by The Editors on July 30, 2012
We mentioned this several times, but the great thing about starting a business in 2012 America is that there will never be a worse time to kick one off. Brian Wenning announced over the weekend that he is launching a new skateboard brand called Lockdown. Jenkem Magazine has an interview with Wenning that includes all the details.
Why did Wenning start it?
Because when is this bullshit recession gonna end? And in a recession if you put in 14 hours of work or whatever I don’t think you are gonna waste your money buying a fucking Element board. There’s also good things about a recession, like there are so many good skaters right now that aren’t hooked up.
Click the link for the rest of the interview.
[Link: Jenkem Mag]
by The Editors on July 27, 2012
The SnowSports Industries America released their participation numbers from the 2011-2012 winter season and as you might imagine (given last season’s dismal snowfall) and aside from snowshoeing and Telemarking everything was down.
Overall, snow sports participation fell from 21M to 19.8M. An additional 8.8M people said they considered themselves skiers or snowboarders, but have not participated in the last two seasons, most often due to time constraints. Alpine ski participation fell 11% to 10.2M, snowboarding participation declined 8% to 7.6M and cross country skiing participation fell 5% to 4.3M participants.
We’re guessing splitboarding would have been up as well if it had been tracked. When financial times are tough, we would expect more people to be taking to the backcountry and skipping the $100 a day lift tickets. Follow the jump for the official word from SIA. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 26, 2012
After walking the packed aisles of the Agenda NYC show last week in Soho it is no surprise that organizers are now calling it the “most successful New York show since its inception in 2003.”
“The biggest highlight of this show is the new location,” said Aaron Levant, Agenda President. “This is one of the biggest fashion hubs in the world and being so central has really helped boost the attendance and importance. We’re just scratching the surface.”
All that and the Agenda Show in Long Beach, California beginning August 1, 2012. Click here to view photos from the show, or follow the jump for the official word from Agenda. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 26, 2012
The Barker Hangar, on the edge of the Santa Monica Airport’s tarmac, is a small, large space that seemed just right for GLM Shows (Surf Expo’s parent company) first step into West Coast fashion trade shows.
The Launch LA show, held July 25 -26, 2012, featured predominantly small brands that were not skate, not street, not only for men, and not overtly surf, though many leaned that way. The aisles weren’t packed, however, most booths saw a seemingly constant flow of interested people rolling through, catching up, and learning the stories of new new brands.
Launch organizers stated goal to expose small and emerging brands seemed to find traction. Some brands like Eric Wallis‘ &Work have never been to a trade show before. “This is our first show ever,” Wallis said. “We’re in shops in the Northwest, but we wanted to spread the brand message in Southern California. And this seemed right.”
Others have been doing shows for years, but thanks to recent projects their brand has been exposed to a whole new retail audience. “The work we’ve done with the One California Day hat (Mark Jeremias and Jason Baffa’s film) has opened us up into some shops that we’ve never been in before,” said Toes on the Nose’s John Allred. “And Launch is a neat opportunity to mingle in with some other brands.”
Allred was right. Launch LA was small, cool, intimate, and relaxed and we were pleasantly surprised. Click here for the full photo gallery.
by The Editors on July 23, 2012
TPG, the monster sized private equity firm (not to be confused with TCP the company that bought nearly half of Nixon), has made another offer for Billabong according to a story in the Australian Financial Review. Only this time it’s much lower than it was in February according to the Business Spectator.
In February, TPG offered $3.30 a share for Billabong, valuing the company at $850 million. This week’s offer of $1.45 a share comes at a 32 per cent premium to Billabong’s last traded price of $1.10, but illustrates the company’s struggles since the February offer, which has seen it issue another profit downgrade and launch a heavily discounted capital raising.
We’re guessing Mr. Merchant (and the board) will be a little more receptive to the offer this time around (seeing how things have been going recently).
[Link: Business Spectator and Australian Financial Review]
by The Editors on July 19, 2012
VF Corp, the parent company of Vans, Reef, The North Face, etc. . . announced its financial results for the second quarter today (July 19, 2012) and things are looking rosy at the soft goods giant. Total revenues were up 16 percent (thanks Timberland), gross margins expanded 46 percent, and cash flow from operations is “expected to reach a record $1.2 billon,” whatever that means. But how did Vans do? Well, they rocked it for another quarter.
The Vans® brand achieved a 25 percent (29 percent in constant dollars) increase in global revenues in the quarter, with double-digit revenue growth in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Vans direct-to-consumer business also demonstrated solid results, with revenues rising by 18 percent.
Congrats, Vans. For the full release including not one word about Reef, follow the jump. If the raw numbers are more your deal, click here. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 16, 2012
Agenda NYC officially opened their doors to buyers and the press at 9 AM yesterday morning (July 16, 2012). Located inside the hardwood-floored, loft-windowed 82 Mercer space, Agenda is in the heart of Soho and only a short walk away from Supreme, the Burton Store, Saturday’s NYC and the many style boutiques that have made the neighborhood famous.
We’re still trying to process it all, but for a quick look at the space, the show, and the people who are attending click here for a complete photo gallery.
by The Editors on July 15, 2012
After a full day of doing business at Agenda NYC, it seems that Monday night (July 16, 2012) is shaping up to be a big old briefcase full of party business. Follow the jump for all the party flyer details. You’ll see exactly what we mean. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 15, 2012
Hackers have allegedly posted close to 35,000 “unencrypted text passwords” from the Billabong.com store, according to a story in The Australian.
Online publication SC Magazine has reported that hacktivists released the credentials under #WikiBoatWednesday, an event popular in hacktivist Twitter circles. . . Billabong has told the magazine that its customer database did not contain financial data, only personal information, but is yet to confirm or deny whether its user information has been hacked.
Billabong said the following: “We view this attack as an extremely serious matter and have taken urgent action to contain the incident and prevent further attacks occurring.” That’s just one reason why you shouldn’t use your email password when you’re buying bikinis.
[Link: SC Magazine via The Australian]
by The Editors on July 13, 2012
We mentioned this several times, but the great thing about starting a business in 2012 America is that there will never be a worse time to kick one off. Brian Wenning announced over the weekend that he is launching a new skateboard brand called Lockdown. Jenkem Magazine has an interview with Wenning that includes all the details.
