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Michael Girdley
Приєднався 22 лис 2022
Fascinating stories that teach you business.
What can we learn from Party City's bankruptcy?
Party City is closing 700 stores-let’s break this down.
This isn’t just about balloons and party hats-it’s tens of thousands of jobs lost, with many employees only getting two weeks’ notice. Right before the holidays, no less. It’s a tough situation, but there’s a bigger story here: how a company that once thrived ended up in this position. From its 1986 start as a party superstore pioneer to facing the headwinds of e-commerce, changing consumer habits, and private equity missteps, Party City’s journey is both fascinating and cautionary.
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► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast
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So, what happened? Think back to the 80s and 90s-a time of suburban boom and the rise of Hallmark holidays. Party City rode that wave to success, opening hundreds of stores and becoming a billion-dollar business by 2005. But things changed. E-commerce giants like Amazon swooped in, big-box stores like Target upped their party supply game, and Spirit Halloween took over the seasonal space. Add in financial engineering by private equity firms and, eventually, the pandemic shutting down parties altogether, and it’s no surprise the company couldn’t survive the headwinds.
The takeaway? Financial engineering isn’t a substitute for creating real value, and businesses must adapt as tailwinds shift to headwinds. Party City’s story is a stark reminder: know why your business exists, and stay ahead of changing trends-or risk becoming the next cautionary tale.
This isn’t just about balloons and party hats-it’s tens of thousands of jobs lost, with many employees only getting two weeks’ notice. Right before the holidays, no less. It’s a tough situation, but there’s a bigger story here: how a company that once thrived ended up in this position. From its 1986 start as a party superstore pioneer to facing the headwinds of e-commerce, changing consumer habits, and private equity missteps, Party City’s journey is both fascinating and cautionary.
------------------------------------------------------------------
► Join 40,000+ business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt
► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast
► Follow me on Twitter/X: girdley
------------------------------------------------------------------
So, what happened? Think back to the 80s and 90s-a time of suburban boom and the rise of Hallmark holidays. Party City rode that wave to success, opening hundreds of stores and becoming a billion-dollar business by 2005. But things changed. E-commerce giants like Amazon swooped in, big-box stores like Target upped their party supply game, and Spirit Halloween took over the seasonal space. Add in financial engineering by private equity firms and, eventually, the pandemic shutting down parties altogether, and it’s no surprise the company couldn’t survive the headwinds.
The takeaway? Financial engineering isn’t a substitute for creating real value, and businesses must adapt as tailwinds shift to headwinds. Party City’s story is a stark reminder: know why your business exists, and stay ahead of changing trends-or risk becoming the next cautionary tale.
Переглядів: 57
Відео
NBA's Phoenix Suns Price all Concessions at $2
Переглядів 822 години тому
The Phoenix Suns just dropped a bombshell-$2 hot dogs, popcorn, and water at games! Yeah, TWO BUCKS. For anyone who’s ever been robbed by a $10 arena hot dog, you know this is groundbreaking. Link to tweet: x.com/Dexerto/status/1869488520420786545 ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@Acquisitions...
Why young men are returning to religion
Переглядів 4464 години тому
Something surprising is happening right now-Gen Z men are becoming more religious than their parents and even their grandparents. Yup, you heard that right. In this video, we’re diving into the why behind this unexpected trend and what it means for business, culture, and the future. ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for...
Is remote work causing corporate divide?
Переглядів 1157 годин тому
Remote work was supposed to revolutionize work-life balance and productivity, but now it’s becoming an elite perk. CEOs are working from private jets and vacation homes while regular employees are forced back to the office. Companies like Amazon and Salesforce push return-to-office mandates, ignoring studies that show remote work can be just as, if not more, effective. Read more on the subject ...
Why marketing sucks so bad right now
Переглядів 1,3 тис.9 годин тому
Most small business owners are still running their marketing like it’s 2008-and it’s costing them big time. The world has changed, and today’s customers don’t trust glossy ads, curated messages, or corporate-speak. So what does work? Raw, real, and relatable content that actually connects with your audience. ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► De...
