by The Editors on December 8, 2008
In what seems like a match made in hell, that bastion of New York street culture cred Vice has signed up to run all online editorial for the recently relaunched NBC/MTV joint Alliance of Action Sports, according to a press release sent out this morning.
Vice, the group behind VBS.tv, and critically acclaimed shows including Heavy Metal in Baghdad, Epicly Later’d, and School of Surf, has been brought on to produce and manage all editorial content and video. Allisports.com already has a deep catalog of action sports video content including the new VBS.tv program “Powder & Rails,” MTV2’s “The Contenders” featuring Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Sheckler, Jamie Bestwick, and Chaz Ortiz, along with an extensive library of Dew Tour footage.
Does Vice really know what they’re getting into? They’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, Alli President Wade Martin can look forward to this kind of coverage of action sports, which we’re pretty sure the Burton design crew will absolutely love.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 5, 2008
by The Editors on December 5, 2008
Not getting enough of action sports super-agent Steve Astephen darting here and there in front of the TV cameras with a cellphone to his ear? Well then, Entrepreneur.com has just want you’re looking for in the Entrepreneur Insider: Marketing That Takes Flight.
Steve Astephen’s legacy is everywhere. It’s in the oceans. It’s in the mountains. It’s on the street. But more than anywhere, it’s in the air, where his clients’ exploits inspire the next generation of action sports stars. Ten years ago, Astephen revolutionized the action sports industry when he recognized the marketability of its larger-than-life athletes and created an agency focused on turning them into brands. He has since partnered with Wasserman Media Group and become one of the biggest names in the game, but he still remembers when his biggest asset was the sort of infectious energy that comes only from someone eager to break the mold.
Not sure “revolutionized” is the right word, but he certainly brought a circus-tent load of commercialism. We just hope Steve’s “legacy” doesn’t run us over the next time we go outside; ’cause that thing is apparently everywhere.
[Link: Entrepreneur.com]
by The Editors on December 5, 2008
After Billabong CEO Derek O’Neill cut the companies outlook (blaming the U.S. retail economy) earlier this week the stock took a tanking, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Shares in Billabong have plummeted more than 21% since chief executive, Derek O’Neill, cut his profit outlook yesterday and said the worldwide retail gloom was the worst he had ever seen. . . .Stocks fell 18% to $8.20 yesterday, the largest decline since it listed eight years ago. Billabong’s share price was down more than 3% to $7.94 at 12.50pm today.
These kinds of stories really aren’t news any longer, but we’re going to keep posting them for historical purposes.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on December 4, 2008
After Adidas Group Chairman Herbert Hainer emailed his 31,000 employees to let them know that the footwear giant would be skipping their $6.5 million holiday party this year thanks to the “current climate” not offering an “occasion to party,” the heads at Etnies decided it was time to step in and help their downtrodden footwear brothren.
In a full page ad in Willamette Week, Etnies invited the employees of Adidas to a Christmas party at My Father’s Place Bar including “special appearances by Santa Claus and his lovely lady elves.”
It is in the holiday spirite that the skateboarders and employees of etnies Skate Shes extend a warm and sincere invitation to the skateboarders and employees of Adidas USA to joing us in a symbolic “laying down of arms” for one joyous night, that we may come togethe and reflect upon life’s gifts as we share good cheer, celebrate the season and kick the new year off on a solid foot.
Nice. But now the big question: will anyone show up? Free beer does tend to draw a crowd. Either way it made CNBC and that’s probably worth the cost of the ad. Click here for the video.
by The Editors on December 4, 2008
by The Editors on December 3, 2008
Billabong is letting investors know that for the second straight year their first-half earnings-per-share are going to fall according to a story on Bloomberg.com.
Slowing demand in the U.S. “has accelerated throughout November,” Gold Coast-based Billabong said in a statement today. The company cut its forecast for annual EPS growth between 6 percent and 10 percent in the year ending June, down from an October prediction for a rise of as much as 16 percent. . . . The reduced annual EPS forecast comes less than six weeks after Billabong raised earnings expectations citing a slump in the Australian dollar.
It appears the U.S. economy is causing more problems than a slumping Australian dollar can make up for.
[Link: Bloomberg.com]
by The Editors on December 3, 2008
The core mall retailer Zumiez came in a little ahead of the street on their November same-store sales numbers according to a story on Forbes.com.
Zumiez Inc. said on Wednesday same-store sales fell 15 percent in November, compared with an increase of more than 5 percent in the year-earlier period. . . . Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected sales to fall 15.3 percent.
Net sales, however, only fell 2 percent to $32.6 million and the stock was up on the day (not that the two things had much to do with each other).
[Link: Forbes]
by The Editors on December 3, 2008
It’s tomorrow night, it kicks off the Tampa Am. It’s the Annual Welcome to Tampa Art Show and Party. This year coming as a shock to no one the art part of the party is about beer. Here’s the word from Creative Loafing.
The exhibit, playfully dubbed 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, is the brainchild of Chad Cardoza, a local artist who’s been a player in some of the year’s most engaging art offerings. . . The collection of approximately 99 bottles — produced by roughly half as many artists — will go on display at the Skatepark’s recently revamped snack bar during the party. Cardoza expects each piece to sell for about $40, though some may be priced higher or lower, making the bottles an affordable entrée to collecting art.
The bottles shown were painted by Jimbo Phillips, Mike Aho, Durke Schmidt, Travis Millard, Ky Baker, Don Pendleton (two red and white abstract bottles), Mike Le Merde and Jennifer Alfonso. It almost makes us want to blow a Southwest free ticket and fly out for the art show and check out the Tampa Am on the side. The Castle is calling.
Thurs., Dec. 4, 8 p.m., Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, (813) 621-6793,
[Link: Creative Loafing]
by The Editors on December 3, 2008
It took a primer from Boil The Ocean to get us headed in the right direction on this one but it seems Bob Denike and the NorCal skate mob has has picked up another brand as Flip becomes part of NHS’s “brand roster.”
Bob Denike, President and CEO of NHS had this to say, “The addition of Flip strengthens our position to be the #1 skateboard supplier in the industry. The NHS strategy is simple; strong brands across all categories, innovative product development and working with the best pro skaters; past, present, and future. The Flip brand together with the global Flip team are a powerful and welcome addition to NHS. And frankly, it’s about f*#king time!”
It’s all just painted plywood anyway, right?
[Link: Transworld Business via Boil The Ocean]
In what seems like a match made in hell, that bastion of New York street culture cred Vice has signed up to run all online editorial for the recently relaunched NBC/MTV joint Alliance of Action Sports, according to a press release sent out this morning.
