by The Editors on June 2, 2010
What’s the difference between a Billabong bikini fashion show and Design For Humanity fundraising event June 10, 2010 at Paramount Studios? Marketing. How do they make watching hot, nearly naked girls prance and strut on a runway feel good for the soul? Billabong Women’s Brand Director Candy Harris tells Tiffany Montgomery all about it in her interview on Shop-eat-surf.com.
I wanted to create an event that would help inspire young people to get involved with the world around them and hopefully motivate them to make a difference. When you’re young it’s easy to get the feeling that if you don’t have thousands of dollars to donate that your voice will get lost. . . The idea behind DFH was to showcase various non-profits in a non-traditional way. We didn’t want it to be a lecture, we wanted it to be all about creativity and celebrating the good work that is being done by these groups. And for $30 you are getting a live concert, fashion show and art show – and more importantly are being exposed to some amazing organizations.
. . . and of course rocket hot, nearly naked girls prancing and strutting on a runway.
[Link: Shop-eat-surf.com]
by The Editors on June 2, 2010
On the heels of yesterdays news that Source Interlink’s Action Sports Group has signed a deal with the Board Retailers Association comes news that Transworld Business has partnered with Group Y as their “exclusive B2B partner” according to a press release.
As the exclusive B2B media partner, TransWorld Business will help co-produce the events, provide exclusive editorial coverage, and sell in key credible sponsorships toward the panel series. . . “With this new partnership, TransWorld Business can now provide our over 4,000 members resources that expand beyond our monthly meetings and conferences,” said Mark Sperling, group Y co-founder and president. “The action sports industry and those involved with our lifestyle recognize TransWorld Business as the authoritative voice for our sports and culture and we feel they are the ideal partner for us. We are looking forward to working with TransWorld on expanding our content and reach, to better help the growth of our industry for years to come.”
Wonder what part Shop-Eat-Surf.com played in pushing this deal together?
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by The Editors on June 2, 2010
It’s been quite a while since we’ve mentioned Jamie Salter, but the guy who took snowboarding public on May 6, 1994 (when Ride Snowboards hit the NASDAQ) is still going strong with his company Authentic Brands Group, LLC.
In fact, he just landed a “$250 million equity capital raise with Green Equity Investors V, L.P an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (“LGP”), Knight’s Bridge Capital Partners Inc. (“Knight’s Bridge”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Counsel Corporation,” according to news released today.
The deal reportedly brings him back together with former Gen-X partner Kenneth Finkelstein. Together the two owned, operated, and/or were closely involved with Ride Snowboards, Airwalk, Sims, Duffs, and a host of other second tier action brands like Lamar, LTD Snowboards etc. Finkelstein’s Knight’s Bridge Capital currently owns the Poloroid brand.
“I am very excited to embark on this new venture with my partners at LGP and Knight’s Bridge. LGP is among the world’s most experienced private equity investors in the retail and branded consumer products industries and Knight’s Bridge will provide its own exceptional investment and brand licensing expertise,” Mr. Salter said. “Our collective experiences will enable Authentic Brands Group to acquire and grow a global portfolio of world renowned brands.”
Currently ABG manages the Bob Marley brand and is looking to “actively acquire and manage iconic consumer brands in the apparel, sporting goods, action sports, home, celebrity, entertainment and consumer electronics segments.” That $250 million war chest can’t hurt. Wonder who they’re going to buy first?
Follow the jump for the entire release
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by The Editors on June 1, 2010
Maloof Money Cup owner Joe Maloof was interviewed by CNBC’s Darren Rovell about his familiy’s sports business. Not surprisingly the first topic was skateboarding.
Hits to our Web site are exploding and we’ve truly become the greatest skateboarding event out there,” Mr. Maloof said. “Our goal continues to be to get the top skateboarders in the world to our events and we did it here again. Out of the top 48 skateboarders, it looks like we’ll have at least 47, including P-Rod and Chris Cole, and might get them all if Ryan Sheckler comes.”
We’re guessing he’ll be there. No?
[Link: CNBC]
by The Editors on June 1, 2010
Intrawest has been busy lately trying to come up with a way to cover $4 billion in debt. Apparently one way is to sell Mountain Creek to Crystal Springs owner Eugene Mulvihill, according to a story in NJ.com. And like any developer he apparently has “big plans” for the resort.
