ONEIDA EAGLE BOWS
1263 County Route 54
Fulton, NY 13069
Phone (315) 668-0028 * Fax (315) 676-7686

Presidents Corner
L. Rodger Loomis



Oneida Eagle Bows

Oneida Eagle Bows, under the leadership of President, L.Rodger Loomis, has broken new ground by releasing a new bow design over the internet at the company's web site. The archery company is offering a limited edition preproduction collector's bow - code name: Black Eagle. The Black Eagle will be shown at the industry AMO World Trade Show , Columbus, OH, January 8-10, but will not roll out to dealers until after March following the feedback from the preproduction field testing.

The new design combines a new light weight forged and machined riser with a thin 2 piece grip and the famous smooth draw "K" cam shape which Oneida fanatics are addicted to.

The new Black Eagle has performance similar to the Lite-Force and AeroForce, but weighs only 4 lbs. Tip to Tip length is 46" and when combined with the long valley designed into the cam, gives plenty of comfort to finger shooters as well as release users. The bow continues the use of split cams and simplicity of design started with the popular Stealth which remains the company's flagship product. The Black Eagle will be priced in the $549 range with the Lite-Force at $499 and the Stealth at $599

Oneida Eagle Bows again leads the industry in innovation and customer service.



After having worked in the computer industry for the past 15 years, I can honestly say I have never had the pleasure of working with a more dedicated or talented group of people than we have here at ONEIDA LABS. They test bows all day and then go to the practice range after work to unwind before heading off to a 3-D Tournament or hunting for the weekend.

Oneida bow owners also share that same contagious enthusiasm for archery as compared to the rough and tumble computer business where your products can be obsolete overnight and where everyone will desert you for a cheaper faster competitor.

I am struck by the devotion our customers have to the Oneida Eagle products.

While I am not an archer, I am anxious to apply these lessons learned in the high tech-field:

Don't rest on past success.
Have a sense of urgency
Build a strong financial base.
Surround yourself with talented, enthusiastic people.
Don't use technology unless it works better.

I get several calls a day asking me what my plans are, what will change. Well, mostly we plan to become the best bow manufacturer in the world by following those simple talents and trusting God to give us wisdom.

The Oneida Eagle Bow evinces either passion loyalty among its owners or scorn and derision from people who haven't shot it. Whether it is the unique appearance (part recurve, part compound), the perceived complexity of its design, of the frightening way its limbs appear to break when they're cocked, the "one of a kind" Oneida Eagle always stands out in a crowd.

I have always been kind of contrary even before my wife Sandy and I acquired the Oneida Labs business from the Coynes, who owned it for nearly 15 years. Before buying Oneida I had invested in a nearly bankrupt company 10 years earlier and subsequently bought a dozen other computer companies that no one else saw value in, and proceeded to build an industry powerhouse.

Twenty years ago our neighbors thought we were crazy when designed and built our own home 600 feet from the nearest road, in a town that averages 250 inches of snow each winter. That same year I quit a promising career with a major oil company to start a new career in the computer industry with no idea where I would work or how a computer worked.

So I reckon I have the perfect resume' to lead Oneida to the next level.

As I studied Oneida during the the due diligence phase, I was struck with two totally conflicting facts. First , Oneida employs some of the finest, most dedicated and experienced people in any business I have studied - and I have studied several dozen in depth. Secondly, despite the bow's performance leadership for several years, these same wonderful people had not been able to make Oneida one of the three largest bow manufactures.

Now, I would to think I am smarter than those who have many years of experience in this industry. However, I know better than anyone else how many mistakes I have made, so I won't try and to bluff here. I now know Oneida lacked real leadership. Business journals often often chronicle the woes associated with absentee ownership which was the case here. Even Jesus alluded to the parable about the tenants in the vineyard. Management, no matter how educated or capable, if the ownership is lacking, will not have the same sense of urgency or single mindedness needed to run a small to mid - size business in such a competitive industry. Nothing focuses your attention like risking everything you own on your decisions. Another observation is actually a caution to sporting goods manufacturers in general. Businesses should be not be a hobby and your hobby should not be your business. I can hear some of you clucking about the fact you have done both successfully, however, the odds are against success despite exceptions. Do not misunderstand , I am very enthusiastic about archery, but not enthralled. This independence allows objectivity. Objectivity makes me respect competitors. Competitors scare me and make me want to improve.

And improve we have - Starting with getting costs in line with revenues. We are in business not a hobby. We have a flat organization, no hierarchy. Everyone is responsible for production, customer satisfaction and sales. The pace is urgent, our slogan is NOW. Every detail matters. If a shipper can't deliver for two days - we go get it. If a customer is waiting for a back order - we overnight ship it. Even mail does sit overnight. Broken machinery gets fixed before we go home. Defects don't get shipped, and so on.

We are listening to our customers and acting on it. NOW. We published a one-hour training video to help dealers with tuning and repair. We are now handling paint in-house to reduce a major bottleneck. My wife Sandy has taken over marketing and communications and has revamped our image and advertising. She also has greatly improved our dealer newsletter.

Sandy and I are enjoying the new challenges that the Good Lord has blessed us with, and we are anxious to meet many of the leaders in our adopted industry at the Bowhunting Trade Shows, and in our travels during the hunting season. I also invite constructive criticism and new ideas from anyone.

God Bless
Sincerely,
Rodger and Sandy Loomis