Author: Ryley Bane

LuLulemon’s CEO Steps Down; Stocks Plummet

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Today, Monday, Lululemon Athletica announced that their CEO Christine Day would be leaving after 5 years. A successor is yet to be named. “Being a part of lululemon for the past five and a half years has been an incredible journey. I am proud of building a world class team that has produced one of […]

Billabong Plunges Further As Talks End

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Apparently, just when you think things couldn’t get worse for the beleaguered surf brand, it did. On Tuesday, June 4, 2013, Billabong’s potential sales to either Altamont Capital or Sycamore Partners closed, and trading started up again. But the news that the sales negotiations for changes in overall control had ended meant even lower market […]

Retail Round-Up: Teen Retail Chain Rue 21 Sold for $1.1 Billion; Zumiez Down 44.4%; Urban Outfitters, Aeropostale, American Eagle All Slump; Abercrombie & Fitch Hammered

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Retail’s been getting hammered lately with the blame-game stemming from weird weather patterns and therefore less demand on in-stock apparel items, to buyouts happening as fast as young people switching favorite social networks. First, Rue 21, the teen retailer with an estimated 900 stores, has entered into an agreement to get purchase by Apax Partners, […]

Yahoo Buys Tumblr for $1.1 Billion—What This Means for Youth Culture Social Network Fans

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Yahoo’s back in the game with the recent confirmation that it is indeed buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion. According to CEO David Karp, “The product, service and brand will continue to be defined and developed separately with the same Tumblr irreverence, wit, and commitment to empower creators.” Interestingly, as Tumblr fans heard about the new […]

Designer from Billabong Jumps-Ship for Volcom

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After 12 years of designing for Billabong, Mandy Fry has left to join a new position at Volcom as Vice President of Women’s—a division they hope to strengthen in the coming years. This announcement, which came yesterday, May 16, 2013, from Volcom, is another blow to beleaguered Billabong which is going through its own series […]

Record First Quarter for VF Corp. with Outdoor and Action Sports Segments Up 10%

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VF Corp. released their Q1 financials today with two main areas on the rise: Outdoor & Action Sports segments up 10% and direct-to-consumer revenues up 12% including double-digit growth in the U.S. and International. Interestingly, The North Face was up 6% and Vans was up 25% with more than 30% growth in Europe. Here’s the […]

Retail Round-up: Madonna’s Material Girl Launches Macy’s Pop-up Exhibition; Gap Goes Global, Expands Digital

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The Material Girl line of young women’s apparel and accessories available at Macy’s is getting a big boost from the star this Thursday, April 25 with a pop-up exhibition (lasting all of 2 hours) at Macy’s Century City location in Los Angeles, CA. According to Madonna as told to WWD, “The pop-up exhibit at Macy’s […]

Volcom’s Moves to Increased Sustainability, Launching Environmental Profit and Loss, and Volcom Pipe Pro, Raises the Bar for Action Sports Lifestyle Brands

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Often a leader in the marketplace of action sports and lifestyle brands, the next step of the Volcom journey includes progressive plans to incorporate an Environmental Profit and Loss (EP&L) policy with their parent company Kering. On April 8, 2013, Volcom announced yet another new feature to their brand amid the transition to a new […]

Billabong In Talks with Sycamore Partners and Paul Naude for US$297.9 Million—And the Sad Story of Surf

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The sad saga of surf brand Billabong looks like it’s finally coming to some sort of conclusion with its buyer’s bidding wars ending. On April 8, 2013, The Australian reported that Billabong was in talks to be acquired by Sycamore Partners and Paul Naude, who was the former President, for US$297.9 million. Sycamore Partners were […]

Agenda’s On a Roll: New Hire Vanessa Chiu with Plans to Capture the Women’s Market

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AGENDA Trade Show has added yet another element to their expansion plans, with the announcement today, April 1, 2013, of hiring on Vanessa Chiu, the former Insight Marketing Manager, as Director of Women’s Sales and Marketing. Chiu joins AGENDA on the heels of the announcement that the show will be expanding its reach to include […]