latest stories
 
Your Retailers Have Spoken. They Think You Need To Be Here.

In these challenging economic times, it's more important than ever for manufacturers and retailers alike to get their business done in one place, in one weekend. Surf Expo's unique breadth of exhibitors and commitment to a business-first atmosphere makes choosing Surf Expo as the show to attend a no-brainer.
11/18/2008

Surf Expo Announces Lineup For January 2009 Educational Seminars

Give your store every advantage through Surf Expo's full roster of educational seminars, happening January 15, 16, and 17 in Orlando, Florida. Bring your staff or brush up on your own skills as we discuss open-to-buy strategies, Web site management, understanding surfboard technology, and much more.

11/18/2008

Travels With Fish: Cocoa Beach

On the final day of our Surf Expo North Florida tour, we stop off at the Ron Jon Surf Shop mega store, plus Quiet Flight and Cape Surf.
10/31/2008

Travels With Fish: Daytona Beach

The off-season in a tourist mecca like Daytona Beach brings its own challenges as shops either struggle to maintain or simply shutter the doors and wait until spring. So how are retailers coping?
10/30/2008

Travels With Fish: St. Augustine

It’s Tuesday morning and I am up and taking the pulse of the industry in St Augustine, Florida.
10/28/2008

Travels With Fish: Jacksonville Beach

Surf Expo is back with another episodic adventure! This time reporting from Northeastern Florida as I travel from Jacksonville Beach to Cocoa Beach and hit the stops in between.
10/27/2008

Per Welinder Explains The Birdhouse Deal

Tony Hawk and Per Welinder, business partners for the past 15 years, recently reached a definitive agreement whereby Tony Hawk has acquired all interest in the Birdhouse Skateboards brand from Blitz Distribution, Inc. So what's it all mean? Blitz President Per Welinder explains.
10/16/2008

Top Ten Tips for Successful Exhibiting

Wondering how to plan your exhibit program to maximize your show results? Candy Adams, aka the "Booth Mom," lays it out in ten simple tips everyone can follow.
10/14/2008

The Secrets Of Visual Merchandising

How your store looks is sometimes more important that what you are selling. We’ll explore the basics on merchandising your store from a visual perspective and also discuss how to build a formula to keep your store fresh and exciting to your frequent shoppers as well as your new guests.
10/06/2008

ZJ Boarding House Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary

Santa Monica's ZJ Boarding House celebrates twenty years of being in business with a carnival/concert/barbecue and a good portion of the industry turns out to help them celebrate.
09/29/2008

Surf Expo September Post-Show Recap

Retail shop and booth counts up at Surf Expo; attendance dips slightly due to weather and economy.
09/29/2008

The Girls Of Surf Expo

All the latest swimwear fashions, modeled at Surf Expo's Fashion Shows and at the swank Peabody Hotel.
09/25/2008



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Billabong Buys DaKine for $99.9 Million

Billabong International Limited announced August 22 that is has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of DaKine Hawaii, Inc., a leader in the premium accessories category within the surf, skate, snow and windsurf markets.

For more than a year it has been a common rumor in the industry that the two companies were considering teaming up, but it wasn't until today that deal was finalized. According to Billabong financial statements, "The purchase price comprises initial consideration estimated at US$99.9 million, to be funded from existing borrowing facilities, and deferred consideration estimated at a minimum of US$33.3 million, subject to an audit of the normalised EBITDA for the year ending 31 December 2008. The deferred consideration, due in the second half of calendar year 2012, is subject to certain management retention conditions."

The announcement marks another significant milestone in Billabong International's development. Since North America General Manager Paul Naude joined the company in 1998, Billabong has been on an amazing acquisition spree that has brought some of the best brands in the business inside the Billabong fold. Acquisitions have included Von Zipper in 2001, Element Skateboards (2002), Kustom footwear (2004), Mr. Palmer's (2004), Retailers Honolua Surf Company and Beach Access (2004), Nixon Watches (2006), Xcel Wetsuits (2007), and this summer's acquisition of East Coast retailer Quiet Flight and Sector 9.

Given the company's track record, it appears to be a question of "when" not "if" the company makes another move of this sort. Could there be a skate shoe deal in the works? Given DaKine's deep roster of athletes with significant ties to other apparel companies or Billabong competitors (Bruce Irons, Ben Bourgeois, John John Florence, Chris Haslam, Jake Duncombe, Josh Dirkson, Willie Yli-Luoma, etc.), it will also be interesting to watch how the DaKine team roster evolves. (Remember when Andy Irons was on DC?)

