Those Paws Up Blues
Eddie Bauer Draws Ire for Tie to David Lipson’s Paws Up Ranch
By Robert Struckman, 8-06-08
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| Caption: Eddie Bauer's Web site showing its co-branding with the Paws Up Ranch. Click the image to watch the video | |
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Some of Eddie Bauer’s Montana customers have taken umbrage at the retailer’s recently unveiled co-branding with the Missoula-area Resort at Paws Up Ranch.
Over the past week, Eddie Bauer announced its new fall marketing plan, which is on the front page of the Seattle-based company’s Web site. It says, “New for fall, inspired by the Last Best Place: Paws Up Montana. See Our Video.”
According to the site, the luxurious resort, which has checkered business past, has the outdoor clothing company gushing about “adventuring with style.” The video is a montage, with a guitar-rock soundtrack, showing the company’s familiar models cavorting around the swanky resort’s 37,000 acres, ripping around on quads, playing with dogs and looking sultry.
Not everyone is impressed.
“As a dedicated, long-time customer, basically, I’m disappointed,” said Lynn Solomon of Helena, who says her closet is packed with Eddie Bauer shoes, boots, clothing and accessories.
The owner of the Resort at Paws Up is David E. Lipson, a Las Vegas businessman who has been fined millions by the Securities and Exchange Commission for insider trading. His has been a troubled few years in Montana. To begin with, he opened his deluxe resort without a county-approved water or sewer system.
But Lipson really ticked off the state, including Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Montana’s congressional delegation, when he tried unsuccessfully to trademark one of the state’s beloved phrases, “The Last Best Place.” (In the interest of disclosure: I wrote those stories when I was business reporter at the Missoulian.) Both former Sen. Conrad Burns and Sen. Max Baucus passed laws to protect the phrase.
In recent months, Lipson has not earned much local news coverage. But locals haven’t forgotten him.
Solomon learned about the marketing ploy when she received a promotional mailing from Eddie Bauer about a week ago.
“They have a frequent buyer program—I don’t know what the criteria is—where you get rewards. And I shop at Eddie Bauer a lot,” Solomon said. “It included a one-piece that said the forthcoming fall collection is inspired by Paws Up. I took it out, put it on the keyboard of my computer and sent an email to corporate communications with lots of links to news stories back when the resort was in the news for various things.”
The Paws Up connection rankled her.
“What I want to know is, did they do any due diligence?” Solomon asked. An Eddie Bauer spokeswoman has not returned calls for comment.
“There are so many worthwhile places, if they want to tie into a Montana entity. There’s the Rolling Dog Ranch. They rescue injured animals,” Solomon said. “There’s also Camp Mak-a-Dream, a beautiful spot that does great work for kids who need it.”
About the email she sent to Eddie Bauer, Solomon said, “I just wanted to let them know that as a dedicated, long-time customer, that I don’t like it. I’m not going to stop doing business with Eddie Bauer, absolutely not, but to my mind, at least, they could have made a better choice.”
She added, “The ‘Last Best Place’ thing really gets under my skin.”
[End of article]Hell, I"ll quit buying Eddie Bauer for their association with Lipson.
Comment By Craig Moore, 8-06-08Ever since Spiegel bought EB, it has been only a shadow of its former self. A mere marketing label.
Comment By seeley lake, 8-06-08kind of beating a dead horse here....this is old news and last two summers the folks at Paws Up have done some extremely generous things in the community (they rescued all the animals in Seeley during last summer's fires) and they have always offered excellent super low rates to locals in Montana.
I actually think it's excellent to see that Eddie Bauer choose to feature Montana (and it makes sense at Paws Up due to all the adventures they do there).
Damn it Stuckman,now you go go and write about something that
I know I completely agree with you upon(even if your supposedly un-biased)and have to give you props.You might become a Montanan yet.OK this guy is just another out of state billionair exploiting Montana for all of its wonder and insurmountable beauty just to get richer.I just wish he would die from infection,long and slow damn it!He needs to feel pain !like the wolves that I shoot on occasion.He needs a good beating in his life.That always makes people reflect upon their lives,and enables them to make better choices.But one would have to do prison time,and that just takes to long.And its boring.
