ironman
Member
Its doesn’t look as if Kirby is still associated with Scott & Fetzer. The next week or so things will become more clear regarding how things are arranged.
Kirby Company sold to Right Lane Industries
- Thread starter ironman
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ironman
Member
Looks like Kirby has already been purged from the Scott & Fetzer consumer brand list:
https://scottfetzer.com/brand-portfolio/
https://scottfetzer.com/brand-portfolio/
IRONMAN
That, again, is a reminder that while I hope Kirby will continue to thrive one way or another from this point forward, I much prefer to remember Kirby for the way it was in its first century (from 1914 to 2014).
It is kind of hard not to associate Kirby with Scott Fetzer, considering that company's two namesake founders (George H. Scott first opened the factory in 1914, and was joined by Carl S. Fetzer in 1915) helped get Jim Kirby's various machines off the ground from his first day of work as a designer under them in 1916 (the year he designed the "Vital Rand," which evolved into the Wireless Vac-U-Ette in 1919) until his death in 1971; his legacy under them included, of course, his first eponymous machine, the Kirby Model C, in 1934.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 6/18/2021-20:41]
That, again, is a reminder that while I hope Kirby will continue to thrive one way or another from this point forward, I much prefer to remember Kirby for the way it was in its first century (from 1914 to 2014).
It is kind of hard not to associate Kirby with Scott Fetzer, considering that company's two namesake founders (George H. Scott first opened the factory in 1914, and was joined by Carl S. Fetzer in 1915) helped get Jim Kirby's various machines off the ground from his first day of work as a designer under them in 1916 (the year he designed the "Vital Rand," which evolved into the Wireless Vac-U-Ette in 1919) until his death in 1971; his legacy under them included, of course, his first eponymous machine, the Kirby Model C, in 1934.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 6/18/2021-20:41]
IRONMAN
In addition, if the Right Lane deal goes horribly wrong, and Kirby is suddenly shuttered after this, it will be a big loss for Cleveland, considering Kirby's iconic status under Scott Fetzer, and I hope both Ohio and Texas will do whatever is necessary for the out-of-work employees. In addition there could be lawsuits from Scott Fetzer and Berkshire Hathaway, and of course those from the numerous employees both in Cleveland, Ohio and Andrews, Texas demanding payments found due.
At this time, I am hoping Right Lane will assess the two factories in Cleveland and Andrews to make sure they remain profitable.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 6/18/2021-19:16]
In addition, if the Right Lane deal goes horribly wrong, and Kirby is suddenly shuttered after this, it will be a big loss for Cleveland, considering Kirby's iconic status under Scott Fetzer, and I hope both Ohio and Texas will do whatever is necessary for the out-of-work employees. In addition there could be lawsuits from Scott Fetzer and Berkshire Hathaway, and of course those from the numerous employees both in Cleveland, Ohio and Andrews, Texas demanding payments found due.
At this time, I am hoping Right Lane will assess the two factories in Cleveland and Andrews to make sure they remain profitable.
~Ben[this post was last edited: 6/18/2021-19:16]
juju93
Well-known member
Another question I have is, what will happen to existing owners of kirbys, reguardless of what model it is, if the company shuts down and you have all these kirby owners that need their machines serviced and or needs parts and accessories? By the way I'm glad someone posted something kirby related, I feel like kirby's haven't been mentioned on here in a lil bit.
mieles5380leo
Well-known member
Kirby distributors themselves don’t tend to repair and service Kirbys. You would go to local vacuum shops such as the one I work at to have it serviced and repaired. The only thing that may happen if they close is parts availability would become scarce.
Mieles5380Leo
Hence why I might consider stocking up on belts, brush rolls and bags and other goodies for models Legend II and earlier to last me decades.
~Ben
Hence why I might consider stocking up on belts, brush rolls and bags and other goodies for models Legend II and earlier to last me decades.
~Ben
huskyvacs
Well-known member
I don't see any cause of concern as far as permanent closure in this situation. The company has just been put out as collateral as an investment to be bought or traded against. It's in purgatory if you will. The investor that owns Kirby - this Warren Buffet dude - also owns stakes in Apple, Coca-Cola, Heinz, and a bunch of other big name companies. As far as that is concerned, all he is doing with this move is dumping off his less profitable investments and focusing on stronger selling brands and letting someone else take over and potentially buy the company or pay off the equity and take ownership. Investment trading is a complex rabbit hole and things get muddy quickly, so anything can happen, but I seriously doubt it closing for good.
Bissell and Hoover are still here - more or less - and they have been around nearly 150 years for Bissell and 120 for Hoover. Also don't forget Shop Vac actually made it to death row and then was saved by a China pride tool company (who owns many other tool brands) who gave them the money, got everyone back to work, and kept them from going out of business entirely. So it's not all bad. Just have to wait and see how it pans out.
