Thread regarding Adidas layoffs

To add: if you leave adi after relocating, good luck staying in LA if it doesn’t work out. You’ll go from adidas to fashinova rill qwik

@ nxsm+1lmK7wYI
Hahaha, have you tried hiring people to relocate to LA? Good luck…
High COL vs salary and hours spent in a vehicle every day due to gridlock make it a very HARD sell.
We could always use more qualified talent at adidas, not less.

adidas being in Portland is one of the stupidest things they could have ever done. Has anyone tried hiring in the last few years? no one wants to move here, they should have had NA HQ in NY or LA if they really wanted to compete with Nike in the US, but they clearly don't so we just get Nike talent's sloppy seconds.

"Based on past experience, I believe the “leaders” of our company are stupid enough to do something like that." <<<<<

Is it smart to move to LA? No. But there's been a lot of stupid choices made already.

@aojw+1lmK7wYI Based on past experience, I believe the “leaders” of our company are stupid enough to do something like that.

Yes. Adidas will walk away from its $500m facility in PDX with 1800 jobs that are specific to the industry in the town that is the Mecca for footwear to move to LA and start fresh. Makes sense.

Investment in infrastructure is high in PDX, but exec leadership is still high key so obsessed with celebrities and Black culture that LA conspiracy theories may come true eventually. Adi has a mission on to be the best sports company in the world. To do that, you have to win in North America. To do that, you need to win in NYC and LA.

As for timeline…adidas has tight connections with powers that be for LA 2028 Olympics, one of the largest sport events in the world taking place in America. Not that Nike doesn’t have connects, they certainly do - but everything - everything - ladders up to money, branding and relationships. And adi has been building this one for years. Perhaps they won’t move everything, but I’d remain adaptable or have an exit plan if LA is a 100% no-go for you and your family.

Replying to @2qjz+1lmK7wYI
it’s already in-work

the latest I heard is that we finally got some products approved….

Yes. Nike and adidas are abandoning their billions of dollars of infrastructure in Portland metro, along with decades of experience in a complex industry for LA. Both companies have decided they would really like to go hundreds of millions of dollars in the hole. Whoever posted this is d-mber than a rock.

The senior director of apparel is not welcome in JL’s presence, he has asked to not include this person. The director, is no improvement and in fact has a very negative reputation.
There is a very real reason why JL is withholding any release with adidas attachment to his brand.

Nike is also on the move to LA but in west LA. makes sense. Adi is always hot to trot behind Nike trying to salvage scraps. Nike has been silent on the move to LA so adi may be following suit hoping to gain an advantage.
Similar to what happened to SF with the over saturation of VC and tech industry. Conglomerates move in hoping to gain culture but in reality, suck the culture out and disperse the local divisiveness out. You’re left with nothing more than a corporate campus no different than any other. A fresh greens conveniently located on every corner.
I would have preferred to see adi take space at the ROW and acquire adtl where historically larger manufacturing had been done. I would have respected adi for locating in commerce or even eastla, that would have gained respect. I would have loved to see a larger connection with LA youth and sponsor of sport activities and community support programs.
Instead all I’ve seen is greed taking up space in DTLA, where it isn’t deserved. (keep dtla local -support the hussle)
I will never forget the banner that was raised over the 405 - “Kanye was right about the jus” adi took too long to respond and as a result an entire community was subjected to witnessing massive exposure of racism - there is nothing adi can do to take back the hate crime visuals shown to to the LA community and youth that saw that sign. Irreparable.

How has poaching from Nike worked out so far...?

If adi moves it’s whole operation to LA how will they poach from Nike?

chapter was born due to a massive material liability BC leadership felt they trumped JL approval.

The margin on chapter 1-2 is insane and they may as well be giving it away for free. Upside down in profit. There is zero consumer wonder if JL was behind chapter. Meanwhile JL is doing everything they can to signal they dgaf.
Cop it while you can I guess. Won’t be re-created after material depletion.

https://arch-usa.com/the-2023-collection-chapter-02-from-adidas-basketball-its-hard-to-not-see-fear-of-god/