Sorry if someone has already posted about this, but it intrigued me to hear the following:-
AMF TO LICENSE BRAND NAME TO COLUMBIA
San Antonio, Texas (May 5, 2003) - Columbia Industries, Inc. confirmed
today that it has been licensed by AMF Bowling Products to manufacture and
market AMF bowling balls, bags, pro shop accessories and other bowling
consumer products.
The agreement was signed May 5, 2003 and is effective July 1, 2003.
The agreement was signed for five years with an additional five years based
on performance achievements. Financial terms were not disclosed. AMF
Consumer Products will operate as a division of Columbia Industries, Inc.
Columbia Industries, Inc. will be organizing a team of professional
sales and marketing personnel to act autonomously in the sale of AMF
branded consumer products. This management team, operating out of the San
Antonio, Texas area, will assemble and carry out its own strategic business
plan. One of the team's first duties will be to establish a global
distribution network and outline a timetable for new product introductions.
"Our plans are to manufacture, market and support a full line of AMF-
branded products," commented Mike Allbritton, president of Columbia
Industries, Inc. We will be totally committed to growing the AMF branded
business with all the resources and experience of over 40 years in the
manufacture and distribution of consumer products".
"We are also fully committed to our distributor network, so we've made
the decision to utilize those distributors for the sale of AMF products"
continued Allbritton. "Columbia's entire business culture is very much
relationship-based which has worked to the advantage of all our business
partners, from our employees to our vendors right through to our
customers".
"Columbia has been a great partner for AMF as an innovative, high-
quality supplier who we think will continue making an excellent AMF-branded
product and be able to support the brand in the way it deserves," said Ron
Wood, General Manager of AMF's Consumer and Support Products Division. "We
have no manufacturing capability, so this agreement should allow us to
effectively exploit AMF's tremendous brand equity with the potential for
profitability growth for both companies".
Columbia Industries, Inc. is a privately held company located in San
Antonio, Texas. The company has been manufacturing quality bowling balls
for over 40 years and is considered to have the most extensive research &
development capabilities in the world.
I have to question what use the AMF brand name has to offer in terms of equipment stakes, as they have probably released more lame duck equipment than every other ball manufacturer put together. DOes this mean we will see Columbia made Angles Brands, or my personally favourite, an updated Bone White XS (snigger)......