If Kirby would just shift their vacuums to Amazon and retail sales and at least drop the price to compete with Dyson, they would sell the damn things a lot faster than they have. It also wouldn't hurt to make them out of harder and lighter components - something similar to hard hat materials. Maybe put a bunch of touch screen stuff on them to appeal to millenials even.
Bissell and Hoover are still here - more or less - and they have been around nearly 150 years for Bissell and 120 for Hoover. Also don't forget Shop Vac actually made it to death row and then was saved by a China pride tool company (who owns many other tool brands) who gave them the money, got everyone back to work, and kept them from going out of business entirely. So it's not all bad. Just have to wait and see how it pans out.
If Kirby would just shift their vacuums to Amazon and retail sales and at least drop the price to compete with Dyson, they would sell the damn things a lot faster than they have. It also wouldn't hurt to make them out of harder and lighter components - something similar to hard hat materials. Maybe put a bunch of touch screen stuff on them to appeal to millenials even.
New Kirby-Touchscreen?Why?How USELESS and ridiculous!LEAVE THE KIRBY AS IS-----IT WORKS!!!!Don't try to fix it!!!!!!!!!If new Kirbys turn to PLASTIVACS and have stupid touchscreens-WON'T BUY!!!!!!The Kirby salesmen would look ridiculous selling those things!NOT going to buy from Amazon-just my salesman!He KNOWS me and I get good deals from him-and------Nice condition older Kirbys!
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Wow, calm down man. I was just throwing suggestions and ideas out there that they can do to keep relevant and making a profit through the 2020's. I mean if you want them to flounder around and die, okay then. lol
Just FYI I have a good chunk of Kirby's timeline from WW2 to today with both the main models and submodel variations - I also like the Avalir I and II's styling but do not own those yet. I'm not shutting myself out to any new ideas. A lighter Kirby thats more sleek and maneuverable has been a long time coming if you ask me.
Just FYI I have a good chunk of Kirby's timeline from WW2 to today with both the main models and submodel variations - I also like the Avalir I and II's styling but do not own those yet. I'm not shutting myself out to any new ideas. A lighter Kirby thats more sleek and maneuverable has been a long time coming if you ask me.
madaboutsebo
Well-known member
You have some good points huskyvacs and agree where your coming from. A lighter move manoeuvrable machine would be the perfect fit for today’s market of lighter and more convenient machines the public are wanting to have and use! I lighter Kirby doesn’t mean compromising on materials used or robustness if the right investment and R&D are done.
Across the globe the way the general public clean their homes these days has changed! Gone for most are weekly full cleans as people prefer to spot clean or clean in small regular cleans around the home. Plus want to clean in a faster more convenient way. I know some don’t like this change and prefer the weekly full house clean but times have changed and maybe the cordless vacuum has contributed to this change! A technology some of us may not like but I’m sure is here to stay and only grow over the next decade as battery technology improves and changed!
In a competitive market vacuum cleaner manufacturers need to adapt to the changing needs of the general public or adapt the way they sell their machines! People are wanting lighter, compact machines that are convenient and quick to use around the home. Even Vorwerk has started to open its open Retail stores selling their products on the high street and even a few years ago started to sell their products on their websites in different countries as they realised I’m sure that in home demonstrations are not the only way to sell their products.
Just my thoughts.
Across the globe the way the general public clean their homes these days has changed! Gone for most are weekly full cleans as people prefer to spot clean or clean in small regular cleans around the home. Plus want to clean in a faster more convenient way. I know some don’t like this change and prefer the weekly full house clean but times have changed and maybe the cordless vacuum has contributed to this change! A technology some of us may not like but I’m sure is here to stay and only grow over the next decade as battery technology improves and changed!
In a competitive market vacuum cleaner manufacturers need to adapt to the changing needs of the general public or adapt the way they sell their machines! People are wanting lighter, compact machines that are convenient and quick to use around the home. Even Vorwerk has started to open its open Retail stores selling their products on the high street and even a few years ago started to sell their products on their websites in different countries as they realised I’m sure that in home demonstrations are not the only way to sell their products.
Just my thoughts.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
As great as the Kirby vacuums truly are, I see mainly two problems with them.
1) unfortunate high pressure and sometimes shady sales practices of distributors, especially targeting the elderly (this has often gotten them negative media attention).
2) the machines, although certainly versatile and different than anything else on the market, I think are just too fussy and complex for the average user. Having to take the head off to put the hose on for the normal person that just wants to do a quick vacuum is very inconvenient. Also all of the accessories, while novel, just never get used, and sometimes lost.
How many times do we see Kirby vacuums for sale or at the thrift stores, and the attachments and accessories are all just in a jumble and clearly never used? Or the seller has no idea what any of it does, nor do they care. The owner likely never bothered to figure out what is what or how to use any of it.
