Category: Sponsorship

Beleaguered Billabong “Simplifies” and Sells Canadian Chain West 49 to YM Inc. for USD $8.6-$10.5 Million

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Billabong continues to struggle along, this time by selling 92 West 49 retail stores across Canada to YM Inc., owners of Sirens, Stitches, Urban Planet, and Bluenotes for approximately C$9 million-C$11 million or between USD $8.6-$10.5 million. In a statement Neil Fiske, CEO of Billabong, said, “The sale of West 49 is part of our […]

Sneakerboy, the Luxury Sneaker-Freaker Buyer, and Fresh Concepts in Retail

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While Nike tends to still hold fast to the notion that sneakers are not fashion, but are first and foremost about high-tech function, niche brands with a nod towards fashion have plowed their way into the cool aesthetics of a new culture of sneaker-heads. Not that Nike’s not on the leading-edge of sneaker style, because […]

Sustainability Round-up: H&M Open Invitation for H&M Conscious Foundation; Levi’s X Dyneema for Longer-Lasting Jeans; Patagonia’s Responsible Economy Program

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Sustainable solutions are key business strategies for many of the top global leading brands targeting youth culture these days. As we’ve noted in our various Sustainability and the State of the Future Youth Culture Studies, sustainability issues are vitally important to a new generation of young people who have grown-up with recycling as a part […]

Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare Brings Together Punk, Hard Rock, EDM, Latin, and Goth into a Season Spectacle of Horror and Hauntedness

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Following-up on his masterful horror films including The Lords of Salem, rocker Rob Zombie has launched The Great American Nightmare featuring music legends across genres of punk, rock, EDM, Latin, and Goth, and 3 haunted houses at the Pomona Fairplex, CA, now dubbed “FEARplex” leading up each weekend starting October 24 through November 2nd for […]

Surf Round-up: Pro Surfing Gets New Media Distribution Deal with Facebook, YouTube, ESPN; Swatch Longboard Championships Boost Surfing in China for Women; HIC Pro Launches Big-Wave Season in Hawaii

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While may seem like the season for surfing is in the summertime, when it comes to professional surf competitions and the wrap-up of championship titles, the cusp of North American winter is the ideal timeframe due to big surf, particularly in the Mecca of surfing, Hawaii. Over the next few weeks, Label Networks will once […]

Women in Sports and the ESPNW Women + Sports Summit—Defining the Market Opportunity

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From October 9-11, 2013, some 275 top influencers and athletes in women’s sports gathered for the 4th annual ESPNW Women + Sports Summit in Dana Point, CA.  The topic of conversation centered around women in sports and also the missed opportunities that women could bring to sports marketing and industry decision-making. In an excellent review […]

Top 17 Women Surfers Chosen for 2014 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, Plus Swatch Pro World LongBoard Championships Head to China, Stoking Shanghai Surf Fans

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The surfing season has wrapped-up for the top women pros for 2013 with Carissa Moore, 21, being crowned the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Champion. Now with the women’s division no longer a part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing again for the 3rd year in a row, the big North Shore […]

ESPN Ends International X Games–Keeps Just USA Events

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It’s the end of the international versions of the ESPN X Games. Today, ESPN released a statement about why they are no longer hosting X Games outside of the United States: ESPN today announced it will not continue with X Games events in Barcelona, Munich, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil and Tignes, France.  We are proud […]

Dew Tour Event Added to USSA As Sanctioning Event for Olympic Qualifiers in Snowboarding Halfpipe and Slopestyle and Slopestyle Skiing

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When the winter Olympics rolls around, there’s often been ongoing friction between the sanctioning events for qualification to the Olympics, a USSA Event, and highly regarded events and tours such as the Dew Tour. Athletes unfortunately often have to choose which events to participate in as well as sponsors. However on September 20, 2013, the […]

Label Networks Presents 13th Annual Fall Youth Culture Study: Reveals Shifts in Effective Advertising and Sponsorship, Social Networking, Technology and Communication Patterns, Digital Entertainment, Plus Market Opportunities and Trends in Fashion, Sneaker Culture, and Music

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Fresh research and analysis released today, September 16, 2103, from Label Networks’ 13th Annual Fall Youth Culture Study 2013 reveals where shifts in the youth marketplace have created new opportunities and trends across fashion, technology and communication, effective advertising and sponsorship, music, digital entertainment, social networking, mobile phone culture, plus automotive, fast food, and beverages based […]