Aeard : Olloclip CEO Patrick O'Neill named Entrepreneur magazine's entrepreneur of 2013

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Patrick O’Neill, CEO and founder of olloclip®, has been named Entrepreneur magazine’s Established Entrepreneur of 2013 in the annual contest sponsored byThe UPS Store® honoring small-business owners.  It is the most prestigious award bestowed upon entrepreneurs today, and Mr. O’Neill is being recognized for his successful entrepreneurial pursuits with olloclip, a company that creates innovative mobile photography products.  http://www.entrepreneur.com/video/230544

“Patrick O’Neill’s passion is astounding. He embodies the true entrepreneurial spirit and that’s why he’s Entrepreneurmagazine’s Entrepreneur of 2013,” said Amy Cosper, VP/editor in chief at Entrepreneur. “He capitalized on the popularity of an existing tech product, and enhanced it for a target audience he deeply cares about. Photographers — and anyone who wants to be one — are crazy about the olloclip, and we can’t help but share in the excitement of a good entrepreneurial success story.”

Winners were selected by the small-business community and a panel of judges from The UPS Store® and Entrepreneur. Each finalist received a percentage of points based on the number of online votes they garnered from their videos, which together with voting points allocated to each of the panel of judges determined the final winners.

“This is an honor and a major milestone for what has been an unbelievable journey,” said Mr. O’Neill.

“I am extremely grateful to have been recognized for the effort in taking a kitchen startup on Kickstarter to a leading mobile photography company.  We hope it will help shine a light on mobile photography and inspire people to create great photos and videos.”

olloclip products are simple and fun to use and expand what is possible in mobile photography. The company’s flagship product, the olloclip 4-IN-1 Lens System, features four lenses (fisheye, wide-angle and two macros) in one small, convenient package that connects to the iPhone in seconds. olloclip products offer a wealth of creative options for mobile devices that allow users to take and share great-looking photos and video, anytime and anywhere.  See olloclip’s Entrepreneur video here http://youtu.be/d_-p_oMjK-U.

Mr. O’Neill is profiled in the January issue of the magazine, which is on newsstands now. Winners from each category will be honored at the upcoming 2014 Growth Conference on January 22, 2014 in New Orleans.

About olloclip

The olloclip® brand is synonymous with creativity in your pocket .  olloclip products give amateur and professional photographers alike the ability to use the iPhone to capture and share what was previously impossible — easily, spontaneously and artistically. With olloclip, one’s mobile phone becomes a window to the world, and mobile photography/videography enters a whole new realm of possibility. 

For more information about olloclip, visit olloclip.com.

olloclip® is a registered trademark. © 2013 olloclip. All rights reserved.

Connect with olloclip
·         @olloclip and #olloclip
·         Instagram - http://instagram.com/olloclip -@olloclip
·         Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/groups/olloclip/
·         Facebook - www.facebook.com/olloclip
·         Twitter - http://twitter.com/olloclip
·         YouTube -http://www.youtube.com/user/olloclip

By press release


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Business news : adidas , Win China, Win the Future.

Greater China is a very important but highly challenging market for many companies. For the adidas Group and its strategic business plan, Route 2015, China is a key success factor, too. It became a success story that was very fast in the making and nowhere on the radar a few decades ago.

Beijing, October 1981: A group of 86 runners from 12 countries have entered in the first-ever Beijing Marathon. Starting from Tiananmen Square, the runners pass Xidan and Wukesong districts before returning to Tiananmen Square after 42.195 km. People walking the streets of Beijing probably wonder what these runners are up to – and why anybody would run through the city in the first place.
 

Beijing, October 2013: Under beautiful blue skies, around 30,000 runners are eager to compete in the Beijing Marathon and Half Marathon that day, cheered on by thousands supporting them along the route. Like in 1981, the race starts and finishes at Tiananmen and the distance hasn’t changed either. But pretty much all other aspects of running, sports participation and life in general have changed considerably in China since the early 80s.

  Beijing Marathon 2013

For three decades, China has been a poster child for growth, lifting well over half a billion people out of poverty, transforming the nation’s image and confidence, and putting it on course to be the world’s largest economy by 2020. Much of that growth has been based on manufacturing goods for export to the rest of the world, but the Chinese government is now working to restructure China’s economic mix, placing more emphasis on domestic consumption.

This is good news for consumer goods companies such as the adidas Group – not only the fact that consumers are spending more, but because they are more experimental and individualistic in terms of what they want to do and what they want to wear. What’s more, their participation in sport is increasing.

BECOMING THE TOP INTERNATIONAL SPORTSWEAR BRAND IN CHINA

 

Beijing Marathon 2013: International top athletes are participating in the highly competitive race which has become an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. For the fourth consecutive year, the adidas brand is the Official Sponsor of the most high-profile running event in China. And alongside runners from all parts of China and the world, around 200 adidas Group employees are competing as well, proudly demonstrating their passion for sports on the streets of Beijing.

The adidas Group is determined to be a desired part of China’s evolving sense of identity and, having been ranked as one of the most powerful foreign brands in China in a recent survey carried out for the BBC, is uniquely placed to do so. The BBC outlines some of the many reasons adidas has triumphed. Most important, it says, is that the company understands the quickly changing Chinese market. It also cites the company’s progressive “city strategy”, which looks beyond coastal cities to rapid growth and new consumers in cities across the country, particularly inland.

ROUTE 2015 – FOCUS ON LOWER-TIER CITIES

 

Colin Currie

No matter where you travel in China, outdoor gyms are a common sight in cities of all size. Mainly older Chinese are using these facilities to spend time together, exercise, stay in shape and pursue a healthy lifestyle. Over the last decade, a growing number of younger Chinese have also taken an active interest in a sporting lifestyle. Membership numbers in gyms in the bigger cities have grown tremendously and this trend is now also visible in smaller cities in China.

When the adidas Group kicked off its strategic business plan Route 2015 in China back in 2010, a special focus was put on growth in lower-tier cities to address this trend.

Our Route 2015 strategy was based on five growth modules. Each was a major strategic thrust in its own right.

COLIN CURRIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ADIDAS GROUP GREATER CHINA

Colin continues: ”Our category attack in the high-tier cities saw us refine our offer, our presence and our positioning in key market segments. For the lower-tier cities, we knew it was about presence – rapid physical expansion to put ourselves within consumers’ reach. But we knew equally, that this expansion had to be meticulously planned, with product and pricing to match the fast-shifting consumer tastes we are seeing.”

