Anybody watch the interview that Penny did in Harrisburg @ CR's HQ?. Surprised Penny wasn't wearing fishing waders trying to protect limbs from the hooey being thrown around.

Don't know about reality but Cindy Rowe's company had a wonderful industry reputation. Hearing the Master of Disaster describe CR as the strongest brand they have bought to date makes me weep croc tears because I can't see Mr Feeney and company making the effort that the Rowe's did to maintain the quality of the brand. Can I assume that CR did not buy truckloads of SGC glass? If not, they sure will now.

I don't fault the Rowe's from leaving when they did. They started from scratch and deserve the money they made from the buyout (so do long-time employees of theirs). Belron was the only game in town that had green and the timing was right for them and the faltering economy to sell out.

I am befuddled that Belron bought another Middle Atlantic chain within spitting distance of DT. It is a tribute to Cindy Rowe that they grew despite the discounting nature of Diamond. Yet Mr Feeney talks of respecting the brand and certainly side stepped any projected changes. Anybody believe Belron when they bought Elite, AG and Diamond and said the same thing?

Rowe employees, if they didn't provide hemlock tonight at the "associates' welcoming dinner, you are not going to be spared for long. Expect a visit from the Columbus Borg. You will be merged. Efforts are futile.........

I'm sorry guys but I simply don't believe that the CR brand will enjoy the same respect in ten years as it does today.

ever see the little rascals chain store gig Opus?
What did the little girl say over and over again?
"Its not Enough!"
I guess it was , and I cant blame her.
My Best Advisers, would agreee
Got in?,
Get out.
Opus?

Oh, so the Auto Glass Specialists and Elite brands were only chicken soup?

Cindy HO

NO, they are now although.

Opus... I watched the interview and what stands out the most is the "relief" on Ms. Rowe and Dave Taylor's faces. They both know they are getting out in the nick of time and everybody on this board (with a brain) knows it too.

I'm glad for the both of them; as they obviously worked very hard over the years to build the brand and pay their dues. They are also both smart enough to know that what they're selling Belron is worth a lot less than what it would be worth if they still were active. I don't know if that came out right, so let me re-phrase; the Cindy Rowe organization is worth a lot more if Ms. Rowe and Dave Taylor (the entrepreneurial life-blood of the company) agreed to stick around.

It was that way with all the collision consolidations; the collective whole was somehow worth less because the people that built the organization were conspicuously absent after the purchase. Efforts were always made to "cut redundant costs" but somehow these cost cutting measures never translated into better "gross operating margins" for the entire consolidated operation versus the margins that were enjoyed prior to acquisition.

Just food for thought.

Just food for thought.