We saw this coming a mile away in our Youth Culture Studies when we noticed that Quiksilver started losing rankings in preferences among the youth marketplace starting around 2006. While many teen retailers blame the 2008 recession for the beginning of economic hard times, the real trouble is when your target market thinks you’re completely […]
The world of professional surfing has come to a close for 2014 with some of the best waves and competition in surfing history. Young guns such as Julian Wilson and Gabriel Medina are stepping-up, replacing surf pros like Mick Fanning and 11 time Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Champ Kelly Slater, and making way for […]
The Billabong saga which seemed as though it would go down in surfing history as one of the great fails of our time has announced that they plan to rebuild more stores. According to CEO Neil Fiske, Billabong is ready “right now.” “Stores are key to a brand’s health over time,” Fiske said in an […]
There’s no doubt that Quiksilver, and its other brands Roxy and DC, are in deep water. Yesterday, May 3, 2014, when the surf-brand announced its Q2 results, shares plunged 41% to $3.41. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, “There is an expectation that business will continue to be challenged in the near […]
Swatch continues it’s expansion to supporting women in surfing with their recent announcement that it will be the title sponsors of this season’s Trestles Women’s Pro. “We’re delighted to further our involvement in surfing to the World Championship level and are really excited about extending the reach of our surfing events to North America,” Marco […]
Under the direction of Summer Rapp, formerly of Roxy, and Mandy Fry, formerly of Billabong and Volcom, a new women’s surf brand has been named, Amuse Society. The brand is the third brand announced by Stokehouse Unlimited, a conglomerate created by Paul Naude, formerly from Billabong. Stokehouse’s first brand was Vissla, a men’s surf brand […]
The struggles rippling through fashion retail are resulting in many changes for brands, especially those in action sports, denim, and sportswear. Zumiez’s January financial reports released February 5, 2014 record a net sales decrease of 24.3% to $38.1 million from $50.3 million last year within the same five week period. Comparable store sales are down […]
Stokehouse Unlimited, launched by former Billabong President Paul Naude, has announced yet another brand within the action sports lifestyle industry. Under the direction of Summer Rapp, formerly of Roxy, and Mandy Fry, formerly of Billabong and Volcom, they’ll be launching a women’s surf and lifestyle brand with a roll-out starting this summer, 2014. This is […]
Last weekend December 14, 2013, pro surfing came to a dramatic season ending at Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s north shore with Kelly Slater, 41, winning his 7th Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons in massive 15-foot waves. Slater defeated John John Florence (HAW), 21, in a hard-fought, 35-minute Final that ended with less […]
Kelly Slater vying to win again at the Billabong Pipe Masters. Photo by Cestari/ASP. The North Shore of Oahu is currently packed with the top surfers in the world vying for the coveted win of the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons. Billabong Pipe Masters represents the pinnacle of the 2013 Association of […]