So far, this clear strategy has worked out well: The adidas Group’s 2012 results showed a 15% sales increase for Greater China. In the first nine months of 2013, the adidas Group reported a 7% increase in Greater China. As importantly, adidas has gained market share and is growing faster than its rivals, including both international and domestic brands. Today, adidas is Greater China’s most profitable sportswear brand for its franchise partners.

In the 1990s, first franchise partners opened adidas stores in China. Today, adidas operates more than 7,600 stores in China, a big portion of them in lower-tier cities. The mix of higher living standards in these areas and falling trust in local brands means that people are increasingly looking to buy aspirational foreign brands. adidas is positioned as a premium international brand and it is getting stronger and more desirable. By 2015, adidas aims to increase its mainland coverage from 550 cities at the end of 2010 to 1,400, with plans to open an additional 2,500 stores nationwide between 2011 and 2015.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

 

Despite the recent growth of its Sport Style business, adidas’ brand identity remains heavily rooted in Sport Performance. As such, the brand is also capitalising on a huge increase in outdoor activities, with running topping the list.

The Beijing Marathon is just one of many success stories in running: Across the entire country, marathons and fun runs have experienced tremendous growth over the last few years. In 2012, some 500,000 people participated in 33 marathons and fun runs – a 50% increase from 2011, which saw 22 races take place across the country. When compared with 2010, a year in which just 12 marathons were held, it becomes abundantly clear how quickly this trend is taking off. In fact, the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) predicts that by 2015, China will play host to 50 annual marathons.

 

"China has the Running Bug"

 

• 

China has the running bug. Running has become extremely popular in China over the last five years. Although much of this can be attributed to the popularity of running in the West, the recent launch of China’s national fitness programme is clearly fuelling interest in this inexpensive and accessible way to exercise.

COLIN CURRIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ADIDAS GROUP GREATER CHINA

EXTENDING ROUTE 2015

 

It seems that for the adidas Group, the run for success in China is far from over. As part of its Route 2015 business plan, the Group expects Greater China to contribute 50% to global sales growth together with the US and Russia/CIS.

“We are operating in the world’s most dynamic marketplace and we see tremendous growth opportunity,” says Colin. “But we cannot rely simply on riding the wave of China’s growth.  Our challenge is market leadership and, as our rising market share testifies, we are winning. Beijing and Shanghai will always be important for us, but we expect two-thirds of our growth to be from consumers in the lower-tier cities as they become attracted to sportswear – not just for fitness, but for easy casual wear. There are differences in China. We needed to understand those differences and tailor our products to meet them. This is how we will unleash pent-up demand.”

Colin is certain that the company has the right strategy to build the brand commercially through a dual focus on brand equity and sell-through.

The future includes a more rigorous continuation of our franchise model focused on retail operations excellence and includes continued expansion in lower-tier cities. We will also re-ignite Sport Performance with product and brand communications tailored specifically for China, which will capture growth.

COLIN CURRIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ADIDAS GROUP GREATER CHINA

And as China’s market matures, consumer demand will change and impact the way adidas brings products to market. As Colin says, “We are already part of a major shift – from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Designed in China’. We recognise that the Chinese consumer is different; that’s why we localise a lot of our product lines in our Creation Centre in Shanghai. This is a major change and we are helping to pioneer the trend.”

For many consumer goods companies, winning in China is the basis for winning globally in the future. The adidas Group is no exception and is setting itself up for future success in this dynamic market: Already today, designers, developers and product managers are part of adidas' Creation Center in Shanghai, constantly coming up with product concepts specifically for the Chinese market and its neighbouring countries. For the adidas Group China is a sporty success story that will be continued.

Source adidas.


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Business interview : Jeff Snyder, E-commerce is boosting sales in all channels

December 18, 2013

The multi-channel sales strategy of Amer Sports has been very successful. “We continue to grow brands simultaneously in both the direct to consumer and wholesale channels”, says Jeff Snyder, The Vice President of global e-commerce at Amer Sports, who is in charge of building a global e-commerce strategy for the company.

Big steps in 2013
Jeff Snyder has truly had a busy year.
“In 2013, we launched the Wilson and DeMarini websites in the US Market and Arc'teryx in EMEA. We also finished our country expansion in EMEA for Salomon and Suunto. We have worked extensively with our team in China and will be making some enhancements to their platform in 2014”, Snyder tells.

Snyder’s role is to work with the brands in order to develop a global e-commerce strategy, localize that strategy, and then provide the platform needed to support it. 

“Our intent has been to establish a direct relationship with our consumers along with ensuring that they have access to the complete offering of products from our brands. I look for synergies among brands, where we can utilize commonalities in the platform or processes along with aligning third party providers”, Snyder explains.

Exceeding expectations

The sales through our own e-commerce channels are steadily growing. “Consumer traffic to our websites has been very strong and all subsequent metrics have met or exceeded our expectations.”
Some products have been selling extremely well.

“The S Lab products for Salomon continue to do very well. For Suunto, the launch of the Ambit 2 series went extremely well and the consumer demand remains strong. The new down jackets from Arcteryx have done great, and for Wilson the baseball category has exceeded expectations.”

All channels benefit from heightened consumer awareness
Thanks to e-commerce, consumers know the brands and products better than ever before. This has also boosted sales in the traditional channels.

“The brand website is the very first stop a consumer will make. This is an amazing opportunity to tell the consumer our brand story and start a relationship with them. It is irrelevant if they purchase from us or a wholesale partner; just as long as they have access to what they are searching for and are satisfied with their visit to our website.”

Some retailers feared that direct selling to consumers would cause trouble for their business. This did not happen.

“One of the biggest surprises for me was how little disruption to the marketplace selling direct has caused. Initially there is some apprehension and uneasiness in taking this step, but once we were live and selling direct, all channels have benefited from the heightened consumer awareness of the brands. We continue to grow brands simultaneously in both the direct to consumer and wholesale channels”, Snyder promises.

Sharing a common platform

Nearly all Amer Sports’ websites are using the same technical platform.
“Sharing a common platform and model has allowed us to meet our expansion goals while keeping development costs at a minimum. We do, however, localize the global model to fit the specifics of the regional consumer shopping experience. It is essential to work backwards from a consumer expectation to create the model that is needed to provide the best experience possible.”

Next step: going mobile

The next big change is at the doorstep. E-commerce of sporting goods is going mobile.
“The percentage of our consumers using mobile devices for sporting goods is at or above regional averages for online shopping. This also continues to be the fastest growing segment of consumer engagement”, Snyder says.

Source Amer sports


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Business people : Hydro Flask Continues to Build Passionate Team with Several Key New Hires

BEND, Ore. – November 22, 2013 – Hydro Flask, the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks, announces three key new hires to its growing team: David Visnack, Vice President of Marketing and Product; Tom Trissel, Customer Service Manager; and John Ogle, IT Manager.

