the Inbred
12-19-2002, 12:33 AM
ripped from T1.com:
Hi! It’s Tina from Trend.
I have said those words in some way, shape, or form for a decade plus. This is why the following is so hard to say. I no longer work for Trend Bike Source. I have left the building.
Some of you out there could care less about my leaving, but to my friends and to what seems like my family out there, I think you should know why. It wasn’t a decision that came easily to me or to my husband, Tom, whom many of you also know from Trend. He, along with all the other employees, left with me.
In a nutshell, my family started Trend way back in 1985. There were some managers who didn’t run it too well, so mom had to sell it in 1993 to save her butt. I was hired as the general manager and, quite frankly, was thrilled to do it. The new owners were just businessmen, and didn’t know anything about BMX, but saw that the books had potential. So, my wonderful crews and I have been working hard these past 9+ years to build Trend Bike to what it is today.
The main problem was that we were feeling stifled. We had dreams of where we wanted Trend Bike to go (sponsoring more riders, putting on jams and contests, organizing road trips etc.) but couldn’t make any major decisions because we weren’t the owners. We stayed in the hopes that we would eventually be able to buy the company and fulfill our dreams, but it became obvious that was not going to happen anytime soon. We couldn’t wait any longer, so we decided in February of 2002 to make a bid for Trend. If we couldn’t buy it, we would leave and start our own. Unfortunately, the terms of the contract ended up being unworkable. We tried, but couldn’t justify being in debt so much and ultimately paying someone else for our hard work. It might sound simple in black and white, but it wasn’t. Know that everything about this process and decision was difficult.
To the kids, moms, and dads, thanks for reading and letting me vent a little. I have been carrying some guilt about leaving Trend and, in my mind, abandoning you as my customers. This letter is a bit of therapy for me.
I wanted to say another thanks to all my pals in the BMX industry for all your support. My phone calls to you were bittersweet because I was so sad to give you the news, and then filled with joy at your kind words. Tom and I really can’t thank you enough… Joe, Taj, Dave, Mat, Ron, Sandy, Ryan, Crandall, Jeremy, Chris, Etnies, Zack, Matt, Steev, etc… the list is long. One more special thanks to my devoted employees Trey and Adam who left with us.
We hope you’ll call or visit us at Empire BMX.
WITH LOVE,
Tina and Tom
Tina and Tom were the only people that ever helped me out there:(
Hi! It’s Tina from Trend.
I have said those words in some way, shape, or form for a decade plus. This is why the following is so hard to say. I no longer work for Trend Bike Source. I have left the building.
Some of you out there could care less about my leaving, but to my friends and to what seems like my family out there, I think you should know why. It wasn’t a decision that came easily to me or to my husband, Tom, whom many of you also know from Trend. He, along with all the other employees, left with me.
In a nutshell, my family started Trend way back in 1985. There were some managers who didn’t run it too well, so mom had to sell it in 1993 to save her butt. I was hired as the general manager and, quite frankly, was thrilled to do it. The new owners were just businessmen, and didn’t know anything about BMX, but saw that the books had potential. So, my wonderful crews and I have been working hard these past 9+ years to build Trend Bike to what it is today.
The main problem was that we were feeling stifled. We had dreams of where we wanted Trend Bike to go (sponsoring more riders, putting on jams and contests, organizing road trips etc.) but couldn’t make any major decisions because we weren’t the owners. We stayed in the hopes that we would eventually be able to buy the company and fulfill our dreams, but it became obvious that was not going to happen anytime soon. We couldn’t wait any longer, so we decided in February of 2002 to make a bid for Trend. If we couldn’t buy it, we would leave and start our own. Unfortunately, the terms of the contract ended up being unworkable. We tried, but couldn’t justify being in debt so much and ultimately paying someone else for our hard work. It might sound simple in black and white, but it wasn’t. Know that everything about this process and decision was difficult.
To the kids, moms, and dads, thanks for reading and letting me vent a little. I have been carrying some guilt about leaving Trend and, in my mind, abandoning you as my customers. This letter is a bit of therapy for me.
I wanted to say another thanks to all my pals in the BMX industry for all your support. My phone calls to you were bittersweet because I was so sad to give you the news, and then filled with joy at your kind words. Tom and I really can’t thank you enough… Joe, Taj, Dave, Mat, Ron, Sandy, Ryan, Crandall, Jeremy, Chris, Etnies, Zack, Matt, Steev, etc… the list is long. One more special thanks to my devoted employees Trey and Adam who left with us.
We hope you’ll call or visit us at Empire BMX.
WITH LOVE,
Tina and Tom
Tina and Tom were the only people that ever helped me out there:(