4 ms·

I read the book by the Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, where he described how they had to send people to their manufacturers to be involved with quality, and

by MrTonyD 11y ago

I read the book by the Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, where he described how they had to send people to their manufacturers to be involved with quality, and how even then they would get bad batches and be forced to dump the clothes at a big loss and switch manufacturers. So it can be done - but perhaps that isn't what would be suggest by Ayn Rand. It isn't selfish enough.

ghaff 11y ago
I have no particular reason to believe that Ayn Rand would champion cutting corners in product quality to save cost--especially if doing so wasn't a good long-term business strategy. But, to your broader point, especially if you're going to use low cost overseas manufacturing extensively keeping up quality implies a lot of hands-on monitoring and working with the manufacturers closely.
bch 11y ago
If that's from "Let My People Go Surfing"[0], it's a light-weight (easy reading) book with what seem to be some pretty profound simple business observations and accounts of how Patagonia made decisions. I certainly enjoyed the book, but I think I don't have a deep enough business acumen to say whether or not the book is realistic for more than just Patagonia. [0] http://www.patagonia.com/ca/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-paperback-book?p=BK501-0 http://www.patagonia.com/ca/product/let-my-people-go-surfing... Edit: linked
- manyxcxi 11y ago
  But if it worked for Patagonia, that operates in a pretty old industry, shouldn't there be at least a number of take aways that would apply to many or most industries? I've not read the book yet, so it's not a rhetorical question. Living in the Pacific Northwest Patagonia and their company story and ethos are known to just about everyone who's ventured into the outdoors.
  - ghaff 11y ago
    I'm not sure how relevant lesson from Patagonia are to a more mass market retailer. I like my Patagonia gear. I also bought most of it at outlets where it's merely expensive. It's certainly a high-end retailer. Making similar tradeoffs at a Sears or, as was recently the case, JC Penney's don't necessarily work.
grahamburger 11y ago
Wait, a company decided on their own to build a better product? Without government regulation? And then became wildly successful? I don't think Ayn Rand would have a problem with that.
superbaconman 11y ago
In the Ayn Rand books I've read, the characters (at least the protagonists) are obsessed with doing things the best way possible; Their motivations seem to revolve around a love for building and creation, not monetary gain. Chouinard could probably be a Rand character.

by MrTonyD 11y ago

ghaff 11y ago

I have no particular reason to believe that Ayn Rand would champion cutting corners in product quality to save cost--especially if doing so wasn't a good long-term business strategy. But, to your broader point, especially if you're going to use low cost overseas manufacturing extensively keeping up quality implies a lot of hands-on monitoring and working with the manufacturers closely.

bch 11y ago

If that's from "Let My People Go Surfing"[0], it's a light-weight (easy reading) book with what seem to be some pretty profound simple business observations and accounts of how Patagonia made decisions. I certainly enjoyed the book, but I think I don't have a deep enough business acumen to say whether or not the book is realistic for more than just Patagonia. [0] http://www.patagonia.com/ca/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-paperback-book?p=BK501-0 http://www.patagonia.com/ca/product/let-my-people-go-surfing... Edit: linked

manyxcxi 11y ago
But if it worked for Patagonia, that operates in a pretty old industry, shouldn't there be at least a number of take aways that would apply to many or most industries? I've not read the book yet, so it's not a rhetorical question. Living in the Pacific Northwest Patagonia and their company story and ethos are known to just about everyone who's ventured into the outdoors.
- ghaff 11y ago
  I'm not sure how relevant lesson from Patagonia are to a more mass market retailer. I like my Patagonia gear. I also bought most of it at outlets where it's merely expensive. It's certainly a high-end retailer. Making similar tradeoffs at a Sears or, as was recently the case, JC Penney's don't necessarily work.

grahamburger 11y ago

Wait, a company decided on their own to build a better product? Without government regulation? And then became wildly successful? I don't think Ayn Rand would have a problem with that.

superbaconman 11y ago

In the Ayn Rand books I've read, the characters (at least the protagonists) are obsessed with doing things the best way possible; Their motivations seem to revolve around a love for building and creation, not monetary gain. Chouinard could probably be a Rand character.