The press release doesn’t exactly say how many years they’ve signed on for but we’re sure IMG’s James Leitz is breathing a little easier now that this deal is done.
“Last year’s relationship with Hurley, Nike 6.0 and Converse provided a glimpse of the U.S. Open of Surfing’s true potential,” said James Leitz, IMG Action Sports SVP. “The NIKE, Inc. action sports family raised the bar in all areas and continues an aggressive push towards excellence in 2010.”
Nike owned the beach last year with Hurley, Nike 6.0, and Converse all over the place. We’re just hoping they build another ramp set up like last year’s Converse Coastal Carnage.
Santa Cruz, California’s Paradise Surf Shop opened in 1997 with what was a bit of a new idea for surf shops: it was a core surf shop for active women owned by women. And for the last 13 years it has been just that. But on March 28, 2010 Paradise Surf closed it’s brick and mortar shop and will live only online, according to a story in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Anna Macken, who bought Paradise Surf Shop in 2008, closed March 28 “with mixed feelings,” citing “shifts in our lives” as the reason, according to an e-mail she sent to customers. She is still selling surf gear for women at Paradise Surf’s Web site, reasoning an online store could be easier for busy people to navigate. . . “We believe it is absolutely possible to continue fostering our community of women who surf, even if the physical store we used as a hub no longer bears our name,” her e-mail said.
Sad to see another good shop go, but we hear the future is digital.
We mentioned last year that Billabong CEO Gordon Merchant was having some trouble with his neighbors for a surf camera he was installing at his $12 million Angourie, NSW home. Now, Mr. Merchant appears to have purchased a new place on the point at Agnes Water, Queensland for $3.8 million, according to a story in the Gladsotne Observer.
Mr Merchant snapped up the timber “beach shack” for a bargain basement $3.8m after the property had once been on the market for a reported $17m. . . The modest high-set timber house sits on 3846sqm of land looking straight into the waves at well-known surf break Agnes Point.
The lot reportedly has enough space for Mr. Merchant to land his helicopter. And he won’t be alone. Rip Curl’s Claw Warbrick has a couple places in the area as well.
Don’t ever say there’s no going back in the action sports media business. Norb Garrett, the guy who’s most recently been running the San Clemente Times is back at Source Interlink’s Action Sport Group after a six year break. From 2001-2004 Norb was group publisher and editorial director.
“The SIM team and our outstanding brands will no doubt benefit from the caliber of experience Norb brings to the business and his passion for these titles and the verticals they cover,” said Argentieri. “We are very pleased to welcome him aboard and look to amplify the efforts and opportunities to grow this vibrant group of properties.” . . . “I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to lead this terrific portfolio of businesses and help them grow,” said Garrett, who most recently served as CEO/publisher of Picket Fence Media, a community media business and who also served as vice president, group publisher/editorial director of Primedia’s Action Sports Group from 2001-2004. “I have a real affinity for these titles and anticipate better leveraging Source Interlink’s superior distribution network while strengthening and building on our core print, online and event platforms.”
All we can say is Surfer, Surfing, Skateboarder, Snowboarder et. al. will be in good hands while they flounder around for a growing revenue stream now that the magazine era is dead and gone.
Now Vans has teamed with Majestic Athletic and Major League Baseball Properties to bring the classic shoe styles to Americas National Pastime. . . Available only at select Vault by Vans retailers, the Vans Opening Day Collection, is an extremely limited edition offering consisting of: . . . A pair of premium Vault by Vans skate shoes with official Major League Baseball logos and colors. Shoes are premium material versions of Vans favorites such as Authentic, Old Skool and Classic Slip-On. . . A special Authentic Collection jersey by Majestic Athletic featuring Vans markings, each jersey is individually numbered for authenticity.
Only one dozen pairs of each teams shoes will be released, according to the story. Fifteen team kits will launch on April 3, 2010. The rest will go on sale the first day the team has a home opener.
Maybe Vans needs to change their tag line Off The Wall to On The Ball. . .
Rob Dyrdek always seems to be in the money. And now, he’s helping kids get into their parents money as well with a new deal signed with BillMyParents, the online teen-targeted payment system of the San Diego, California based Socialwise Inc.
“I’m excited to work with BillMyParents. I like what they do,” said Mr. Dyrdek. “Giving teens freedom to pick what they want and also letting parents in on that, I think it gives parents insight into what their kids really want and gives teens the opportunity to learn financial responsibility. It just makes sense.”
Kind of crazy that a company can build a business on something as simple as a parent giving their kid a credit card, but leave it to Rob to make sure he gets paid. Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
Under the design and manufacturing licensing agreement, Bioworld will help accelerate the momentum that Vision Street Wear has experienced since its re-launch in Summer 2009. The Vision Street Wear line created by Bioworld will include t-shirts, hoodies and bottoms, as well as headwear, bags, belts and other items and will be found at boutiques, specialty stores, malls and mid-tier distribution in the United States.
Just another reminder to never underestimate the value of a dead brand.
Orange 21, the parent company of Spy Optics reported a net sales of $34.2 million compared to net sales of $47.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, according to a post on 8264.com, however, their loses dropped from $15.2 million in 2008 to $3.2 million in 2009.
“The current recession continues to have a significant impact on the retail environment and our global sales. As such we will continue to control costs and improve operational efficiencies where possible to minimize future possible losses,” commented Stone Douglass, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “During the year ended December 31, 2009, we reduced total operating expenses by approximately $7.6 million from 2008, excluding the $8.4 million goodwill impairment charge recorded in 2008, and expect to continue to benefit from these cost savings efforts during 2010.”
1. To elect seven directors to the Board of Directors of Volcom for the ensuing year or until the election and qualification of their respective successors. The nominees for election to the Board are Richard R. Woolcott, René R. Woolcott, Douglas S. Ingram, Anthony M. Palma, Joseph B. Tyson, Carl W. Womack and Kevin G. Wulff;
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
We don’t really follow longboarding that closely, but we always enjoyed the way Steve Lake and the Sector 9 crew rolled in under the lazy gaze of the skateboard industry and capitalized on their own groove. They didn’t chase the market, they redirected it their way and caught nearly everyone off guard.
The Sector 9 story isn’t really news, but it is cool to hear Steve tell it.
The press release doesn’t exactly say how many years they’ve signed on for but we’re sure IMG’s James Leitz is breathing a little easier now that this deal is done.
