After trying it both ways, my father, Max Walker, likes to say, "I'd rather have my own hamburger stand than be part of McDonald's." It's not that there aren't advantages to being associated with a big, stable organization. There are. But there also are distinct advantages to independent businesses.
First of all there is the vision of an entrepreneur that is genius to success - vision often missing or stifled in large organizations. Several years ago a large equipment manufacturer approached us about making a version of the Walker mower with their name on it (private labeling). They informed me that the new machine would have to have a steering wheel because their market research shows "steering levers" would never be widely accepted. We marveled at their research and blindness to the fact that we were selling lots of steering lever machines, and customers were delighted with the steering lever type controls. A clear difference in vision and an opportunity for us.
There is the old temptation to make your company grow and get quicker results by joining forces or merging with a larger organization. Unfortunately, these collective efforts are inevitably accompanied by giving up control. When you lose control of your company you have lost everything. My father sold out in 1969 and we know the feeling of losing control, losing the product, losing the company and ultimately losing everything except your faith in God and your family.
Walker is determined to stay independent. There have been offers to sell out, merge, private label, etc., but our experience says stay independent. Grow slow, grow strong and stay independent and keep the vision. We would encourage many of our customers who are independent businesses to do the same.
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