S&W's Turnaround Is Golden
It comes as no surprise to me that gunmaker Smith & Wesson is on a roll. The news about S&W is this: From a net loss of five million bucks in fiscal year 2002, the company is now poised for a record year. Sales are up almost 43 percent from a year ago...sales of S&W pistols, one of which is on my hip, are up a whopping 87 percent. Sales of S&W's M and P units...military and police sidearms...are skyrocketing.
In short, for a company that just four years ago was in sad shape, the present is rosy and the future is bright.
How did this happen?
Mike Golden. Mike is the president of Smith & Wesson, took over just two years ago. Mike's the guy who rescued Black and Decker a few years back, added the DeWalt line of tools to Black and Decker's portfolio and restored Black and Decker's financial health.
When the owners of Smith & Wesson looked for a miracle man, they picked Mike Golden. It was, pun intended, a golden decision.
Cam Edwards of NRA News introduced me to Mike in Milwaukee earlier this year. Just a few months back, I spent an evening with Mike in Oklahoma City and heard his personal version of the Smith & Wesson turn-around story. He credited the team he brought in...the incredible power of the S&W brand name...everything he credited but his own savvy and marketing expertise.
By just talking to Mike Golden, it was apparent S&W was about to reap huge rewards from his leadership. The guy just exudes confidence.
I'm tickled to see this happen. Mike deserves it, S&W deserves it and, as importantly, the firearms industry deserves it. It is a great American business success story. Hats off to Mike Golden and Smith & Wesson.
In short, for a company that just four years ago was in sad shape, the present is rosy and the future is bright.
How did this happen?
Mike Golden. Mike is the president of Smith & Wesson, took over just two years ago. Mike's the guy who rescued Black and Decker a few years back, added the DeWalt line of tools to Black and Decker's portfolio and restored Black and Decker's financial health.
When the owners of Smith & Wesson looked for a miracle man, they picked Mike Golden. It was, pun intended, a golden decision.
Cam Edwards of NRA News introduced me to Mike in Milwaukee earlier this year. Just a few months back, I spent an evening with Mike in Oklahoma City and heard his personal version of the Smith & Wesson turn-around story. He credited the team he brought in...the incredible power of the S&W brand name...everything he credited but his own savvy and marketing expertise.
By just talking to Mike Golden, it was apparent S&W was about to reap huge rewards from his leadership. The guy just exudes confidence.
I'm tickled to see this happen. Mike deserves it, S&W deserves it and, as importantly, the firearms industry deserves it. It is a great American business success story. Hats off to Mike Golden and Smith & Wesson.
Labels: 2nd Amendment
posted by Mike McCarville @ 5:15 AM
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