by The Editors on June 19, 2013
When Kate Spade decided to launch a new low-end clothing line called Saturday, NYC-based surf boutique Saturdays Surf NYC decided they’d take the company to court, according to a story on Complex.com. Unfortunately for them, their bid to stop Kate Spade from launching the new brand was unsuccessful.
Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum concluded that “Saturdays Surf NYC has not shown a likelihood of confusion by a preponderance of the credible evidence. I am particularly persuaded by the relative weakness of the word that the two marks share, the significant distance between the men’s and women’s products, and the consistent inclusion of the famous house mark, Kate Spade, in its Kate Spade Saturday mark.”
Chalk another one up for high fashion big business.
[Link: Complex]
by The Editors on June 19, 2013
Dakine hasn’t let parent company Billabong’s financial travails keep it from moving into some dope new digs in Hood River, Oregon, according to a story in the Portland Business Journal.
Its new home will accommodate growth and features earth-friendly designs including a rooftop garden, extensive use of daylight, water efficient features and reclaimed wood. Solar panels will be installed in the future.
We just hope they get to grow as they should. We hear Dakine may be out from under the “Billabong umbrella” sooner rather than later, and working right next door to the makers of Tofurkey can’t hurt.
[Link: Portland Business Journal]
by The Editors on June 19, 2013
Mark Sullivan is turning up the business side of his backcountry snowboard festival with the addition of OR snowboard industry vet Chad Perrin to the position of director of business development for Tailgate Alaska.
“We are excited to bring Chad on board. His track record building Jones Snowboards speaks for itself,” says Sullivan. “I am excited to work with someone as passionate as I am about big mountain riding and the adventure of getting out in the backcountry.”
For the official word from Tailgate Alaska, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 17, 2013
When a true waterman has to go it’s not bad to be on the water as Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell was on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Meistrell was on his yacht The Disappearance on Sunday morning when he had a heart attack, according to a story in the Daily Breeze. He was 84 years old.
The Disappearance was the lead boat in the 22-mile Rock 2 Rock race Sunday from Isthmus on Catalina to Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. As he’s done in previous years, Meistrell led the paddleboarders out of the harbor about 6:30 a.m., his son said. . . But around 7, Robbie Meistrell said he’d received a call that his father’s boat, which was also carrying his mother, Patty, and a second cousin, had a double-engine failure. He was nearby and preparing to help tow the vessel in when he heard soon after that his father had suffered a heart attack in the boat’s engine room, he said.
Meistrell, who founded Body Glove with his twin brother Bill, will be remembered as a legendary diver, surfer, and waterman. Our thoughts are with the entire Meistrell family.
[Link: Daily Breeze]
by The Editors on June 17, 2013
The Agenda Show in partnership with Grindmedia has created The Break, a new lounge area at their Long Beach show (July 25 – 26, 2013) where brands can show off their latest products in what Agenda is calling a “comfortable, hosted-interview environment” created by Fuel TV founder and Grindmedia’s CJ Olivares.
“We’re excited to partner with Grindmedia and introduce this innovative platform to our show,” said Mike Carter VP of Sales and Marketing for AGENDA. “The Grindmedia viewer reach is tremendous. It’s a great alliance that fits the strategic vision of Agenda giving an even greater voice to the top, forward-looking brands in youth culture-providing an added opportunity for brands to show off their newest products and tell their brand story.”
Looks like a good way to create some viral content around rising brands’ newest gear. For the official word from Agenda and Grindmedia, follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 17, 2013
The Los Angeles Times has outlined the current state of financial affairs at surf fashion giant Quiksilver with the headline Quiksilver Is Riding Wave of Red Ink.
The last time Quiksilver posted a profit was 2006. A survey by financial services firm Piper Jaffray & Co. found that Quiksilver’s brands trailed in popularity among teenagers, its core customer base. . . “The company faces competition from other action sports brands. . . ” King said. . . “Much of the company’s potential for success hinges on its ability to accurately predict consumer preferences and fashion trends,” he said. “We believe that the company’s failure to anticipate, identify and react in a timely matter to fashion trends could negatively affect its business.”
Yeah, that’s possible. The analysts, however, believe Quik is still a buy or hold because hey, that new CEO has a great plan.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on June 11, 2013
We’re always a little worried when major labels announce plans to double or triple revenue, but that’s exactly what Vans is planning to do by the year 2017 according to a report released today. As part of VF Corp’s “global strategy to reach $17 billion in Revenues and $18.00 in earning per share by 2017” Vans will need to nearly double revenue in the next four.
The Vans brand raised its average annual revenue growth projection, initially provided in June of 2012, from 13 percent to 15 percent. The brand is now targeting total revenues of $2.9 billion by 2017, up from $1.5 billion in 2012.
It’s nice to have a goal, right? But think about how ubiquitous Vans are now and then double that? Doug Palladini and the team have a pretty big job to do. For all the official details on the plan, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 10, 2013
We ran into former Transworld Media President and Group Publisher Liam Ferguson in the Cardiff Reef, California parking lot on Sunday and got the low down on his new gig as the vice president of sponsorship integration at the Association of Surfing Professionals, but today the official word finally came out.
As part of recently hired Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Michael Lynch’s team, Ferguson will help lead the process of securing sponsorship marketing partners. . . “This is an unprecedented time in the sport’s history and we are fortunate to have someone with Liam’s extensive experience and capabilities join the team,” Lynch said. “Liam has an excellent rapport with sponsorship and marketing individuals in both endemic and non-endemic circles and his passion for professional surfing is evident in everything he does. We are both very excited about this next chapter for the ASP.”
How’s the for landing on your feet? Turns out the ASP is looking inside the industry for talent as well. Not a bad idea. Ferguson’s skills will come in very handy as the ASP rolls out its plans for the future. Congrats, Liam. For the official word from the ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 10, 2013
During the summer of 2012 the City of Mammoth Lakes, California (home to Mammoth Mountain) filed for bankruptcy thanks to losing a lawsuit to a developer. Rather than throw in the towel, the City worked with Mammoth Mountain to plan for their eventual rise from the ashes and the strategies they used over the past seven months could work for almost any business that is down and feeling like there is no way out. For the entire breakdown check out this story by Robert Holmes on Urban Land.
[Link: Urban Land]
by The Editors on June 10, 2013
The Boardroom, the consumer surf expo that will be rolling in with Surf Expo September 7-8, 2013 in Orlando, Florida, is hosting a new shaping contest called the Chunk Of Foam Challenge. Four world renown surfboard shapers will be given an 8 x 2 foot block of foam and asked to make a surfboard out of it.
“Harken back to the days of ancient Polynesian board building,” says Scott Bass, producer of The Boardroom. “Boards were made out of chunks of wood. If you wanted a board you found a tree. We are tweaking that concept just a touch. We are challenging a selection of top-echelon shapers to create a surfboard out of an 8’ x 2’ chunk of foam. That’s it. The Chunk of Foam Challenge is an attempt to see who can really shape a good board without the modern accoutrements.”
Guess we’ll find out rather quickly who knows how to mow foam. For the official word from The Boardroom, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
When Kate Spade decided to launch a new low-end clothing line called Saturday, NYC-based surf boutique Saturdays Surf NYC decided they’d take the company to court, according to a story on Complex.com. Unfortunately for them, their bid to stop Kate Spade from launching the new brand was unsuccessful.