Visnack is a highly accomplished executive with 15 years of expertise in the outdoor sports and recreation industry. He specializes in brand leadership, marketing, product development and e-commerce programs that achieve breakthrough results in sales and brand growth. Prior to joining the Hydro Flask team, Visnack was General Manager of the Redington division of Far Bank Enterprises, where he managed every aspect of the fly fishing brand’s P&L.

As General Manager, Visnack significantly increased profits and performance through innovative sales programs and by streamlining product, marketing and operations efforts. Visnack also served as the VP of Marketing & Product for Far Bank’s Sage, Redington and RIO Fly Lines brands.

Previously, Visnack held positions at two other big outdoor sports and recreation companies – Buck Knives and SmartWool Corporation. At Buck Knives, he was Vice President of Marketing & Product, where he oversaw marketing, e-commerce, customer relations, and product development operations, resulting in $4M in sales. In his seven years At SmartWool Corporation, he held positions as Director of E-Commerce, Director of Marketing and Interactive Marketing Manager.

“Hydro Flask is an emerging, up-and-coming brand with a great future,” said Visnack. “I’m excited to take my background and experience in growing brands and use that to take Hydro Flask to the next level in the outdoor, beer, coffee & tea, natural foods and golf categories.”

In addition to Visnack, Hydro Flask has recently hired Tom Trissel as Customer Service Manager. Trissel comes to Hydro Flask from Altrec.com, where he spent six years as CS Manager and Assistant Store Manager. In this role, Trissel oversaw multiple national and regional accounts and managed all aspects of customer satisfaction and retention. He has also held positions at Salomon North America and Great Comebacks Sporting Goods, among others.

Lastly, John Ogle has joined Hydro Flask as IT Manager. Previously, Ogle was a consultant for NetSuite Development and Optimization Solutions, where he managed and implemented cross-functional process and system development optimization projects in various companies and industries. He has also held positions at Enhanced ERP and Lightspeed Technologies.

“David, Tom and John will be huge assets to the Hydro Flask team,” said Scott Allan, CEO of Hydro Flask. “Each will help us achieve our aggressive business goals and take Hydro Flask to the next level.”

About Hydro Flask
Hydro Flask^® began in the summer of 2009 with an epiphany on a Hawaiian beach, and became a reality in beautiful Bend, Oregon, one of the country’s premiere outdoor playgrounds. The company’s mission today is to save the world from lukewarm beverages.

Hydro Flask is now the award-winning* leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks and has recently expanded into the food and beverage industry with its food flasks and first and only double wall vacuum insulted 64 oz growlers. Using only high-quality 18/8 stainless steel, Hydro Flask delivers what people on the go have been looking for: a durable flask that keeps hots hot, colds cold, and is stylish, 100% recyclable and backed by a lifetime warranty.

Hydro Flask believes that great flasks and great causes go hand in hand, and through its charitable arm, 5% Back, offers a giveback program that allows consumers to allocate a portion of their flask sales to a charity of their choice. For more about Hydro Flask’s charitable mission and commitment to making a difference in the community, visit 5% Back.

Note to Reporters: For high-resolution images of Hydro Flask products, please visit our online media library at: http://www.hydroflask.com/media/hf-media-library/index.html

CONTACT: Hydro Flask
www.hydroflask.com / www.twitter.com/hydroflask / www.facebook.com/hydroflask

New product : Nike, Introducing the Kobe Prelude IV

The Kobe Prelude Pack celebrates the stories behind some of Kobe’s most defining moments.

Turning back the clock five years, Nike designer Eric Avar revolutionized the basketball shoe game with the debut of the KOBE IV in December 2008. The low-cut of the shoe shocked many at the time, but the industry quickly followed Avar’s mandate to go low and lightweight.

The fluidity and quickness of Kobe Bryant’s game was on display as he was crowned MVP of the 2009 Finals while wearing the KOBE IV. Paying tribute to this honor and blending it with abstract impressionism art, the shoe features a purple and gold motif, an honor to LA’s 2009 Championship.

The Kobe Prelude Pack features all eight of Bryant's signature shoes and celebrates the stories behind some of his most defining moments. Eight revolutionary art movements have been paired with eight milestones in Bryant’s career to recreate each of his signature shoes.

Each shoe will be available in limited quantities on Nike.com (North America, Greater China and Western Europe) and at select retailers in North America and Greater China. The Kobe Prelude IV is available on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Stay tuned for weekly features on the additional shoes, revealing the inside story tied to the career accomplishment and art movement around each one.



Source Nike

US, Paddle Into Fitness Announces 2014 Paddleboard Certifications, SUP Yoga Teacher Trainings, and all new SUP Business Affiliate Program

Two day stand up paddleboard teacher trainings & four day SUP Yoga certifications approved under the WPA and Yoga Alliance. All New Affiliate program provides ambassadors with internet presence.

San Diego, CA  December 20, 2013

Paddle Into Fitness, LLC is excited to announce a new two day SUP Certification program approved under the WPA (World Paddle Association) covering water safety, paddle technique, beginner lesson instruction, the business of SUP and more to provide a quality program for paddlers looking to teach the popular water sport of standup paddleboarding. The first program of 2014 will be led by Roxy SUP athlete Gillian Gibree on March 28 & 29 at the Kona Kai Resort & Marina in San Diego, California.

For students looking to take the Yoga Alliance accredited four day SUP Yoga Certification, they will complete two additional days of training dedicated to learning the three Paddle Into Fitness styles of SUP Yoga – Gentle Wave, Nautical Flow, and Surfer’s Sculpt. Paddle Into Fitness has lead eight successful SUP Yoga instructor trainings and has received positive reviews from ambassadors.

“Gillian, I just wanted to thank you again for sending Yoga Journal my way. So many exciting things are happening around SUP Yoga, I’ve been invited to the Maine Yoga Fest to teach SUP Yoga classes and also received an invitation to demo Paddleboard Yoga in Portsmouth. I’d like to give you credit for putting together a fantastic certification program, and for always being willing to share the limelight with us. You should be proud. Much Love and Appreciation!” – Karen, Boston

Paddle Into Fitness is also launching a new Affiliate Program to SUP certification graduates, which will give students the right to implement the four signature Paddle Into Fitness classes at new business locations. It will also provide the paddleboard companies web presence through links on the Affiliates page and social media promotion through Paddle Into Fitness’s international following. For more information, please contact Genevieve at certification (at) paddleintofitness (dot) com.

