Which Brand Has Dropped The Furthest

Most of the top American golf brands from the second half of the 20th century (MacGregor, Wilson, Spalding, etc.) were sold on to companies that were interested in the bottom line rather than reputation, hence they went for the volume market making cheap stuff to sell in big numbers at low prices.

And then they wondered why the name lost its lustre and sales fell off a cliff.

Wilson is a great example, one of the most respected iron makers in the post war years (I think they might still hold the record for most majors won using their irons) but new owners dropped the Pro-Line clubs and went after volume.
It's taken them years but they finally seem to have recovered their reputation and people are again seeing them as a quality manufacturer.
 
IanM said:
Crew Clothing

Used to be a label of choice of Rugger- Buggers and Rowing Types. Now on permanent sale at discounts and poor quality.

Next. Big 80s brand.... now nearly invisible
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Next are still going strong. Big presence on out of town retail parks, strong on the Internet. They took on some of Debenhams old sites, big spaces. I'm surprised you have chosen them as an example.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I'll start with Slazenger. In the 70's and 80's they were well regarded in the world of cricket in particular. Now they are bargain basement tosh at SD. Very sad.
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Just take a look at the list of SD's 'own' brands and you'll see plenty of candidates! Donnay, Karrimor, Slazenger et al.
Wilson has certainly slid down from the 'highly desirable' level they used to be at - certainly in Golf; still one of the top brands in Tennis though.
Woodworm brand is now owned by Sports HQ (another 'brand' collector). Still decent gear at reasonable prices.
 
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British Airways. BA used to be the market leader in UK aviation back in the 70s. Since the introduction of cheaper airfares and budget airlines, BA's standards dropped enormously. Now the likes of Jet2, Easy Jet and Ryanair all have newer aircraft and offer a better service. Even long distance the likes of Virgin are a better airline.
 
I give you three British brands all originally family businesses started by Quaker families.

Cadbury.
Rowntree.
Fry's (J. S. Fry & Son)

Eventually all succumbed to multinational buyouts and quality of products went down. Fry's merged with Cadbury before that happened.
 
I think it must be because people associate the name Slazenger with cheapo stuff nowadays that I was able to get this fantastic immaculate vintage bag for £11.52 plus £6.50 postage.

Slazenger bag.jpg

Rainhood included.
It would have been a top-end fairly expensive bag when brand new.
 
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GB72 said:
The why did you sell it thread got me thinking with the posts about MG now being simply awful. So, which Brand has dropped the furthest from it's peak. From high end electrical names becoming cheap supermarket own label products to golf brands being bargain bucket box store fillers, which formerly top name brand has plummeted to the lowest depths.
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Wilson. it's not even close. They used to dominate, now they are nowhere.

Second would be Dunlop
 
Voyager EMH said:
I think it must be because people associate the name Slazenger with cheapo stuff nowadays that I was able to get this fantastic immaculate vintage bag for £11.52 plus £6.50 postage.

View attachment 42260

Rainhood included.
It would have been a top-end fairly expensive bag when brand new.
Click to expand...

Crow has had to go and lay down in a darkened room after seeing that
 
Debenham, are they even still going? Used to be a premier department store.
 
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