Member Brief: The TCG Timeline

In an effort to transition from niche brand to broad brand, The Athletic has encountered enough resistance to reduce its price by nearly 90%. There is an argument to be made that there is no “ownership” of a market as fragmented as today’s.

The viable companies of tomorrow are the niche brands of today.

A niche brand is beloved but lesser known. These brands serve the needs of a small group, meeting a problem with a solution that inspires loyalty, passion, and motivation. Companies like Tesla, Barstool Sports, Rimowa, Daily Harvest, Lululemon, and Rapha are niche brands. The business models could not be more different.

There are two brands that exist today. A broad brand benefits from wide recognition. Companies like Walmart, Google, Target, Kraft, Ford, Yahoo, BuzzFeed, and Dell Computers are highly recognized but may or may not be particularly beloved.

What’s so special about Surfline is the combination of content, community, and utility. Not many others [media brands] have that.