Oh seely lake.The animals which you spoke of that that fag "rescued" from the fires, were 500 elk which stayed on paws up property through hunting season and Mr.Lipson charged out of state hunters to come in and blow em away.But he didnt let anyone without big money hunt them!Im geeting to heated to continue without extreme profanity.Good night
Please delete that comment above. Or edit it or something.
Yikes.
the fact that this even is a story is beyond me...Struckman needs to find something else to write about. Come on, "ire"??? seriously now. I'm kind of embarrassed to even live in this state with reactions like these.
I know that most Montanas think that they are hidden from the rest of the world, but that is mostly because of their own insurmountable ignorance. if this pisses off the hicks of montana, then they really don't have a future now do they. move to canada
I think this overreaction is such a shame. Eddie Bauer pushing Montana...too cool. An the folks that run and work at Paws Up are truly genuine and great people. Plus they are big players in conservation and the Blackfoot Challenge.
They must be doing something right...their guests rate them 5-star on most review sites. then why such a backlash from a few locals? over a silly phrase? interesting.
I saw that co-branding thing too. I'm now an ex EB customer.
Comment By Helena, 8-07-08Bill from Whitefish said, "why such a backlash from a few locals? over a silly phrase?"
Perhaps you missed the words, "Governor", "congressional" and Senator in the article . . . ? Those were just a few of the locals.
This is most certainly a story worth telling. I'm happy to have the information.
Businesses are not removed from the communities they inhabit. If they do slimeball stuff, they are accountable. If they behave responsibly, then they certainly deserve credit for that as well.
People should not have such short memories as to forget the slimeball stuff so easily.
And folks should also not be so easily won over if the business brings in money or purports to "promote Montana."
ps: the person who made the hick comments deserves no response. For those wanting to understand the "Last Best Place" controversy, I suggest you read the Missoulian articles.
Lynn Solomon's attraction to EB garments is identical to the attraction that EB's location scouts feel towards the Blackfoot Valley. It's also likely what's got Lipson to buy a ranch there. You all understandably see "rugged Montana," and like to represent that in your clothing choices. But the idea to boycott EB because of a shared attraction towards the Blackfoot? Y'all are splitting hairs here. Really, this is a game, and you're a player. What will you do now that EB's out of your clothing purview? Choose clothes from the Gap? What's the difference? Solomon's EB garment fetish is based at least in part on the corp's attempt to convey an image that conveys what she's interested in conveying, and whether it's a Paws Up or the same-same in somebody else's backyard lacks relevance.
Want a real reason to boycott EB? How bout the fact that their clothes are made in Chinese sweatshops by little tikes? They do a helluva job with "Montana Rugged."
Through personal association with the owners and management of Paws Up, I can report with confidence that those folks are elitist, self-serving A-holes. Paws up is bad business for Montana and I would have hoped Eddie Bauer had done their homework to know that Paws Up is bad business for them too.
Comment By ____, 8-07-08I just sent this to Paws Up at this email address:
I encourage others to do the same.
----------
I am very disappointed that EB has decided to join with Paws Up to market apparel. It either shows a real disrespect for the people of Montana, or an inexcusable ignorance of the kind of values and lifestyle real Montanans hold and work to protect. Either way, your actions do not reflect favorably upon your company and brand. I understand and welcome your interest in selling the Montana brand with your own, but in doing so I believe we Montanans should be able to expect that EB reflects the values that make the Montana image commercially appealing.
Until and unless EB loses its partnership with Paws Up, I will not be able to speak favorably of your company with others.
Sincerely,
Sorry, meant to say I just sent that note to Eddie Bauer, not to Paws Up.
Comment By elfman, 8-07-08Fact: The ranch is NOT 37,000 acres as is claimed by their marketing material. The ranch totals about 10,000 acres deeded. The remaining acreage is all public and quasi-public (Lubrecht and PCT) land that anyone can use... nothing exclusive to Paws Up Ranch about it other than the fact he is allowed to graze cattle there.
