by The Editors on September 12, 2012
Raen Optics has announced that surfer, explorer, and artist Thom Pringle as joined the company as it’s newest ambassador.
At 20, his creative thrust is perfectly aligned with the RAEN family according to Creative Director and Founder Justin Heit: “Thom’s love of fashion and his authentic perspective fuel a soft-spoken passion for surfing and the creative aesthetic we identify with personally. He’s a perfect fit.”
For the official word from Raen, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 11, 2012
Thanks to a new deal with Japan’s Fusion, Inc., Sessions branded clothing will now be licensed in Japan, rather than just distributed.
. . . becoming a SESSIONS licensee will ultimately allow them [Fusion] to provide its Japanese end user a more competitive price, expanding brand presence in the country. . . SESSIONS President Cindi Busenhart is excited about the possibilities linked to the new agreement, “We look forward to collaborating with Fusion as we expand the SESSIONS brand in Japan. Both companies have a strong background in action sports and we have been partners for years. This agreement marks the beginning of a new era for SESSIONS, strengthening the brand globally while maintaining the highest quality product.”
For the official word from Sessions, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 11, 2012
Dakine is leaving it’s old Hood River headquarters in the spring and will occupy half of a 45,000-square-foot facility in the Port of Hood over’s Waterfront Business Park, according to a story in the Portland Business Journal.
Dakine will relocate from its current headquarters on Columbia Street in downtown Hood River to the new Parkside Lands site at 603 Portway Ave. next spring. Once the building is completed, Key Development will transfer ownership to Parkside Lands LLC.
Looks like workers will be able to sail (or kite) right out the front door. New offices, new owners? Wonder what else is in store for Dakine in the coming months?
[Link: Portland Business Journal]
by The Editors on September 7, 2012
Vans has launched an new addition to their LXVI line. It’s called The Stat.
The upper of the Stat is wrapped in rich looking synthetic nubuck that is bonded on top of the ballistic mesh sidestripe that not only looks great but creates a functional flex point. Below the surface you’ll find our LuxLiner construction for an improved fit and all day comfort. The outsole features our WaffleFlex tread design with an UltraCush Lite midsole unit.
Looks very smooth. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 6, 2012
Spy’s short-lived cunalingus billboard featured high above Highway 101 in Encinitas, California is getting press worldwide for having been pulled down after only one day, according to a story in the UK’s Daily Mail Online.
The signage was meant to be a tongue in cheek promotion of SPY Optic’s new line of ‘Happy’ lenses, which purportedly lift one’s spirits with their special design. . . ‘We are a happy brand,’ Spy Marketing Director Devon Howard said to MailOnline. ‘It’s what makes us happy-being on people’s faces.’ . . Thousands of San Diego drivers sped past the sign yesterday, the only day it was displayed, and it appears their complaints swayed the owner of the advertising space to quickly rip it out of sight – but not out of mind.
Apparently, the billboard maybe too many motorists squirm. Hopefully, Spy will get the critics licked and put something back in there real soon. For the official word on the Happy Lens, which is what this whole campaign is really about, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 6, 2012
Billabong announced yesterday (September 5, 2012) that they have received an “indicative, non-binding and conditional proposal from another party interested in acquiring all of the shares in the company and which states “we currently propose a cash consideration value of around $1.45 per share.”” This is in addition to the previous offer for about the same price made by TPG International, LLC.
Due to a “confidentiality agreement” Billabong won’t say who made the offer, however, Bloomberg Businessweek claims that “people familiar with the matter” say the new bidder is the Boston, Massachusetts based Bain Capital (hello Mitt Romney). This is apparently being seen as good news.
“It’s great news for shareholders of Billabong because it adds pricing tension,’ said Tim Montague-Jones, senior equity analyst at Morningstar Inc. (MORN) ‘‘The probability is quite high that a higher offer could come through. A deal could get done.” . . Shares of Billabong rose 7.5 percent to A$1.365 at the close of Sydney trading, the biggest daily gain since July 24, and swelling the company’s market value to A$654 million.
Bain Capital Private Equity is involved in dozens of companies including Bombardier, Burlington Coats, Domino’s Pizza Japan, Dunkin’ Donuts, Guitar Center, and many, many more. For the official word from Billabong, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 6, 2012
In a story titled Shoes with soul: How, where are they made? written by a member of The Bee’s Teens in the Newsroom Program high schooler Zachary Senn grades some shoe companies by their social and environmental responsibilities. Not surprisingly Nike and Vans made the list.
Here’s what Master Senn had to say about Vans:
Owned by VF Corporation, Vans shoes contracts with factories that use sweatshop-style labor but show signs of improvement. A study done by corporate responsibility group As You Sow said that VF’s transparency is bad, but it is working toward bettering the lives of its factory workers. Social Grade: C.
Although it still uses dangerous chemicals in the manufacturing of its shoes, Vans is starting to move in the direction of becoming an eco-friendly company, by participating in events with the organization Beach Clean Up, as well as hosting e-waste disposal. Environmental Grade: C.
Nike did even worse, of course:
Nike, the world’s largest sporting-goods maker, has had a long and troubled history of sweatshop conditions and employee abuse at factories that make its products. . . . There are several third-party reports that corporal punishment is used in some factories that make Nike products and that in the primarily female work force, workers who become pregnant are fired. . . Social Grade: F.
Nike does, however, have several environmental programs, which include the use of organic cotton and recycling used rubber. Environmental Grade: B.
Nice to know that even the high schoolers know what’s up when it comes to footwear.
[Link: The Modesto Bee]
by The Editors on September 4, 2012
Westlife Distribution, the new owners of the Matix Clothing brand, are keeping the family together by re-signing Daewon Song, Marc Johnson and Mike Anderson. They’ve also added surfers Turkey Stopnik and JJ Wessels.
Daewon and MJ have been with Matix since the beginning and it was only natural to continue on with the relationship. Mike Anderson plays a key role as well, and each of their signature collections and personal style add a different flavor to each season.
For the official word from Matix, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 4, 2012
Last week Spy announced (in forms filed with the SEC) that they were cutting 20 employees and ending their direct sales in Europe and moving back to a distributor model. What does this all mean exactly? We’re not sure and neither is Jeff Harbaugh, but that hasn’t stopped him from discussing what he think about it on his Market Watch website.
I feel strongly both ways about what Spy is doing. On the one hand, the balance sheet and cash run rate certainly seems to require expense reduction. On the other hand, their strategy has been to invest in the brand to get revenues to a level that could support the required marketing effort. For all the progress Spy has made in increasing brand sales, it looks like somebody think it hasn’t happened fast enough to justify the continuing required cash investment.
For the rest of Harbaugh’s thought, click the link.
[Link: Market Watch]
by The Editors on September 4, 2012
The huntin’, fishin’, campin’ and skatin’ crew at Bohnam kicks it off in the woods with some fly fishing and then brings it back to the streets with Austin Lycans, Cameron Wetzler, and Sheehan O’Connel in their fall 2012 video. You long haul skaters may want to check out their Port-a-Pisser for those times you just can’t pull over follow the jump to see what were talking about. . . [click to continue…]
