by The Editors on July 5, 2011
The Oregonian writer Allen Brettman spoke to many of the P-Town outerwear brands like Grenade, Bonfire, Airblaster, Betty Rides, Holden, and Homeschool and found out that “July is perhaps among the busiest for the local snowboarding apparel and equipment industry.”
Future garments are under design, the upcoming season’s line is under production, and sales meetings abound, with independent representatives as well as a network of retailers. . . . “For sure, this is the busiest time of year for many of our departments,” Jesse Grandkoski of the Airblaster brand emailed from Taiwan.
Guess that’s where everyone has been lately. Click the link for the rest of the story . . .
[Link: Oregon Live]
by The Editors on July 5, 2011
On Friday, July 1, 2011 Volcom CEO Richard Woolcott announced that long-time Volcom CFO Doug Collier would be leaving the company. In an email sent to employees Woolcott said:
I want to let you know that after 18 great years with the company, Doug Collier has decided to retire from Volcom. Doug has been a friend and close ally since the early days, through years of crazy growth and through our life as a public company. I’m very stoked for him and fully support his decision to spend more time surfing and snowboarding with his wife and boys. . . While I will miss our daily interactions, he will always be part of the Volcom family. I wish him the very best, and have asked him to please save some powder for the rest of us!
Before anyone jumped in to say that PPR was moving its people into the VeeCo building, Wooly was quick to mention that Collier would be replaced by six-year Volcom finance team member Dave Unter. Wooly said:
Dave is a seasoned executive with strong experience, and we are excited he will be our financial steward as we enter this new phase for the company. Dave joined Volcom back in 2005 after a short time at Hot Topic and almost a decade at Deloitte and Touche LLP providing advisory, audit and assurance services for companies in the action sports and retail industries.
Congrats, to Doug and Dave. Seems like the perfect time for some to walk away and others to step up.
by The Editors on July 1, 2011
Our least favorite bargain action fashion retailer, Tilly’s, has reportedly filed to go public, according to a story in the Orange County Business Journal.
It’s a major move under new Chief Executive Daniel Griesemer, who joined the company in February from women’s clothing and accessories retailer and catalog company Coldwater Creek in Idaho. . . Griesemer replaced longtime head and company founder Hezy Shaked. . . The retailer saw sales of $332.6 million last year, which was up 17.6% from a year earlier, according to the filing. . . .In the last five years, Tilly’s entered 25 new markets and doubled its total number of stores.
Go get ’em tigers.
[Link: OC Business Journal]
by The Editors on June 29, 2011
Since dropping out of the print world we’ve missed a few of the goings on in the business of dead trees.
Apparently, in January of 2011, infamous graphic designer David Carson announced the launch of a new print magazine named, not surprisingly, Carson Magazine. Since then two issues have reportedly been printed. We’ve see neither of them, and from the looks of a message on David Carson’s personal website, it would appear that we never will. Things don’t seem to be going well at the magazine six months after launch. Here’s what Carson says:
david carson has no connection whatsoever with the website and magazine calling itself “carson mag”, nor the RECENTLY formed ( from the same people) delaware based corporation calling itself “carson media” legal action is pending and no other comments can be made at this point. june 27, 2011.
Sounds like another case of investors deciding they know more about business than the artists do. Which brings us to reminder number #57: Don’t put your name on something unless you plan on owning at least 51 percent of it forever.
[Link: David Carson and Carson Mag]
by The Editors on June 23, 2011
Journeys owner Genesco, announced today that it has purchased Schuh Group Ltd., a similar chain of “casual and athletic footwear” stores based in the UK for 100 million pounds.
Headquartered in Scotland, Schuh operates 59 stores in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, 16 concessions in Republic apparel stores and one of the U.K.’s largest online shoe websites, www.schuh.co.uk. The company’s core product selection consists of a broad range of branded casual and athletic footwear complemented by a meaningful private label offering targeted at its 15- to 24- year old core customer. For the fiscal year ended March 27, 2011, Schuh generated net sales of approximately 164 million pounds with an operating margin above 9% adjusted for goodwill amortization.