About

Paddle Into Fitness® offers a four day SUP Yoga instructor certification program and a two day Paddleboard Instructor training. Paddle Into Fitness was nominated for "Best Yoga" by the San Diego Union Tribune, and was recently featured on the cover of Yoga Journal Magazine. The company has presented at the San Diego Yoga Journal Conference, the Wanderlust Festival Hawaii, and taught the world's largest SUP Yoga class on Lake Tahoe. At Paddle Into Fitness, you will find a unique way to get into shape while connecting with the water, and learn how to share this healthy lifestyle with others.

http://www.paddleintofitness.com

By press release

Retail sales : US Retail Sales, Traffic Decreased Last Week

Last week was the last chance for procrastinators to finish last-minute holiday shopping, but the weather prevented many from getting to the stores. ShopperTrak, which analyzes retail shopper traffic, reported that for the week of Dec. 16 to Dec. 22, in-store retail sales decreased by 3.1 percent from the same week last year. Retail brick-and-mortar shopper traffic decreased by 21.2 percent compared to the same time period in 2012.

The analysis tracked sales of general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other products (GAFO).

“Bad weather throughout the country kept some shoppers away from stores,” said Bill Martin, ShopperTrak founder. “This past week was their final opportunity to complete their holiday shopping before Christmas – and though many did finish making their purchases, retailers did not see as many shoppers as last year.”

Despite more markdowns and promotional efforts from retailers, “Super Saturday” (Dec. 21) saw a decrease in retail sales by 0.7 percent compared to 2012. In-store shopper traffic decreased 18.1 percent from the same day last year. ShopperTrak predicts after-holiday markdowns to drive robust retail sales and store traffic days to come, particularly the day after Christmas (Dec. 26) and the following Saturday (Dec. 28).

“Many people who have the day after Christmas off of work will be out shopping for end-of-season deals,” said Martin. “Retailers should track their stores’ conversion rates closely to turn more after-Christmas browsers into buyers.”

Merry christmas

                                     

                              All the sportmondo.com team  

                                             

                               wish you a merry christmas

 

 

Business and retail news : O’Neill opens the doors of its first Australian flagship store in Manly, Sydney

24 December 2013, Sydney – O’Neill, the original Northern Californian surf, snow and lifestyle brand is proud to announce the opening of the first Australian flagship store in Manly Corso, Sydney.

This unique store features design elements inspired by founder Jack O’Neill’s house in Santa Cruz, California. These elements mixed with deep natural tones, emphasise the O’Neill brand and its values. With a large inviting entry, bordered with white tiling, the store is flushed with nautical greys and wood as the key colour tones, the original fabric of the heritage building is mixed with clean finishes softening up the space, exuding an original feel.

Various unique areas including a hand painted Original logo, display units comprised of engineered steel and backlit Georgian glass are both examples of where authenticity meets progression. A digital interface linked to the brand e-commerce platform will also allow customers view the entire collection and request home delivery. The distinct finishes and warm lighting bring style and simplicity to the overall design.

The combination of materials utilised and brand stories in this store give the customer a fresh perspective on O'Neill and the brand experience.

Michael Neil, General Manager of O’Neill Asia-Pacific, commented, “This is a great step for the O’Neill brand in Australia. Manly is one of Sydney's top tourist stops and one the top surf retail destinations in the world, it is entrenched in surf culture and an ideal opportunity to exhibit our brand story and product line to both local and international consumers".

The O’Neill Manly store will stock a full assortment of O'Neill merchandise along with complementary brands such as Levis, Raen, Otis, Hex, FCS, Creatures Of Leisure, Futures Fins, Captain Fin Co. among others.

Hardware brands include Neal Purchase Jnr Surfboards, Simon Jones Morning Of The Earth Surfboards, Mick Mackie Surfboards, Christenson Surfboards, Santa Cruz skateboards, Arbor Skateboards & Grown Handplanes.
 
About O’Neill – “The First Name in the Water”

Jack O’Neill invented the first wetsuit in the 50s; he later opened the doors to the world’s very first surf shop on the San Francisco great highway in 1952. He moved the surf shop to Santa Cruz, California in 1959 – home to some of the best cold-water waves. Continuing to provide innovative products and breaking new frontiers, Jack was soon rewarded with soaring sales, and O’Neill became
“The first name in the water”. O’Neill’s passion for sports has made his business expand from surf wear to snow wear and youth lifestyle brand. Today, O’Neill stores can be found in most major cities – USA, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan.

The first O’Neill retail store in Australia
Address:                             Shop 58, Manly Corso, Manly, NSW 2095
Enquiries:                           02 8966 9800
Operating Hours:                 9:00am – 5:00pm
O’Neill Official Website:       www.oneill.com
www.facebook.com/oneillaustralia

By press release

Business newx : Strategic alliance between bikes manufacturers, MIfa and Cycleurope.

German bicycle manufacturer Mifa and his Swedish counterpart Cycleurope, which develops brands including Gitane, Peugeot Cycles and Bianchi, signed a strategic partnership agreement "for the development and production of bicycles and electric bicycles on the premium segment" .

Mifa, which claims the first German bicycle manufacturer ranking place, with a market share of 29% in 2011, has a manufacturing cycles plant described as "modern and efficient" by Tony Grimaldi, CEO of Cycleurope , which said in a statement "very impressed" by its automated production lines of electric bikes MIFA.

The agreement should also give MIFA, an  access to Cycleurope European distribution networks, including Velo & Oxygen network in France.

Business news : Amer Sports: Changes to the Performance Share Plan

Amer Sports Corporation /STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE / December 20, 2013 at 9.30 am

The Board of Directors of Amer Sports has decided to make the following changes to the company's Performance Share Plan 2013-2015 for the Group key personnel:

• the number of employees included in the Performance Share Plan is extended from approximately 80 to 200 persons, and 
• the amount of net rewards to be paid on the basis of the Performance Share Plan is increased from a maximum total of 1,200,000 to a maximum total of 1,400,000 Amer Sports Corporation shares. 

The Performance Share Plan was approved on December 14, 2012. The other terms of the Performance Share plan remain unchanged.

The changes are related to the expiration of the company's deferred cash long-term incentive program 2011-2013 on December, 31, 2013.

For more information, please contact:
 

Heli Harri, Communications Manager, tel. +358 9 7257 8306, heli.harri@amersports.com

Amer Sports Corporation

DISTRIBUTION:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main media
www.amersports.com

AMER SPORTS
 

Amer Sports (www.amersports.com) is a sporting goods company with internationally recognized brands including Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Arc'teryx, Mavic, Suunto and Precor. The company's technically-advanced sports equipment, footwear and apparel improve performance and increase the enjoyment of sports and outdoor activities. The Group's business is balanced by its broad portfolio of sports and products and a presence in all major markets. Amer Sports shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange (AMEAS).