I just think Kirby really doesn't fit in today's market. The older generation saw the beauty in, and cherished things like Sunbeam Mixmasters and all that they could do.
Today's generation is too busy with electronics, work, and other sort of things to have any interest in all that the Kirby can do.
The older generation has largely passed away. Tools on board uprights, and bagless vacs have been on the market for nearly 30 years now, and that's what people are used to. The market for Kirby vacuums is fading away and I don't see younger people as a whole being interested in them. The only ones I could see would be people like stay at home homesteading moms that have time to figure it out and lots of cleaning to do.
I'm not even sure the Kirby vacuums of the past were even bought because people actually WANTED them. I think it was high pressure sales tactics as well as claims of all that the vacuum could do, and maybe a person who just happened to be in need of a new vac when the salesman happened to knock on the door.
But quickly, the owner found out it was too heavy and too confusing for what they wanted, so the vacuum never got used, or if so only in floor mode.
1) unfortunate high pressure and sometimes shady sales practices of distributors, especially targeting the elderly (this has often gotten them negative media attention).
2) the machines, although certainly versatile and different than anything else on the market, I think are just too fussy and complex for the average user. Having to take the head off to put the hose on for the normal person that just wants to do a quick vacuum is very inconvenient. Also all of the accessories, while novel, just never get used, and sometimes lost.
How many times do we see Kirby vacuums for sale or at the thrift stores, and the attachments and accessories are all just in a jumble and clearly never used? Or the seller has no idea what any of it does, nor do they care. The owner likely never bothered to figure out what is what or how to use any of it.
I just think Kirby really doesn't fit in today's market. The older generation saw the beauty in, and cherished things like Sunbeam Mixmasters and all that they could do.
Today's generation is too busy with electronics, work, and other sort of things to have any interest in all that the Kirby can do.
The older generation has largely passed away. Tools on board uprights, and bagless vacs have been on the market for nearly 30 years now, and that's what people are used to. The market for Kirby vacuums is fading away and I don't see younger people as a whole being interested in them. The only ones I could see would be people like stay at home homesteading moms that have time to figure it out and lots of cleaning to do.
I'm not even sure the Kirby vacuums of the past were even bought because people actually WANTED them. I think it was high pressure sales tactics as well as claims of all that the vacuum could do, and maybe a person who just happened to be in need of a new vac when the salesman happened to knock on the door.
But quickly, the owner found out it was too heavy and too confusing for what they wanted, so the vacuum never got used, or if so only in floor mode.
dysonman1
Well-known member
It's the sales model that's killing Kirby. No one that I know wakes up in the morning and says "I'm going to buy a two thousand dollar vacuum today". It's the end of an era for the direct salesperson. After covid, good luck getting into houses. That's probably what Warren Buffet and crew were thinking. It will only get harder, not easier, to enter people's homes for a high pressure sale.
oreck_xl
Well-known member
It's odd how at one time (pre-World War II) Kirby offered an "R" series to be sold in stores, and a "C" series to be sold through in-home demonstration. If they were to adopt that practice again, they MIGHT be able survive for awhile. But a new platform (still all-aluminum of course), lighter weight, more user friendly is a MUST at this point. The Tech-drive makes the whole thing too bulky to carry around. Even Hoover has finally gotten away from Self-Propelled uprights. I think Kirby is the last of the Mohicans.
ironman
Member
With Scott & Fetzer selling Kirby it will be interesting how United Finance treats Kirby dealers now that they’re no longer required to be used as a method to help prop up one of the former sister corps under the Scott & Fetzer umbrella. Also Kirby was one of Northland biggest motor customers and now that they no longer part of the same corporate family the new Kirby owners might source motors from someone else.
juju93
Well-known member
Another thing thats bulky with kirby is its shampoo system setup. Granted the new MS3 allows you to mop and scrub your floors but its to big and bulky to fit into tight hard to reach areas like behind the bathroom toilets or under the bed, assuming your bedroom has flooring instead of carpets, thus still needing a mop to clean floors. If kirby does still keep the G-series platform, which I hope they change it, make the machine less noisy and less bulky, especially with the MS3.
juju93
Well-known member
This is going to sound random but kirby is going to have to remove the scott Fetzer name off the side of the shampoo box and turbo accessory box and off the bottom of the big kirby box. Hopefully this new company will listen to consumers wants and needs for this brand.
electromatik
Well-known member
More depressing news.
Little by little, year after year, the quality vacuums companies grow more distressed and closer to the Endangered Company List.
Those of us who like quality vacuums that perform well are facing as seemingly bleak future.
Little by little, year after year, the quality vacuums companies grow more distressed and closer to the Endangered Company List.
Those of us who like quality vacuums that perform well are facing as seemingly bleak future.
