Blackhawk Tools ... another one bites the dust?

[Finance Guy]

A subsequent observation to my Proto DuraTek screwdriver thread ... for every Blackhawk product listed on the Proto website:

1) Some products are described as "Discontinued";
2) Most other products list Grainger as the sole distributor; and
3) The Grainger website seems to be listing every Blawkhawk SKU as "Discontinued".







Another one bites the dust? I'm not sure how relevant it really is, as Blackhawk has been diminishing into obscurity for years, but still...

 

[Lesserstore]

I think its going to be replaced by the new US made Craftsman. A while back I thought it was simply going to be rebranded Blackhawk, but this blurry pic I found in SBDs investor materials squashed that theory.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, BH Tools is no more from what I've read.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I've heard rumors that SBD is phasing out the Blackhawk brand, since few people even know it exists, and they have the Craftsman brand now.

 

[four.cycle]

Why not?
Smart business move.
Blackhawk doesn't have anywhere near the brand recognition of Craftsman in the current market.
I would do exactly the same if I was SBD: drop the Blackhawk brand and expand the Craftsman brand.
Imported or otherwise, the Craftsman will outsell the Blackhawk ten to one.

 

[Finance Guy]

Why not?
Smart business move.

To be sure, I'm not really arguing against the logic of this particular move.

However, I remain skeptical of SBD's ability/willingness to manage the Craftsman brand with any more competence than its management of FlexVolt, Craftsman V60, Porter Cable, etc. When SBD bought Craftsman in 2017, I was the biggest cheerleader on GJ ... over the last 5 years, however, my impression of SBD has soured.

 

[four.cycle]

SBD is in business for their stockholders, not the tool-buying public.
When it's all about the bottom line, product quality and corporate integrity go to the back of the line.
Do you honestly believe in your heart of hearts that the corporate executives at SBD give a tinker's damn about what the guys on GJ think about Craftsman?
They'll phase out Blackhawk, expand Craftsman with a lot of offshore outsourced stuff, and the public will buy it because they recognize the name and it will be sold at a competitive price point.

The American buying public has been converted to a herd of sheep - they just want cheaper cheaper cheaper. Product quality has become a non-issue. To wit: Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar Stores, ad infinitum.

 

[Steve_P]

Makes sense and it should've happened years ago; Blackhawk hasn't had an "identity" for decades. I doubt anyone under 50, that's not a member here, knows they exist.

 

[lardy1]

At this point both of them are really nothing but a name. Obviously Craftsman is far more recognizable than Blackhawk and they paid dearly for that. They didn't buy a tool company. They bought a name. If their bean counters say it's time to ditch a brand it's pretty much a no brainer.

 

[Finance Guy]

SBD is in business for their stockholders, not the tool-buying public.

Yes, as are Snap-On and TTI (Milwaukee) ... yet they do a far better job of managing their respective brands.

 

[four.cycle]

I cannot speak to Milwaukee - I don't know anything at all about the product line.

Snap-on is a completely different business model than the global corporate giant that SBD has become over the last two decades, and (more importantly) their target market isn't the general public - it's the professional mechanic/technician.

Apples and kumquats.

 

[kd3pc]

If you see deals on SBD getting shut of Blackhawk tools, at a great price, please post or message me here. Closeout or clearance.

 

[Fedwrench]

I thought Blackhawk was being replaced by the Expert line.

 

[Finance Guy]

I thought Blackhawk was being replaced by the Expert line.

Then you know more than I.