From Great Depression to Nifty Fifty: The Little Known Story About Simplicity Pattern, Part 2

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Preferred Shares Podcast.

Douglas Ott, of Andvari Associates, was the primary researcher for this episode.

In this episode

* Simplicity turns down the huge buyout offer

* Peak price meets peak sales

* Shifting tastes in American fashion

* Corporate raiders smell blood in the water

* The big unwind

* Answering: How to fight obsolescence?

* Takeaways and timeless lessons

Episode resources

Glamour Stocks Under Pressure, New York Times, 8/1/1971

How High Is High? How High Is Safe?, Forbes, 4/15/1972

A Fund Optimist Looks at Stocks, New York Times, 2/5/1973

Nice Troubles, Fortune, 10/1/1973

Market Place: Simplicity Out of Fashion Now, 2/8/1974

A Resurgence in Home Sewing?, New York Times, 5/19/1974

Market Place: Insiders Offer Investing Clues, New York Times, 5/27/1974

Price Rises Set by Uniroyal Tire, New York Times, 8/15/1974

Simplicity Pattern Names Head, New York Times, 10/11/1974

Butterick’s Evens, New York Times, 1/19/1975

Making It With Patterns, New York Times, 1/19/1975

Simplicity’s Glynn, New York Times, 1/19/1975

President of Simplicity Resigns, 7/4/1975

SYP Promotes Executive VP Harold Hooper to President, New York Times, 7/11/1975

At Simplicity, Pattern is Still One-Man Rule, New York Times, 7/19/1975

Market Place: Seeking Undervalued Assets, New York Times, 2/14/1976

Market Place: Picking a Trend for Simplicity, New York Times, 2/28/1976

SYP Annual Results, New York Times, 2/26/1983

Simplicity Pattern Buys a 9.9% Stake in Amstar, New York Times, 6/18/1983

Simplicity Changes Name to Maxxam Group, Inc, New York Times, 6/9/1984

Triton to Acquire Simplicity Pattern (Maxxam), New York Times, 7/18/1984

Tougher Than the Rest, Time, 2/8/1988

A Raider’s Ruckus in the Redwoods, Fortune, 4/24/1989

A Pattern Maker’s Buyout Burden, New York Times, 9/2/1989

Reaping from Sewing, Forbes, 5/25/1992

Additional reading

Along with the resources above relating to episode 3, below are some pieces we’ve written independently that we think you’d like:

Sewage Pipes to Software in 30 Years, a report on Tyler Technologies (TYL), a company mentioned in this Preferred Shares episode, Douglas Ott, 9/3/2020

Executive Training Grounds Part 1: General Electric, Douglas Ott, 6/6/2023

Secular Growth In The Pet Industry, Lawrence Hamtil, 9/19/2023

A Few Thoughts On Auto Parts Retail, Lawrence Hamtil, 4/22/2023

Imperial Brands: Looking Through the Noise, Devin LaSarre, 10/8/2023

Scandinavian Tobacco Group: The Artisanal Serial Acquirer, Devin LaSarre, 7/2/2023

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Disclaimer

All opinions expressed by Preferred Shares hosts and guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of their respective employers. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. None of the information contained in the podcast or this web site constitutes a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Clients of Andvari and Fortune Financial may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. Furthermore, from time to time, the Hosts may hold positions or other interests in securities mentioned in the Podcast and may trade for their own accounts based on the information presented. The Hosts may also take positions inconsistent with the views expressed in its messages on the Podcast.

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