EMS Sold -- Again

[TomK]

Mountain Warehouse, based in the UK, is the stalking horse bidder that will likely get the assets and assume the debt.

Looks like they were successful in their bid. From the local (CT) paper:

https://www.registercitizen.com/bus...-meriden-waterford-bobs-mountain-19738981.php

Some tid-bits from the article:

o "new owner pledging to keep stores open and expand to new locations"

o "Mountain Warehouse emerged with a winning bid reported at $10 million"

o (CEO) "Neale telling the newspaper he hopes to rebuild EMS to a footprint of 100 stores"

TomK

 

[NH2112]

They need to get back to their roots. No more Levis, Carhartt, Timberland, or other casual/work wear. I can get all that stuff and more at Reny’s.

 

[BillyGr]

They need to get back to their roots. No more Levis, Carhartt, Timberland, or other casual/work wear. I can get all that stuff and more at Reny’s.

Though that is a bit harder for the stores outside Maine (given that Reny's is a Maine store ).

 

[JToll]

Website still down but it does list the open stores

 

[NyeWulf]

Now I understand why they closed the Albany NY store....A brand-new ~big REI has opened <1 mile away from the old Albany EMS location in the Crossgates complex. https://www.rei.com/stores/albany. I have not been there yet but always liked the REI's I have been to in other states. Yes it too is a 'fashion' boutique of sorts but still did have a fair amount of hiking/camping/mountaineering kit.

 

[BillyGr]

Now I understand why they closed the Albany NY store....A brand-new ~big REI has opened <1 mile away from the old Albany EMS location in the Crossgates complex. https://www.rei.com/stores/albany. I have not been there yet but always liked the REI's I have been to in other states. Yes it too is a 'fashion' boutique of sorts but still did have a fair amount of hiking/camping/mountaineering kit.

Plus, about that same distance in another direction is Colonie Center, which has both an existing LL Bean and a recently opened Sierra store side by side.

Probably not good for EMS, but good for those looking for items in being able to compare and shop at multiple options in a fairly small travel area (plus being able to access all of those easily off both the Thruway and Northway, which many would be using to head for the Adirondacks and mountain areas in VT and even NH).

 

[NHChris]

Mountain Warehouse is planning a “relaunch” of EMS on Nov 1.

Not sure what exactly that entails. To date stores have not received any shipments of third party gear or MW branded gear and Inventory is getting stale.

Given the launch is only 4 weeks away, much needs to be done quickly to revive the EMS brand and stock the remaining 7 stores for holiday and winter retail season. How this will happen is unclear.

If MW pulls it off it will be a significant achievement.

 

[BillyGr]

Mountain Warehouse is planning a “relaunch” of EMS on Nov 1.

Not sure what exactly that entails. To date stores have not received any shipments of third party gear or MW branded gear and Inventory is getting stale.

Given the launch is only 4 weeks away, much needs to be done quickly to revive the EMS brand and stock the remaining 7 stores for holiday and winter retail season. How this will happen is unclear.

If MW pulls it off it will be a significant achievement.

Doesn't seem that it would be that difficult, given that the stores are not huge and now with just seven of them, a couple large trucks could fill all of them pretty quickly.

Not like trying to get hundreds of Rite Aid stores restocked

 

[JToll]

It has been 4 months since I last checked and the EMS website is still not up. I guess online sales are not part of their business plan.

 

[TomK]

It has been 4 months since I last checked and the EMS website is still not up.

In mid-December I got an e-mail from EMS advertising a "Winter Clearance" - "Up to 70% off" *

Didn't follow the links in the ad then - but prompted by your post, I just tried them out - they all go to a "New website coming soon" page, which at least had a list of the stores.

A bit surprised that they would do an e-mail ad with links to such a minimal web presence.

TomK

* I always hate ads that say, "Up to". 1% is "Up to 70%". Tell me "At least". That'd be useful!

 

[NorthShore]

I've been getting emails from them with links to the same non-site for many months now.

 

[NHChris]

At this point MW has no distribution center in the states. Thus It can’t fulfill orders it might receive from the Internet.

MW has been slow to restock the remaining EMS stores with soft goods (clothing), most of which has been their own brand.

From what I’ve seen:

Stores will no longer carry climbing equipment, selling down remaining inventory until it’s gone.

Most popular brands (OR, TNF, etc.) will no longer be carried.

Due to insurance costs the climbing school is shuttered.

The EMS that recovers from bankruptcy will look very much like MW currently does in Britain: primarily a clothing purveyor of their own branded gear.

It’s an unfortunate end state for this former powerhouse outdoor retailer.

 

[KRooney]

At this point MW has no distribution center in the states.

MW???

 

[NHChris]

Sorry, Mountain Warehouse.