Tax Loopholes for Small Businesses - Should You Buy a G Wagon?
Переглядів 93116 годин тому
Want to save $50,000 on your taxes and drive a G-Wagon? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not-thanks to the IRS Section 179. But here’s the catch: it’s not exactly the free lunch it appears to be. ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast ► Follow me on Twitter...
Government Shutdown: What It Means for Your Business
Переглядів 4916 годин тому
What happens if the government shuts down? While it may seem like a massive event, the reality is a bit more nuanced. In this video, we break down how a potential shutdown could affect small businesses, CEOs, and everyday operations. ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodca...
What Happens To Businesses After Federal Reserve's 0.25% Rate Cut?
Переглядів 16119 годин тому
The Fed just cut interest rates again, marking the third rate drop this year. What does that mean for small businesses and the economy heading into 2025? ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast ► Follow me on Twitter/X: girdley In this video, I break down: - ...
What businesses can expect from the economy in 2025
Переглядів 10019 годин тому
Are we heading for an economic boom or just fooling ourselves? ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast ► Follow me on Twitter/X: girdley As we move into 2025, American business optimism is at an all-time high after an election year filled with uncertainty. Bu...
Obesity cured in 2025? Here’s what it means for business.
Переглядів 8921 годину тому
Ozempic, Wegovy, and a bunch of new weight-loss drugs are about to shake things up-and not just for waistlines. We're talking about major changes to industries like fast food, airlines, and even healthcare. With more companies entering the game and prices expected to drop, the ripple effects could be huge. ► Join 40,000 business minds who read my newsletter: www.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► Deep...
Big Tech's New AI Obsession: Agents That Do Your Work for You
Переглядів 171День тому
Big Tech's New AI Obsession: Agents That Do Your Work for You
Trump Tariffs | Should small business be scared
Переглядів 83День тому
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Elon Musk is the first person to be worth more than $400 billion (with a b!)
Переглядів 26714 днів тому
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Infowars can't sell to The Onion - for now
Переглядів 61114 днів тому
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Переглядів 1,8 тис.4 місяці тому
If You Are Gen Z - Avoid These 5 Jobs!
How to make sure your business doesn’t run out of money - Lecture Series Part 4
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Переглядів 5904 місяці тому
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How to Hire Offshore Employees | HoldCo Lecture Series - Episode 3
Переглядів 2545 місяців тому
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Breaking Down This $400K Defense Contractor Deal
Переглядів 4358 місяців тому
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Переглядів 35 тис.9 місяців тому
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Переглядів 5249 місяців тому
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Maybe women aren't as interested in participating in organizations that believe they shouldn't be able to make decisions about their own bodies?
Another example of marketing turning w company around
Both
Never even heard of Halloween Express. But Spirit Halloween is a meme at this point.
Halloween Express was a thing here in San Antonio for a while. They died off.
Curious if you’ve seen the rhetoric on young men’s growing distance from reading/ fiction. Any thoughts there?
I haven’t though it makes sense when games provide much of that escape now.
Bro it’s a super sain
first comment pls pin
major bs
which part?
President Musk is opposed to remote work.
better blow up bro more people need to know this❤❤❤
I honestly the two main reasons are 1. The trans 'trend' that's clearly bonkers, and young men feel society's lost it's grip on reality and 2. Islam..... It's weirdly pushing westerners back to Christianity as they realise they don't want Sharia (how any LGBT+ person, or woman is okay with Islam, leaves me stumped), and Atheist are finally admitting all religions are NOT the same....
Since day 1 I’ve gotten the “men don’t do this, men don’t do that” from all the men in my life. I was always raised with old values but the girls in my family always got the new age feminist upbringing where they were never told “women don’t do that”. So when I came of age and even late high school to some extent girls get extra privileges, easier everything and as a guy I’m artificially held back. Now in my 20s I’m totally isolated and since girls never got the “women don’t do that” talk as kids they have ludicrously high standards for men whilst as a man I have to play by the old rules and get none of the benefits of that. I became religious at first for the community and then the actual spiritual connection came later. Its a window into the past that I will never experience because of modern feminism essentially punishing men for existing. At least in church everyone has a role to play instead of competing against each other and artificially holding some back to enforce equality. Men provide for a family and women create and care for the family, its ridiculous that it worked since the dawn of humanity but now we change everything and everything sucks.
