David Morrow a Real Warrior

David Morrow’s dad owned a casting mold manufacturing company. He was 13 years old when he started to work for his dad. Morrow became a welder and a trained machinist. He grew up in Detroit, went to Princeton University and became a champion lacrosse defenseman. He started Warrior Lacrosse from his dorm during his junior year at Princeton. He received most of his seed money from his father and college roommates. He was able to execute corporate responsibility to his stakeholders.

Morrow effectively managed his time as a lacrosse player, student, and a business owner, allowing him to develop his time-management skills. His background and familiarity with manufacturing processes of aluminum extrusion and titanium directly influence his decision product development strategies. His strong technical background pushed the envelope in the evolution of lacrosse by introducing the first titanium shaft for lacrosse sticks.

At the Montreal hockey show, he was a true gentleman. Toronto Hockey Repair was manufacturing STX lacrosse goalie leg pads and lacrosse rib protectors. I would often visit Warrior’s booth to see what the competition was doing. Morrow treated every retailer, big or small, with the same enthusiasm by building a partnership that expanded both businesses. His approach to a successful business emphasized the importance of scale over speed. In the US Nationals, Morrow found himself defending against Gary Gait, while simultaneously representing Warrior, as the team sponsor. It showed the level of commitment and dedication he had to both his athletic career and his business venture.

In 2004, Morrow sold Warrior to New Balance, a shoe company that generates close to $7 billion in revenue. He remained CEO of Warrior and managed to purchase Innovative Hockey, a leading designer in manufacturer of high end hockey graphite sticks, shafts and blades. Innovative Hockey was founded in 1996 by Ron Konisaki. Both Konisaki and Morrow capitalized on their strength in product design, distribution strategies and a strong performance heritage. Morrow developed a business culture where everyone thinks like an owner, adhering to the competitive environment and productive growth of the company. In 2007, Warrior Sports acquired Made In America (MIA Sports). This enabled Warrior to offer a complete package for hockey teams and individuals of all levels.

Warrior got into the world of manufacturing goalie equipment. However, they made a strategic decision to not pay the NHL Brand Name Exposure and Dividend fees to NHL goalies. Miraculously they managed to secure 20% of the global goalie market. The problem with some hockey companies is they would blow their operating budget by acquiring the sponsorship of NHL goalies. The bigger companies like Bauer, CCM are fully aware of the resources to fit a NHL goalie and remain profitable to their stakeholders. Warrior, Vaughn and Brian’s are much more prudent with their money. They seem to choose their battles corresponding to a substantial return on investment and profitability of their companies. The average stick revenue that an individual hockey players in NHL generate for the company is $23,000. This is real currency going back to the manaufacturers. And Warrior ranks 3rd with 130 players using their sticks.

In 2019, Morrow relinquished his position as CEO of Warrior Hockey. He left the company to Cindy Abbott who was the CFO. She is a capable accountant that understands margins, profitability, and sustainability in a competitive marketplace. Dave Morrow went on to build Lume Cannabis Company, growing it from $2 million to nearly $200 million in revenue within 4 years. Morrow applied principals similar to those that drove Warrior Sports to success. It also shows Morrow versatility as an entrepreneur and his capacity to excel in diverse markets.

Dave Morrow grew up in Detroit and loves the city because of the resiliency and the determination of its people. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Detroiters continue to fight like warriors towards a brighter future. Their determination can be seen in the city’s art, its revitalized downtown area, and its growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dave Morrow is proud to call it home by defining reality and realistic challenges that inspire hope.