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Willow Design shuts down, offers final close out sale

updated 02:40 pm EST, Mon February 9, 2004

Willow Design shuts down

Carrying case manufacturer Willow Design is " runs through the end of February: "All our cases are hand sewn in small batches by individual seamstresses so with all of them, you can count on superb protection, functional ergonomic designs and meticulous craftsmanship. This is an expensive way to make the cases though, and with increased competition of offshore, manufactured cases run through with labor rates of 22� - 25� per hour, we found we just couldn't compete. Two options would have been to drop our standards or ship our production offshore -- neither of which was acceptable. So we have decided to stop making the cases."

by MacNN Staff

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02/09, 03:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
end of era

...they were just ripe to be bankrupt.

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02/09, 03:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
well,

one more weeping willow

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02/09, 03:22pm | report spam | close Reply |
What

"with labor rates of 22� - 25� per hour, we found we just couldn't compete."

I think it's more like...

"People didn't buy our cases because they were overpriced, and not stylish"

Maybe if they were 50% of what they are now, then it would be a good deal.

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02/09, 03:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
yuck

is there any style to those bags?

am i the only one that need more than a neoprene sleeve for my rather costly laptop in order to feel secure? no wonder they are out of business.

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02/09, 03:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
could it be...

...that their bags simply weren't as cool as the many other choices out there? everyone knows us macDorks are willing to pay a premium for something that's really cool, unique and high quality (like acmemade or zero-halliburton, etc).

i've never been that impressed with their designs � and i must not be the only one. the design of the logo alone gives a bad first impression.

oh well, i feel bad for them because i'm sure they worked hard. but it takes more than hard work to be successful.

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02/09, 03:33pm | report spam | close Reply |
Too Bad

Yes, they DID make cases for Macs. And it's too bad when any Mac-centric company bites the dust.

I TRIED to convince myself to buy one, or at least try one, but couldn't bring myself to do it. The cases look practical, but dull. Actually, rather Dell-ish.

Really, their designs come straight out of 1970's backpack style. Been there, done that.

Ta Ta. Ciao Ciao.

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02/09, 03:33pm | report spam | close Reply |
where else

So other than them, where else can I get a case for my 23" cinema display? I like the idea, but dont' want to shell out $200

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02/09, 03:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Hey unfortunately

The Flat Panel iMac won't have a custom designed case anymore.

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02/09, 03:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
I *like* my WD case!

I've got a case for my 17" Powerbook, and am very happy with all aspects, including the style. I'm not sure what all the gripes about style are based on (what...they don't glow in the dark?!?), but I was recommending them to others who needed cases.

For the record, my case is http://www.willowdesign.com/SC-21.html

Sorry to see them go.

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02/09, 04:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ripe

Willow Design was just RIPE to be defeated by 10-15 Bavmorta spells.

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02/09, 04:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Jackasses posting...

Does it make you feel good to kick others when they're down? So if your mommy and daddy got laid off from their jobs and couldn't buy you any more toys, would you like us to come on here and say things like "Good! Your parents were stupid and deserved to get fired anyway!"

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02/09, 04:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sad to see them go

Have owned two Willow Design cases (one for a 12"AlBook, one for a 15"AlBook) and they are just wonderful. Had a couple of problems with the one for the 12", and their customer service was just great. I'll be very sad to see them go (and will treasure the cases I have till they wear out....)

Ian Crew

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02/09, 04:20pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Jackasses posting..

This is what I was going to say. Jeez, you people can be brutal... I think the bags looks pretty nice.

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02/09, 04:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
they should

they should have just slave labored out the manufacturing to children in India, Pakistan and Thailand. The Gap, IBM, Microsoft and Banana-Republic does that!

Save some bucks- then you can afford to hire some better designers.

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02/09, 04:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
No cases like them...

It's a shame people seem more bothered about style than protection- particularly the style of a logo! Well- I guess if you make your decision on that basis....
I have two Willow bags for two machines- I'd buy them again. It's good to know my Mac is safe when I'm moving around the city. And not only safe, but practical and not oversized- and they look great to me (I guess that means I don't have style....!!) Oh well, at least I have confidence....

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02/09, 04:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sorry

I never even saw them before today. I'm not in the market now as I have a Kensington and a Targus that serve me well. But, the Willow designs look fine to me and I wish them well.

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02/09, 04:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
uhhh.

You wish them well? They're going out of business you jackass.

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02/09, 05:13pm | report spam | close Reply |
China = WalMart = c***

This country only cares about the bottom line and the here-and-now. The truism that cheapskates pay twice never seems to make a dent in the heads of those who care only about cheap, cheap, cheap. All quality stuff costs more, but lasts longer. True for shoes, (Mac) computers, furniture, clothing and on and on. Morons never learn this lesson, and they always end up spending more than the guy who "front-loaded" his costs in the name of buying for the long-term.

All your giant sucking sounds are belong to us...

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02/09, 05:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
they suck

otherwise they'd still be in business. Business is a harsh world. They were just too ripe to survive. THey need to do what apple did, and take it overseas, hire them for 2 bits/hr or day, whichever they can...

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02/09, 05:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
that blows

this market is just RIPE to be flooded with 10-15 more S***** bags.

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02/09, 06:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: could it be...

"...but it takes more than hard work to be successful."

Spoken like a true design snob.

