For years most people have known Ryan Clements (right) as the guy on the mic for Skate Park of Tampa events and live webcasts, or as a partner in the Skate Park of Tampa business, but there is more. For the past few years, Clements has been acting as a business manager for several high profile professional skateboarders like P-Rod and Torey Pudwill.
Since leaving the Skate Park of Tampa at the end of 2012, Clements and Heath Brinkley have started a company called Excel to (among other things) help pro skateboarders keep track of their money. Transworld Business’sMike Lewis talked to Clements and Brinkley about what they do and the problems young pros have. Here’s a slice of what Clements passes along:
For the younger guys it’s that they don’t realize how all the money they’re getting isn’t theirs. They still have to pay Uncle Sam and they don’t necessarily realize that or how it works. Explaining the difference between being an employee and a contractor is important. For the older, more established guys it’s more about making them aware of how much money they’re blowing on eating, drinking, and other purchases that leave them absolutely nothing to show. I have one client that didn’t file tax returns for eight years. I don’t know what he was thinking, but it eventually caught up to him via a levy on his checks from his sponsors. That’s when he called me. We cleaned that mess up with the assistance of a tax attorney.
We all could use someone who is smarter than we are to mind our money. Luckily, skateboarders have Ryan. Click the link for the rest of the post.
PPR released their 2012 full-year results and it gave Jeff Harbaugh a chance to dig in to get a better idea of what has been going on at Volcom since they were purchased by the French fashion titan a year and a half ago. From what Harbaugh could figure, it looks like things are going okay, but they just might be down for the year.
At best, Volcom has grown only a bit. If that 261 million Euros in revenue includes Cobra and Tretorn, Volcom’s year over year revenues could have fallen. . . I would like, at this time, to renew my congratulations and admiration, expressed at the time of the deal, to the Volcom management team for the timing of their sale to PPR and the price they got.
Couple this with PacSun’s recent launch of their own Kendall and Kylie Jenner branded fashion line (a shockingly rare smart move from the mall retailer) and Volcom could be sitting in a less-than-happy revenue place in the coming quarters. For the entire Harbaugh perspective click the link.
The Agenda Show will be dropping in on Las Vegas in August 2013 as part of a strategic alliance called Modern Assembly. Agenda will join AccessoriesTheShow, Capsule, Liberty, MRket, and Stitch at the Venetian and Sands Expo.
In a move that dispels the myths and competitive nature between the fashion tradeshows of yesteryear, the shows that comprise Modern Assembly will provide an ideal mix of resources in the right environments, with the utmost of convenience by co-locating and cross-marketing. Starting this February, Modern Assembly will present a strategic, unified and global approach to promoting Las Vegas as a major fashion destination, to elevate the experience for all participants.
Agenda’s Aaron Levant believes this union of smaller shows is the perfect way to march into the Las Vegas market.
“The Agenda Show thrives on deeply established exhibitor and retailer relationships in the streetwear, lifestyle, and action sports industries and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of this new union of shows,” says Aaron Levant, founder of Agenda. “Modern Assembly will solve the increasing feelings of discontent surrounding the Las Vegas market, by offering a familiar and trusted trade show environment which houses four remarkable shows under one roof.”
We’re looking forward to the Las Vegas August heat already. Pool parties anyone? For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
VF Corpcouldn’t be happier with their numbers from quarter four and from 2012. Their revenues were up 15 percent to $10.9 billion (yes, billion) their gross margin is up 75 basis points, and their earnings per share were up 17 percent. And at least some of this is thanks to Vans.
The Vans® brand achieved a 21 percent (22 percent in constant dollars) increase in global revenues in the fourth quarter, with 14 percent growth in the Americas region and continued outstanding momentum in Europe, where constant dollar revenues rose nearly 60 percent. The Vans® brand also posted double-digit revenue increases in both its wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels.
