If you know Gary Smith, it’s probably as the owner of Independent Fabrication, the long-running boutique bike brand out of New Hampshire. Unlike most small builder’s brands, Gary neither started the company nor builds the bikes. Instead, he bought it after getting thrown into the mix there as part of a reality TV show. A show on management, and specifically, corporate turnarounds.
In this episode, Gary tells how he brought IF Bikes back from the brink, co-leads that company with his wife, and sits as the CEO of Polartec, one of the world’s largest technical fabric brands. Our conversation is focused on leadership and management, but there’s some story telling along the way about how he came to own IF Bikes and the differences in organizations with 10 people or 600. Enjoy!
For more photos, show notes and links about Gary and BOA, head over to The Build Cycle!
