Hein gericke

A little history lesson for you:

Hein Gericke was originally a German run business that owned all its stores in mainland Europe with HG UK being a privately owned business run by two partners, Guy and Richard. HG UK was the only part of HG Europe that was profitable for many years

HG Germany went bust but as HG UK are privately owned in UK they weren't taken down with them. HG UK bought the rights to the HG name in Europe and made dramatic cuts to keep the HG name alive across Europe and expanded their UK operation slightly. To do this new European directors were invited to sit on the board each with a financial stake in the new company.

HG UK's original partners parted company, with Guy leaving and setting up another company importing and distributing another quality clothing brand and Richard staying at the helm of HG UK.

HG has a few scares but holds its head above water until yesterday.

As far as I'm aware HG Germany has not existed for a while, so there can not be a bail out of HG UK as they are in effect now HG Germany since they bought the rights to the HG name in Europe after HG Germany went bust a few years ago.

There.

History lesson over - quit with the speculating and leave it up to the businessmen who know what they are doing... or put your CV in to the administrators and tell them you could do a better job than the guys who've run it for the last 20 odd years and built it up to what it once was.

[DJ123]

what ever they do, i hope they keep HG going in the UK. I'm a big fan of their gear and shops. Would be a big loss IMO

Just remember one thing guys - it's rumours like the ones populated on forums like this that can kill a successful business by instilling a lack of confidence in products and their suppliers.

When you hear a rumour about something like HG going bust, the worst thing you can do to that business is post bollox about it on a forum, because you can bet your life that the majority of the half-wits who frequent forums will spread that rumour in various forms right across the internet, and that's exactly what happened to HG.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

..... half-wits who frequent forums

The reason HG are in difficulty is because not enough of us half-wits have chosen to spend our hard earned cash there in recent times, I would imagine.

Because the half-wits spread the rumours, and the quarter-wits don't go shopping there because of it.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Because the half-wits spread the rumours, and the quarter-wits don't go shopping there because of it.

Wow - I'm surprised HG have sold anything with such a large proportion of their potential customer base experiencing learning difficulties. Perhaps their target market ought to have been the hyper-intelligent bikers who probably don't mind being ripped off to fuel corporate greed. The fact is, HG became uncompetitive in the face of a shrinking market. When the mighty fall, the massses will scoff. But that's just human nature - envy I think it's called. HG stuff was ok but so is lot of other gear. I personally blame the Internet for shifting consumer trends. Let's face it, most of us need retail outlets less and less. The overheads of expensive premises will continue to make many businesses unviable. I recently bought a new 2 piece, high quality leather suit on-line for £160. A mate of mine has a HG suit virtually identical except for the HG logos on his. He paid 2x the price. I would not tell him he's a half wit - he's bigger than me!!

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Because the half-wits spread the rumours, and the quarter-wits don't go shopping there because of it.

Wow - I'm surprised HG have sold anything with such a large proportion of their potential customer base experiencing learning difficulties. Perhaps their target market ought to have been the hyper-intelligent bikers who probably don't mind being ripped off to fuel corporate greed. The fact is, HG became uncompetitive in the face of a shrinking market. When the mighty fall, the massses will scoff. But that's just human nature - envy I think it's called. HG stuff was ok but so is lot of other gear. I personally blame the Internet for shifting consumer trends. Let's face it, most of us need retail outlets less and less. The overheads of expensive premises will continue to make many businesses unviable. I recently bought a new 2 piece, high quality leather suit on-line for £160. A mate of mine has a HG suit virtually identical except for the HG logos on his. He paid 2x the price. I would not tell him he's a half wit - he's bigger than me!!

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Because the half-wits spread the rumours, and the quarter-wits don't go shopping there because of it.

I have to sort of agree with Gower, Loz
The markets shrank and some areas there is massive competition. On Westgate Road/ Newcastle, there is 3 motorcycle clothing shops (plus Hein Gericke) and two motorcycle dealers all within a 1/2 mile

It's a real shame. Not least because it's yet another story of job losses and woe. Always found the staff at all three of the HG shops I use to be great, plus, as mentioned, their own brand kit is bang for your buck.

Sods law that I got a load of HG vouchers for my birthday last week isn't it...

[NTECUK]

Can we still order stuff through the European site ?
I must say the guys in the Braintree shop have always been helpful .
Got to dash home tonight and see if I can get the matching tail pack