Where does "Syndicate" come from?

wettek69

Gidday guys.

I have always wondered where does the "Syndicate" name come from with HO skis? I always thought it was a model/range of skis, but these days it seems like HO pretty much market themselves as HO Syndicate. As an example, I'd like a "HO skis" T-shirt, but it seems like they all pretty much just say "Syndicate", ski covers say "Syndicate" etc. Caps, all the apparel is Syndicate

Always wondered......

Hope everyone has a safe and family Christmas

Regards to all.

MattP

@savaiusini @MarcusBrown

savaiusini

Think of Syndicate as a brand within a brand. It's a designation we give to those products in our line that are designed to perform at the highest level of tournament waterskiing. It's not a designation we give to say... a pair of combo skis, a kneeboard or a tube.

wettek69

@savaiusini Thanks for the explanation, I thought that may be the case. Any chance of getting some shirts in the range that just say HO Skis?

mbabiash

Santa Cruz bikes used syndicate for their pro team starting in 2006. Looks awfully similar.
L

savaiusini

@wettek69
https://www.hosports.com/product/waterski-accessories-nobaddays
https://www.hosports.com/product/waterski-accessories-retro
https://www.hosports.com/product/waterski-accessories-ranger-hat
https://www.hosports.com/product/waterski-accessories-ho-sports-emblem-trucker-hat

lakeo

Back in the day Andy Mapple, the two Lapoint brothers, Camille & Sammy Duvall were dressed to look like mobsters, but were carrying skis instead of machine guns. This may have been the origin of the branding.

slow

Marketing

dchristman

From the A1 marketing -




My 2005 Monza says "Syndicate series" on it, and that's the first reference I recall.

Horton

@lakeo That was an O'BRIEN ad not an HO an

lakeo

Oh wise @Horton of the left coast. I know/knew that, however often times within the world of marketing and branding things are umm let's say usurped. You agree? O by the way thank you thank you thank you very much for my Panda. I will wear it proudly.

lakeo

@Horton
While they may not have been directly referred to as "syndicate" and were umm projected as the good guys. I am merely saying this may have been the beginning of the syndicate concept. Sir, may I have another

foxriverat

lakeo

Yes, Geoff Carrington not Sammy. They do look somewhat like members of a "syndicate" to me. Jus sayin' maybe at bore the idea for the branding.

wettek69

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Merry Christmas to all

B_S

@lakeo FWIW I've always thought Syndicate may have been a bit of a nod to that classic marketing campaign.

Jody_Seal

Cam

Still O'Brien tho!