For the quarter ended January 31, 2013 Quiksilver’s revenue dropped four percent, they lost $31.1 million dollars and their share price dipped eight percent, according to a story on Bloomberg Businessweek.
Quik CEO Andy Mooney said revenue was hurt by closing underperforming stores, weak wholesales sales and weakness in the Americas . . Late Thursday, Mooney said the company is making progress restructuring its organizational structure and streamlining its supply chain. . . “We believe these actions will help lay the foundation for improved operational results.”
While posting this we had to ask ourselves if we even care how Quiksilver is doing. And the short answer is, no, at this point we don’t. Do you?
Since 2011 when etnies decided to plant a tree for every pair of Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree shoes they sold more than 200,000 trees have been planted in Costa Rica and Brazil. And now, they have a website that explains it all at http://etnies.com/buyashoeplantatree.
By visiting the new Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree microsite on etnies.com, customers can learn how the program works and see how many trees have been planted so far, including their own tree contribution, through the live tree-planting counter. Also, the site’s timeline breaks down the program year-by-year showing, through videos, photography and descriptive text, how this initiative has helped replenish devastated forest communities.
With all that’s been going on with Billabong and Quiksilver lately, it probably isn’t the best time for Rip Curl to find a $400 million buyer and the owners have reportedly abandoned the sale, or at least that’s what co-founder Brian “Sing Ding” Singer is telling The Australian.
“I doubt (the sale) is going to happen,” Singer said. . . “The public market looks like a bit of a cesspit at the moment. . . But Mr Singer, who set up Rip Curl with Torquay surfing buddy Doug “Claw” Warbrick in 1969, said a sale was still on the longer-term agenda. . . He predicted the founders would exit “at some point in the next few years”.
Then again, if someone were to offer them $400 million right now, we’re guessing they take it.
Casual and conscious footwear makers’ Freewaters (makers of these rad Freewaters + Therm-a-rest flips) has just signed up Charleston, South Carolina’s Groundswell PR to handle all their media relations and brand communications.
“Finding business partners that genuinely share our values is always our priority and we are thrilled to welcome Groundswell PR to our extended family.” says Freewaters Co-founder Eli Marmar. “Groundswell brings core competencies across boardsport, outdoor and fashion lifestyle which is highly unique and a perfect fit for our brand.”
Quiksilver today announced today (March 4, 2013) that they’ve hired former Nike Global Brand Director Tom Hartge as Global Head of Footwear and former Lands’ End SVP, Global Sourcing Kasey Mazzone as Global Head of Supply Chain. Here’s what President and CEO Andy Mooney has to say about the changes.
“We are centralizing key functions and responsibilities across Quiksilver, Roxy and DC in order to strengthen our brands, grow sales and drive operational efficiencies,” said Andy Mooney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiksilver, Inc. “Both Tom and Kasey bring world class expertise to their respective roles, as well as extensive experience with global brands. These appointments, along with Pierre’s new role and the addition of a Chief Marketing Officer, will make our company more competitive and are key elements in our evolution from a regional management structure to a global structure with experienced leaders guiding each key functional area of the company.”
Guess this is all part of Quik’s recent reorganization. For the official word from Quik, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
You knew it was going to happen, but today Volcom “officially” launched their new line of shoes for Fall 2013 and they appear to be very “fashion forward.”
Volcom’s Fall 2013 footwear collection features a variety of colorful styles in an array of assorted fabrics ranging from waterproof leather to classic canvas, catering to a diverse taste range for both men and women. The men’s line offers up a selection of sneakers, slip-ons and boots, each suited for maximum wearability. “Looking to the collection, we’ve built upon the success of our open-toe products by offering on-trend styling at key price points. Subtle queues to angle and asymmetry have kept the styles fun, yet unmistakably Volcom.” shared Jason Graham, Senior Director of Accessories/Footwear at Volcom. Though sneakers and slip-ons are also present in the women’s collection, platform wedges and boots lend a sensible, stylish take that expands on the vision of contemporary footwear.
It’s obvious to us, the Phillips family, the fans of Jim Phillips Sr. and Jimbo Phillips, and fans of the brand Santa Cruz Skateboards, as well as many in the global skateboard and skate art community that there is clear and obvious infringement by Mr. Scott. We are discussing this with our legal team to determine our next steps. . . I hope that Mr. Scott sees that his actions have hurt and affected many people, including the Phillips family, and that he has also severely damaged his own reputation. It is not too late for him to do the right thing, as an artist and creative person, and fix his error in judgement.
In the race for corporate “efficiencies” Quiksilver is making some pretty big changes.
In addition to COO and Global Brand President Craig Stevenson resigning (he’ll be paid through October 31, 2013), the company is apparently cutting the snowboarding team (but keeping Travis Rice) and cutting the skateboarding team (but keeping Tony Hawk). The Quiksilver surf team has also been reportedly trimmed by several surfers. There are also rumors that Quiksilver Women, the Waterman Collection, the VSTR brand and Dane Reynolds side project Summer Teeth were also set aside.
Over at DC Shoes they’ve cut their entire BMX team and their surf team. There is also mention of auto (and co-founder Ken Block himself) being cut as well. As one surf industry stalwart ironically put it, “Can’t wait until the same thing happens at Billabong.”
One thing to remember: Hollisterdoesn’t spend a dime on “core teams” and they don’t seem to be having any problem in the “So Cal inspired clothing for Dudes and Bettys” space. Still no official word from Quik, but then again, their information distribution department never has been very effective. We’ll let you know if and when anyone shares any information on what is obviously a very bad day for action sports athletes, media, and the industry in general.
[Editors Note: The details in this post have been in flux all day thanks to various sources adding and subtracting details. So far, no replies to emails sent to Quiksilver corporate PR and other contacts.]
Graphic, print and color direction inspired by the …Lost Surfboard Factory, these one of a kind, hand-laminated resin designs transform into individual looks for spring 2013. Spanning all categories, including knits, board shorts, wovens and T-shirts, the collection retails for $22 – $49.50 and is available at a retailers near you.
La Jolla Group CEO Toby Bost is making his network television reality show debut tonight (February 22, 2013) when the fashion executive goes undercover with his own employees on the CBS show Undercover Boss. On the show Bost will apparently be playing the part of O’Neill CEO (as opposed to Metal Mulisha CEO, or Rusty CEO, FMF CEO or The Berrics CEO) as he puts on a “medical school” drop out disguise and hangs out with employees he’s never met, you know, retail store employees, the guys in the warehouse, and the screen printers. Bost, who does amazing job as a nerdy middle aged worker, enjoyed the experience greatly.
“The UNDERCOVER BOSS experience was intense, and it certainly prompted me to remember the importance of little details,” said Bost. “The opportunity allowed me to examine our company from a new perspective and learn important lessons from our employees. In my position, you aren’t often able to replicate the retail experience through the eyes of an entry-level employee, for instance, so this allowed me to see the challenges they face every day. It also provided a closer view into our training and communications procedures that I wouldn’t have had the same access to otherwise.”
It will be interesting because the employees who work for La Jolla Group and don’t know who Bost is are probably some pretty entertaining people (or paid professional actors). The show airs tonight, February 22, 2013 at 8 PM on CBS. Check your local listings or follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
For the quarter ended January 31, 2013 Quiksilver’s revenue dropped four percent, they lost $31.1 million dollars and their share price dipped eight percent, according to a story on Bloomberg Businessweek.
![Freewaters Image 2[2]](http://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Freewaters-Image-22.jpg)
