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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 13, 2011 - 04:45pm PT
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I bet Yvon gives a lot more than just 1% of profits to
environmental protection/restoration.
And that doesn't tell what he donates personally either.
I'm sure he not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk too.
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wildone
climber
Troy, MT
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Mar 14, 2011 - 10:57am PT
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If you're an employee and you get arrested protesting, they take care of your bail and legal costs. And you don't get fired for missing work.
Andd.....rumor is they sometimes contribute money to groups performing direct action. Read that in a blog a number of years ago from an interview with YC himself.
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Mar 14, 2011 - 12:04pm PT
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YC is a standup Guy and Patagonia makes great stuff and try's to give back to the Commuinty. But I guess that you Guys give back more, oh wait I guess that breeding is giving back, carry on. . .df
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dave goodwin
climber
carson city, nv
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Mar 14, 2011 - 12:53pm PT
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It is admirable to advocate smaller business and less consumerism.
What I find ironic is that when I contacted Patagonia a few years ago to sell their product in my shop, their response was that the square footage and gross annual sales of my store was not enough for me to become a dealer.
on top of that if we were to become a dealer we would also have to order fishing specific items even though we were a climbing/kayaking/ski shop.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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Mar 14, 2011 - 01:08pm PT
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the la-la times writes hagiography for anyone local. don't ask them to think critically.
every hangtag in a patagonia store reads, "suggested retail price". does that mean customers can make suggestions too? $30 for a pair of capilene briefs? best briefs in the world, but $30? might i suggest $16.99? $8.99?
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Duke
Social climber
PSP
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Mar 14, 2011 - 01:48pm PT
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It is 1% of revenues (top line), not profit. Big difference.
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Anastasia
climber
hanging from an ice pic and missing my mama.
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Mar 26, 2011 - 10:46am PT
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It's a huge contribution when you add the fact that "they" don't have to. I don't see Coca cola and other big swingers stepping in that arena.
AFS
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melski
Trad climber
bytheriver
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Mar 26, 2011 - 02:53pm PT
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anyone that standsup is a target,,everyday we make important choices,,bla,bla bla,,YC rocks,votes =dollars ,,its the bottom line,,wheres my felt soles?
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Vulgarian
Trad climber
Riverside CA. (at the base of Mt. Rubidoux)
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Mar 28, 2011 - 03:38pm PT
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This is all a bit like playing music while the ship sinks. Just like that scenario there are too many people and not enough life boats.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 28, 2011 - 04:15pm PT
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Or maybe it is more about standing on deck making juvenile remarks about
the futility of launching the life boats?
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FTOR
Sport climber
CA
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Mar 28, 2011 - 08:38pm PT
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i've always wondered the connection between the ascendancy of the outdoor 'fashion' industry in relation to the mutual friendships between its key players. obviously, tomkins was way ahead of the pack in realizing the money was to be made in selling lifestyle and brought that to fruition in espirit from his humble beginnings in northface. seems choinard and robbins were well mentored on his model. i imaging their are a few in this audience who may have interesting perspectives to share on this. btw, espirit kept more than a few of the local climber types in well paying jobs, guys like herbert and pratt.
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Al_Smith
climber
San Francisco, CA
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Mar 29, 2011 - 02:12pm PT
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One must keep in mind when considering the veracity of Chouinard's comments/thoughts that he was also on the cutting edge of clean climbing techniques.
In 1972, 70% of his income came from his pitons. He launched the 1972 catalog replete with articles/essays on clean climbing techniques and introduced aluminum hexcentrics and stoppers. This would be an unthinkable business decision unless he truly believed in preserving the rock. He was in effect cannibalizing his own business to try to do the right thing. Its easy in retrospect to say that this was a brilliant decision given that stoppers caught on and enriched Chouinard. At the time however, there was a huge psychological barrier to overcome in getting climbers to abandon the presumed safety of a hammered in piton for removable stoppers. If this failed, his business would likely have been decimated.
Future generations (mine included!) must be grateful for these efforts. Otherwise, Yosemite's beautiful cracks might be 'all climbed out' by this point.
Later, Patagonia did an environmental study and found that cotton was the worst product for the environment. They switched to all pesticide free cotton and this all but created a new secular growth industry for organic cotton production in California. (Think local? You betcha.)
It's also very important to note that the corporate giving program is 1% of sales or 10% of profits whichever is greater. That's pretty massive vs. the norm in corporate philanthropy.
We as climbers should be especially grateful for any environmental protection efforts (regardless of size or scale).
Note: I've never purchased anything from Patagonia (as I'm not a rich man), but I'm not going to fault the man for wanting to give a damn about the impacts of his business.
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