But enough speculation. The facts are arresting enough. Founded in 1979 in Hawaii by Rob Kaplan, DaKine is based in Hood River, Oregon, one of the premier action sports venues in North America. All employees -- along with the current management team -- are being retained and will remain in the brand’s head office in Oregon.

Best known for its backpacks, luggage, and snowboarding gloves, DaKine also offers a full spectrum of technical accessories with an excellent historical growth profile. The acquisition gives Billabong further inroads into the snowboarding market as well as new footholds in the windsurfing, kiteboarding, and mountain biking markets.

Billabong International Limited Chief Executive Officer Derek O’Neill said in a press release that "the inclusion of a complementary, authentic and internationally proven boardsports brand added further depth to the Group."

“DaKine is well established within the boardsports sector and it is a brand that has built its reputation on the quality and reliability of its technical range,” says O’Neill.
“It has built a strong sales base in North America and a growing sales base in several international territories, making it a powerful addition to the Group.”

Billabong North America General Manager Paul Naude said DaKine had particular strength in the ocean boardsports sector and had a 20-year history in the snow category with a strong offering in backpacks, bags, gloves and accessories.

“DaKine is a brand that leads the boardsports backpack category, excels in the surf accessories market in the ultimate testing ground of Hawaii and has excellent penetration in winter product categories including snow gloves,” says Naude. “It is a brand that has focused on function over fashion and this has endeared it to active boardsports participants.”

DaKine founder Rob Kaplan said the sale presented synergies for both businesses and he welcomed the additional infrastructure Billabong offered to support future growth. “Billabong and ourselves have both determined that each of us has complementary skills and strengths and together we have a compelling, authentic offer,” says Kaplan, who will remain integrally involved as a key member of the DaKine management team and will be based in the brand’s regional office in Maui, Hawaii.

The purchase is subject to several conditions, including US regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti Trust Improvement Act. It is anticipated the acquisition will be completed by 1 October 2008, subject to the aforementioned conditions being satisfied.

Look for more on the story as it develops on surfexpo.com

Author: Sean Obrien
 
 
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  press releases
 

ActionWatch Retail Panel Grows to 200 Stores

“This is a significant milestone,” states Cary Allington, co-founder. “The panel is large enough to very accurately reflect the market in most of the product categories we track.”

11/19/2008

Billabong International Outlines Global Success During Chairman and CEO Speeches.

A transcript of the speeches made by Billabong International Chairman Ted Kunkel and CEO Derek O'Neill during last month's '07/08 Annual General Meeting.
11/18/2008

Sole Technology Gets Invite To Secret Ryan Sheckler Skate Park

Everything you see here isn't even the entire park. There's another level full of ledges, mannys, flatground and whatnot -- not to mention the entertainment room, offices and on and on.
11/18/2008

Consumers Anxiously Await Black Friday Deals

According to NRF’s 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 72.0 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have completely finished.
11/17/2008

Orange 21 Announces Financial Results; Outlines Cost-Savings Measures

"We are clearly feeling the effects of the general slowdown in the economy," commented Stone Douglass, the Company's newly appointed Chief Executive Officer. "In response, we are doing everything we can to maintain our sales while dramatically reducing expenses."
11/17/2008

Towing Now History At Ghost Trees Reports Surfing Magazine

In a decision to be announced later this week, officials at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have closed a loophole in the laws governing the use of personalized watercraft in the Sanctuary.
11/17/2008

Quiksilver, Inc. Completes Sale of Rossignol

Company to focus on core apparel and footwear brands Quiksilver, Roxy and DC.
11/13/2008

Ocean Minded And Zappos Team Up For Lake Mead Cleanup

Ocean Minded recently hosted its first-ever beach clean-up at a lake location. On October 28th, the company partnered with online footwear retailer, Zappos.com, and held a clean-up at Lake Mead’s National Recreation Area.
11/13/2008

OGIO Promotes Two to VP Positions, Reports Record Growth

Despite the economy's alarming state, Utah-based OGIO is celebrating one of its most successful sales spikes in its 20-year history.
11/12/2008

Wakeboard World Cup Series Heads To Qatar For Final Stop

Following the highly successful World Cup Stop in Putrajaya, Malaysia, last weekend, the world's top professional waterski and wakeboard athletes are now heading for Doha on the sun-drenched coast of Qatar.
11/12/2008

Burton Canadian Open Snowboarding Championships Dates Changed

Due to the recent cancellation of the Session at Vail, an optimal window has opened in the North American snowboard event schedule.
11/12/2008

Black Box Teams With Skate OG Frank Messmann For Europe Push

Black Box Distribution has announced it is partnering with Frank Messmann to create Black Box Europe. Originally a Professional Skateboarder, Frank has been a part of the skateboard industry for 20 years.
11/12/2008



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