He said he envisions an indoor water park, rain forest, hotels and retail and health food shops at the Vernon Township resort in the northwestern corner of New Jersey.
Yeah, water parks and rain forests are rad. We hear they’re the new “slope-side condo.” Wonder if they’re going to change the name back?
[Link: NJ.com via First Tracks]
by The Editors on May 28, 2010
Quiksilver’s brand new Euro campus in St Jean De Luz (home to all their brands) looks like an amazing place to work. . . too bad it’s in France.
It is home to some 500 staff and around a dozen different nationalities, with an average age of 30. Quiksilver follows a policy focused on in-house training and promotion for its staff (80% of positions are filled internally). The project had a budget in the region of 24 million euros and enjoyed financial backing from the French government, the Aquitaine Regional Council and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques General Council.
Well, that explains the France part.
[Link: Global Surf News]
by The Editors on May 27, 2010
Action sports retail has been headed for the showroom model for years. Sadly, the only way this really works is when the retail stores are owned by the manufacturers who are selling the product. That’s exactly why we’re expecting to see a lot more deals like today’s announcement in the Orange County Business Journal that Billabong has purchased all five Becker Surf locations.
Sounds like a nice addition to their retail stable which already includes Beachworks, Swell.com, and their Billabong stores.
For retailers it seems one of the best exit strategies. And for major labels it means owning the distribution chain all the way to the consumer.
[Link: Orange County Business Journal and Apparel News.net]
by The Editors on May 11, 2010
Back in September 2009 we mentioned that The North Face had been sued by the US Environmental Protection Agency for reportedly claiming that 70 styles of their shoes were “antimicrobial.” To the EPA an “antimicrobial” is technically defined as a pesticide. And because The North Face was claiming to sell a pesticide they must first register that product with the EPA before selling them.
At that time Steve Rendle, the president of VF Outdoor Americas (The North Face’s parent) said that although they disputed the EPA’s claims “we immediately stopped making the claims they found objectionable, removed them from hang tags and our website, and revised the product packaging accordingly.”
Last week, however, VF Corp agreed to settle claims to the tune of $207,500, according on the Reuters wire. Apparently, the EPA’s claims held a little more water than VF’s disputes.
[Link: Reuters]
by The Editors on May 10, 2010
If you have an expo or tradeshow that relates to anything in action sports or fashion that could potentially bring more people to the ASR Show in San Diego, please call Andy Tompkins because ASR appears to be in a synergizing mood.
The most recent addition to Summer ASR (after Class@ASR and The Crossroads) is Scott Bass’ Sacred Craft surfboard expo, according to a release sent out today.
Action Sports Retailer (ASR) and Sacred Craft have agreed to stage the summer edition of the consumer surfboard expo bayside in San Diego during ASR. The one of a kind event debuts on Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, 2010 running concurrently with ASR at the San Diego Convention Center.
Sure, why not. But you know who ASR should be really working on partnering with? Comic-Con. They’ve got real traffic. . . follow the jump for the entire release.
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by The Editors on May 7, 2010
As if being the largest footwear manufacturer in the world (and number 1 action sports footwear brand) isn’t enough for the Portland, Oregon based company, Chief Executive Mark Parker now says that Nike plans on growing by more than 40 percent in the next five years to $27 billion in sales, according to a story on MarketWatch.
And guess which pond they plan to over-fish. . .
In addition to retail and apparel, Nike also sees the fast-growing action sports market, which it called underpenetrated, as a growth opportunity for both its namesake brand and Hurley, according to Parker. The company also said it will do a better job gaining the wallet share of its female customers. . . Converse, which Nike bought in 2003, will help fuel growth as well. Nike wants to double the size of the $1 billion brand in the next five years, with plans to open the first full-priced Converse store in Boston this summer.
And then one day the sales reps at action sports media companies will only have to make one call a year. We can hardly wait.
[Link: MarketWatch]
What’s the difference between a Billabong bikini fashion show and Design For Humanity fundraising event June 10, 2010 at Paramount Studios? Marketing. How do they make watching hot, nearly naked girls prance and strut on a runway feel good for the soul? Billabong Women’s Brand Director Candy Harris tells Tiffany Montgomery all about it in her interview on Shop-eat-surf.com.