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02/09, 06:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
Great Bags

It sounds like all the negative comments here are coming from petty children who don't know what they're talking about.

I bought one of Willow's bags because I needed a sturdy case for my laptop, and I couldn't have made a better choice. Of all the bags I looked at, Willow made the best (and best looking) bag. Though I was a bit afraid to spend so much without seeing the bag in person, when the bag came I was happy that I spent the extra money. I've never seen such a well made computer case. The thing is bombproof but light, and all the little details have been thought of---like little feet to keep the bottom clean, and a really comfortable handle. It's a shame that the market is made up of fools like those posting here, who won't pay for quality, forcing companies to ship labor off to sweatshops in third-world countries. It's always sad to see another company with great values go under.

Thanks Willow, your case has served me well.

BTW, this pretty much clinches my decision to stick with the 15" powerbook the next time I upgrade. That way I can keep using this case. I doubt I'd be able to find a bag this good anywhere else.

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02/09, 06:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
I'm sad to see them go.

I don't know where else I could've gotten a case for my iMac. It's a darned good case, too, a real piece of quality workmanship. It was expensive, but worth it. It's great to have low prices--until it's our job that's shipped overseas, I guess.

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02/09, 06:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
Let's face it...

The practice of sending business overseas is a natural part of the this track is just RIPE to be a 10-15 minute live jam.

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02/09, 09:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
A real shame...

Willow Design had great products and service. I needed to carry my 23" Cinema Display and it was great to find a company building cases just for that purpose. Right after ordering it, they contacted me to say that "2-day shipping" was not necessary, they could get it to me within 2 days using ground UPS and save me some money. This was not the norm for most companies from which I order.

I love the case! It has a place for my Display, *and* my laptop (and accessories). It is rugged -- I wouldn't dream of lugging such large, delicate, expensive equipment without it.

I had such a great experience with them, I had been looking forward to purchasing a case from them on some future piece of unwieldy Apple equipment. Not sure what I will do when that day comes...

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02/09, 09:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Just ONE child here

Dead giveaway that he keeps using the word "ripe." Personally, I'd say it describes his BO.

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02/09, 09:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
Farewell, Nigel

Willow Design meant decent construction if not the highest style or most advanced design. Somewhat overpriced but excellent customer service from Nigel Peck. He really seemed to care. What a pity.

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02/09, 09:43pm | report spam | close Reply |
bags

these were SNAPPY&trade

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02/09, 09:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
It's sad to lose Willow

It is incredibly sad that Willow Designs is going out of the Mac case business. I have two of their cases for my family�s Powerbooks. I think they are the finest cases I have ever purchased, extremely well made, and done with a great deal of forethought and very nice styling. But more importantly, this company was more responsive to its customers than any other company I have dealt with. When I made some suggestions on how to improve one of the bags for the 12 inch Powerbook, they proceeded to modify the bag and send it to me with the improvements. What is most unfortunate is that in making a high quality case with local labor, they cannot compete with other companies that use foreign labor. I am sorry to see them go and hope we will see them return to support the Mac market. Very few other companies are as supportive of Mac owners as they have been.

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02/10, 02:31am | report spam | close Reply |
sad!

they made wonderful bags. functional and sturdy. it's sad to see them shut down because the mac community lost a very dedicated manufacturer with exceptional customer service.

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02/10, 03:03am | report spam | close Reply |
overpriced?

the reason others can offer at lower prices is slave labor/sweat shops! willow design cases are made in north america for north americans. i bought mine while i working in canada, now i'm back in europe and i would never trade it with any other bag! and i know it will last forever, too. too bad apple will eventually redesign their powerbooks and willow design won't exist anymore to sell cases for that.

i guess the reason why they're going out of business is "consumer's choice" at work. the problem with this is the cheap a** short sighted approach to consumerism that will eventually make you and me unemployed. the same short sighted bargain hunting usually also being environmentally inefficient has the potential of erasing the human race off this planet.
sorry, got a bit carried away...

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02/10, 04:19am | report spam | close Reply |
Tom Bihn

Check out tombihn.com for a nice selection of US-made bags--made using US textiles, too.

I didn't find one that quite met my needs but they have a LOT of products and a lot of options. I liked the looks and features, and found them amazingly helpful by phone and email.

Nagromme

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02/10, 03:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sad

I just went and bought one of the bags on sale. They do seem like good quality, and I'm always for supporting jobs as close to home as possible rather than jobs as cheap as possible.

Sad to see them go, as I didn't know about them until today.

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03/04, 06:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
too bad

I'm a big fan of the Willow iBook slipcase I bought just over two years ago. It's compact, versatile, tough, and worth every penny. It's a shame Willow Design is going out of business.

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Willow Design shuts down, offers final close out sale

updated 02:40 pm EST, Mon February 9, 2004

Willow Design shuts down

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end of era

well,

What

yuck

could it be...

Too Bad

where else

Hey unfortunately

I *like* my WD case!

Ripe

Jackasses posting...

Sad to see them go

Re: Jackasses posting..

they should

No cases like them...

Sorry

uhhh.

China = WalMart = c***

they suck

that blows

re: could it be...

Great Bags

I'm sad to see them go.

Let's face it...

A real shame...

Just ONE child here

Farewell, Nigel

bags

It's sad to lose Willow

sad!

overpriced?

Tom Bihn

Sad

too bad

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I like my WD case!