I went on line to see if any other surfers, wind, kite, Sup had quality issues with the newer Naish boards as compression top and bottom seems to be an issue now, also paint / top coat bubbling. Its not Osmosis or abuse, my boards are very well looked after. The older Naish windsurf and sup boards were undoubtedly the best in every way a brand owned by people who cared. I have been told by 2 very skilled and highly regarded repairmen that since Naish was sold to a Polish company the quality has dropped to keep manufacturing costs and weight down. The fibre glass around the core has a much thinner layer of resin now leading to problems when getting warm / hot as air bubbles in the core rise through the resin and blister the skin. This is just an honest appraisal from a former very happy user who in the early days was proud to go to the beach with a Naish board
Dutch company: Kubus sports.
clement-morandiere.medium.com/kubus-sports-grabs-naish-but-can-it-rescue-the-sinking-brand-456216ecd3df
Extracts:
4.Outdated distribution model worsened financial struggles
Naish's troubles also reflect larger industry shifts away from traditional distribution. Insiders suggest Naish had been burdened by an outdated reliance on retailers instead of direct connections with users.This led to massive excess inventory - with rumors of thousands of unsold wingfoil units stockpiled at their factory in China. With slowing cash flow from declining hard goods sales, shrinking margins from retailer markups, and wasted capital on inventory, informed sources say Naish's business fundamentals were crumbling.The pandemic and economic volatility only exacerbated systemic issues like bloated inventories, inefficient distribution, and negative working capital. With retailers unable to absorb inflated stock, acquisition became Naish's only viable path forward.We've recently seen many Naish products dump into the European market with sales pricess off up to 60%, even Naish Foil sold under 200?
5.Can Kubus transform Naish's business model for the digital age?
While Kubus provides a financial lifeline, it remains uncertain whether a European parent company can help Naish overhaul its business model to better serve today's watersports enthusiasts.Beyond funding, Naish requires a digital-first direct connection to customers and agile, demand-driven manufacturing. Time will tell if Kubus can bring not just capital, but the strategic vision to transform Naish for the modern era.
6.Naish recognized trends, but failed to dominate them While Naish has showcased impressive foresight by moving early into rising disciplines like kiteboarding, stand up paddleboarding, and wing foiling, the brand has consistently failed to convert its first-mover advantage into sustained market leadership.Despite having the vision to identify and embrace new sports with growth potential ahead of rivals, Naish has struggled to scale rapidly enough to defend its competitive position once bigger mass market players inevitably enter the space.Rather than leveraging disruptive innovations to reshape industries under the Naish banner, the brand repeatedly surrendered dominance to followers with greater resources and distribution prowess. This longstanding failure to capitalize on identified opportunities adds further urgency for major strategic changes under Kubus' stewardship.The watersports world watches eagerly as this iconic brand navigates unknown waters, balancing tradition and innovation under new leadership. Naish's next chapter will either cement its status as a timeless legend, or confirm its outdated irrelevance. The stakes could not be higher for the pioneer brand."
Sad to hear. They have always had great SUP boards and pushed progression forward. Still have and use a 2016 Naish Hokua Le 7' 8" x 27 3/4 96 L. Great board and still in excellent condition. Hopefully they can rise again but they are not the only SUP manufacture that are struggling.
