{"id":37098,"date":"2012-10-23T09:30:02","date_gmt":"2012-10-23T16:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=37098"},"modified":"2012-10-23T09:45:53","modified_gmt":"2012-10-23T16:45:53","slug":"burton-rearranges-the-chess-pieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=37098","title":{"rendered":"Burton Rearranges The Chess Pieces"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Burton<\/a>Here’s the short version: Analog<\/a><\/strong> is going snow and moving back to Burlington. The snow team will stay, but the skate and surf teams will be “transitioned out of the brand”. Gravis<\/a><\/strong> is moving to Tokyo and going Asia only as a lifestyle brand. The team will be “restructured to accommodate” that market. Helmet’s and optics will be combined under the Anon <\/a><\/strong> brand (with some Red<\/a><\/strong> still being produced). Burton will “exit out of” The Program<\/strong> brands (Special Blend<\/a><\/strong>, Forum<\/a><\/strong>, and Four Square<\/a><\/strong>) by 2014 (good-bye). Burton has operated the brands for eight years yet, “the businesses have failed to be viable.” In the surf world Channel Islands<\/a><\/strong> and it’s team remain unaffected.<\/p>\n

Here’s what founder Jake Burton Carpenter<\/strong> has to say about it:<\/p>\n

\u201cBurton has experienced several years of income growth since the recession and paid out bonuses to employees over the last two years,\u201d said Jake<\/strong>. \u201cThat said, the economy has a voice of its own that we all have to listen to, and the message is clear: do what you do best and focus purely on it. In our case, that means to narrow our focus to the sport and lifestyle that got us here \u2013 snowboarding. We will continue to support Channel Islands in its endeavor to make the best surfboards in the world and Gravis in its new home in Japan, but when you walk through the front door here in Burlington, Vermont, it will be all snowboarding and snowboarding lifestyle all the time \u2013 driven by the Burton, Analog and anon brands.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sound like a good plan all around and honestly, we can’t believe it took them so long with Gravis and the Program. Burton went far beyond a reasonable investment in many of their brands and should be commended for trying to make them work in spite of market response. <\/p>\n

Follow the jump for the official word an complete breakdown of the changes.Burton Realigns its Family of Brands for Long-Term Success<\/p>\n

BURLINGTON, VT (October 23, 2012) Burton Snowboards today announced that its senior management team has elected to alter the structure of Burton owned brands to better position the company, its retail partners and stakeholders for the future. The current family of brands includes Analog, Gravis, RED, anon, Foursquare, Forum, Special Blend and Channel Islands. During a company-wide meeting today at its headquarters in Vermont, Burton Founder and CEO Jake Burton explained the new structure and how it will allow Burton to focus on what it does best: make and support products that set the bar for snowboarding development and further progress the sport and lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Specifically, Burton announced the following changes to its structure and subsidiaries. Over the next year, Analog will return to its roots of being a pure snowboarding brand based at its original home in Burlington, Vermont. Analog has a deep heritage in snowboarding from the day when Greg Dacyshyn (Burton Chief Creative Officer) and the late Jeffy Anderson (Team Rider) gave birth to the brand in Burlington, and as such, will revert back to being a winter-only brand. Burton\u2019s Gravis brand will ultimately move its headquarters to Tokyo, Japan and moving forward will be solely distributed in Asian markets selling lifestyle shoes and bags. Gravis was established in 1998 as the company\u2019s first independent lifestyle brand, and since then, Asia has been by far its most successful region. As a result, Gravis will now focus purely on this market and opportunity. Further, in a move that Burton has been planning for several years, the company will also start developing protective headwear under the anon brand name. Burton will continue to offer its RED helmets on a limited basis, but the bulk of helmet and optics product lines will be combined under the anon brand, which has become synonymous with quality riding accessories.<\/p>\n

Also part of today\u2019s restructure, Burton announced it will transition out of its Program brands (Foursquare, Forum and Special Blend), which were purchased in 2004 with the intent to keep snowboard companies in the hands of snowboarders. Burton has supported these brands for eight years and will continue to support them over the next year through warranty service, dealer support, marketing and inventory. The company will exit out of The Program brands in winter 2014, in order to better focus on and invest in Burton.<\/p>\n

