Lost Worlds’ founder Stuart interviewed

[JMax]

Maybe hes too much of a control freak and wants his vision alone to dominate it. But it really would be a good thing, because that website is trash. Can we all at least agree on that? haha. Its so old and terrible to navigate. Even just starting with that would be a huge improvement. Who knows, but Im with you on that.

Common among older business owners. They thrived before, they don’t need whiz bang websites now. But I agree, you have to be flexible and realize much of the future, if not the present, is marketed online. It’s a battle I’m facing now at my firm. I bet you that his response to a recommendation to update the website is to say— the jackets speak for themselves. Word of mouth is all the marketing I need.

 

[Marc mndt]

One can argue he runs his business just fine, since it has been around for decades. It’s survived in a cut throat world by providing a great product (yes, I get it isn’t for everyone). He just doesn’t run it like some would prefer.

I'm not at all saying he doesn't, I can't tell. Like you said, he's been around for decades. I'm just sharing my thoughts on guppys statement, what if the man would retire.

 

[dannyk]

Common among older business owners. They thrived before, they don’t need whiz bang websites now. But I agree, you have to be flexible and realize much of the future, if not the present, is marketed online. It’s a battle I’m facing now at my firm. I bet you that his response to a recommendation to update the website is to say— the jackets speak for themselves. Word of mouth is all the marketing I need.

Totally understand. I grew up with the internet, but my little cousins and stuff just know so much more even and can do things I have no interest or desire in learning. Plus as you said hes been doing relatively well I imagine for a long time. And the products do speak for themselves. But one thing someone running a ship so to speak has to be open to is changing trends and demographics. The market for jackets seems to just keep growing and changing, especially the Japanese market which seems to have new places open and close all the time. With such an outdated and whether the language bothers you or not very in your face site, I would not be surprised if he is starting to feel the heat. He may have gotten them this far but it would seem especially at nearly 70 its time to start handing things over a bit. If he hasnt found someone to do that yet, he really should start looking. Because as much as I stated my dislike for him as a person I really do still love his products and think he has value as a human and producer of goods. So hopefully there is someone or he will start looking to keep them alive and going.

 

[JMax]

Totally understand. I grew up with the internet, but my little cousins and stuff just know so much more even and can do things I have no interest or desire in learning. Plus as you said hes been doing relatively well I imagine for a long time. And the products do speak for themselves. But one thing someone running a ship so to speak has to be open to is changing trends and demographics. The market for jackets seems to just keep growing and changing, especially the Japanese market which seems to have new places open and close all the time. With such an outdated and whether the language bothers you or not very in your face site, I would not be surprised if he is starting to feel the heat. He may have gotten them this far but it would seem especially at nearly 70 its time to start handing things over a bit. If he hasnt found someone to do that yet, he really should start looking. Because as much as I stated my dislike for him as a person I really do still love his products and think he has value as a human and producer of goods. So hopefully there is someone or he will start looking to keep them alive and going.

I would say the hand down is on his mind and the control freak in him is going to make it much more difficult to accomplish. I hope the guy is already in place and learning the business side of it, but that isn’t always the case, for any number of reasons and especially with owners like Stuart. And as you know, many go out of business when the driving force behind it all is gone. I hope not, but you may want to buy some LW now lol.

 

[Marc mndt]

And the products do speak for themselves. But one thing someone running a ship so to speak has to be open to is changing trends and demographics.

If he's targeting those who only care about the end product, I think he's doing just fine. For me, when I first visited that website I honestly though I didn't get the URL right and that I ended up at some shady/bogus website.
Of course the end product for me is what its all about. But I also like seeing the process of a jacket being made on Instagram, seeing how patterns are made, hides are selected, how leather is cut and how panels are matched. For me that's part of the journey, part of the fun and part of the justification to spend a lot of money on a jacket. I dont wake up one day and decide to spend $$$$ on some leather jacket. And I don't think many of 'my generation' would.

