by The Editors on July 11, 2010
Today is the day the skate footwear industry has been waiting for. On July 11, 2010 Shaun White’s Target tennies go on sale in stores around the country and online. Wisely the line includes both a dunk (the Scrambler, which in men’s sizes is called the Mossimo Stone) and an old school (the Brickyard) as well as several other skate knock offs.
And the best part? They’re all less than $35 a pair. Hard to believe you can sell quality China shoes for that much, huh? What must the other companies be doing with all that money? Oh yeah. They’re supporting skateboarding. . .
[Link: Target]
by The Editors on July 9, 2010
In a story we posted June 16, 2010 about Zumiez expanding into Canada we mentioned jokingly that if Zumiez was interested in moving north of the border “wouldn’t it just be easier for Zumiez to buy West 49.”
Now, it appears that our joke could become a reality as West 49 is reporting that Zumiez has offered the Canadian action mall retailer a buyout “in excess” of the $1.30 offered by Billabong.
The Company’s board, after consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, has concluded that the Zumiez proposal would reasonably be expected to lead to a superior proposal. However, the Company is concerned with Zumiez’s previously stated intent to enter the Canadian market, and therefore the board has instructed the Company’s management to seek to protect the Company’s competitive position. Subject to the terms of the existing agreement with Billabong International Limited, the Company’s special committee intends to seek to negotiate with Zumiez to determine if its offer can become a firm offer that is financially superior to the transaction with Billabong and that West 49 can otherwise treat as a superior proposal under the terms of the existing agreement with Billabong.
Guess that would give Billabong a few extra dollars to spend elsewhere. Even better: what if Billabong just waits for Zumiez to cover the West 49 acquisition costs and then buys the whole thing two years down the road when mall retailers are even cheaper. . . Follow the jump for the entire release.
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by The Editors on July 7, 2010
Zumiez’s June net sales increased 16.4 percent to $37.2 million and June 2010 comps increased 10.9 percent. And the crowd goes wild. But what does it really mean? Only that they did better than last month (and much better than June 2009 when comps dropped 19.3%). At least they’re clawing in the proper direction, right? [click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 2, 2010
The old Corona Del Mar Becker Surf Shop is on it’s way to becoming a Hobie retail store, but a mural that was recently completed on the side of the building has been met with some criticism, according to a story on Corona Del Mar Today.
Vandals covered a brand-new mural with four-letter words, five-letter words and pejoratives . . . The mural, which was completed less than two weeks ago, is part of a makeover of the old Becker Surf Shop. Painters spent days on the project, which turned out so well that families had begun using it as a backdrop to snap photos of their kids.The graffiti was on all areas of the wall and also on the front of the store. By 9 a.m., however, a worker was using rags and cleaning solvents to remove the paint.
Apparently, someone thought new colors and geometric designs were very “gay.”
[Link: Corona del Mar Today]
by The Editors on June 30, 2010
Here we thought Billabong was busy buying RVCA and then they announce that they’ve just purchased West 49, the Canadian action mall retailer (the Zumiez of Canada) for $94.3 million, according to a story on Reuters.
The company said the acquisition of the 138 primarily mall-based retail outlets operated by West 49 will help boost its earnings in 2011. . . .”West 49 is a complementary business and promises to be an ideal Canadian distribution platform for Billabong to showcase its brands and extend its reach,” Billabong Chief Executive Derek O’Neill said in a statement.
In a Globe & Mail story West 49 CEO Sam Baio explained the sale like this:
“It makes sense today for powerful brands like Billabong to own retail stores,” Mr. Baio, who will remain chief executive officer of West 49, said in an interview. “I think we could safely say that we would want to grow the exposure of Billabong stores. We would definitely expand the Billabong concept into markets we’re not in yet.”
Way to own the channel. . .To recap Billabong’s retail march they now own: Beach Works, Honolua Surf Company, most of Australia’s Surfstitch.com, all of Swell.com, Becker Surf, plus their Billabong branded stores.