Finally, Channel Islands, which was acquired by Burton in 2006, will be unaffected by this brand realignment and will continue to design, develop and manufacture best-in-class surf hardgoods products in Carpinteria, California.<\/p>\n

In addressing all of these changes, Jake Burton had this to say: \u201cBurton has experienced several years of income growth since the recession and paid out bonuses to employees over the last two years,\u201d said Jake. \u201cThat said, the economy has a voice of its own that we all have to listen to, and the message is clear: do what you do best and focus purely on it. In our case, that means to narrow our focus to the sport and lifestyle that got us here \u2013 snowboarding. We will continue to support Channel Islands in its endeavor to make the best surfboards in the world and Gravis in its new home in Japan, but when you walk through the front door here in Burlington, Vermont, it will be all snowboarding and snowboarding lifestyle all the time \u2013 driven by the Burton, Analog and anon brands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jake went on to share that one of the key factors that led senior management to these decisions includes the success of Burton\u2019s entry into the apparel and bag\/pack business on a year-round basis, which has grown significantly in all seasons. The message Burton has taken from the marketplace is that for long-term success, this is the direction that the company should be pursuing, along with its core hardgoods and outerwear business.<\/p>\n

Increasing the company\u2019s focus on Burton has also been demonstrated by recent significant investments in Burton\u2019s headquarters and infrastructure. These include the acquisition of the building next door to its Burlington, Vermont headquarters where the company not only built Craig\u2019s, a new 10,000-square-foot R&D and prototype facility, but also Area 13, a 6,000-square-foot Burton\/anon\/Analog wholesale showroom. Craig\u2019s (named after the late Craig Kelly) is known as the most advanced and sophisticated snowboard prototype facility in the world where ideas are conceived, built and on-snow in less than 24 hours. Area 13 is Burton\u2019s marquee showroom where retailers from all over the world can come to Vermont to see future product lines. Like today\u2019s announcement, both of these examples demonstrate the company\u2019s commitment to the long-term growth, progression and success of the Burton snowboard brands.<\/p>\n

In closing, Jake went on to state the following: \u201cI take full responsibility for the decisions that led to the creation (or acquisitions) of these ancillary brands, and I similarly am the individual ultimately responsible for the decision to realign and focus more purely on what made this company from the start. Clearly, the most difficult aspect of this decision and transition is the people affected. The employees and team riders associated with these brands have poured their guts into making it happen. Their level of commitment has been extraordinary, and we will do everything we can to help support them through this transition. There is never a good time for moves like this, and we could have delayed the announcement, but it isn\u2019t our style to perpetuate a myth. Clearly this transition will pose challenges along the way, but in the long run, everyone will see the results of our commitment to our core business.\u201d<\/p>\n

2012 Burton Restructure: Key Facts by Brand<\/strong>
\nANALOG<\/strong>
\nHeritage
\nFollowing Burton\u2019s outerwear legacy, Analog was created in 1999 as a more progressive, style-conscious outerwear collection led by a handful of top pros at the time, including Trevor Andrew, Jeffy Anderson and Gigi Ruf. Since then, Analog has continued to drive many of snowboarding\u2019s outerwear style trends, and in 2003 Analog added a streetwear component to its line, followed by surf apparel, a surf team and an Analog skate platform.<\/p>\n

Key Facts
\nBurton has made the decision to ultimately transition out of Analog surf and skate apparel by next fall.
\nAnalog surf and skate apparel will be shipped through Spring\/Summer \u201813, and will be marketed and supported.
\nAfter the spring season, Burton will continue to design, develop and distribute Analog as a winter-only brand, operating out of Burton\u2019s headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, with points of distribution around the world.
\nThe new Analog will only design and distribute Analog outerwear and tech apparel, called \u201cATF\u201d, along with basics.<\/p>\n

