The six-year-old UK based snowboard glove company Transform is now rolling in the USA (Thanks to Brown Bag Distribution and Midwest OG Tim Bean) and they’ve signed Nick Visconti to the team.
“In today’s market, snowboarding brands are a dime a dozen,” Nick Visconti tells us. “What makes a lasting impact and sustainable growth for a brand is a vision, mission and commitment- all three are key elements that Transform gloves has. Add innovation, premium fabrics and a grassroots marketing campaign, Transform Gloves is the future for progressive technical snowboarding hand wear. I am excited to promote and advocate for Transform Gloves.”
Nike doesn’t seem afraid to shift things around and today they moved former VP of Action Sports Sandy Bodecker to work on “special project involving long-term production innovation” and pushed former Hurley President Roger Wyett (pictured left with Bob Hurley) into the VP of Action Sports job, according to a story on Oregon Live.
In addition, Nike announced that Jim Calhoun, chief executive of Converse Inc., will report directly to company Chief Executive Mark Parker. . . “Roger’s leadership over these important businesses will help continue to drive success for Nike,” Parker said. “I’d like to thank Sandy for his strong leadership over the last five years and look forward to his continued significant contributions to the company. . . Scott LeClair, vice president and general manager of Nike Skate and Nike Snow, will report to Wyett. Bob Hurley, currently the interim Hurley chief executive, will also remain in that position and will report to Wyett.
Maybe these moves are a result of recent reorganization on Nike surf vs. Hurley issue. Sounds like someone at Nike is continuing to put ducks in orderly rows for a change.
Thanks to all kinds of rumors surrounding a possible $1.10 a share buy-out by Billabong America’s president Paul Naude, trading in the company’s stock has once again been halted, according to a story in the Hearld Sun.
Mr Naude, who stepped aside from the role last month to investigate a management buyout, is believed to have lined up US-based private equity group Sycamore Partners to help fund the deal. . . According to market speculation, the offer was put to Billabong chairman Ian Pollard late on Friday. . . It would value the company at $526.8 million. . . The group’s shares jumped to a two-month high of $1.01 yesterday as opportunity-hungry investors leapt on early speculation of a deal shortly after 11am.
The halt on trading was requested by the company “until tomorrow, pending an announcement.” Well, Parko won the world title, so guess that means the deal has to go through.
Sneaker heads with a penchant for the Supra brand now have an epic dream catalog in the 260-page Supra: The Book.
A large portion of the book is dedicated to the limited edition collaborations SUPRA has done with friends and celebrities and features stories and photos with Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Slash, Steve Aoki, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Just Blaze, Deion Sanders, Samantha Ronson, and many more. Also included are rare sneakers that were produced in conjunction with an array of eclectic sources such as the television show Lost,Stubb’s Bar-B-Q . . . and even Dirty Harry. Also are collars, quotes, and thoughts from sneaker industry authorities such as SNS, All Gone, and Sneaker Freaker.
The book is available on the Supra website for $50 and just might be the perfect way to spend some of that extra Christmas cash you might have laying around this month. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
Thanks to what is being called “significantly lower income-tax benefits and weaker markets” Quiksilver’s fourth-quarters earnings were down 94 percent, according to a story on Marketwatch.
In the latest quarter, Quiksilver recorded a benefit for income taxes of $7.4 million, significantly lower than the $64.3 million provision recorded a year earlier. . . For the quarter ended Oct. 31, Quiksilver posted a profit of $4.4 million, or two cents a share, down from $67.9 million, or 38 cents a share. Excluding special items such as impairment charges and restructuring expenses, profit was seven cents a share in the latest quarter. Revenue grew 2.5% to $559 million.
In spite of all this CEO Bob McKnight is “pleased, despite economic headwinds in certain markets, especially Europe and Australia, that revenues for fiscal 2012 increased across all three regions, all three major brands and all three distribution channels, in constant currency.” So there’s that.
Nixon’s snow team is happy to welcome Nicolas Müller to its ranks.
“Nico is, without doubt, one of the most respected riders in the world,” stated Chad DiNenna, Nixon co-founder and E.V.P. of Marketing. “Not only by pro snowboarders, but across the wider boardsport industry and community. That feeling of respect is also shared by every one of our team riders, and that’s why it was easy to have him join us. We’re all pumped to welcome him onboard.”
For the official word, including what JP Walker thinks of Nico joining the team, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
While we were watching the American Giving Awards on NBC Saturday night, December 8, 2012, we had the thought: if you’re going to throw an awards show it might as well be awarding people who are actually doing things to help others. And, that’s where the Costa Mesa, California based Krochet Kids International comes in. They won a $500,000 cash prize, according to a story in the Orange County Register.
Krochet Kids international, established in 2008 by three surfers — Kohl Crecelius, Stewart Ramsey and Travis Hartanov — took the trio’s hobby of crocheting hats to Uganda government camps, where refugees from local rebels had been living for as long as 20 years. The Costa Mesa organization teaches women to make the hats; it then markets them internationally. . . Last year, a second operation was set up in Lima, Peru, to help impoverished women living in the city.
Now it would appear that the kids have a little more funding to build their socially conscious business. Then some day Krochet Kids will get so big that they’ll have to employ entire factories of third world workers to make their clothes.
Vicki Redding, the former La Jolla Group Senior Vice President, Merchandise and Design and Quiksilver/DC Shoes Senior Vice President Americas Merchandise and Design, is now Vans new Vice President, Apparel according to an announcement made by Vans President Kevin Bailey today (December 10, 2012).
Vans’ Apparel business is rapidly growing in both size and complexity and is a critical component to our business initiatives,” said Bailey “Vans has a strong team in place and having someone of Vicki’s caliber and experience will only strengthen our brand.”
Nike and Adidas aren’t the only heritage athletics footwear brands rolling skateboarding. Nope. Welcome New Balance to the party with New Balance Numeric a collaboration between New Balance, Black Box, and Westlife Distribution.
“New Balance is proud to partner with Black Box on the New Balance Numeric skate footwear initiative,” says Rob DeMartini, President & CEO at New Balance. “As one of the most authentic and talented skate companies in the industry, Black Box offers industry knowledge and a strong commitment to skate specialty retailers that matches well with our 107-year-old tradition of delivering technical design-forward performance products for athletes.”
Jamie Thomas is obviously on board.
“I have always found the heritage and integrity of New Balance inspirational, therefore it’s truly an honor for Black Box to partner with New Balance on the New Balance Numeric project,” says Jamie Thomas, Black Box company founder and professional skateboarder.
And so is Westlife’s Mike West.
“The vision for New Balance Numeric is to bring something unique to skateboarding. We combine the East Coast heritage and supreme workmanship of New Balance with the West Coast lifestyle and culture of Skateboarding,” says Michael Akira West, President & CEO at Westlife Distribution.
For what’s left of the official press release, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The six-year-old UK based snowboard glove company Transform is now rolling in the USA (Thanks to Brown Bag Distribution and Midwest OG Tim Bean) and they’ve signed Nick Visconti to the team.
