Recruited online: Long somewhat disjointed process – many starts and stops prior to getting to the point of, "Ok we really want to move forward". Once that was out of the way the process was a phone interview with the hiring manager and an onsite interview shortly after.
The onsite interviews were professional and gave some enlightening insight of the function and dysfunction of the company. I was left with the following impressions:
The people care very much about the company, there is a real sense of pride and there should be as they occupy a dominate position in their core market. I met with about 10 people.
Their core market the mainstream professional Hobbyist market - is like taking a time machine back to 1984 - very segmented very old school and very loyal. Unlike other consumer product segment, this segment hasn’t had to worry about selling to or the presence of a Big Box Store.
What has changed is that “Drones” with camera’s - have now hit the scene. This segment of products is starting to creep into the more mainstream retail. Horizon recognized this and now finds itself wanting a part of the action.
From the interview process, it was very clear to see that this time machine effect on their market has also resulted in a time machine effect on the company: They look like a consumer products company from 1984:
There has been limited investment in business systems, if you were employed in 1984 – you could walk into Horizon today and probably see the same system you used then.
In many cases, they let customers dictate to them – as opposed to them leading the customers
Their new product development process is essentially, whatever the product managers “feel like doing next”. I got the sense they may be too dependent on suppliers, which they do not control.
Ordering and distribution systems that one would take for granted in a CPG company, simply do not exist.
I left the interview with the sense that - they want a piece of the action - but are paralyzed by their lack of experience of what it will take to get there. Many of the questions were phrased (and justifiably so) in a way that highlighted their current challenges / opportunities and there definitely was a dichotomy among the interviewers as to the “Right” solution to any current opportunity. There was a overwhelming sense of an internal battle going on between the “we can’t” / “that won’t work” crowd and the people who were optimistic and open to change – a change I believe they will either work to achieve themselves or one that will happen without them.