Looks like they’re perfectly positioned to add Billabong to their quiver, doesn’t it? For the rest of the details, follow the jump or click here for all the financials. [click to continue…]
Open your calendar and drop these new summer 2013 Agenda Show dates in there: Agenda NYC is July 10-11, 2013, and Agenda Long Beach is July 25-26, 2013. Now you know. For more info click the link.
Just when we thought it was almost too quiet at Billabong, comes news that former Billabong USA CFO Peter Bryant will “will steer an overhaul of the company’s reporting and operational structures,” with a title of group executive for commercial operations, according to a story in The Australian.
Chief executive Launa Inman has set out a strategy for the company to move from a regionally-based structure to a single global business. . . Mr Bryant, who has been with Billabong since 2004, was in December drafted to fill in for chief financial officer Craig White, who quit after the company delivered its third profit warning in 12 months.
Sounds like Bryant will be able to set things up nicely for Paul Naude (of VF Corp) if either should win the takeover war.
We’ve pretty much stopped covering Skullcandy headphone company since founder Rick Alden left in 2011, but now we get the news that Alden is back in the CEO position. Current CEO Jeremy Andrus has announced that he was joining a private investment firm, according to a story on Twice, and Alden is now back in as “interim CEO.”
In a statement, Alden said: “I am honored to play this role in the next chapter at Skullcandy. This company has been my life since founding it and I’m excited to come back in as we enter our second decade. I could not be more fired up to jump back in and get my hands dirty, especially around product development and geographic expansion.”
And to think he didn’t even mention it to us when we saw him (pictured far right with Dennis Nazari, Terry Kidwell, and Dave Wray) at the SIA Show in Denver. In other news Skullcandy’s stock was down 7 percent today.
Those who thought the US Open of Surfing would simply drift on into oblivion following Nike Inc.’s withdrawal from Huntington Beach, California are sorely mistaken. Vans announced today (February 7, 2013) that it has signed a three-year partnership with IMC to be the title sponsor of the world’s largest surfing event.
“Vans and IMG have been partners for the better part of two decades. Being able to continue this relationship via such an iconic platform, in our own backyard, is simply a perfect fit,” says Doug Palladini, Vans’ Vice President of Marketing. “We are really looking forward to bringing the entire surf and skate industry back to the US Open, leading by working with all of our peers, and inspiring a whole new generation of action sports fans. As we continue to grow our role in surfing, the US Open and the City of Huntington Beach afford us one of youth culture’s most powerful events to share our spirit of Off the Wall with millions of people. ”
Looks like the US Open of Surfing is in good hands. The event runs July 20 – 28, 2013 in Huntington Beach, California. For the official word from Vans, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Brazilian wonder surfer Gabriel Medina will now be representing Oakley.
“We’re very excited to add Gabriel Medina to our elite Global surf team. We’re big fans of his surfing and what Gabriel has accomplished in the sport. Between his aggressive approach to aerial innovation and his passion for competition, we believe that he is a perfect fit for the Oakley family,” said Patrick McIlvain, Oakley VP Global Sports Marketing. “Adding Gabriel’s name to a team that already includes the likes of Julian Wilson, Bruce Irons, Jordy Smith, Kolohe Andino, Seabass and more, we believe we’ve got one of the most dynamic teams in the industry. We can’t wait to see what will come from these guys in 2013 and beyond.”
And it figures. What else were they going to do with all that money they had left over after cutting Lance Armstrong. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
It was a tornado tour at 2013 SIA Snow Show in the Denver Convention Center, but we survived. While we’re thinking about what it all means, here a few of the people (like Jack Mitrani, Jake Burton, John Jackson, and Gabi Viteri above), products, and booths that we saw in Denver.
For years most people have known Ryan Clements (right) as the guy on the mic for Skate Park of Tampa events and live webcasts, or as a partner in the Skate Park of Tampa business, but there is more. For the past few years, Clements has been acting as a business manager for several high profile professional skateboarders like P-Rod and Torey Pudwill. 