[Link: Reuters via Sports One Source and Globe & Mail]
by The Editors on June 21, 2010
Alli Sports, the NBC/MTV owned parent company of the Dew Tour announced today that they have purchased the Carlsbad, California based online retailer Standard Boardshop. Founder Pete McAfee appears to be very happy to have someone else paying the bills.
“Myself and the rest of the Standard Boardshop team couldn’t be more excited to join the Alli family,” said McAfee, General Manager of Consumer Products for Alli. “Alli Shop will allow consumers the opportunity to shop online for the latest in apparel and products from many of the top brands while at the same time consuming in-depth editorial content.”
With media dollars drifting away it’s probably not a bad idea for Alli to get into the business of selling physical products that kids will actually buy. Although the idea of content and shopping reminds us a little of the old Swell.com model that never really worked out all that well. Then again, it’s nice of Chris Miller to look after his people so well.
Follow the jump for the rest of the press release.
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by The Editors on June 17, 2010
[This post was updated at 4:03 PM, June 18, 2010] We got an email on June 17, 2010 announcing that “due to some unforeseen circumstances” Joey Coleman, Joe Quattrocchi, Jamie Gonzalez, Nick Wisda, and Shane Wallace are “no longer with OK Skate.” All we can say is “Damn, that was fast.”
Shane Wallace has now confirmed that OK Skate is open for business, that he is no longer involved, and that he has “been advised to only release very limited information.”
Other sources report that part of the management team wanted to “do things right this time” and apparently their idea of “the right thing” differed from that of the people who control the OK Skate brand.
OK Skate’s new CEO Rick Schwartz says that some changes have been made:.
“We have made some changes and unfortunately some members of our team are no longer with OK Skate,” he said in an email. “Also, we have closed our retail store. However, the OK Skate web site www.okskate.com is operational and we intend to make it bigger and better than before. The company will be focused on being a web only business. . . . Like any new company that is still in “start up mode” we are still working on refining our business. We intend to keep serving our customers so we can provide them with a great selection of products.”
Growing pains, huh?
by The Editors on June 16, 2010
We’ve always called West 49 the “Zumiez of Canada” now, according to a post on Northwest Atlantic Retail site it appears that Zumiez is going to be the Zumiez of Canada.
Zumiez, in partnership with Northwest Atlantic looks to expand its Canadian presence starting in the Greater Vancouver market. The concept is ideally suited to 2,400-3,200 sq. ft. inline with 25’ minimum frontage.
It would make sense, however, we thought they’d just buy West 49. That would be much easier.
[Link: NWAretail via Shop-Eat-Surf]
by The Editors on June 10, 2010
While reports of the return of the teen fashion shopper have been mixed, Canada’s West 49 (the Zumiez of Canada) has announced that they lost $2.6 million on sales of $40.9 million in quarter one ending May 1, 2010, according to a story in The Star.
During the quarter, same-store sales fell 2.6 per cent, and were particularly squeezed in Alberta and British Columbia largely due to weather and the sluggish regional economy in parts of the West. . . . West 49 said that reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses offset a decline in profit margins, while the company gained efficiencies in some of its operations.
It would appear that Canada is a little behind in the “recovery” as they are in pretty much everything else.
[Link: The Star]
by The Editors on June 3, 2010
John “Zak” Kaercher, 29, the owner of Anchorage, Alaska’s Zak’s Boardroom and Phaze One indoor skatepark is currently on life support and “brain dead” after falling from his skateboard Tuesday night while reportedly towing on a truck, according to a story in the Anchorage Daily News.
. . . police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said. Kaercher was being towed behind a Toyota Tacoma when he lost control and hit his head on the pavement, then began convulsing, Parker said.
Zak’s father Dale Kaercher is reportedly disputing the police report saying that his son simply lost his balance while skateboarding home from work. Our thoughts are with Kaercher’s family, friends, and the entire Anchorage skate and snow community.
[Link: Anchorage Daily News]
