According to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald, Rip Curl made at least some of their 2015 snowboard outerwear in North Korea, a country known for using slave labor in manufacturing. Of course Rip Curl didn’t mention it until after it was pointed out to them by Fairfax Media. Now the surf wear company is doing everything they can to blame it on their China based contractors.
After Fairfax Media sent Rip Curl photos of its garments being made in North Korea, the company’s chief financial officer Tony Roberts released a statement that said the firm “takes its social compliance obligations seriously. . .We were aware of this issue, which related to our Winter 2015 Mountain-wear range, but only became aware of it after the production was complete and had been shipped to our retail customers. . . This was a case of a supplier diverting part of their production order to an unauthorised subcontractor, with the production done from an unauthorised factory, in an unauthorised country, without our knowledge or consent, in clear breach of our supplier terms and policies.”
Hey, you can’t keep those margins in check without cutting production costs, right? In other news, Kim Jong-un may be getting the boot from his own country for a failing economy.
Surprise, it appears another snowboard magazine is no longer in the magazine business.
But don’t think for a minute that the revenue generating team behind Snowboard Mag is going to simply stop the presses, pack up their old “books”, and quit depositing checks, no, no, no. There are still dollars to be collected from the snow biz, apparently. That’s why Storm Mountain Media is going to “focus on digital, social, and custom content formats” you know, to get more in line with the kids.
SNOWBOARD currently has the most print subscribers in the snowboarding industry. But these print numbers are dwarfed by SNOWBOARD’s digital and social channels that reach more than 6 million enthusiasts every month. SNOWBOARD is listening to its audience — and to its advertisers — by delivering content and messaging where they want it, when they want it, and how they want it. . . The team at SNOWBOARD remains passionate about print, and will develop future custom projects rooted in quality, not quantity. SNOWBOARD will no longer rely on traditional subscription and newsstand models that have become particularly ineffective and inefficient for all snowboarding magazine titles in North America.
Makes us wonder how long the Snowboarder and Snowboarding twins will keep their presses rolling. For the official word from Storm Mountain, please follow the jump.
Timbaland breaks down the world of pop cultural business success like no one else in this interview with Ebro and Rosenberg from Hot97. We don’t pretend to know a thing about the music, or the beats, or the scene, but the wisdom he conveys on what hits are, how they come about, and how to play the hit business game — especially his theories on the rise of “programmers over producers” and his own six-year cycle (26:40) — apply to every angle of action sports business.
Looks like Shaun White has actually “joined the Mammoth Resorts’ ownership team” by plunking down a pretty large pile of cash (reportedly seven figures), even though making money by running ski lifts technically ended somewhere in the 90s. That said, he certainly seems stoked on his latest brand affiliation.
“It’s amazing that I’m now an owner of the mountain where I grew up riding,” said White. “As an owner I’ll be able to make changes and shape the future of the mountain and how people enjoy it–whether they’re beginners or professionals.”
Mr. White’s influence on Mammoth’s Big Bear Resorts will certainly help (White House Slopeside Condominiums, Summer Action Sports Complex, and dryslope maybe), and hey, if it sells a few more Air & Style tickets in the process, even better.
For the official word from Mammoth, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Oaktree Capital Management, the deep pockets that saved Billabong, is hoping to take Quiksilver private when it emerges from bankruptcy, according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Oaktree Capital Management will own more than 90 per cent of the shares in Quiksilver and will take the company private if a US court approves a $US600 million ($853 million) refinancing proposal, new details of which emerged this week. . . The US-based private equity firm owns 18.7 per cent of Billabong International following a similar $350 million refinancing of the Gold Coast-based company two years ago.
It’s all good. Logos are logos. Clothes are clothes.
The mouse dissolving, caffeinated, carbonated high fructose corn syrup tour is getting a jolt of authenticity with today’s announcement that Snowboarder, Surfer, and TransWorld Media’s parent TEN: The Enthusiast Network is stepping in to take the flagging tour in a much needed new direction (while still reportedly keeping their broadcast deal with NBC alive). The best news is that this will give TEN one more thing to sell that doesn’t involve pieces of paper with pretty pictures printed on them.