By press release

Tradeshow : Germany & UK , BAVARIA with a strong presentation at the London Boat Show

Cruiser 46

With a strong fleet in sail yachts and motor yachts on display, BAVARIA will be represented at the forthcoming London Boatshow from the 4th to the 12th of January by its UK importer, Clipper Marine Ltd.

The London Boat show which is one of the most traditional exhibitions for yachts celebrates its 60th birthday this time. More exhibitors and visitors are expected at this jubilee event at  the ExCel exhibition area. 

Because of this prestigious event and on account of the excellent market development for BAVARIA in Great Britain, Clipper Marine Ltd will present seven sailing- and motoryachts from the BAVARIA range this year. Alongside the CRUISER 33 and the VISION 42, the new CRUISER 37 and the new CRUISER 46 will be launched, pulling the attention of the visitors for sailing yachts. 

Meanwhile at the motor section, the SPORT 29 and the VIRTESS 420 Flybridge will be displayed alongside the stunning new Sport 39 HT Highline special edition. The Virtess 420 Fly has recently been voted as the UK’s motorboat of the year by the UK press. 

SPORT 39 HT Highline -

Clipper Marine is one of the fastest growing dealers in the UK and one the biggest Bavaria dealers worldwide. With offices and service facilities at the Hamble Point Marina, Swanwick Marina, Port Solent, Gosport and Cobbs Quay in Poole on the South coats of the England, as well as in Woolverstone Marina in Ipswich on the east coast. 

They also have dealers for Scotland and the South West coast of England. Beside the sales of new BAVARIA yachts the team of Clipper Marine is specialized on the sale of second hand yachts, the supply of spares and a comprehensive service department for all existing Bavaria Owners.

Clipper Marine will also be launching its new Cruising Club for the vast amount of existing Bavaria owners in the UK who can enjoy the benefits of cruising in the UK and special offers from a huge array of suppliers throughout the year.

Displayed sailing yachts - stand G148, G159, G152 

CRUISER 33
CRUISER 37 (2 Cabins) - NEW
CRUISER 46 (3 Cabins) - NEW
VISION 42 

Displayed motor yachts – stand A296 

SPORT 29
SPORT 39 HT Highline - NEW
VIRTESS 420 Flybridge 

London Boat Show 4th to 12th January
www.londonboatshow.com

Business news : US, Black Diamond Names Rep Agency for Southeast

Black Diamond Equipment has partnered with the newly created sales agency Eventum, LLC, which was founded in 2013 by Chip Parker. 

Eventum will represent Black Diamond Equipment and Black Diamond Apparel in the Southeast.
 

“Partnering with Eventum gives us the resources to scale up the level of service that we are able to provide our dealers in the Southeast,” explains Brian Mecham, vice president of North American wholesale at Black Diamond Equipment.

 “We believe the partnership will be the ideal blend of skills and knowledge required to support the dealer needs for both Black Diamond Equipment hardgoods and apparel."

Eventum is comprised of industry veterans Chip Parker, Matt Ginley, Todd Combs and Karen Harper.

Offering a wealth of combined experience and knowledge of specialty retail, Parker’s resume includes over 20 years of operational management, buying and sales. Ginley adds 10 years experience working both in-house and as a sales rep for Black Diamond in the Southeastern region.

Combs served as a buyer in specialty retail as well as a former shop owner in the region. Harper’s experience includes time at both REI and High Country Outfitters.

Eventum will represent Black Diamond among retailers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Kentucky. The agency will also represent Black Diamond Equipment for military and law enforcement sales in the same territory.

“Our goal is to develop indispensible partnerships with retailers in the Southeast,” states Parker. “Eventum aims to be essential in their success and will continually seek out and work with the best manufacturers to ensure we deliver the most innovative and profitable products that the outdoor industry has to offer.”

Environment news : Through the Years, Nike’s History of Sustainable Innovation

What began in the 1990s as a response to issues in a complex supply chain has evolved into a business insight at the core of Nike’s growth strategy.

Nike has come a long way on its sustainable innovation journey.

What began in the 1990s as a response to issues in a complex supply chain has evolved into a business insight at the core of Nike’s growth strategy – one that focuses on delivering innovations across its supply chain to create products that are better for athletes, its business, and the planet.

That evolution, which turns risk into an innovation opportunity by embracing transparency and collaboration, makes sense for business and can help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

As Nike President and CEO Mark Parker put it:

 “Nike succeeds because we’re obsessed with innovation. We are relentlessly curious about our world and how we can make it better. We apply that curiosity to our sustainability efforts, and we continue to learn what is required for real, meaningful progress.”

So how did Nike go from the starting line to running full speed toward a more sustainable future? Click on the graphic below to explore some of the major milestones.



Source Nike

Business news : Swiss Intersport posts positive results in spite of individual difficulties

After a year minus the Swiss Intersport group may 2012/13 end the fiscal year in the black.

Despite a slight decline in sales, operating income amounts to the end of September 0.8 million Swiss francs, as the company has announced. Last year, the group had recorded a net loss of 3.2 million Swiss francs. Net revenue decreased during the year by 5 percent to 201.1 million francs. For the current fiscal year Intersport expects despite recently declining sales with a positive conclusion. The reasons for that "further optimized operating costs," it says.

Intersport is with 241 franchises and shopping partners present in Switzerland to 353 outlets. The connected sport shops achieve an annual retail turnover of around 436 million Swiss francs and a market share of 24 percent.

Source spomo.de

Environement news : Sympatex statement regarding the Greenpeace DETOX report “Chemistry For Any Weather – Part II

Following our last Post concerning Greenpeace report, Sympatex give some informations about the comopany position and target.

Unterföhring / München, December 19th 2013. As part of the international DETOX campaign, the environmental organisation Greenpeace released the new report “Chemistry For Any Weather – Part II” mid of December 2013. For this purpose, Greenpeace commissioned two independent laboratories to measure perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) as well as other hazardous substances in 17 outdoor clothing items.

The following link will lead you directly to the recent summary of the Greenpeace DETOX report:
http://www.greenpeace.de/fileadmin/gpd/user_upload/themen/chemie/20131212-Greenpeace-Outdoor-Report-2013-Summary.pdf

A jacket by the Sympatex partner Kaikkialla was also among the 17 tested outdoor materials. It features a laminate based on the PTFE-(polytetrafluoroethylene)-free Sympatex membrane as well as the PFC-free, water-repellent Bionic Finish Eco® treatment.

