Look who moved to LA? Westlife Distribution, the parent company 686, has named Brent Sandor as their new Director of Marketing. Sandor was most recently brand director at Spy.
“At Westlife, the family is tight. We have a history of keeping heads for a while and I’m stoked that we’ve found someone talented in both the creative and business realms. Sandor has proven himself from the ground up and psyched to have him on. He’s the type of dude that can hang all night long with the young guns and also be the first one up for a 6am biz meeting,” said Mike West, President/CEO.
Seems that’s a good trait these days. For the official world from Westlife, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Legendary skateboarding filmmaker Ty Evans has joined up with Brain Farm Digital (makers of The Art of Flight, That’s It That’s All, etc. . . ) for their soon-to-launch #BrainFarmSkate brand and a 2014 skateboard film release.
“We love the sport of skate and its such an important part of board sports culture that Brain Farm is so passionate about”, says Morgan. “Ty and I have been friends for quite awhile now and I could not have dreamed up a better situation than this. Ty is such a creative artist and he is hands down the best filmmaker in skate”, says Brain Farm CEO Curt Morgan.
Evans seems stoked to be for the crew with the coolest camera rigs ever?
“The timing could not be better in the industry and Brain Farm’s resources will allow me to take my filmmaking to the next level,” says Ty Evans. “I am really stoked for the future with Brain Farm!”
Seems like a great fit. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Mizu, the stainless steel water bottle company founded by Jussi Oksanen and friends, has signed exclusive licensing agreements with Electric, Nixon, Poler, and Volcom.
“It’s exciting to see these marquee names coming together to make a difference on this level,” explains Mizu CEO Tim Pogue. “For the first time, retailers can easily get involved in this fast-growing new accessory category with product from some of the industry’s best known brands, all from a single source: Mizu.”
If you’re going to carry a bottle around, it might as well promote a brand you like, right? Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
After a short run at local Canada politics and some divorce troubles the world’s first snowboard Olympic gold medalist Ross Rebagliati has now announced plans to open a “franchise of medical marijuana shops” called Ross’s Gold, according to a story in the Calgary Herald.
. . . Rebagliati said the federal government’s decision to get out of the medical marijuana business is opening a tremendous business opportunity for Ross’s Gold, which also goes under the company name Rebagliati Gold Ltd. . . “As the federal government gets out of the medical marijuana business, taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing its sale. Under the current program, the marijuana costs about $5 per gram. Under the proposed changes, that price will rise to about $8.80 a gram,” the company said in its statement. . . And the sky is the limit should the Canadian government ever decriminalize pot, he said.
Yeah, Ross. Sales could go sky high and we’re guessing a shop in Whistler would do quite well with all those tourists who suffer from debilitating illnesses.
We should have known when we boarded our flight to NYC just behind two penguins (in pet carriers, seriously) that it was going to be a cold, cold week in New York City. As the Agenda Show NYC opened their doors at 9 AM on January 23, 2013 the temperature on the street outside 82 Mercer St. was hovering in the mid teens and the entire city seemed to be bundled up like Arctic explorers on business trips. Inside the brick walled Agenda space, however, more than 120 street, skate, and even snow brands heated things right up. The free coffee didn’t hurt either.
Each year the Agenda NYC show becomes a more important gathering for street brands and East Coast action and style retailers, and no one was going to let the Manhattan deep freeze keep them off their Agenda game. Click the link for a full photo gallery and you’ll see what we mean.
Big, big, big. Earlier this month in Orlando, Florida Surf Expo had it’s biggest show in its 37 year history. And here’s a little video to prove it, if you weren’t there to see it in person.
Sales of snowboards and snowboard equipment have slipped 21% over the last four years, while sales of skis have climbed 3% in the same period, according to SnowSports Industries America, a trade group that tracks the $3.5-billion snow sports and apparel industry. . . Baby boomers aren’t the only ones bailing. Last season alpine skiing replaced snowboarding as the most popular snow sport among kids ages 6 to 17, according to the trade group.
We’re reminded of something crusty surfers are always overheard saying, “Fewer surfers means more waves for me.”
Even if VF Corp. and Altamont’s letter of intent is not a “binding offer” they still seem pretty serious about their bid for Billabong. Altamont Capital Partners has already named Skullcandy board member and former Nike and Oakley exec D. Scott Olivet as the guy who would run the non-Billabong brands including Element,RVCA, and Tigerlilly should the deal go through, according to a story in The Australian.
Mr Olivet is a clothing industry veteran and former vice president at Nike. He is currently a director of headphones company Skullcandy, and was chief executive of Oakley between 2005 and 2009 before moving into the chairman’s role through November 2011.
The former Oakley CEO ready to swoop down not he non-Billabong brands? That’s got to have some people at Billabong’s other brands starting to look a little more seriously over their shoulder for a soft place to land.
“Over the last 20 years we have built a unique and valuable collection of resorts, action sports camps and a niche television network. The creation of Powdr Enterprises will help us leverage the network we’ve built and strengthen all of our brands into the future,” said John Cumming, chief executive officer of Powdr. “As a well-respected, visionary leader and entrepreneur, Wade is the perfect person to lead Powdr Enterprises. He has an unparalleled track record of successfully creating and leveraging events, media and sponsorships to turn companies into powerhouse brands.”
Don’t want to have to spell this out, but this is huge, huge news. As the balance of power in action sports has moved away from the media to event and content owners, this new division could seriously disrupt a few old, tired business models. Will be interesting to see where Martin takes this. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
In a move many thought should have happened a while ago, Vans and Reef parent company VF Corp (along with San Francisco, California based private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners) has offered $555.5 million for Billlabong, according to a story in the Washington Post. That is the same amount offered by former Billabong USA President Paul Naude and his investor partners. According to a statement from VF they aren’t interested in the entire company.
VF’s primary interest in the transaction is in the Billabong® brand. This interest is consistent with VF’s stated intent to pursue acquisitions, particularly in the Action Sports category, to continue to build shareholder value. Altamont’s interest lies in acquiring Billabong’s other brands and related assets, and is predicated on the firm’s mandate to invest in situations where it can provide strategic and operational support to build business success stories.
It would be sad to see that Billabong brand portfolio broken up, but at this point it really about what’s best for the shareholders. We’d put odds on VF corp getting the deal getting done, if Billabong is sold. Guess we’ll know in six weeks. For the official word from VF, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