 

[Will Zach]

He's 69 - anyone who is thinking about getting a LW jacket should get it now.

 

[dannyk]

If he's targeting those who only care about the end product, I think he's doing just fine. For me, when I first visited that website I honestly though I didn't get the URL right and that I ended up at some shady/bogus website.
Of course the end product for me is what its all about. But I also like seeing the process of a jacket being made on Instagram, seeing how patterns are made, hides are selected, how leather is cut and how panels are matched. For me that's part of the journey, part of the fun and part of the justification to spend a lot of money on a jacket. I dont wake up one day and decide to spend $$$$ on some leather jacket. And I don't think many of 'my generation' would.

I partly disagree....because I dont think the type of guy hes marketing to really would ever find his website or know much about LW. Some of course Im not saying impossible. But thats what I find funny is the making fun of and kinda dick attitude he has towards us and the Japanese market.....were the ones keeping him in business. I dont think many average bikers or people looking for flight jackets would come across his stuff. How did you find out about LW? I found out from here. Not FB, or twitter, or instagram. I didnt find him by googling biker jackets or vintage jackets. Its all people like us who seriously research and dig stuff up. Who go several pages deep on a google search to find what were looking for. And even though he actively doesnt like us, why do we buy? Cause his stuff is great. But thats another aspect of what made me angry and annoyed by him. Its not just some possible actually troubling things (at least to me...chauvinist/homophobic) but without even touching those just at a glance hes saying we kinda suck haha. I think its funny his attitude based on probably who his largest market base is. Forum and FB Group members and japanese customers. So it really is just an odd situation.

 

[JMax]

He does make jackets for the Japanese market. I just think that to him, the quality is enough. Forget the icing, cherry, etc.

@Marc mndt agreed. His inflexibility could prove to be a major shortfall. But whatever he does works, try telling him otherwise right now. Of course, he has to concede the point if the “younger” generation decides otherwise, by adapting or going the way of the dodo. How leaders turn over businesses, units, operations, plans, etc., is always a dicey period. Interesting stuff.

 

[Carlos840]

LW is not a one man operation right? Just add a social media / marketing / sales manager and someone who can run a business. Things might change for the better?

@red devil visited the factory last year, apparently it's a two man opperation, Stuart deals with orders and the website, and another guy does the patterning, cutting and stitching.
I don't know that for sure, but i would be ready to bet that once Stuart decides to call it quits LW will be done...
The reason i have been getting so many LW recently is because they are to me the finest jackets available, and i have a feeling they won't be available forever...

 

[Marc mndt]

@red devil visited the factory last year, apparently it's a two man opperation, Stuart deals with orders and the website, and another guy does the patterning, cutting and stitching.
I don't know that for sure, but i would be ready to bet that once Stuart decides to call it quits LW will be done...
The reason i have been getting so many LW recently is because they are to me the finest jackets available, and i have a feeling they won't be available forever...

I didn't know that. I just assumed that there would be more than two because I see quite a lot of lw jackets here on the lounge. I also assumed Monitors jacket was made by an apprentice, which would imply that it's more than just a two men business. Assumptions...are the mother of all f*ckups.

 

[Hh121]

From Japan reseller

 

[AeroFan_07]

Yep, reminds me of an Artisan’s shop indeed. Chaotic, but oddly organized. Purposeful, and 0% budget for "ambience." Ah for those days!

 

[Will Zach]

Wondering if this would pass FDNY inspection.

 

[Carlos840]

From Japan reseller
View attachment 252414 View attachment 252415 View attachment 252416 View attachment 252417 View attachment 252418 View attachment 252419 View attachment 252420 View attachment 252421 View attachment 252422

That's a serious pile of zippers!

 

[Mich486]

The html website kind of makes sense now

 

[JMax]

The html website kind of makes sense now

Old school in everything he does.

