Category: Surfing

BREAD & BUTTER Trade Show Proves It Made the Right Decisions

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On Thursday evening, 4th July 2013, the 29th BREAD & BUTTER event ended with an internal Closing Party in Sunset Park on the grounds of the former airport Berlin-Tempelhof and the great mood was reflected by the successful show. Due to the new visitor regulations, the event was of course not the strongest in terms […]

Introducing “The Future Consumers Reports”— In-Depth Data, Analysis, Forecasts From Youth Culture Markets On T-shirts, Denim, Footwear, Accessories, and Action Sports Apparel

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We are proud to introduce Label Networks’ latest addition to our on-going Global Youth Culture marketing intelligence reports: The Future Consumers Reports. Our first series provides in-depth data analysis, forecasts, trends from insights thousands of 13-25-year-olds across the United States regarding T-shirts, Denim, Footwear (including Sneaker Culture), Accessories, and Action Sports Apparel. Each of the […]

Retail Round-up: Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion; H&M Drops But Plans Online Launch in U.S.; Volcom Pulls Out of Motocross; Skullcandy Vacates CA Office

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Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were convicted today, June 19, 2013 of tax evasion for hiding $1.3 billion and given a suspended jail sentence of one year and 8 months. This came through after the second time they’ve been brought to court. The first resulted in the designers being charged a $440 […]

Body Glove Co-Founder and Wetsuit Pioneer Bob Meistrell Passes at 84

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We just received the sad news that Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell passed away. Several years ago, we were fortunate enough to have met him and enjoyed some of his amazing stories about the history of surfing and diving during an unforgettable ride aboard his beloved boat The Disappearance. Our thoughts and prayers go out […]

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 […]

Association of Surfing Professionals Aquires Big Wave World Tour

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Surfing just got big news as the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) is now a part of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International starting with additional support in 2013 and a formal sanctioning in 2014. Total costs of the deal have not been disclosed. “We are very pleased to have finalized the deal between […]

Challenging Times for Action Sports Continues as GrindMedia Aquires Transworld

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The challenging times and changes for action sports continues with consolidations and sales morphing the industry quickly. From Bonnier Media selling off its Mountain Group division including Ski, Skiing, and Warren Miller, to rumors abounding that ESPN is in the midst of laying off hundreds, to the latest news that the kingpin of action sports […]

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 […]

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 […]