Fact: Per the Missoulian article way back when, Lipson was attempting to garner public sympathy by claiming that he "...may be forced to sell the ranch..." as if he was just another salt of the earth rancher living on a shoestring. Sorry, David... you are full of it. The ranch was FOR SALE at the time you made this claim and had been for quite some time. I saw the brochure myself! Come on!! We can only hope and pray that someday he will be "forced to sell the ranch". Yeah right. Just wait... the real estate play (condos, homes, maybe even subdivision, etc.) is coming sooner or later. He hired an outfit out of Washington State a few years ago to tee that effort up.
Fact: His construction of "Tent City" completely flies in the face of the spirit of the conservation easement that currently encumbers this part of the ranch though a loophole allows him to do so.
Fact: This guy has an absolutely horrid reputation in business as can be evidenced by a quick google search of his name. There are countless individuals in Montana now who can attest to this. Refer to the old article about wealthy non-resident owners in the Great Falls Tribune years ago titled "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Not surprisingly, Lipson's name was conspicuously absent from the segment on "the Good" yet he was prominently featured in "the Bad AND the Ugly"!
There may be alot of good people who work for the ranch but that does nothing to negate the fact that the ranch is owned by the most cruel sort of human being... a man who thrives on and gains personal pleasure from seeing how much he can get away with and who can screw in the process.
The "generosity" we see from him ("rescue of animals") is solely a reflection upon some of the good people that work for a very bad man. Unfortunately, he gets the credit for this to those who do not know his game. This man does not comprehend the word "generosity" unless the good deed it fits into something he will get in return. In the case of the rescued animals, he badly needed some good press so when one of his employees came to him with the suggestion that they "rescue" these animals it was a simple business decision devoid of any true sense of compassion. He has no soul.
Also, what the hell is with the ranch's name?! "Paws Up" has to be the stupidest name I have ever heard but that is just my opinion. It will always be the "old Lindbergh Ranch" or the "Greenough Ranch" to me. Eddie Bauer should have looked into this man a little further before they married him.
By the way, whomever it was above that credited Lipson as a "billionaire" is way off. This man does not make that list. He is a small time player compared to the billionaires of the world.
Thanks elfman, that pretty much hews to my understanding.
Comment By taylorbad, 8-07-08I sent my comments to Eddie Bauer, too, via their website. Basically, I hate having the state and its identity pimped like that. I don't mind promoting Montana, but that is different than what Eddie Bauer and Paws Up Ranch is doing. Advertising 101 covered it.
Comment By jb, 8-07-08Thanks, Hells Anus.....every once in a while it's nice to be reminded why Montana has a reputation of being so culturally retarded.
Comment By Ken S, 8-07-08I laughed when I saw the cover - look carefully - the "cowboys" in the background (who actually look like real horse wranglers) are looking very distainfully a the models up front.
I don't mind marketing MT, but promoting a business that breaks the law and doesn't pay it's bills?
Lipson's attempts to trademark "The Last Best Place" left a very bad taste in my mouth. I'm not particularly turned on by development marketed to rich, out-of-state folks, either.
But I don't see what the problem is with the co-branding between Paws Up and Eddie Bauer. That's just the world we live in -- companies market fantasies to sell their products. Paws Up provides that fantasy.
It might not be ethically pure, but it's capitalism.
Whenever I travel, people ask me where I'm from. I always tell them proudly, "Montana!"
...I always get asked, "I thought Montana was full of Rednecks and Cowboys?" Or better yet..."People LIVE there?"
hey folks - not sure if you all realize this, but Montana is a state, just like any other state in the US....but for some reason, folks in Montana think they are special, in fact MORE special than other states... interesting, that same type of ignorance caused some pretty bad wars and genocide in the past. scary to think that I'm surrounded by neighbors like this...
Comment By another Helena reader, 8-08-08Ed, that's just a ridiculous thing to say.
That said, watch out. There's a only the smallest of steps between criticizing the business practices of a well-known slimeball businessman to "war" and "genocide."
good lord.
Carolyn,
Thank you for your response. As my email indicated, I do understand the intent of Eddie Bauer in featuring Montana, and, also noted, I even appreciate Eddie Bauer's desire to "celebrate the spirit and beauty of the state of Montana."
However, your partnership with Paws Up, an organization seeking merely to profit from Montana's image with little or no interest in maintaining the beauty and spirit of Montana, remains deeply disappointing at best.
