by The Editors on March 6, 2008
Matthew McConaughey has decided to paddle into the surf clothing business with his own line, J.K. Livin. It’s named after his personal motto: Just Keep Livin.
McConaughey’s must-haves, which will be available from his website, range from t-shirts, to swimwear, to Frisbees. . . . “It will be a one-stop shop for everything you need for the beach,” his rep told a US magazine. “There’s a perception of me as a beach guy,” the actor has previously said.
Wonder if he has the letter JKL on the tail of his personal jet above a lightening bolt?
[Link: Showbizspy]
by The Editors on March 3, 2008
Pro surfers favorite place to find a little entertainment Jet Set has announced they are opening a new office in Hawaii, you know so they can hook up the local girls.
“I always said that we were a C&H company, a little California and a little Hawaii,” Cindy said, speaking from Jet Set’s new Hawaii office in Ward Plaza where she was warmly welcomed by property manager, Joey Char. “And I am so excited to be located next door to Billabong. Jet Set has booked its models with Billabong since they first arrived in the United States from Australia.”
“It’s been our dream to open an agency in Hawaii for 15 years, but we had to wait until the time was right. Now, I’m stoked to finally paddle back into the lineup,” said Cindy, revealing the casual surfer side of her personality. Believing that the most beautiful commodity of both California and Hawaii is their people, she sees the blend as natural.
No doubt.
[Link: Jet Set Models]
by The Editors on March 3, 2008
Old news for Sanuk, but a new story from the San Diego Business Journal:
In February, the New York-based trade publication Footwear Plus awarded the local company the Footwear Item of the Year award in the multibillion-dollar footwear industry.
Nearly three years ago, Sanuk introduced the Sidewalk Surfer, slip-on footwear that falls somewhere between a shoe and a sandal. Since then, sales have more than doubled.
The closed-toe shoes are made of malleable cloth that flattens to fit into a backpack or to take to the beach. A pair retails from $48 to $55.
Sanuk President John Vance says that the company’s founder, Jeff Kelley, drives the business and keeps ideas fresh.
[Link: San Diego Business Journal]
by The Editors on March 3, 2008
Volcom is up to six retail stores with the December opening of their Telegraph Ave. store in Berkeley, California “just a stone’s throw from the Cal Berkeley campus.” But they waited until last Friday night to have a grand opening party.
People filled the Volcom store on Telegraph Avenue Friday night to celebrate its grand opening with an all-ages party complete with free beer, free pizza and live music.
Although the boardsports-oriented clothing store officially opened its doors for business in December, they wanted the community to become more familiar with their products.
“We just want to introduce ourselves to the community and let everyone know we’re in town,” said Jeff Roberts, vice president of retail for Volcom.
And the Stone marches on.
[Link: The Daily Californian]
by The Editors on March 2, 2008
2008 ASP World Champion Mick Fanning’s fiancee Karissa Dalton is one of the top 15 hotties in Banana Boat’s Search for Summer 2008, an Australian modeling contest. If her power moves on the catwalk are anything like her man’s on the water, then she should have no problem.
The girl who takes out the contest will win a bounty including $3000 cash and an all-expenses paid trip to Miami Beach Fashion Week in Florida. . . . She will also be given the opportunity to star in a new print and television advertising campaign for sun-protection brand Banana Boat, which is sponsoring the event.
“For summer, this is a really high-profile competition,” said Ms Dalton. “It is judged on your catwalk abilities and on your stage presence (and also) … your personality and interviewing skills.”
We can tell from the photo that she’s got a great personality and a hypnotic stage presence. No doubt.
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au]
by The Editors on March 1, 2008
Jordy Smith knows what happens to surfers who are sponsored by mainstream brands (Mr. Price for example). So while we were a little surprised back when he signed with O’Niell we had no idea how much he turned down from Nike, or what the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that he turned down.
Jordy Smith took a phone call from Tiger Woods. He received an email from Michael Jordan. He was sent the shoe that Ronaldo used to kick a goal in a World Cup final. Nike offered him $5.3 million a year … but he knocked them all back. . . . But then he signed with Californian company O’Neill, basically because it was a traditional surfing brand. It was still a seven-figure deal, making him one of the top five highest earners on the tour before he had even entered it. But he had to be content with about $3 million less a year. He’ll survive.
Impressive.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on February 27, 2008
Local coverage is always so enthusiastic. Here is an example from San Deigo City Beat’s profile on Dekline:
Benzien and I sit in the showroom of Dekline Footwear’s Logan Heights headquarters, where he’s the lead designer. Benzien co-founded the company in 2002 with Kevin Furtado, just as skate shoes began the transition from skateboarder-specialized regalia to hipster and hip-hop fashion. Last year, sales of skate shoes grew 34 percent, faster than any other segment of the footwear market, according to retail market researcher NPD Group.
In just a few years of existence, Dekline has established itself as an industry leader in look and feel. At last month’s Action Sports Retailers convention in San Diego, skate and shoe sellers repeatedly referred me to Dekline as the It company in the field.
Industry leader in look and feel? Alright, as long as you’re not saying sales, we guess we can agree.
[Link: San Diego City Beat]
by The Editors on February 26, 2008
According to Shop-Eat-Surf.com‘s coverage of analyst Mitch Kummetz’ survey of board sport retailers (how’s that for third hand information) Volcom is the “hottest men’s and women’s brand.”
Hottest men’s brands
1. Volcom
2. Billabong
3. Quiksilver
4. Matix
5. KR3W
Hottest women’s brands
1. Volcom
2. Roxy
3. Billabong
4. Matix
5. O’Neill
[Link: Shop-Eat-Surf.com]
by The Editors on February 18, 2008
At the recent Billabong-Pro Open women’s event in Whagamata, New Zealand, Mishca Davis, the winner of the event, was supposed to take home a $750 prize. But she wasn’t so happy about that when she found out that the top prize at the Von Zipper Bikini Contest held later that night was $1,000.
“I was expecting to win about a grand,” Davis said. “The heat sheet said $750. During the contest they started announcing the bikini contest that was going to be on and then they said the first place winner was going to get a grand and it was like what?”
”At first it was a bit funny, and then I was a little bit angry, because a thousand dollars is a lot of money,” Thomas said. “Theres a big difference between 1st place in a women’s surfing competition and a bikini contest. It just doesn’t seem to add up.”
When New Zealand’s TV3 tried to contact Billabong corporate communications office in Australia, Billabong would not respond, instead they provided the station with information about the amount of money Billabong contributes to surfing sponsorship.
Nice, spin, Billabong. Be sure to watch the video. Amazingly funny, stuff.
[Link: TV3]
by The Editors on February 17, 2008
According to the San Diego Daily Transcript Nixon co-founder Andy Laats is sharing his business stoke with students at California State University at San Marcos.
The growth is what I still get stoked on,” Laats said of Nixon Inc. during the “In the Executive’s Chair” course at California State University, San Marcos Wednesday.
The Nixon co-founder and president told about 83 students the progress he alludes to is “not in terms of the product, but in terms of the amount of ideas and the amount of energy we have.“
Click here to watch the video or here for the video interview.
[Link: San Diego Daily Transcript]
Matthew McConaughey has decided to paddle into the surf clothing business with his own line, J.K. Livin. It’s named after his personal motto: Just Keep Livin.