Team Update
\nThe Analog snow team, made up of Danny Davis, Mikkel Bang and Zak Hale will continue on as Analog riders. Regarding the Analog surf and skate teams, we will be working with each team rider individually on an exit plan to transition them out of the brand.<\/p>\n

GRAVIS<\/strong>
\nHeritage
\nGravis was started by Burton in 1998, as the company\u2019s first independent lifestyle brand. From the start, Gravis was focused on creating casual footwear, bags and softgoods built on an action sports lifestyle platform. Today the brand is still rooted in footwear, with the addition of a skate shoe collection and team, launched in August, 2008.<\/p>\n

Key Facts
\nGravis will ultimately become an Asian-only brand, which will result in the wind down of the brand in North America, Southern Hemisphere and Europe.
\nWith this decision, Gravis\u2019 headquarters will be re-located to Tokyo and run out of Japan, in order to best serve the Asian market where Gravis is the most established and where it has its most viable business.
\nGravis product will be shipped through Spring\/Summer \u201913 in all regions. Gravis will become an Asian-only brand in the fall of 2013.<\/p>\n

Team Update
\nWith this move to be a primarily lifestyle brand, the Gravis team will be restructured to accommodate the lifestyle market in Asia.
\nRED & ANON<\/strong>
\nHeritage
\nRED was started by Burton in 1996 as its first protection brand. Since then, RED has designed, developed and manufactured helmets and protective wear for pros and consumers alike. Anon was established as Burton\u2019s eyewear brand in 2001 and focuses on goggles.<\/p>\n

Key Facts
\nBurton will be developing and manufacturing protective headwear (helmets) under the anon name. Anon has become synonymous with quality riding accessories, and it is a natural extension to add helmets to its mix.
\nRED helmets will continue to be sold on a limited basis. Anon helmets will be launched for Winter 2014 for all channels.<\/p>\n

Team Update
\nWe will be working with each RED and anon team rider on an individual basis regarding this announcement.<\/p>\n

THE PROGRAM (Foursquare, Forum, Special Blend)
\nHeritage
\nBurton purchased The Program brands in 2004 from Four Star Distribution. At that time, Burton felt an obligation (and an opportunity) to slow the trend of ski companies buying up snowboard brands. Consequently, when these companies went up for sale, Burton purchased them and they became \u2018The Program\u2019 brands for Burton.<\/p>\n

Key Facts
\nThe intent from the beginning was to keep snowboard companies in the hands of snowboarders and keep these brands thriving. As the world\u2019s leading snowboard company, Burton felt there would never be a better home for these three brands.<\/p>\n

But even under Burton\u2019s wing, after 8 years, the businesses have failed to be viable. Consequently, Burton has realized it\u2019s time to exit out of them, in order to better focus and invest in the Burton brand.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Burton will be transitioning out of Foursquare, Forum and Special Blend globally after this season.
\nCurrent winter 2013 product will be supported over the next year, via warranty, dealer, marketing and inventory support.<\/p>\n

Team Update
\nWe will be working with each team rider on an individual exit plan to transition them out of these brands.<\/p>\n

CHANNEL ISLANDS
\nHeritage
\nBurton acquired Channel Islands Surfboards in June, 2006 after the founders of each company, Al Merrick and Jake Burton, forged an agreement over the fact they shared a similar mindset and passion for their respective sports. With their shared vision for putting the sports in the hands of the team athletes and shared philosophies on hardgoods product development, it was a very natural partnership.<\/p>\n

Key Facts
\nChannel Islands is not affected by the announcements today. Burton will continue to support the CI operation in Carpinteria, California, as usual.
\nBurton is very happy with and committed to our relationship with Channel Islands. <\/p>\n

Team Update
\nThere will be no team riders affected, as there are no changes to the Channel Islands operating or marketing structure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s the short version: Analog is going snow and moving back to Burlington. The snow team will stay, but the skate and surf teams will be “transitioned out of the brand”. Gravis is moving to Tokyo and going Asia only as a lifestyle brand. The team will be “restructured to accommodate” that market. Helmet’s and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,3,4,6,12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37098"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37098"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37106,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37098\/revisions\/37106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}