This must be God’s will. You know man men weak so they crawl back to religion while strong women get things done. The end result is no one is having babies and America as we know it will just fade away. We are nearing the fail point for replacement. See Korea, Japan and even China. Gen Z just might be the first of the last three generations before it’s gone.
Cool Story and I'm learning business at the same time? Great Video!
"Sok" is basically more simpler version of Aldi. Why hasn’t Turkish companies started to start a business in USA? They’re way more cheap…
I am not a marketing expert but I don't know anyone who has ever bought anything from a company because they follow the CEO on social media, except for maybe Elon Musk but he is a complete fraud and nothing about him is down to earth and 'real'. I am extremely skeptical of the idea that a CEO making youtube videos or something, would have any impact on sales what so ever. Unless it was a very small niche business.
How old are you?
@@Michael-Girdley I am 40, though I try to keep in touch with trends and I do know many younger people, and have nieces/nephews in their late teens and stuff. I don't think you are entirely wrong, and if you said people buy stuff from people they follow and trust on social media in general, then I would absolutely agree. CEO and business owners though? I am not even sure how you end up finding them on social media unless you are already a massive fan of whatever they are doing. I can't imagine anyone randomly coming across a CEO's twitter or youtube, finding something interesting then going out to buy that product because they thought the CEO was nice. I am sure it happens, there are millions of people in the world, but is that really a valid marketing strategy?
GREAT VIDEO!
The trend is that men are lost, angry, and struggling to come to terms with their own negative behaviors. Turning to the dog shit of religion is a move of desperation. Gen Z men are also overwhelmingly more misogynistic than their parents. Gen Z women can attest to that. Gen Z men don't know how to talk to women. Gen Z men don't even understand women.
Exactly. Turning to religion is a way for them to externalize their problems instead of coming to terms with them
Please reply me
The problem isn’t marketing it feels almost every business no matter the quality of the product has tried to marketing to luxury customers alone.
Interesting point!
Good video
Glad you enjoyed!
Dudes like this are why our society does not progress. All he thinks about is from the perspective of the employer as opposed to regulating these companies from offshoring jobs which continues to erode the standard of living in this country. God forbid we create environments where people can be available to their families, live where they like and build community b/c some capitalist needs to see his investments sitting around in cubes in some oppressive corporate bs mill.
Well, my channel is for existing and aspiring business owners. I’ve also said many times I hate that current US regulations actually incentivize employers to offshore jobs.
Yes but not for the reasons you'd think.
what are those?
You're doing a fantastic job! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?
fascinating, had no idea. great video!
You bet!
i bet the nestly CEO is heavily bodyguarded now with whats happening.
Im a young man and I’m an agnostic, but I can understand why many young men are turning back to religion: religion in my view offers a sort of community and commonality with many other people, as well as shared customs, values, and traditions that all give one a common ground. The internet and social media give people the ability to communicate, but not really “interact” or share among others, and they want to be oriented towards aligned values. Another reason I believe they are turning back: is the promise of something better than the current life they have now, it offers something more meaningful beyond what is our current world, or align with a vision of the world that religions (not just Christianity) provide.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply and color!
I think we should let Luigi out so he can take care of this problem for us.
*_Im very lucky to have AWESOME tap 💧 water!_*_ Its Better than bottled!!_ *Sierra snow melt pipes directly to my area, then put through two sedimentation ponds!!* _(Crystal springs then bear gulch!)_ *Less than 60ppm!* 🧐🤔😆👍🏻💙👏🏻🤷🏼 #CleanAndSoft!