“Partnering with Mountain Dew and the Dew Tour property showcases exactly what TEN has been designed to do for brands – provide authentic, credible, full-service media capabilities to reach, engage and excite a large audience,” commented Norb Garrett, Executive Vice President / General Manager of TEN, Sports & Entertainment. “The Dew Tour has been around for over a decade, and by leveraging our position as the world’s leading action/adventure sports media company, TEN is dedicated to contributing to its ongoing success so that it will continue on for another decade and beyond, providing a truly one-of-a-kind experience for the action sports community.”
This certainly makes for a good press release if nothing else. Now, if they could just find a new title sponsor. . . For the official word from TEN, please follow the jump.
Big Mountain snowboarder Travis Rice has extended his endorsement deal with Lib Tech snowboards for five more years, according to Lib Tech.
“I am so proud to announce that I have signed on for another 5 years with Lib Tech and Mervin Manufacturing,” Rice said. “From an early Jamie Lynn that was the first board I spent money on at age 15, to the Last 10 years of R&D on my incredible pro-model board line culminating with the upcoming Climax model which I believe to be the best board on the planet made with Non-Toxic, Eco friendly materials, built by snowboarders here in the USA. Mervin is a family that I am overjoyed to be a part of and has been putting Snowboarding first since it’s inception over 25 years ago. From the water-boards I surf to the skateboards I roll, this company is based on fun with friends, creative freedom and the expression which makes the world a brighter place. Many companies try to replicate what Mervin is doing but there is only one magical Mervin! Thank you Mike, Pete and everyone else that empowers and supports me, can’t wait to share what is in the works for tomorrow!”
Nixon announced today (December 17, 2015) the opening of their first New York City retail location on Prince St., right in the heart of Soho.
Built with award-winning design features, the SoHo location will bring to life the brand’s action sports heritage. The store will showcase Nixon’s signature watch table: featuring open-merchandising of watches in the shape of an undulating wave. The watch table invites consumers to try on and experience product first hand. Anchoring the store is Nixon’s customization bar, which allows customers the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind watches. The new space will also give Nixon the opportunity to spotlight its limited-edition offerings, including its new automatic, Swiss-made RSVP collection.
Nixon SoHo is located at 122 Prince Street, between Wooster and Greene Street, and is open daily from 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. The shop can be reached at 917.262.0560.
The skate helmet brand of choice for legions of skateboarders, Pro-Tec announced this week that they have been sold by their parent paintball company Dye Precision, Inc. to zombie skate brand collector Bravo Sports Corp. for an undisclosed amount.
Bravo Sports plans to continue Pro-Tec’s legacy by supporting and protecting riders around the world, from sidewalks to the slopes. Famous for classic styling and innovative protective gear, Pro-Tec’s helmets, pads, guards and other products have protected skate, bike, water, and snow athletes of all ages for more than four decades. With the company’s action sports heritage and proven success, athletes have come to rely on Pro-Tec products.
Pro-Tec will be in good company with other Bravo brands like Darkstar, Maple, SpeedDemon, Kryptonics, Variflex (see what we mean by “zombie”), and many more. For the official word from Bravo, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Newell Rubbermaid, a company that sounds more like a fetish doll manufacturer than a consumer brands company, has just purchased K2 and Ride Snowboard’s parent company Jarden today (December 14, 2015) in a deal worth more than $15 billion according to a story on Forbes.com.
The deal will create a combined firm with $16 billion in annual revenue, owning brands ranging from Sharpie, Paper Mate and Graco strollers to Coleman, Sunbeam, Oster and Marmot. . . . Jarden shareholders will receive $21 a share in cash and 0.862 shares of Newell Rubbermaid. Combining Jarden with Newell Rubbermaid will fund the deal with cash on hand and new debt, levering itself to 3.0 to 3.5 times, but maintaining investment grade credit ratings. The acquisition is forecast to immediately bolster Newell’s earnings per share by double digits when it closes, expected in mid-2016.
Those who love corporate snowboarding should take this as a cue to buy more K2 and Ride products as soon as possible. Maybe even for Christmas.
Surprise, it appears another snowboard magazine is no longer in the magazine business.
Oaktree Capital Management, the deep pockets that saved 
Big Mountain snowboarder Travis Rice has extended his endorsement deal with Lib Tech snowboards for five more years, according to Lib Tech.
Newell Rubbermaid, a company that sounds more like a fetish doll manufacturer than a consumer brands company, has just purchased K2 and Ride Snowboard’s parent company Jarden today (December 14, 2015) in a deal worth more than $15 billion according to a story on 
