by The Editors on May 26, 2009
We don’t really know who Zacks Investment Research is, but they’re pretty hyped on the VeeCo stock right now saying that the company is at a “good entry point.”
Volcom has an impressive sales growth record. Continued distribution channel expansion, both domestically and internationally, along with a strong new product effort should support Volcom’s sales growth rate after the current economic weakness abates.
Now, if we just knew exactly when this “economic weakness” was “abating” we’d all be rich, rich, rich.
[Link: Zacks.com]
by The Editors on May 26, 2009
Coca-Cola is apparently stepping up its Olympic efforts by signing up six athletes, according to a Tripp Mickel story that we can’t read because we don’t subscribe to Sports Business Journal. And it appears that Gretchen Bleiler is on the team.
The company will be featuring snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, figure skater Evan Lysacek, hockey player Angela Ruggiero, speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno and the pairs figure-skating duo of Keauna . . .
And that’s where our free preview ended. Nice work, Gretchen. Now we’re thirsty.
[Link: Sports Business Journal]
by The Editors on May 22, 2009
No surprise. For the three months ended May 2, 2009 Seattle’s Zumiez (the 360 store mall chain) lost $1.7 million dollars on $76.8 million in sales. But they came in ahead of “the street” for what it’s worth. Sadly, things will apparently get worse from here.
For the second quarter, Zumiez expects to lose 17 cents to 14 cents a share, worse than the 7 cents a share that analysts expected. . . “Consumer discretionary spending is tough,” Chief Financial Officer Trevor Lang said during a conference call with analysts. “Consumers are focused on really low value price points, and that doesn’t necessarily play to our strength.”
Yeah, either that or they’re more focused on buying food.
[Link: The Seattle Times]
by The Editors on May 21, 2009
It’s mall retail conference call day around these parts. And Zumiez will spill the details and spin the news for business ending March 31, 2009 for analysts at 3 PM PST today. To listen to the webcast click here and go to http://ir.zumiez.com. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 21, 2009
by The Editors on May 21, 2009
After a rad day of action sporting there’s just nothing as refreshing as a big, thick stick of salty meat. And now, thanks to a new Jack Link’s sponsorship deal with the Dew Tour fans will get fully exposed to Matador, too.
Matador, a bold new brand for action-driven teens, will receive tour-wide exclusivity in the salty snack category as an associate sponsor of the Dew Tour. . . . “We’re excited to add the new MATADOR brand by Jack Link’s to the list of first-class sponsors for the Dew Tour,” said John Stamatis, vice president of marketing and partnerships. “They are a great fit for our Tour, and their athletes have consistently performed well every year. We look forward to working together to bring this partnership to life.”
Mmmm, meaty excitement for sure.
[Link: ESPN Action Sports]
by The Editors on May 20, 2009
The Loop’d Network (formerly Sponsorhouse) has reportedly rounded up $800,000 in what TechCrunch calls “an undisclosed round of funding from investor Tech Coast Angels and existing private investors.
Loop’d’s platform is a social network for athletes to promote themselves and and participate in a network of online communities based around action sports. Loop’d lets also members connect with brands, including Monster, Oakley and PacSun, for sponsorship.
The company apparently plans to use the money to stay in business.
[Link: TechCrunch via @Valerotti via @Ridertech]
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 19, 2009
Bonnier Corporation, the parent company of Transworld Media has reportedly just picked up five print magazines from Hachette Filipacchi Media, according to a story on Media Post. The titles include: American Photo, Popular Photography, Boating, Flying and Sound & Vision.
In 2008, according to the Publisher’s Information Bureau, American Photo saw ad pages declined 9.4%, Boating 25%, Flying 5% and Sound & Vision 14% (Popular Photography was flat in 2008 compared to 2007). So far in 2009, according to MIN Online, ad pages have fallen 49% at Boating, 17% at Flying and 32% at Sound & Vision, and 15.5% at Popular Photography. (No figures were available for American Photo.)
It seems to fly in the face of all logic, but they must have some kind of plan, right? Maybe someone should remind them that it’s very difficult to build a navy out of sinking ships no matter how many you buy. . .
[Link: Media Post]
by The Editors on May 19, 2009
ESPN has done restaurants, shoes, skateboards, why not slap the X Games logo on some China bikes while they’re at it.
“XG3 marks ESPN’s first foray into high performance action sports gear and will continue to build on the momentum that we have created in consumer products,” said Steve Cipolla, vice president and general manager, ESPN Consumer Products. “Innovation and authenticity are the hallmarks of every ESPN brand – as one of the first BMX superstars, Mat Hoffman perfectly embodies these attributes. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Mat, as we launch XG3 and continue to expand the X Games franchise World-Wide.”
We’re more excited by the possibility of some X Games snowboards by Todd Richards. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 18, 2009
After Billabong reduced their profit forecasts and announced plans to sell more shares to “pay down debt” the analysts apparently turned on the company. According to a story on Bloomberg at least four brokers have cut the stock to their lowest rankings:
The stock’s rating was cut to “sell” by Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, “underweight” by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and “underperform” by both Macquarie Group Ltd. and Credit Suisse. . . “The old Billabong story was a seductive growth story as surf fashion took market share in the urban and street apparel segments,” Greg Dring, a Sydney-based Macquarie analyst, said in a note to clients today. “The new Billabong story seems to center on customers that are increasingly short-term focused and are reluctant to order for the future.” Dring cut earnings estimates in 2010 by 23 percent.
But we still haven’t really figured out the whole analysts game.
[Link: Bloomberg.com]
We don’t really know who Zacks Investment Research is, but they’re pretty hyped on the VeeCo stock right now saying that the company is at a “good entry point.”