Those in the action footwear business know how big a deal this is for the changing EU action sports market. As one skate shoe worker said, “Hopefully they don’t Schrewh it up!” For more details, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 22, 2011
Paul Gomez, former senior vice president of global events and brand entertainment at Nike’s surf brand Hurley reportedly started Monday (June 20, 2011) as CEO of Podium Distribution, according to a story on Shop-Eat-Surf.
Paul said he left Hurley on great terms but was ready to try something new and was excited to join Podium.
Hmmm, this certainly makes things more interesting, doesn’t it?
[Link: Shop Eat Surf]
by The Editors on June 21, 2011
When Deckers Outdoor Corporation purchased Sanuk for $120 million last month we mentioned that the company now had an “odd footwear collection.”
Well, according to a memo reportedly sent out today (June 21, 2011) by Deckers CEO Angel Martinez, it appears that they thought their mix was getting a little strange as well and have decided to “cease distribution of the Simple brand, effective December 31, 2011.”
The memo continues:
While it is difficult to say goodbye to Simple, it no longer fits in our portfolio. We have before us a number of major opportunities that require our focus and investment, and we are consolidating our energies and resources in support of these opportunities. . . .We are at a point in our company’s growth where it’s critical that we invest in brands and initiatives with the highest global growth potential in both the short- and long-term. With UGG Australia’s global expansion opportunities, Teva’s move into closed toe footwear, the recent Sanuk acquisition, and exciting prospects on our emerging brands, it’s become clear that focusing diligently on our very best opportunities will create the results we’re looking for to continue to fuel Deckers’ growth.
While we were really into several of Eric Meyer’s shoe designs at the beginning, we kind of lost track of the brand along the way. Guess we’re not the only ones.
by The Editors on June 21, 2011
Brixton, the Oceanside, California purveyors of fine apparel (and hats) is reportedly proud to announce their hiring of former Transworld Skateboarding Magazine Art Director Jason Lee as the brand’s new full time art director.
Beyond art direction, his talents as a photographer, his attention to product detail and all things visual will be applied in his new position. . . . Jason Lee graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. Brixton couldn’t be more proud add to him to the family.
And no, Lee has not starred in any Kevin Smith films nor appeared (as yet) in any weekly network sitcoms. Congrats, Jason. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 21, 2011
Last Friday when word was getting out that a few of the people at COMUNE were leaving the company we only had one question: is Corey Smith leaving with them? His name was not on the list. Turns out he is not leaving the COMUNE and the company is not folding. It’s simply moving from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles Art District.
Co-founding partner, Sven Altmetz, has taken over the helm from co-founder Frank Delgadillo. The original COMUNE designer, Jacob McCabe, will maintain his position as the head designer and continues working with his design staff. Corey Smith will continue to head up the Drop City program, Contributing Artists program and the Snow Team.
Alrighty then, back to work. For the rest of Comune’s official statement, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 21, 2011
Everyone has known for weeks that surfing’s $23 million man Dane Reynolds was on the Vans surf program, but today Vans finally admits it to the rest of the world.
We are extremely excited to announce the addition of Dane Reynolds to the Vans Surf Team. Dane is one of the most exciting and unique surfers to date and brings a quiet sort of revolution with him. His approach is completely different to what’s been done and his reach touches every facet of surfing. For decades Vans has been home for people choosing their own path and it’s a pleasure to be able to uphold that principle to this day and have Dane become a part of it.
Must be nice for him to not to have to wear DC Shoes any longer, right? Now let’s just hope he keeps surfing. . . Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
The Oregonian writer Allen Brettman spoke to many of the P-Town outerwear brands like Grenade, Bonfire, Airblaster, Betty Rides, Holden, and Homeschool and found out that “July is perhaps among the busiest for the local snowboarding apparel and equipment industry.”