Try not marketing! Stop trying to message to sell. Produce quality products and make it open source, DRM free, free to use and modify, right to repair. Do that and let people do with it what they want and the product will sell itself. Stop trying to control people!!! Stop with the stupid marketing and manipulation.
Any content creator on social media who is earning money is marketing. Their audience you the viewer is the product.
@@kennethoneill4176 There are many content creator on social media that are not making money. Those are the true authentic people.
100% false. You have to use marketing or you will not sell a thing and nobody will know you exist.
I hate to say it but everyone has something to benefit from publishing, otherwise they wouldn’t do it.
@@Michael-Girdley The benefit from publishing is to share knowledge just like scientifically reviewed papers, you publish the data finding no marketing required. Put the information out into the public domain for the benefit of society you selfish !@##$!!!!
The new normal requires marketers to circle back and take the 30,000-foot view in order to get at the low-hanging fruit. You need to think outside the box and bring to the table the synergies that will lead to your product's 2.0. A product that will action your potential customers in ways that add value to your bottom line.
[slow clap]
Marketing is the most unethical practice of all time. You spend all your time coming up with lies to sell products and somehow its perceived as a normal thing. Try making a decent product and you won't need an ad to sell it.
False. Try again.
@@colin-nekritz I'm sorry you don't have the knowledge or confidence to back that statement up.
I disagree and think marketing is about making customers aware of your offering. Ideally, it’s part of a win win when you deliver a solution that helps people.
@@petebusch9069 I used to think like you but it's naive, very simply, the best products don't always win, also if you have a great product that nobody knows about, you haven't told anyone, telling them is marketing... You can be ethical and unethical in marketing, but marketing itself is ethically agnostic
@@Michael-Girdley But the majority of it is a flat out lie and does not deliver what they are actually advertising which only helps the advertiser and not the consumer. There are actually very few products that live up to the associated advertisement they come with. Truth is black and white with no room for gray. When a decent product comes to life it doesn't need and ad because right now as we speak people are constantly searching for these items, they don't need awareness because we seek it out and will find it. Stop being told what you want to hear and start listening to what you need to hear.
I guess the fact that I wish this was a bit more polished just means I'm old
lol. Message received!
@@Michael-Girdley lol good, just kidding. kept it up!
You market to who has money to spend, so create those polished ads for Boomers and Gen X
Bad news is we are getting to an age where we aren’t spending as much. Younger people with growing families are doing that.
Here before you blow up bro 👊 Love the vids
Thanks!
my friend is a doctor who looks after body builders on gear. he wrote off a mclaren
lol i’m in the wrong business!
Their stock price tanked at least a year ago possibly longer. Also while balloons were a big seller, their biggest money maker was Halloween. Most stores, their busiest season is Halloween. For Party City, October was when they made the most money. October was the blackout period for employee pto. Costumes, decor, candy but mostly costumes made PC a mad house. We opened pop up stores and hired seasonal staff just for October. Definitely not balloons.
It wasn’t balloons. Former longtime Party City employee/manager. It was years and years of gross mismanagement and frivolous spending. Not to mention their ridiculously overpriced crap products. They did well as a discount store and should have stuck with that. Most of us saw this coming years ago. The helium shortage is just a bs excuse.
if your biggest problem is messaging then you are wrong
1st
Regarding the number of employees helping people out at the lifts, in france for example there's usually one person at the start and one at the end. But if someone here falls off the lift he can't sue the ski lift operator for millions of $ 😂
Up to 26k write off under section 179
All of us blue collar buy pick up trucks you goofball. And equipment that’s who this tax code is for.
200k, write off 50k. Make 100k on sale, but because of the code you pay income tax on the 100k. So it seems like a wash + more.
The problems you bring up are solely you hating on people who buy these vehicles. If you can't afford it, its not their fault....
If you want want to consume nicotine, would it be better if I smoked or took zyn?
I USED 2 SHOP AT ALDI'S🗣️💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I’m gonna miss the store that’s where I get my Halloween costume from 😢
No one considers the income on a sale!! Well said
We need that helium to get to Mars.