Test winner Sympatex

After the analysis, the Sympatex laminate has received the best test results by far. In the product with the second-best results, 25 times the amount of PFC was measured. The jacket with the highest PFC contamination even had values that were more than 830 times higher.

Greenpeace states in the report that even in the jacket produced with Sympatex laminate, perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA) have been found in the laboratory tests. According to Greenpeace, the PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) “values are noticable (higher than 1 µg/m²)”. But the laboratory that was commissioned by the environmental organisation confirmed a PFOA value of 1.02 µg/m².
In addition, the Sympatex laminate is the only product without any measurable traces of FTOH and FTA (fluorotelomer alcohols and acrylates respectively).

The causes for the existing contaminations, which had already been mentioned in the first Greenpeace report “Chemistry For Any Weather”, appear all along the production chain, among them are the production of PFC-free finishing agents, lamination, application of the finishing agent on the textile, ready-made clothing, storage, transport, retail sale, sampling, research laboratory.

Nevertheless, Sympatex and the industrial partners work hard to identify all contamination sources and eliminate them as much as possible.

Basically, Sympatex welcomes the efforts of Greenpeace to ban PFC as soon as possible from the products of the outdoor clothing industry. In addition to the continuous development of PFC-free products, one of the greatest challenges will be to supply products that are as uncontaminated as possible. To achieve this, all partners who are part of the textile production chain have to act.

Guaranteed Green – The Sympatex recyclable membrane

As one of the worldwide leading producers, Sympatex® Technologies has been a pioneer for high-tech functional materials in clothing, footwear, accessories and technical fields of application since 1986. Together with selected partners, Sympatex develops, produces and distributes membranes, laminates and functional textiles as well as finished products worldwide. The Sympatex membrane is highly breathable, 100% wind- and waterproof and regulates the climate. It is 100% recyclable, bluesign® certified, received the „Öko-Tex-Standard 100“ certificate and is absolutely PTFE-free and PFC-free. The technologies and procedures are based on the principles of ecological responsibility and sustainability with a special focus on the optimal carbon footprint. Sympatex Technologies is a subsidiary of Sympatex Holding GmbH with sales offices and branches worldwide.

By press release

Mobile app : 2014 SIA Snow Show Exhibitor List, Smartphone App and Online Tools Now Available

Washington (December 17, 2013) -- The exhibitor list and floor plan for the 2014 SIA Snow Show and Sourcing Snow (Jan. 30-Feb 2), hosted by SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the snow sports industry’s member-owned, not-for-profit trade association, are now available online and through the Snow Show App. With more than 450 exhibitors representing more than 1,000 brands including 80+ new exhibitors, the Snow Show is on track for another unforgettable industry gathering.

The online tools available now help attendees prepare to get the most out of their Show.

“We want connectivity, SIA gets it done,” said Robin and Jim McWethy, owners of Sun & Ski in Wayzata, Minn. “Overall SIA provides us a great place to do our buying and enables us to get it done conveniently and efficiently-—and have fun doing it!”

SIAsnowshow.com also features lists of companies and/or brands participating in Sourcing Snow, exhibiting for the first time and demoing product at the On-Snow Demo.

“There is no way to recreate those first steps into the Convention Center on the opening morning of the Show,” said Todd Atkinson of Buchika’s Ski & Bike, Salem, NH. “The vibe is tremendous as the anticipation and excitement builds throughout the day. The kick-off to the buying season is always a breath of fresh air.” 

To help navigate the Snow Show, SIA has a variety of online tools including the interactive floor plan/show guide and Curated View of Snow Sports on the Show’s website. These tools are also available on the SIA Snow Show App, a year-round resource for the association and the Snow Show. It is free to download and available for iPhone/iPad here, Android here, all others here.

And if you have additional questions on the Show – the Ask SIA section is great for getting specific questions answered by the Snow Show pros at SIA.

Member-owned, industry-inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the 2014 SIA Snow Show is scheduled for January 30-February 2, 2014 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo. followed by the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort, February 3-4, 2014.

For more information, updates, registration for the 2014 SIA Snow Show, visit SIAsnowshow.com.

For 24/7 updates on all things 2014 Snow Show, check SIAsnowshow.com and SIA’s Latest and follow SIA on Twitter and Facebook. We’ll be sending highlights before and during the Show to keep you in the know. Use #SIA14 and #SIA14Demo to join the conversation.

- SIA -

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014, SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is a non-profit member-owned trade association with a long history of working to support the snow sports industry. SIA works year-round with North American snow sports suppliers, retailers, reports, reps and service providers to develop products and programs for their individual and collective business needs. With member support and industry participation, SIA annually hosts the industry's largest core winter sports trade show, the SIA Snow Show, along with the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and the Sourcing Snow supplier show. SIA also helps retailers and resorts connect with snow sports participants around the country through Snowlink.com. Learn more at Snowsports.org. 

Business news : Amer Sports , More profitable with selected suppliers

Amer Sports is integrating selected key suppliers in its core processes and teaching them the lean production methods that are already in use in the owned factories.

Amer Sports rolled out a new sourcing strategy in the beginning of 2013.
“We aim to have fewer key suppliers that provide us a certain range of products at the best total costs. We also need to increase our impact at our suppliers”, emphasizes Martin Prasch, Vice President, Sourcing & Manufacturing.

Integrating suppliers into core processes

According to the strategy, Amer Sports has started integrating the key suppliers into some of its core processes such as sales and supply planning and product creation. The purpose is to be as reactive as possible to the growing customer and consumer requirements – and also to be more profitable.
An important part of the strategy is the development program for selected key suppliers.
“Only a part of the suppliers have the capabilities to meet our increased requirements and are able to adopt our core processes. If we believe that they can add value to Amer Sports, then it is worth developing them accordingly.”

 
Implementing lean manufacturing principles

The most important tool in the development is the implementation of lean manufacturing principles at the supplier’s factories. The programme is called Lean @ Suppliers project.

“Lean manufacturing is an approach, attitude, and set of tools to reduce waste and increase flow and speed according to the customer demand. This is exactly what we need from our key suppliers and long-term partners in order to be able to successfully integrate them into our planning and product creation process. We want to decrease the lead times and costs within our suppliers to overcome the rising labour costs especially in Asia and to better react to more and more volatile demand patterns.”

Unlike many other companies in the business, Amer Sports owns a considerable part of the manufacturing.

“It is a unique asset. We not only know in depth how our products are manufactured; we also know how to develop world class factories by implementing true lean manufacturing. Our suppliers respect us as a manufacturing company and are eager to learn from us. This is the door opener in the Lean @ Suppliers project.”

