Hmm, lots of people with lots of opinions on what may or may not be happening but there's always speculation at times like this but on this occasion, I think it's being stirred up Stateside by a couple of people.
I know this much, Dye Precision in the US does not own Dye Europe, Dave YB owns it.
And as far as I know, Dye Europe hasn't got any bank liens on the business, or indeed any investment companies propping it up which I hope clarifies a few things if only for this side of the Atlantic anyway.
One thing though, there are people in our industry who would like nothing more than to see Dye fall but let me tell you something here, if Dye [US] pops, then it's really bad for our industry as a whole.
Dye have for a long time been our industry's front runner when it comes to top-end gear to wear and shoot ... and they've been at the top of that pile for very good reasons, basically, they deserved it.
However, the financial climate in the US, certainly in terms of paintball, has been dire these past 7 years or so, and there seems to be no sign of any green shoots anywhere that might indicate recovery is imminent.
Every company Stateside is hurting and it's merely a matter of degree .. and so there's always gonna be rumours popping up here, there and everywhere.
The customer demographic our sport previously relied upon to fuel its previous growth has been usurped by a demographic that's on average, about 10 years younger .. and it is this factor that has been one of the root causes of our financial problems.
All paintball companies in the US have had to pull their belts in and tread water in the hope there'll be no further dips in turnovers but alas, there have been.
As for Dye [US]?
I don't know what their financial situation is but it's fair to say that when people start splurting about bills not being paid, it doesn't help matters for obvious reasons but just for the record, Dye Europe has been paying all its suppliers etc
If they hadn't been then I'd know because Dye advertise with me and there have been NO payment problems at all;
As most of you know, I've known Dave for over 20 years and I can honestly say, everything is fine this side of the Atlantic with regard to Dye Europe.
I emailed Dave yesterday and if he wishes to make something pubic then I'll post it but I think his best response is 'no response' in which case, I won't be posting anything up.
Let's hope everything's ok otherwise it's bad news for all of us one way or the other.
One other thing, Dave started Dye on his own with his own money.
Dave ended up marrying John Gregory's daughter Rhonda, and John was the guy who created and ran JT paintball with his wife Rita before selling up for 32 million bucks to Kee.
Dye was already well established when John gave Rhonda and Dave a cash wedding present that was obviously instrumental in fuelling Dye's evolution but it was never what some people made out in terms of John's monetary gift being wholly responsible for Dye's success.
The reason Dave did so well was because the guy was working sometimes 18 hour days, and I know this to be true because I've stayed with Dave several times when going to California and seen for myself just what his working day consisted of, I got tired just watching him go to work let alone actually doing it.
Dave earned Dye's success, it wasn't gifted to him.
The other thing I know, Dave had long realised that the US market was showing no real signs of recovery after the greatest slow-down we've ever witnessed in paintball.
And as such, he focussed upon the far-east to secure Dye's overall stability - Europe weren't in the same degree of recession as the US hence Dave consequently invested in Europe and the Far-East. The US languished and in relative terms, it still does.
I don't know the fate of Dye [US] but if it's in trouble, it will affect all of us in one way or the other, and not in a good way because our sport needs the likes of Planet, Dye and Kee, GiMilsim etc
Let's hope this isn't a harbinger to come because our industry and sport can't really afford too many more knock-backs .....
