhttp://spiritsjournal.klwines.comnoreply@blogger.com