by The Editors on December 11, 2009
by The Editors on December 11, 2009
The DC Shoes website seems to be missing a few belts, wallets, and other accessories that featured the DC logo. And there appears to be what one friend called “a distinct lack of snowboards” on the DC Snowboarding website. Strange, no?
According to sources, Chanel, which makes a few belts, wallets, snowboards, and other sporting equipment of their own, has reportedly sent DC a cease and desist letter requesting that DC stop producing several items featuring the Chanel-like intertwined DC letters. From the looks of the DC websites it appears that Quiksilver legal is cooperating with the request and then some.
Those who follow along may remember a similar skirmish between the brands in the 90s when DC founders Ken Block and Damon Way reportedly made a deal suggesting that since DC was “just a small skateboard company” that Chanel would allow DC to use the logo on skate shoes and some apparel. Now that DC is part of a billion dollar fashion label it appears that Chanel is looking at their products a little more carefully and it would appear that at least a few logo changes may be on the horizon at DC.
Requests for comment to both Chanel and Quiksilver have not been returned.
by The Editors on December 10, 2009
Hey, SoCal action bargain shoppers there are only two days left to get in on the RVCA Holiday Warehouse Sale: December 11-12, 2009. And if you don’t want to wait in line with the civilians you can buy a $25 and you and a friend can cut right to the front of the line.
Speed Passes will be sold per hour on each day of the sale. Each Speed Pass purchased will allow 2 people in at the time purchased. Getting to RVCA early before your time is suggested, that way you can get in and start shopping right away when your time is called.
People must really love them some RVCA.
[Editors’ Note: This post has been updated to correct obvious errors. The sale is free, cutting in line with a SpeedPass is $25 for two.]
[Link: RVCA Holiday Warehouse Sale]
by The Editors on December 9, 2009
Yesterday, at the surfy-swank Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach PacSun’s CEO Gary Schoenfeld reportedly filled his suppliers ears with words of “belief and passion for action sports brands” like a drowning man espousing the virtues of life rafts.
Okay, we made that last part up. We weren’t there. But luckily, Shop-eat-surf.com‘s Tiffany Montgomery had a front row seat and was kind enough to post a wonderful slideshow filled with photos of people so desperately hoping to sell more screen-printed T-shirts in America’s malls that they were willing to sit in a small room and listen to Mr. Schoenfeld for an entire hour.
[Link: Shop-Eat-Surf.com]
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
A contract dispute over who has rights to distribute Billabong in Indonesia is stalled in Australian court, according to a story on Goldcoast.com.au.
One Indonesian employee is currently on trial for alleged embezzlement of Billabong-branded advertising ‘light boxes’ while Gold Coast man Chris James is confined to Australia after an Interpol alert based on the same charge was issued for him by Indonesia earlier this year.
The contract dispute case was going to be heard December 8, 2009, in Supreme Court in Brisbane however, Bali-based Suzi Suweda’s barrister was not available, the story says. “Billabong is seeking a court declaration that the contract with Mrs Suwenda’s company was legally terminated.”
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au]
by The Editors on December 4, 2009
In a meeting with employees yesterday (December 3, 2009) in the offices of DC Shoes in Vista, California the parent company Quiksilver announced that they are moving the entire DC Shoe business to Huntington Beach, California according to sources familiar with company. The move will reportedly happen in the next six months.
This news has many San Diego County employees wondering how or if they’re going to be able to make the hour and a half commute once the move is complete. And to think, the new vert ramp that Colin McKay and the boys designed is only weeks away from being complete.
We’re sure there will be more to this stories. We’ll keep our ear to the grind and let you know.
by The Editors on December 4, 2009
When a Japanese company (Phoenix’s X-Nix) purchased the rights to dress the 1998 United States Olympic Snowboard Team Burton Snowboards thought that the whole idea of a “uniform” for snowboarders was a terrible idea. In fact, they said that it went against everything that snowboarding stood for.
Now that Burton is been the official snowboard team supplier for a second Olympics things are a quite different, according to a story in the New York Times.
“Board sports, for the most part, are about expressing individuality — that’s what makes them cool,” said Greg Dacyshyn, the company’s creative director. “So the whole uniform thing, you know, it’s a sensitive subject.” . . . “The inspiration was sort of that classic Americana look: the plaid blazer and old jeans,” Dacyshyn said. “Yeah, it’s a uniform, but it’s also an anti-uniform at the same time.”
But more importantly, the uniforms now sport a couple Burton logos. One thing is for sure: these uniforms are going to look real smooth behind gold medals.
[Link: New York Times]
by The Editors on December 3, 2009
A graphic from Billabong’s “comrade” T-shirt series is stirring up some trouble with a group of Australian Croats, according to a story on Javno.com.
The front of the disputed T-shirt contains emblem that combines the five-pointed star with what remarkably resembles the Croatian coat of arms. . . Behind the five-pointed star is a grain wreath that resembles the iconography which, in Croatia, is commonly associated with the communist Yugoslavia. Behind a checkered coat of arms is an eagle wing, which after a brief observation, may be correlated with the eagle on the Serbian coat of arms.
Natalie Drazic a spokeswoman for the Sydney’s Croatian Youth organization reportedly contacted Billabong but was not happy with the response she got from the company. “Natalie Drazic and the SCY management urged all Croats to boycott products made by the Billabong Company until further notice.”
A little controversy never seems to hurt T-shirt sales.
[Link: Javno.com]
by The Editors on December 3, 2009
Why pay full retail for snowboard gear this Christmas when (for those in Southern California) you can just shop a blowout warehouse sale and get your favorite (“non 09-10, old samples and old inventory”) gear and rock bottom gotta-go prices. Better yet, maybe a couple of them will get together and you can get all your holiday shopping done at once.
686, Modern Amusement, and Paul Frank Industries are throwing a huge party/sale this Friday and Saturday December 4-5, 2009 in Irvine, California. The sale also features a taco cart, DJ and “free giveaways.”
Warehouse Blowout Sale, 20 Goodyear, Irvine, CA 92618
by The Editors on December 2, 2009
Same store states at core mall retailer Zumiez fell 8.5 in November, according to a story on Reuters.
Analysts on average expected same-store sales at the retailer to fall 8.2 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. . . For the four-week period ended Nov. 28, total net sales fell 1.8 percent to $32 million.
The stock closed up 20 cents today at $11.25.
[Link: Reuters]
