We’re still in the camp that can sit and listen to Greg Noll talk story all day long. And, that’s why we’re pretty stoked on these new “Da Bull” trunks from Billabong. They’re part of an exclusive collab between Noll Surfboards and Billabong.
The Noll Surfboards apparel line will be in stores in March and will feature a ten-piece collection including board shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, walk shorts and a special run of 200 Limited Edition signed and numbered “Jail House” striped trunks that will be auctioned exclusively online starting March 22 through to April 4. Opening bids will begin at $200 and consumers will be able to bid on board shorts based on their size and signing number.
Most mother’s know it’s never a good idea to dress fat kids in horizontal stripes, but the signed Da Bull’s shorts are reportedly “collectable.” Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
So let’s say your brand is under pressure. Your stock is at the lowest point it’s ever been. The “sharks are circling” and a private equity firm has been low-balling offers since they noticed your were in trouble. What do you do? If you’re Billabong founder and largest shareholder, Gordon Merchant, you buy more stock, according to a story in The Australian.
In a substantial shareholders notice lodged late on Friday, Mr Merchant declared he had bought 2.52 million shares in the surf, ski and skate wear brand at an average price of $3.13 each, lifting his stake from 15.1 per cent to 15.8 per cent.
Hey, if your fortune is already down $240 million what else can you do? Billabong has to come back around right?
Spy announced today that they’ve added surfer/shaper Ryan Burch and surfer Jared Mell as “multidimensional surf-sojourning brand ambassadors” for the eyewear company’s new Crosstown Collection.
“Ryan and Jared are super talented and respected at the creative forefront of contemporary surf culture, and they also have classic vibes in what they do that really resonate with what’s happening with SPY now,” says Devon Howard, SPY Marketing Director. “Ryan is a craftsman with a penchant for innovation, tempered by a deep reverence of classic surfing style applied to his board designs inspired by shaping pioneers like Bob Simmons and Carl Ekstrom. With Jared, his approach to nose riding and what he does with his clothing line at Insight are similarly progressive, hedged with deep roots. We’re really stoked to have these guys rounding-out an already stellar team of incredibly creative surfers backing Crosstown.”
The Crosstown Collection is billed as a “limited-edition line of vintage-inspired, handcrafted sunglasses” which sounds like a great market for Spy to paddle into. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
As another reminder that summer in the Northern Hemisphere is right around the corner, Fox kicks down some of their newest bikinis from their Spring 2012 line. Nice and sandy, but sometimes the video cuts too quickly. Seriously.
Who said the independent footwear industry is over. The Hundreds has just announced four new additions to their Spring 2012 footwear line and our favorite (of course) is the “extremely limited edition” Scully:
The Scully, featuring a Nubuck/ballistic nylon upper exterior, performance textile lined interior, and a foam padded tongue & collar with extra laces. The shoe also includes high quality performance molded PU insoles and a patterned rubber outsole.
Looks like a perfect shoe for creepin’. Creep, creep, creep.
What we really like is that the business was founded by, and continues to be led by a entrepreneurial and dynamic duo, Andy Laats and Chad DiNenna. Andy founded the business shortly after picking up his MBA at Stanford from the ground up, partnered by Chad. They determined that the action sports sector didn’t have a watch brand clearly identified with folks clearly passionate about surfing, skating and snowboarding.
It would appear that TCP has their priorities straight, right?
Private equity firm TPG Capital’s offer for Billabong is outrageously low compared to previous fashion label buyouts according to a story in Businessweek.
Excluding extraordinary items, analysts now estimate Billabong will earn A$64.5 million in the year ending June 2012, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. TPG’s offer is worth almost 12 times that forecast, compared with the median bid of 24 times profit for takeovers of apparel makers greater than $500 million in the U.S., western Europe, and developed markets in the Asia-Pacific region, the data show.
In other words, TPG is offering half the average multiple for Billabong. In its analysis Businessweek questions what exactly TPG knows about the company that would cause it to make such a low offer. Are things that much worse than they appear? Or is TPG just out trolling for bargains?
For an in-depth look at the continuing Billabong situation, click the link and read the story. Or check out the Sydney Morning Herald’s piece A Tragedy of Errors.
IVI, the new eyewear joint between Rob Dyrdek, Fox Head‘s Pete Fox and designer Jerome Mage has announced the hiring of former RVCA Marketing Director Brian Garofalow as marketing director.
“Adding Brian to the IVI staff is an exciting step for us. His experience and background is a perfect fit for where we want to take the brand and having had prior success working with Rob is a great benefit. Our team is incredibly strong as we head into the launch phase of IVI.” Pete Fox, CEO, Fox Head, Inc.
IVI product is set to launch this spring. For the official word, follow the jump [click to continue…]
Snowboarder Eric Jackson has a new accessories sponsor now that he’s signed up with Los Angeles electronics covering company Hex.
“Practically everybody who sees my iPhone asks me where I got the case, not to mention the nano® watchbands and bags which completely blow them away,” said Eric. “It feels so good to be a part of a brand that supports me and makes such fresh products…the sky’s the limit!”
Now that he mentions it, those cases are pretty cool. . . follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