The project was started at the beginning of this year. Currently, Amer Sports is running defined lean programmes at five different suppliers.

“We have a dedicated manager for the programme. Once the decision to implement a lean program at a supplier is made by the Global Sourcing management, he/she sets up specific programme and project charters, trains the suppliers’ management, and continuously reviews the progress. He/she is the initiator and we offer his/her time for free to suppliers.”

The lean project itself needs to be conducted by the suppliers’ management and resources.
“Obviously this cannot be done at too many suppliers at once. It is more important to focus on the main suppliers with that need and to do things right. The main achievements on lead time reduction and inflation mitigation are already visible for the next year.”

Never-ending journey

Are the same lean principles in use at your own factories?

“Yes, they absolutely are. You should only preach what you actually practise yourself. Lean manufacturing is a cornerstone of our manufacturing strategy and we run defined lean programmes in all of our owned factories. The big factories have been running lean already for some years and are still sustainably progressing, and others are still in the development phase and are starting to see the benefits. However, the lean journey never ends”, reminds Prasch.

Source amer sports



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Awards : Top Avalanche Airbags Announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

Best Avalanche Airbag Awards released by OutdoorGearLab.com for Editor's Choice, Best Buy and Top Pick awards.

Dec. 21, 2013 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- OutdoorGearLab.com published the results today of the 2013 Editor's Choice awards for best avalanche airbags. OutdoorGearLab reviewers tested fourteen of the most popular products in the following categories; comfort, weight, special features, downhill performance, backcountry utility and of course, their airbag system. Testing occured mostly at Thompson Pass and Valdez, Alaska and in the British Columbia. Read the full comparative review: http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Avalanche-Airbag-Reviews?n=0&sort_field=score#compare

The winners are:

ABS Vario 30 http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Avalanche-Airbag-Reviews/ABS-Vario-30 winner of the 2013 Editor's Choice award. According to Gear Editor Ian Nicholson, "The Vario 30's design was our overall favorite for backcountry utility. It's a do it all pack ready to excell on any day tour or excursion where a smaller pack is more ideal."

The North Face Patrol 24 ABS http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Avalanche-Airbag-Reviews/Th... winner of the 2013 Top Pick award. Gear Editor Nicholson reports, "This product won for combining the twin ABS airbag system with an awesome lightweight pack. It's our favorite airbag design. It's easy to use and designed very well. It also has some great features like a tuck away ski carrying system and a big safety gear pocket."

The Ortovox Tour 32 + 7 ABS Pack http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Avalanche-Airbag-Reviews/Or... also won the 2013 Top Pick award. Nicholson says,"The Tour 32 has great suspension and support. It has a ton of features and would be great for single or multi day tours. It's capacity can be increased by 7 liters, hence its name, by unzipping it."

Mammut Light Protection is also winner of the 2013 Top Pick award. Gear Editor Nicholson declares, "This is one of our favorites for multi day adventures. It's extremely light and has a very cool adjustable length back frame. The PAS airbag system we think is the second best system available."

Backcountry Access Float 32 wins the 2013 Best Buy award. This award is goes to the contender that recieves both a high test score balanced with a reasonable price. Gear Editor Nicholson explains,"It's light, excellently designed and has the biggest volume of all of the packs we tested. Its cool features like the best ski carrying system we tested and foggle pocket lined with fleece are awesome but the best part is that it costs on average a few hundred dollars less than its competition."

OutdoorGearLab LLC is a company headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming dedicated to creating world’s best outdoor gear reviews. The company’s website is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are ranked, and awards are provided to top performing products.

Contact
OutdoorGearLab.com / 3075090188

 

By press release

Business and retail news : Burton Snowboards opens Bay Area stores just in time for riding season

BURLINGTON, VT (December 19, 2013) Today, Burton Snowboards is excited to announce that both of its new flagship stores in the Bay Area are now officially open and ready for the holidays and the riding season. Burton’s new Haight Street store opened its doors to customers for the first time today, and last month Burton also opened a flagship store in Berkeley, just a quick stop off the highway on the way to Tahoe.

Burton’s newest store is located at 1630 Haight Street, in the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. The flagship store offers local snowboarders a curated selection of Burton’s pinnacle products, including boards, boots, bindings, outerwear, apparel, accessories and bags, in addition to limited edition items, collaborations, and one-of-a-kind collectibles.

All of the product comes together in a space designed to pay tribute to the history of snowboarding and Burton’s Vermont roots, while also drawing inspiration from Haight-Ashbury’s colorful heritage. The store’s overall look brings together things that are commonplace in Vermont, like maple sugar shacks and family-owned general stores, with the rich heritage of Burton itself, having been based in Vermont for more than 35 years. Every design detail has a story, right down to the customized model train that chugs around the store, making a journey from Burton Headquarters in Vermont out to San Francisco, stopping at favorite snowboarding resorts and tourist landmarks along the way.

Fully stocked with gear for men, women and kids, the newly opened Haight Street store is definitely an experience and destination not to be missed. And to celebrate its launch, all are welcome at the store’s opening reception taking place this Saturday, December 21, with free food, drinks and good times all around.

In addition to the Haight Street store, Burton also just opened a flagship store in Berkeley’s popular Fourth Street shopping area. Located at 1840 Fourth Street, the Burton flagship store in Berkeley has a larger footprint and compliments the Haight Street store with a wider selection of Burton’s snowboarding, apparel and bag collections.

With the two new Bay Area locations, Burton will have a total of eight flagship stores worldwide, including a store at the company’s Burlington, Vermont headquarters; a store at the Burton European Headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria; a location in New York City’s SoHo district; a Melrose Avenue store in Los Angeles, CA; a store in Chicago, IL and a location in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, Japan.

Be sure to drop by Burton’s new flagship stores when you’re in the Bay Area. To contact the stores, call Burton’s Haight Street store at (415) 231-5700 & Burton Berkeley at (510) 240-1160.
 
About Burton

In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermont barn and has dedicated his life to snowboarding ever since. Burton has played a pivotal role in growing snowboarding from a backyard hobby to a world-class sport by creating ground-breaking products, supporting a team of top snowboarders and pushing resorts to allow snowboarding. Today, Burton designs and manufactures industry-leading products for snowboarding and the snowboard lifestyle, including snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear and layering as well as year-round apparel, packs/bags and accessories. Privately held and owned by Jake and his wife, Burton President Donna Carpenter, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in Austria, Japan, Australia, California, Canada and China.

For more information on Burton, head to www.burton.com and follow our line at facebook.com/burtonsnowboards, twitter.com/burtonsnowboard and @burtonsnowboard on Instagram.

