To remain competitive and profitable, a business must embrace change. Very rarely does a company stay on top without adapting to the world around it. When a company gets complacent, the grim reaper is usually lurking.
Adidas is just one example of a brand that's stood at death's door but clawed its way back through better business practices. After founder Adolf Dassler sold the company in 1987, Adidas saw a revolving door of unfocused leaders. In 1992, after its owners had split Adidas into various brands like Pony and Le Coq Sportif, which varied greatly from their original product offering, the company's losses totaled around $100 million. Adidas' sales were at a 10-year low. Through the right leadership, a refined focus on sportswear, and the elimination of irrelevant brands, Adidas was brought back to life, raking in $163 million in profits by 1995.
Some of the most successful companies and brands in the world have faced similar troubles to Adidas, but managed to turn their fate around. Tech giant Apple, online retail powerhouse eBay, and coffee house leader Starbucks all had their trying times.
How did your favorite brands claw their way back from the grave? What business sorcery did they use to turn it all around? To celebrate Halloween, Firmex Virtual Data Rooms has brought together this slideshow of Companies Back From the Dead.
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10 Companies Back From the Dead
Tech giant Apple, online retail powerhouse eBay, and coffee house leader Starbucks all had their trying times.
Fool contributor Jennifer Streaks owns none of the companies mentioned here. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, eBay, General Motors, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, eBay, Netflix, and Starbucks. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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