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Auto industry and the Outdoors tied at the hip
By djkimmel on Jun 8, 2009 | In Perspective | Send feedback »
A concerned Sportsman must realize the Auto industry and the Outdoors are tied at the hip
As I sat watching The Outdoor Channel this morning, an interesting bow hunt was on. It kept me thoroughly entertained and my mind off of business, not to mention all of the hurt in my community. The heavy realities of what is happening here in Michigan have been weighing on me. I have watched so many friends struggle. People that have businesses of yesterday are falling so quickly. I have started to dread the call when an old buddy rings me out of the blue and I see their name on my caller ID. I just know that it is not a, “Hey how are you?” type of phone call.
As the commercials continued, I realized a common theme. The outdoor industry and the auto industry are attached at the hip. Whether it is the show sponsors, product placements or simply the commercials, I realized the truck industry is endemic to the outdoors. There is no doubt about it.
As a man who makes his living within the outdoors, I am always focused on what is good and what is bad for the industry. I think of small towns around the country that have literally been built around a manufacturing plant. I think about communities and their reliance on car dealership’s support.
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American Trucks and the Outdoors
By djkimmel on Jun 2, 2009 | In Perspective | Send feedback »
This whole debacle with the American car companies has been pretty hard to stomach if you live in the Midwest like I do. Today marks a very sad day for Detroit and our region. One of the most philanthropic companies in the world will move into bankruptcy, a thought that is still surreal.
As the bankruptcy filing moves through its course, there will be hard losses for many to endure in this process. It will no doubt sting badly for many aspects of the industry. There will be more job losses. Dealerships will close and dealers will lose their life’s hard work. Other businesses will not be able to weather the storm, most likely closing their doors. But when it’s all said and done, I expect General Motors to come out as a stronger company, one that will finally be a healthier and more flexible business.
Have we lost our minds?
By djkimmel on Mar 15, 2009 | In Perspective | Send feedback »
I woke up yesterday morning and read the headline GM may go bankrupt. Excuse me, what did I just read? The first time I heard this I actually laughed at how ridiculous this sounded. Unfortunately this has become a reality that we must seriously understand. This is the very company that I have watched and loved since childhood. Come on, the old school Camaro, or the Trans Am, and of course the legendary Corvette! The Blazer, the Tahoe, the Yukon! The Silverado, the Avalanche the suburban, and of course Cadillac convertibles, trucks, and sedans, this is General Freeking Motors! Let’s not let this company go bankrupt, or let this legendary brand disappear. A bankruptcy would be yet another brutal blow to its ability to sell cars. Eventually the negative media needs to butt out and we need to see cars move. The frenzy of sensationalist media around a GM bankruptcy would cripple GM’s ability to sell cars.
As you look around our country we begin to realize just how regionalized this country has become. So many people rip on Detroit, the whole midwest and the big 3 with no mercy. It’s as if people have dreamed up this idea that a GM bankruptcy will not affect them, and it is indeed a dream to think those thoughts. Well I’m sorry if I am in the minority of people that not only still care about our American Automotive Heritage, but I live for it! I love American cars, and Trucks. Heck, I love cars, period. Since I have been a little boy I have loved seeing the new cars that Motown pumps out. I love seeing that new model truck and the ever so slight curves on the hood that a company tweaks in a given model change year. I love American Cars, and I love GM!
