We have confirmed that the Ben Hogan Equipment Company in Ft. Worth, Texas laid off 100% of its employees this morning. This effectively shuts down the business and would appear to end one of the best comeback stories of the last several years.
The word disappointing doesn’t begin to describe this, especially for those with fond memories of the original Hogan brand.
Inside sources tell MyGolfSpy there’s no word on whether this means the company is closing up shop for good, but the fact that everyone is being laid off would seem to indicate there’s no tomorrow.
Sources tell MyGolfSpy that personnel reductions were discussed at a recent Board of Directors meeting, but nothing to this extent.
Other sources also tell MyGolfSpy that Hogan owes money to several media outlets and vendors, and has so for a while, which is always an indication of a struggling operation. Other sources report that Perry Ellis, the owner of the Hogan brand who licensed the name to the Ben Hogan Company, has had concerns over the current status of the golf equipment company.
Hogan returned to the equipment business in 2014, introducing the Fort Worth 15 forged irons and TK 15 forged wedges. The equipment was well received industry-wide, but Hogan struggled with distribution during its first year. The business plan at the time included selling through Green Grass distribution and certified fitters exclusively, as well as through Hogan’s website. More retail distribution was brought on in 2016, as Hogan added the game improvement PTx irons, VKTR hybrids and Fort Worth Hi utility irons to its offering. There had been plans to add metal woods in 2017.
Ben Hogan started the company in 1953, and it survived a series of ownership changes until 2007, when Callaway mothballed the brand. Perry Ellis purchased the brand a few years later, and then licensed the brand to Terry Koehler, the owner of SCOR golf, in 2013. Koehler introduced the new Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company in 2014 and debuted the new product line at the PGA Merchandise Show that January.
Hogan moved into lavish, new headquarters and assembly facility in Forth Worth that spring. Just last summer, Koehler resigned as CEO of Hogan and was replaced by industry veteran Scott White.
from MyGolfSpy http://ift.tt/2iLztoK
No comments:
Post a Comment