I hope your company will look seriously at severing your co-branding partnership with this controversial and disreputable organization.
Sincerely,
____
On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 11:55 AM, <customercare@csc.eddiebauer.com> wrote:
Dear ____,
Thank you for your feedback regarding our affiliation with Paws Up.
As we planned our fall assortment and thought about the environment and the photography that would best support our sprit of adventure and an active, outdoor lifestyle, we could not think of a better location than Montana. Eddie Bauer is a western brand and it was our intention to feature the western states beginning with Montana.
We take our customers feedback very seriously and can assure your comments are being carefully considered. We are sorry you were disappointed but trust you will understand our intent to celebrate the spirit and beauty of the state of Montana.
Regards,
Carolyn MacKenney
Eddie Bauer
Office of the President/CEO
425-755-6100
-----Original Message-----
From: ____
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:33 PM
To:
Subject: {REF: 1218127160.003} partnering with Paws Up
I am very disappointed that EB has decided to join with Paws Up to market apparel. It either shows a real disrespect for the people of Montana, or an inexcusable ignorance of the kind of values and lifestyle real Montanans hold and work to protect. Either way, your actions do not reflect favorably upon your company and brand. I understand and welcome your interest in selling the Montana brand with your own, but in doing so I believe we Montanans should be able to expect that EB reflects the values that make the Montana image commercially appealing.
Until and unless EB loses its partnership with Paws Up, I will not be able to speak favorably of your company with others.
Sincerely,
____
I pretty much agree with what Patia said. However, I think the overall gripe is that Eddie Bauer chose Paws Up, which, as a company, we don't necessarily want to have viewed as representative of how we do business in Montana.
Comment By Gman, 8-08-08Geez! Talk about crying over spilt milk. This is ridiculous. It's like a classic case of injecting whiny politics into economics. Questions for Solomon: 1) Does EB make clothes you like? If so, buy them. 2) Does EB do other things that might offset your angst over this association with Paw Up? E.g. the American Forests campaign? Can I throw in one more question for Solomon? Sure, why not? Did you consider boycotting EB for putting its name on lots of Ford's gas-guzzling SUVs?
Comment By Rodger, 8-08-08Gman, what a ridiculous thing to complain about, don't you know that whiny economics is called politics?!
Never heard of money and politics? It's like death and taxes.
Lots of interesting comments, Montana is not "just like any other state in the US" as Ed writes. This State has always been known for its generosity, hospitality, friendliness and neighborliness, as people who visit here have commented on time and again. Though now it seems the rich, who think money can buy anything, have come here and try to bully us "ignorant Montanans" into accepting their rude behavior and sense of entitlement, while driving up property values to such an extent that many, who have lived here for generations, are unable to afford the increased costs to stay in ancestral homes. Montana is changing, and I don't believe it is for the better. In the past 25 years, I have seen more rudeness, more distrust, more hate crimes, and people in a big hurry to get who knows where. I believe this is a direct result of people like David Lipsom, who have come here to exploit this beautiful area, who couldn't care less about the people who live here (his disdain was apparent when he disregarded the public's response to his trying to take for himself the "last best place", (which, by the way, is the title of a wonderful book of works from local writers). They want what they want, and they have the money to buy it. The only reason, in my opinion, for the success of Paws Up is that Lipsom was smart enough to hire wonderful locals, who make the experience a good one for the millionaires who visit. I don't think he is a good person, I think he only cares about how much he can exploit Montana for his own gain. It is too bad that Eddie Bauer didn't explore some of the other wonderful Western Montana resorts that have been here for decades and have contributed much to the legacy of the real Montana.