 

[Marc mndt]

By the way and off topic, I love visiting small artisan workshops like these. I do so every summer when I visit Tuscany (Italy) which is the heart of the European leather production region.

 

[itsallgood]

If I read correctly, he did not complete his PhD in English, he failed to make the grade and quit.

I may have been unclear. I was drawing an analogy to the personality type drawn to a PhD in English. If he worked on it for four years, he may be ABD.

I would not view him as a grad school drop out. I got to know a guy quite well that spent six years working on his PhD in English; it was a grueling grind and he came to believe academia is more cutthroat than anything in business. There was obstacle after obstacle thrown in front of him and with tenure-track jobs teaching English very few and far between, he came to believe he was being obstructed so there wouldn't be more competition for those few jobs. Four years working towards a PhD is no small shakes.

 

[Superfluous]

Truth is that Stu's perspective on outerwear forums may, to varying degrees, be shared by many/most jacket manufacturers. Stu may be the only manufacturer sufficiently brave/imprudent to publicly share his opinion and risk the potential adverse impact on his business. Other manufacturers may be biting their collective tongues and restraining themselves, while silently cheering Stu's blunt candor.

Many manufacturers are intensely passionate about their jackets. They spend years honing their crafts and their jackets are an expression of their passion and artistry. Here on TFL, we relentlessly and meticulously scrutinize every detail of their artistry. We run their works of art through the wringer and undertake a painstaking critique. We forcefully take exception with even the most negligible of perceived flaws – flaws that elude 99.9% of the jacket wearing public. I suspect that no jacket manufacturer – and certainly not those with artisan attributes and temperaments – enjoys this level of scrutiny. No manufacturer enjoys the proctological exam delivered by TFL on a daily basis.

Certain manufacturers, while not quite as forthright as Stu, have certainly hinted at their displeasure with jacket forums. Dave Himel comes to mind. Others are more tight-lipped, but nevertheless likely harbor a similar sentiment. What do you think John Chapman or Ken Calder would say about jacket forums under hypnosis? Andy/BK and Steve Toohey/SB undoubtedly possess venomous opinions of jacket forums.

Perhaps Stu should be applauded for having the moxie to openly express that which his competitors believe in silence.

---- ----

Dissociative Identity Disorder says what. What?

 

[Marc mndt]

Truth is that Stu's perspective on outerwear forums may, to varying degrees, be shared by many/most jacket manufacturers. Stu may be the only manufacturer sufficiently brave/imprudent to publicly share his opinion and risk the potential adverse impact on his business. Other manufacturers may be biting their collective tongues and restraining themselves, while silently cheering Stu's blunt candor.

Many manufacturers are intensely passionate about their jackets. They spend years honing their crafts and their jackets are an expression of their passion and artistry. Here on TFL, we relentlessly and meticulously scrutinize every detail of their artistry. We run their works of art through the wringer and undertake a painstaking critique. We forcefully take exception with even the most negligible of perceived flaws – flaws that elude 99.9% of the jacket wearing public. I suspect that no jacket manufacturer – and certainly not those with artisan attributes and temperaments – enjoys this level of scrutiny. No manufacturer enjoys the proctological exam delivered by TFL on a daily basis.

Certain manufacturers, while not quite as forthright as Stu, have certainly hinted as their displeasure with jacket forums. Dave Himel comes to mind. Others are more tight-lipped, but nevertheless likely harbor a similar sentiment. What do you think John Chapman or Ken Calder would say about jacket forums under hypnosis? Andy/BK and Steve Toohey/SB undoubtedly possess venomous opinions of jacket forums.

Perhaps Stu should be applauded for having the moxie to openly express that which his competitors believe in silence.

---- ----

Dissociative Identity Disorder says what. What?

If I were a jacket manufacturer, I would stay away from forums like tfd too. I might do some promotion but I would certainly not get involved in any of the discussions. There will always be people who somehow dislike what you do or the way you conduct your business. Starting a discussions with them will never make you look good. No matter who's wrong or right.