by The Editors on June 25, 2009
Joel Gomez has sold the Sessions brand and trademark to a new company that is backed by Samsung America, according to press release on TransWorld Business. The new company will, not surprisingly, be called Sessions, LLC and will continue to do the same thing they’ve been doing only now they’ll be doing it with someone else’s money.
“Even in these difficult times, Cindi and I felt strongly that, with the right business model and team, we could capitalize on over 20 years of experience and brand equity” said Joel Gomez in a statement. “Cindi and I have great confidence in the viability of this brand. We have a strong and experienced team and with Samsung as a partner, we now have the necessary capital to assure a smooth transition and continued success.”
One more reminder that in these economic times there’s nothing better than a big, fat paycheck. Follow the jump for the entire press release.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 25, 2009
While we’re no fans of super flaired Flash websites, if a website owner is going to over-load their regular site with Flash graphics and other wiz-banglia, then the least they can do is build out a little mobile site for those of us who are riding the web with our phones all day. That’s exactly what Dakine has just done and the site works really well.
A newly launched, interactive site gives users access to DAKINE goodies while on the go. Content is broken down into categories including snowboard, ski, surf, skate, bike, windsurf, kiteboard, girls and music. An abbreviated version of DAKINE’s website, the mobile site, www.DAKINE.com/mobile, is compatible with most media rich-enabled cell phones.
In fact, if we were going to bookmark Dakine’s site on our home rig, we’d probably link up to the mobile site because it’s that much easier to use.
[Link: Dakine Mobile] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 23, 2009
Adrenalina CEO Ilia Lekach isn’t done with Canada’s action sports retailer West 49 just yet, according to a story in the Globe and Mail. But not just yet, as Lekach says he’s busy.
“Right now I’m in the middle of another acquisition,” said Mr. Lekach, who put forth the offer two months ago. . . “I’m going to wait until I finish it, and then I’m going to go back to West 49.”
Hmmm, wonder what active acquisitions Mr. Lekach has going on right now? Either way, he says that later this year he’s going to get back on West 49 and buy it.
[Link: Globe and Mail]
by The Editors on June 23, 2009
We’re pretty sure this won’t be the last, but Quiksilver has announced that 168 more people will lose their jobs at the company, according to the OC Register.
The layoff notice says 153 workers will be let go by July 21 and another 15 will leave by Oct. 1. . . Last year, the company laid off 397 workers in Orange County, according to records filed with the EDD.
Condolences to those who will lose their jobs.
[Link: OCregister via @ocbeachs]
by The Editors on June 23, 2009
Hollister, the surf fashion brand that doesn’t waste money on silly things like sponsored surfers, surf advertising or surf contests, is joining Quiksilver and Billabong in New York City with a new store called EPIC Hollister at the corner of Broadway and Houston. And the press release is enough to make Miki Dora roll over in his grave.
It’s 40,000 square feet of pure California fantasy. It’s walking along Huntington Pier, hanging with the hottest crowd at the beach while the waves crash around you…literally! “The EPIC store is what Hollister is all about–big waves, surf, sun, and hanging out on the pier,” said a Hollister rep. “The laidback HCo. vibe is effortlessly cool, and we’re bringing the SoCal lifestyle to SoHo. . . . The first of its kind in the world, Hollister Co.’s EPIC store is about sight, sound, scent, taste, touch, and most of all, positive energy. It is without a doubt the coolest store to open in NYC. EPIC will be SoHo’s must see destination!
It’s so fake, it almost feels real. We can hardly wait!
[Link: Yahoo Finance]
by The Editors on June 23, 2009
Surf Diva, the La Jolla, California based women’s surf camp, retail store, and clothing brand is in the middle of a permit battle over professional surf camp access to the waves at La Jolla Shores between Menehune Surf‘s Darren Fulhorst and the City of San Diego’s Real Estate Assets Department, according to a story in The Voice of San Diego.
But how the city has distributed those permits in the last four years is threatening to put one of those companies, Menehune Surf, out of business, said Darren Fulhorst, the company’s owner. When his competitor, Surf Diva, was granted only two of the three permits it bid on in 2005, the city circumvented the formal bidding process to create a fifth permit at La Jolla Shores, which it granted to Surf Diva, and in the years since has been unwilling to account for how or why it did so.
Probably just another case of Isabelle Tihanyi handling handling her business.
[Link: Voice of San Diego]
by The Editors on June 23, 2009
SIMA announced yesterday that they have confirmed dates for Surf Summit 12 the conference that was cancelled in May due to Swine Flu worries. Now that Swine Flu has taken over the world, it appears that it is now safe to go back to Cabo September 30 – October 3, 2009.
SIMA President Doug Palladini believes it is the surf industry’s duty to attend:
“SIMA’s new Surf Summit 12 dates reflect the surf industry leadership’s strong consensus that we need an annual gathering of people and ideas, be it May or September,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA president. “We know that attending will remain a priority for all SIMA members given the need for increased business acumen and communication in these challenging economic times.”
For all the details about registrations, refunds, and the Friday, July 31, 2009 deadline, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 21, 2009
Apparently, Element is taking Go Skateboarding Day pretty literally. On June 19, 2009 Billabong’s skateboarding brand Element made some “cuts” to their work force and gave a few people a little more go skateboarding time.
We’ll have more information as it becomes available.
by The Editors on June 17, 2009
A group of Florida investors have purchased Active Ride Shop out of bankruptcy for $5.2 million, according to a story in the Press Enterprise.
A limited liability company called Active Sports Lifestyles USA emerged as the winner among five bidders in a Tuesday auction ordered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Riverside. Attorney Marc Winthrop, who conducted the auction, said the buyers plan to keep all of Active’s operations intact, including its Mira Loma headquarters and warehouse, as well as its 21 Southern California stores.
Zumiez, who had expressed interest in the retail chain, was not even among the final bidders. “The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the month, Winthrop said.”
[Link: Press Enterprise]
by The Editors on June 17, 2009
Pacific Sunwear today announced that former Vans President Gary Schoenfeld is their new CEO effective June 29, according to a story on the Wall Street Journal.
The leadership change at the teen retailer follows calls earlier this year from a shareholder group for the resignation of former CEO Sally Frame Kasaks, who will also step down as chairman. . . Many teen-apparel chains, once considered fairly resilient during economic downturns, have suffered in the recession as mall traffic has thinned.”We have a lot of work ahead to get our business turned around, yet I am very enthusiastic about our long-term prospects to be a favorite with our customers and create value for our shareholders,” Schoenfeld said.
Maybe Adrenalina was right?
[Link: Wall Street Journal via ShopEatSurf]
Joel Gomez has sold the Sessions brand and trademark to a new company that is backed by Samsung America, according to press release on TransWorld Business. The new company will, not surprisingly, be called Sessions, LLC and will continue to do the same thing they’ve been doing only now they’ll be doing it with someone else’s money.
