naim business review

My best wishes for these uncertain times!, yesterday I read luxury products sales are not affected by the crisis but I am not sure most Naim sales can be considered as part of that happy market. I hope Naim will be launching new successful products, new Nait looks promising, new speakers may be very well received and a standalone true reference DAC would be simply marvellous... can I order one?

I was with one of our partner organisations today and we agreed that it was important to listen to what customers tell you, stick to what you're good at whilst still innovating but don't loose your nerve by deliberating for too long.

Keep it coming Naim - quality music rules.

Fender (Strat)

Id disagree that all luxury items are not affected. a few of my very good friends sell high end city pads up to £7-10M and some sell seriously expensive cars well in excess of £300,000 both have business plans and both include laying staff off to reduce overheads. its inevitable in today’s climate and i/we personally think these heady days have come to an end for many. it will return but to what extent we will see.

The fact is that Naim make things that are nice to have rather than necessary, and are bound to suffer in a recession. We have been there before and got throught it, and prompt decisive action now will reap rewards later.

Nigel

agreed

My sympathy to those who have lost their positions and also to those having to conduct the consultations.

I have today had to personally conduct redundancy consultations with 8 people with further meetings tomorrow and Monday. It is a very unpleasant thing to do, especially at this time of year.

Our company is losing over 200 people which is about 10% of the workforce.

Paul, you have done what needed to be done to keep the company on track.

Regards

Mark

Twelve months ago today, I was layed off - for the third time in my working career. And I have, as an employer, also had to lay people off ... I was only nineteen years old, so imagine what effect that might have ...

I see this from both sides.

On balance it was definably less comfortable to be layed off, and it is down to putting bread on the table. Simple as that.

I have also witnessed a liquidation as an eighteen year old in 1980, and that leaves no one better off.

Painful though it is for the unfortunates, layed off, that is better than everyone being layed off due to insolvency of their employer. That is why we have a taxation system - in a still [though increasingly less so] civilised country which supports those who unfortunately are in the possition of losing employment. That is why I find tax evasion a moral offense only marginally short of rape, child abuse, or murder. People are often shocked by my outrage when they boast of their exploits in tax evasion. Pay unto Ceasar that which is due unto Ceasar, ...

George

To adapt St Matthew, until now I had always thought the rich would always be with us. But this recession seems different. At the beginning of last month, one of my brothers who was a mechanic at a Ferrari dealership in the south of England, was made redundant.

Now I hear of lay-offs at Naim too. I think brands that offer integrity, passion and great products will always survive, even if in slightly reduced circumstances. That includes Naim.

Regards, Chris

quote:

Originally posted by 555:

CA extremists (you know who you are!) threatening terrible deeds,
unless the Naim DAC is made?

"I dont want to hurt anybody, but either you give me the DAC or the Superline gets it!"

He says while holding the phono pre, by an improperly inserted Powerline, out the 5th story window.

"Easy Patrick..... that Powerline is barely inserted."

"I'll do it!!! Im not f#$%*ing around!! Give me the DAC! I dont care if its a Beta version.... I am going to count to three!!!"

"We will NOT negotiate with audio terrorists!!

"One, two...."

Then the powerline broke loose and despite his efforts, Patrick watched the Superline, and all of his bargaining chips, shatter on the street below.


Months later this was written in the local newspaper.....

American audiophool Patrick Stockton (1973–2008) joined a long list of dissidents who died because of their outspoken criticism of Naim's regime. A DAC and Computer Audio entusiast, who chronicled Naim's attempts to subdue extremists in the breakaway republic of Audio Replay, he remained objective in describing the ghastly atrocities committed by both sides. Stockton further warned that Naim seemed to be reverting to a Soviet-style climate of fear under the leadership of Adam Meredith, a former spy.

"I have no hope left in my soul," he told Andrew Osborn in Britain's Independent newspaper. "Only a change of leadership would allow me to have hope but it's a digital winter."

Less than two months later, Stockton became the victim of what appeared to be an audio assassination.

I am sorry to hear that Naim are having to lose staff. When listening to the financial news, I always had a little hope that the currency situation would favour a British producer of goods for export like Naim. Disappointing.

quote:

and as usual all upgrades are always welcome!

Just added a Flatcap 2X last week to my set-up {CD5X & 150X} and will picking up a 122X {upgrade from 112X} next weekend - New Year will see the introduction of a Fraim.

Appreciate it's not earth shattering expenditure in the grand scheme of keeping people in jobs but at least it's money spent and directed towards British manufacturing.

Sympathy for the 7 people made redundant - having been there twice myself in the 90s I know the feeling - let's only the hope that 2009 isn't the mass downturn the media and many others are painting the picture it will be ??!!

The massive downturn has already occurred. The question is how far downand how long is it going to last?

Gary

quote:

The massive downturn has already occurred. The question is how far downand how long is it going to last?

I'd hate to see you in pessimistic mode!

Cheers

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
Gary

quote:

The massive downturn has already occurred. The question is how far downand how long is it going to last?

I'd hate to see you in pessimistic mode!

Cheers

Jim

Jim,

I'll take that smile as a sign that you agree.

I'm in no way a pessimist. but suffice to say that here in Chicago we noticed the drop off in activity starting last October/November and it continued pretty much the same until September when the floor dropped for everyone, including the health care industry. My IT guy who's business spans the ganut of industries tells me that he has very few clients who have not laid off people and only 1-2 that are expanding. Lucky for him everyone needs their computers to function.

For all the optimists out there, whatever you do, please do not read the business sections of any broadsheet newspaper nor listen to any BBC or Channel 4 news programmes.....

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
can you imagine the agm and hours spent discussing the return of the olive range

No, the return of the modern-manufactured chrome bumper I'll have you know...

Anyway sorry to hear the news about the redundancies. I wish all the best the everyone involved.

Given the release of the XS I am sure Naim are refocussing on where best to position themselves in this changing market. Coupling that with a worthy successor to the Ariva would be a fine prospect.

Andrew

Firstly it's very sad to hear of redundancies at Naim and my thoughts go out to those affected.

On a more positive note I have always wondered why Naim don't make a set of rear dipole speakers for AV systems. From my (limited) experience and reading on the subject of AV it would seem that the optimum speaker design for surround use is indeed a dipole, or at least a bipole - this is for example the recommendation for THX.

I have always thought that something like the top section of the SBL with two tweeters and a woofer would be ideal.

Well, you asked for positive product suggestions and that's mine.

I hope it's helpful and would welcome any thoughts from Naim HQ.

Best regards,

Jonathan

I'm going to close this thread as it seems to have run its course - strangely popping up with thoughts possibly more relevant to other threads.

and - we use the N-Sats as rears. Not, I know, the dipole approach but we have to be careful not to fill holes in the market that don't exist for us.