Comment By Ben Tyner, 12-26-08I came across this thread as I was looking up news relative to Paws Up. I'm a Montanan. I love this State. I know Dave and Nadine Lipson. I'm ashamed at how they are being treated by ignorant, frightened people with wealth envy. The Lipsons did not come to Montana to exploit it, but to enjoy it. They have spent millions to preserve it while still providing access. They came here to raise cattle, and when it wasn't working, decided to share it with the hopes that they could make a living by doing so. The ignorant arses who have made comments here know little about Paws Up, its makeup, its leases, or the real story about Lipson's attempts to trademark the "Last Best Place". The phrase was already trademarked by others and Lipson paid for it. He tried to extend it to other products seeing he ALREADY owned it. That's why Lipson continued to win in court each challenge, and it took the Montana Senators to find the "loophole" by passing a BUDGET item that has to be passed every year to keep the trademark office from extending to Lipson what he already has paid for. The Lipsons have contributed MILLIONS to the local economy, and hired almost all locals, 250 in total, paying some of the highest wages in the area. The resort/ranch did not "rescue" animals from the Seeley area fires. They provided refuge to those that were rescued at their own expense, and whether that endeavor came from those that worked for Lipson doesn't matter, it came willingly out of Lipson's pocket. Few businesses operate without some level of disputes, and Lipson's insider trading might draw even more questions of disrepute ... but the Lipson's efforts in behalf of Montana, the local community and the Blackfoot valley in regard to Paws Up have been admirable.
Comment By Gman, 12-28-08Rodgers, that's just my point, anyone with a little bit of intellectual discipline will at least try to keep whiny politics out of economics. Besides, whoever's thinking of boycotting EB over this needs to apply their "high-minded" principles to every person or corporation they do business with. Say, what are the politics of the mechanic (or his shop) you just used to replace your muffler? What are the politics of that production company who's movie you just watched? If you don't apply this logic, then you're a hypocrite. ...
Comment By Julia White, 2-05-09I feel in love with Montana about a year ago, but was truly saddened to see that I could never live there. Although land rates are dirt cheap, work would not be too easy to find, and from reading the blogs here I would not or could not be bothered wasting my education MBA or time on back country folks...
Paws Up is awe-inspiring, pristine and is thoughtfully encapsulated that way, directly through the Lipsons' efforts. The Lipson's altruistic efforts are genuine. The Eddie Baurer filming could not have picked a more perfect setting than that of the Paws Up Ranch...a true treasure for Montana a state where not much comes to mind by way of major commerce...I wonder why...I live and love Massachusetts and would invite and welcome Paws Up to buy a ranch out this way and have folks like EB come and offer free advertising for my state...People of Mass...often called -holes would never be so numb as to stoop so low as to look a gift-horse in the mouth or put a Blackfoot into it either...Shame, Shame.
Julia White, CEO
Amesbury, MA
"Backcountry folks"?! Ms. White: You clearly have NO idea what you are talking about. You know nothing of David Lipson personally or how he has treated people in this great state. There was an article published in the Great Falls tribune a number of years ago titled "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" which chronicled Montana's experience with non-resident landowners. Lipson was conspicuously absent from the "Good" section but was prominently featured in both the "Bad" and the "Ugly". All for good reason. One does not have to look very far to find someone in this state who has been screwed by him. Any "altruism" offered by Mr. Lipson is coldly calculated to benefit him in some way. That is NOT altruism by definition.
Comment By Julia White, 2-19-09Your name says a lot about you. I did read all of the published articles on the Lipson's both old, really old and many more current and favorable ones, presently. The thing I find most interesting is that persons such as elfman, can believe old news to be correct. Remaining current and concise is what keeps most of us sane, well-informed and able to make rational comments. I thank God that David Lipson is who he is and is giving kudoos back in his brief stay on this Earth. Do you give back Mr. elfman? The Lipson's I know, and for a fact I know they do give back. They may have stepped on toes, over some and been driven there, but they have arrived and ALTURISTIC is the best description for Paws Up and its owners. I thank God that people who truly care about the way this pristine land is kept and treasured over the years. Each Montonian should be proud that people like Dave and Nadine are there and can afford to take care of such a jewel. The Eddie Baurer Team obviously saw the same why can't you, littleman. Step up an try to see over the mountain...
Comment By Elfman, 2-19-09Yawn. First of all, we are "Montanans"... not Montonians". Secondly, we are not the least bit proud of a man who would actually have the audacity to attempt to trademark a phrase such as the "Last Best Place". Lastly, you say they take care of the place?! Jesus, you are clueless. Do you know anything about elk migration patterns? Do you know anything about the high fences they have erected? Stick to what you know, Miss "CEO".
By the way, I know them too. I really have no beef with Nadine but David... well, let's just say I am not impressed with his business ethics (or lack thereof).