Talk:Aerostich

Latest comment: 15 years ago by Dbratland in topic Expand on Aerostich eccentricity

Expand on Aerostich eccentricity

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The labor practices and attitudes of Aerostich are fairly unique, and suggest they are a company that does more than just makes money. There is evidence that they are socially active and that in fact the ownwer believes motorcycling is a force for good in the world. Or perhaps thats all a marketing gimmick, but even so it is noteworthy. I cited some of that but didn't put it in the article; if the topic were expanded it would make sense to put the cquote back in.

It also shows the company is owned by a human being.--Dbratland (talk) 17:00, 22 May 2009 (UTC)Reply

The quote I removed was just plonked in the middle of the article with no context. It wasn't at all obvious why the quote was there. b.t.w. All companies are owned by human beings. By all means put it back in but add some context to say why he says what he does and why it is relevant to the article. --Biker Biker (talk) 17:24, 22 May 2009 (UTC)Reply

I'm agreeing with you. I put the quote in there because I thought it meshed with the paragraph below about the hoax items sold in their catalog, but I can see you are correct that it needs further expansion in order to make sense. I believe I can find some material in copies of Motorcycle Consumer News I have. "Owned by a human being" means the company does not behave in an inhuman fashion; that is, they are willing to let their human personality show rather than being what people often call a "faceless corporation." I think Aerostich can be compared to companies like Ben & Jerry's or American Apparel in this regard, at least within the small world of motorcycle culture. It's also clear that Aerostich wants to perpetuate such an image, as a form of branding.--Dbratland (talk) 17:46, 22 May 2009 (UTC)Reply

Notes

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  1. ^ Alexander, Brian (September 21, 2004). "BUSINESS VOICES; Six Entrepreneurs Look Up, and Offer Advice". The New York Times. ANDY GOLDFINE, 51, is the founder and president of Aerostich, a company in Duluth, Minn., that produces accessories and protective garments for motorcyclists. Mr. Goldfine started the company in 1983 after inheriting some industrial sewing machines. Today he employs 100 people. Gross sales, mainly through the company's RiderWearhouse catalog and online, totaled $6 million last year. [...quoting Andrew Goldfine:] 'Motorcycles are a social good, and they create episodic transcendence in people and that makes better people. Ethics and business for me are indivisible. You are what you do. How can it not be?'