When we spoke to Andy Howell last fall about the Artsprojekt website that he had created with Zazzle.com he presented it as a place where serious artists would be given the technology to create custom art products in limited runs. When he said “artists” we never imagined anything like Rob Dyrdek’s Wild Grinders clothing. But Andy certainly spins it well.
“Rob is a visionary, not just as an innovator of street skating, but for continuing to bring skateboarding lifestyle and art to the core and pop culture audiences in compelling ways, without losing sight of his true skateboarding roots,” said Andy Howell, former pro skateboarder and founder of ARTSPROJEKT. “Dyrdek and his Wild Grinders™ crew offer a cool brand for younger skaters, while maintaining authenticity which is crucial to a brand’s success and longevity. They understand what consumers want, and continue to push limits and take it to the next level.”
After looking at the product more closely we’re thinking a deal with Kohls or Kmart might be a better place for Rob’s little homies. But that’s just us.
On a page showing how great the iPhone 2.1 upgrade is Vans got a little promo for their podcast sandwiched in between Golf Tips and something about the Sierra wonders of nature. Of course, The Onion got top billing.
Podcasts: Get access to thousands of free podcasts on the iTunes Store via Wi-Fi or your cellular network.
It may not seem like a big deal, but studies have shown that just appearing in these little Apple graphics can result in thousands of new eyeballs. Looks like someone at Apple wears the shoes.
Oh, the things being a publicly traded company will make you do. First, create a special line just for core retailers because distribution has mainstreamed all over hell. Then, after maxing out on the surf/skate/snow market that was the whole genesis of the brand, branch out into motorsports because if you’re not growing the shareholders get pissed.
Matix (which seems like a really new company to us sometimes) is releasing a book to celebrate 10 years in the action sports clothing business. It’s called This Is Progress and features the work of: Daewon Song, Marc Johnson, Rick McCrank, Rudy Johnson,Mikey LeBlanc, Reda, and many more.
According to MarketWatchZumiez same store sales are down. . . again:
Zumiez (ZUMZ:7.18, -0.23, -3.1%) said late Wednesday that its January sales at stores open at least one year fell 14.8%. Analysts, on average, had expected the same-store sales to fall 14.1%, according to Thomson Reuters. Total net sales for the four-week period ended Jan. 31 decreased 2% to $20.3 million, said the specialty apparel retailer.
Notice all the rad surfing by gnarly surfers in this savage surf clip? Oh wait, no surfing? Whoops, guess this clip is all about fashion. Say it ain’t so Joe. . .
While the idea behind Toms Shoes is pretty cool (for every shoe they sell, they give one away) it seems like an odd thing for Element Skateboardsto partner up with them because, we’ll you can’t skate in Tom’s shoes. Can you?
The Toms and Element Skateboards line launches today with a collection of five styles of shoes –three for women and two for men. Also, Element has designed a Toms branded skateboard to push around on while wearing what else? Toms shoes. . . .Element will follow the Toms “one for one” rule — for every skate deck or board bought, Element will give a board away to a child in need of some wheels. . . . The shoes are all $46. Skateboards retail for $150 for a complete long board and $50 for the smaller deck.
Nokia Corp. and Skullcandy have apparently agreed to settle their differences outside of the courtroom according to a post on Law360.
A judge has signed off on a request to drop Nokia Corp. without prejudice from an infringement suit brought by Skullcandy Inc. over two patents for an integrator that allows a user to use a music player and a mobile telephone through one set of headphones after the two sides agreed to resolve the dispute out of court.
So that’s where Skullcandy’s next big funding round is coming from. It’s beginning to make sense.
Nixon founders Andy Laats and Chad DiNenna were recently interviewed on video by a journalism student at Cal Sate San Marcos for the San Diego Source Daily Transcript and story on the company in which the two discussed some of the secrets behind the launch of the action sports watch company.
DiNenna was looking for a watch that fit his lifestyle: outdoorsy — but not the type a hiker would wear; and sophisticated — but not a timepiece you’d expect to see on your grandfather. The problem was that it didn’t seem like anyone was making what he was looking for.
Outdoorsy? Yes. It is nice that Andy and Chad take the time to work with students and do these interviews, because we love watching Chad smirk.
