TRITON & STRATOS MAY LEAVE FLIPPIN

[Bud Kennedy]

Triton, Stratos may leave Flippin
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Triton, Stratos may leave Flippin
In a letter to Ranger Boats dealers last week that followed the recent resignations of three of the company's top executives, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris indicated that production of the Triton and Stratos brands might be moved out of Flippin, Ark. Ranger, Triton and Stratos comprise Fishing Holdings, which was purchased by BPS from a private equity firm a year ago.
"We are contemplating moving the production of Triton and Stratos boats from Flippin to increase capacity and enable us to better serve Triton and Stratos dealers and their customers," Morris said in the letter, which was obtained by Canada-based Boating Business. "We believe this action will also free up space for increased production of Ranger brand fresh- and saltwater boats and accessories in Flippin. We want to get you and your customers boats, parts and accessories in a timely and efficient manner."
The letter also mentioned that BPS will combine the Fishing Holdings brands with its own Tracker Marine Group (which manufactures Nitro along with the lower-end Bass Tracker boats) to form the White River Marine Group.
"In this regard, we are eager to share and to make available as appropriate many of the significant resources available from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker to help strengthen the Ranger brand and your business," the letter stated. "At the same time, we respect the need to maintain independence and brand integrity, and in that regard, we have no plans to sell Fishing Holdings brands through Bass Pro Shops stores."
Ranger president Randy Hopper, vice president of sales and marketing Keith Daffron and vice president of finance Mendel Hughes all resigned abruptly on the same day in late November. "Recruiting the most talented leaders possible to fill these vacated positions is a top priority," Morris said in the letter to dealers.

[Bigwrench]

Very interesting development.

[coldfront]

would love to know what was the 'last straw' for the top three guys.  Interested because of the family business, integrity that has been synonomous with Ranger... and this looked like a 'principle' kind of move.

of course, I could be way wrong.

[Donald Garner]

Heard that Stratos and Tritons might be moving to the Nitro Plant in Clinton Missouri.

[RedTop]

It's looking more and more like my %20 will be a collectors boat!!!!

[caddyjoe77]

Johnny's comments can be taken one of two ways IMO. 

-- either he is serious about giving Ranger more room
-- or, he is trying to eventually kill the Ranger brand (Is that why the three guys left?  Saw this coming).

Pure speculation on my part. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

Rumor has it, and at this point it is just that - a rumor that those 3 guys plan on starting a new boat company in the near future based on the principles they put behind Ranger boats. If that is true then it leads to speculation about where they believe the Ranger brand is headed.

These statements which can be taken more than one way leave me feeling more than a little suspicious

The letter also mentioned that BPS will combine the Fishing Holdings brands with its own Tracker Marine Group (which manufactures Nitro along with the lower-end Bass Tracker boats) to form the White River Marine Group.
"In this regard, we are eager to share and to make available as appropriate many of the significant resources available from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker to help strengthen the Ranger brand and your business,"

[Bud Kennedy]

I really would not try to read anything in to the departure of the three executives.  New Owner means new rules and new ways of making decisions.  Perhaps those guys who used to make the decisions just could not work that way and at their age they decided to just leave.  Not all that uncommon.  I would suspect that things will change at Ranger and only time will tell if it is a good thing or a not so good thing.  It becomes all about profitability of investment as simple as that.  It surely wasn't purchased to leave it as it is.  For sure change has to happen if any company is expected to move into the future and maintain its dominant position.