People familiar with the talks said both consortia [VF Corp and Naude] had cut their respective proposals below A$1.10 a share, declining to be more specific. Shares in Billabong, which is being advised by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS +0.02% last traded at A$0.73, having touched a record low of A$0.63 last month.
In our opinion, the longer Billabong stalls, the worse things are going to be for the beleaguered surf fashion giant.
Casey Zelinsky, Cameron Lapolla, and Kristin Cusic
iPath footwear is stoked to announced the addition of Casey Zelinsky Northern California and Nevada) and Cameron Lapolla (Southern California) to their sales team and Kristin Cusic as the new VP of Marketing for iPath parent company Klonelab.
Global Sales Director, Matt Gentilucci, says, “ I’m really happy with the new additions to the sales force; combined with our existing crew, we now have a solid team in place and are poised to grow this coming Holiday sell-in season.”
The organizers of this year’s IASC Skateboarding Summit (scheduled for May 8 – 10, 2013 at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Anaheim, California) have announced their lineup of speakers and there are very few surprises. However, as IASC Executive Director Josh Friedberg says:
“The depth of experience and variety of viewpoints from our speakers this year will give everyone who attends some great food for thought, I can’t wait to hear what these guys have to say!”
For the complete list of the brave industry stalwarts who will be sitting at the tables up front and facing the audience (as well as a complete list of inductees to the Skateboarding Hall of Fame) follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The Agenda Trade Show has a new director of women’s sales and marketing, it’s former Insight Marketing Manager Vanessa Chiu.
Her addition to the team represents AGENDA Founder Aaron Levant’s recognition of the shifting culture in the industry—with an ever-growing number of female-centric brands, athletes and enthusiasts. Chiu, who spent eight years with the Australian surf/lifestyle brand Insight, most recently as head of marketing and PR for the U.S. division, will focus on aligning strategic partnerships with women’s brands and nurturing a more female-focused experience at AGENDA’s three bi-annual shows in Long Beach, New York and Las Vegas.
Economic correspondent Paul Solman reports on an American-born product hit hard by globalization: the surfboard. In Southern California, U.S.-based manufacturers fear they will soon be wiped out by competing, foreign companies due to discrepancies in labor costs and duty taxes.
Probably one of the best bits we’ve seen on explaining the ins and outs of free trade. For even more on the story including why it might be a bad idea to fight back, click here.
Bear Mountain, Neff, and Malakye are hooking up the entire shred industry with a free day of riding at Bear tomorrow (Friday, March 29, 2013) for Office Booyz Snow Industry Day. If you work for a snow industry company just bring your most recent pay stub and a valid ID and you can ride all day. There’s no pre-registration. Just show up and ride. Springbreak! Springbreak! Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
Kering (formerly known as PPR pending approval), the parent company of Volcom, Gucci, and Puma has announced that they’ve just purchased France Croco “one of the leading independent tanneries. . . specializing in the sourcing, tanning and processing of crocodilian skins.”
Owned, developed and headed by the founder’s son Dan Lewkowicz, France Croco supplies high quality crocodilian skins for watchstraps, leather goods, ready-to-wear and shoes to most of the world’s best known Italian and French fashion and accessories houses, including houses belonging to Kering. France Croco’s sourcing activities also set high standards for sustainability and conservation of wildlife species.
We’re looking forward to some France Croco + VeeCo collar trunks with crocodile pockets, or even better yet, some crocodile Volcom boots, maybe? Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
Former Billabong CEO Matthew Perrin, 40, is back in court after pleading not guilty to defrauding the Commonwealth Bank of AUS$13.5 million, according to a story in The Australian.
It’s alleged Perrin forged his former wife Nicole Bricknell’s signature on documents, enabling him to use the value of a jointly-owned house on the Gold Coast to obtain a loan of $13.5 million from the bank in 2008.
Anyone who has ever watched the now classic episodes of Surfer Magazine TV (with host Sonny Miller) will remember the Opper Sports Productions name. Over the years founder Ira Opper (pictured right with Wingnut and a cameraman) has created loads and loads of action sports television programming. And now, the Del Mar Times has profiled Opper.
He was an early pioneer bringing beach volleyball and the concept of action sports to ESPN. He was one of the producers behind the first regional sports cable network that eventually became Fox Sports Prime Ticket. He has the largest surf film archive in the world — and he’s lived in Solana Beach for more than 30 years.
Mophie Outride cameras will be getting a work out at Bells Beach as the 2013 Rip Curl Pro kicks off on March 27, 2013. The Outride cameras turn Apple iPhones into completely protected action POV cameras and Mophie as signed on as an official sponsor of the vent.
“The Rip Curl is an iconic platform for us to gain global exposure for the OutRide iPhone mounting system and add international footage to the community sharing video using the OUTRIDE app,” said Ross Howe, vice president of marketing, mophie. “Our company has grown up in the surf community of southern California and it’s fitting that we have a presence at this legendary event.”
We haven’t tried the Outride yet, but from the looks of the set-up it could be really cool. Follow the jump for the official word from mophie. [click to continue…]
In a story we posted last month regarding Billabong’s offer deadline we suggested that the deadline would pass and Billabong would be forced to consider even lower offers. That’s exactly what has happened, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal.
