Today is the day the skate footwear industry has been waiting for. On July 11, 2010 Shaun White’s Target tennies go on sale in stores around the country and online. Wisely the line includes both a dunk (the Scrambler, which in men’s sizes is called the Mossimo Stone) and an old school (the Brickyard) as well as several other skate knock offs.
And the best part? They’re all less than $35 a pair. Hard to believe you can sell quality China shoes for that much, huh? What must the other companies be doing with all that money? Oh yeah. They’re supporting skateboarding. . .
In a story we posted June 16, 2010 about Zumiez expanding into Canada we mentioned jokingly that if Zumiez was interested in moving north of the border “wouldn’t it just be easier for Zumiez to buy West 49.”
Now, it appears that our joke could become a reality as West 49 is reporting that Zumiez has offered the Canadian action mall retailer a buyout “in excess” of the $1.30 offered by Billabong.
The Company’s board, after consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, has concluded that the Zumiez proposal would reasonably be expected to lead to a superior proposal. However, the Company is concerned with Zumiez’s previously stated intent to enter the Canadian market, and therefore the board has instructed the Company’s management to seek to protect the Company’s competitive position. Subject to the terms of the existing agreement with Billabong International Limited, the Company’s special committee intends to seek to negotiate with Zumiez to determine if its offer can become a firm offer that is financially superior to the transaction with Billabong and that West 49 can otherwise treat as a superior proposal under the terms of the existing agreement with Billabong.
Guess that would give Billabong a few extra dollars to spend elsewhere. Even better: what if Billabong just waits for Zumiez to cover the West 49 acquisition costs and then buys the whole thing two years down the road when mall retailers are even cheaper. . . Follow the jump for the entire release. [click to continue…]
In a classic example of just how rumors get laundered Apparel News retail editor Andrew Asch spins out a three page story titled Could RVCA Be Next in Billabong’s Buying Spree in which he adds absolutely no new information on the topic. Here’s the crux of his story:
Billabong . . . is widely rumored to be buying celebrated Costa Mesa, Calif.–based fashion brand RVCA. After several surf-industry publications and websites speculated on the rumor in the past couple of weeks, both Billabong and RVCA remain mum on the possible acquisition. (Neither company responded to requests for comment.)
That didn’t, however, stop Asch from rounding up few recycled conference call quotes from Billabong CEO Derek O’Neill, comments from Macquarie analyst Greg Dring, and a few lines from BRA’s Melissa Clary, and turning out a story so good that it almost makes us believe the Billabong buyout is a done deal.
But then what about Nike? We hear they’re the deep pockets with room for RVCA. After all, the Nike Open is right around the corner and you can’t exactly expect skaters to wear Hurley with their Cons.
As of tomorrow DC Shoes, the brand built in San Diego’s North County, will reportedly be officially vacated from its Vista, California headquarters and officially moved to the Huntington Beach offices of its corporate parent Quiksilver.
It is definitely the end of an era, then again, DC Shoes is just one more brand in the Quik mix, right?
Orange 21, the parent company of Spy Optic today announced the creation of their newest division: music. And Fran Richards finally gets to put his enormous CD/music collection to work.
No other subculture has the amazing power to communicate and permeate so many different types of hearts and minds as music,” says Stone Douglass, CEO. “Investing in the Music Division completes a circle in our portfolio of lifestyle brands and we expect it to be a great fit.” . . . Orange 21 has appointed Fran Richards, current VP of Marketing for Orange 21, to the new position of Vice President of Business Development and head of the new Music Division.
Fran has already hooked up a joint partner ship with Mary J Blige and Interscope Geffen A&M Records‘ Jimmy Iovine (the guy behind Monster’sBeats by Dr. Dre headphones) for Melodies by MJB which he says is “a luxurious range of high-end acetate and metal frames inspired by Mary’s own passion for sunglasses.”
Ms. Blige does appear to wear them well. . . follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
Here we thought Billabong was busy buying RVCA and then they announce that they’ve just purchased West 49, the Canadian action mall retailer (the Zumiez of Canada) for $94.3 million, according to a story on Reuters.
The company said the acquisition of the 138 primarily mall-based retail outlets operated by West 49 will help boost its earnings in 2011. . . .”West 49 is a complementary business and promises to be an ideal Canadian distribution platform for Billabong to showcase its brands and extend its reach,” Billabong Chief Executive Derek O’Neill said in a statement.
In a Globe & Mail story West 49 CEO Sam Baio explained the sale like this:
“It makes sense today for powerful brands like Billabong to own retail stores,” Mr. Baio, who will remain chief executive officer of West 49, said in an interview. “I think we could safely say that we would want to grow the exposure of Billabong stores. We would definitely expand the Billabong concept into markets we’re not in yet.”
We’ve been rocking these Spy Kubriks for a couple months now and they are the smoothest, most official, quality sunglasses we’ve had in quite some time. They keep the shining sun away without forcing us to keep our eyes wide shut and Lolita says they make even the ugliest man look like Barry Lyndon. Plus, it appears that Wade Goodall likes them, and he’s no Dr. Strangelove.
Nixon has had an office in Hossegor, France for 10 years, but now they’ve moved around the corner and into what looks like a big black box.
The new office is completely custom to Nixon and drafts off the spirit and vibe of the Nixon Global Headquarters located in Encinitas, California. The opening of the Nixon office was recently initiated with a gathering of the brands founders, team, reps, employees, retailers, friends and family where toasts were made with plenty of high fives and cheers. Nixon is excited and focused to hit new levels of creativity and productivity with this larger and more creative space, while providing a better home and environment for our employees and customer’s needs.
At the opening party team riders Iker Fernandez, Alain Goikoetxea, Fredo Robin and Javier Sarmiento repotedly got new watches. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