By press release

Business people : US , Kevin Burke to Step Down as AAFA's President and CEO

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) announced Kevin M. Burke will step down as president and CEO, effective Jan. 21, 2014. Following today's announcement, the AAFA Board of Directors will begin the process to identify a new President and CEO as quickly as possible.

"For nearly 13 years, Kevin has been a passionate champion for the U.S. apparel and footwear industry and it's more than four million American workers," said AAFA Chairman Philip C. Williamson, president, CEO and chairman of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company. "Our industry has changed significantly since Kevin came to AAFA in 2001.  He brought a much-needed global vision to AAFA and travelled the world meeting with industry stakeholders to keep American workers competitive in the global market.  On behalf of the board of directors and AAFA's broad and diverse membership, I applaud Kevin for his great record of success in positioning AAFA as the influential political voice of the industry.  We wish him continued success in his next endeavor."

"I look forward to working with the AAFA Board of Directors and the talented AAFA staff to quickly name a new leader to guide AAFA in the years to come," Williamson said.  "With so many pressing policy issues facing the industry, including the near conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, time is of the essence.  We will act quickly to ensure seamless continuity in both leadership and AAFA's mission of standing at the forefront as a leader of positive change for the apparel and footwear industry."

"For the past several years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve a very dynamic industry as its top spokesperson in Washington," said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. (Pictued at the left.) "The key lessons I've learned during my years at AAFA are that the U.S. apparel and footwear industry is always moving forward and that the industry must maintain its global perspective to remain competitive.  I will miss not being part of the day-to-day excitement of making it easier for Americans to get dressed each day, as well as working with the dedicated team at AAFA who made me a better association leader every day."

Under Burke's leadership, AAFA has grown in composition and stature to become a well-respected and nimble organization that responds to the immediate challenges and long-term goals of the members it serves. Burke's record of success includes:

Growing AAFA's membership to include more than 530 corporate members representing more than 1,500 world famous name brands.  Under Burke's leadership, more than 25 percent of AAFA's membership is now related to retail, which is a dynamic shift from AAFA's long history as a manufacturing and wholesale organization.

Strengthening AAFA's organizational performance and financial position with the completion and implementation of a long-term strategic plan to guide the association's efforts to better meet member needs.

Amplifying AAFA's public policy and political voice to achieve many legislative and regulatory successes, including the passage and implementation many trade opening agreements and increased market access, greater awareness for and practical approaches to social and environmental compliance, meaningful reforms to bolster product safety regulations, greater enforcement of global intellectual property rights, and strong protections for the Berry Amendment.

Enhancing AAFA's valuable educational seminars and training programs, including the significant expansion of AAFA programs into key global markets like China, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and more, as well as expanding the scope of AAFA's programs to cover key issues like chemical management, product safety, sustainability, and more.  AAFA is now the clear leader in providing quality and relevant education and training to the industry along the entire global supply chain.

By presse release

Award : Lead Designer at GoldCoast Snags Print Magazine 2013 Regional Design Annual Award

December 17, 2013 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Always pushing skateboard design to new levels, GoldCoast’s Design Director, Dustin Ortiz recently won a 2013 Regional Design Annual Award for his Pressure skateboard from Print Magazine, the oldest graphic design and visual culture magazine.

This highly selective and well-regarded competition, sponsored by Print magazine, is the most comprehensive survey of graphic design in the United States and recognizes outstanding creative work produced by individuals and groups.

Ortiz said, “The graphic design of all of our products is very important to me personally, and I am honored to win this design award. GoldCoast has a commitment to not only push the boundaries of the functionality of our skateboards, but to make sure they look and feel amazing as well.”

The six regional judges evaluated more than 4,000 entries and selected winning projects that demonstrated an ideal mix of design, communication concepts, strategy and execution. Designers and creative teams from across the U.S., representing individuals, small firms and major corporations and organizations, such as Turner-Cartoon Network Marketing and MoMA, were among the entries.

Submissions were judged by Petrula Vrontikis (Far West), Dana Lytle (Midwest), Stan Church (New York City), Frank Baseman (East), Hank Richardson (South) and Doug May (South West).

For the latest details on GoldCoast, check out skategoldcoast.com and connect with the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About GoldCoast:

GoldCoast’s founders, Brock Harris, Chris Brunstetter, Dustin Ortiz and Nate Coan, describe the ethos of the brand here: “Skateboarding and design are at the core of GoldCoast. These two things touch nearly every part of our lives. Design is the language of our creativity; it is the starting point for all our products. We appreciate awareness of little details in our surroundings, our products, and our designs. Our enthusiasm cannot be contained. We want to share stories, ideas, sessions and trips with our peers, and want them to do the same with us. The end goal is to have fun. We don’t do what we do for trophies, fame, or titles – we take it easy. Seriously.”

By press released

New products : Urban Utilitiy: The NIke Aeroloft 800 Summit Jacket and Nike LunarTerra Arktos

Two all-weather urban staples tackle the cultural and elemental demands of city living.

All-weather city living requires grit and guts to survive and striking, efficient tools to thrive. Nike tackles these cultural and elemental demands with two distinctive designs that are equal parts utilitarian, innovative, and statement making. The Nike Aeroloft 800 Summit Jacket and Nike LunarTerra Arktos are bold and made to move—and appropriately debut at Dover Street Market New York.

The Nike Aeroloft 800 Summit Jacket features a pioneering combination of ripstop nylon and 800-fill down baffles for breathability and lightweight, unencumbered warmth. Additionally, movement-activated ventilation allows trapped air and body heat to escape through laser-cut perforations as the wearer’s activity level increases, without letting cold air in. And to promote a seamless transition from sport to street, Nike designers rigorously researched materials, selecting fabrics that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are technologically advanced.

The modular Nike LunarTerra Arktos delivers a wholly invincible approach to winter. It provides the lightweight comfort of a sneaker and the durable, insulated protection of a boot. At the same time, its directional aesthetic sets it defiantly apart from its predecessors.

Dynamic Nike Flywire and Hyperfuse construction form the upper for an adaptive fit and increased resilience. Nike Vac Tech molding reduces seams and, therefore, potential leaks. The midsole features Nike Lunarlon technology, which minimizes weight and maximizes comfort and mobility, whereas the outsole is crafted from a zoned sticky and hard rubber that enhances stability and agility on varied terrain.

Meanwhile, TPU toe and heel overlays form Goth-inspired diamonds. Combined with the all-black design, they communicate a connection to street culture while serving to further insulate and protect the foot from weather and wear. Lastly, a nickel-plated zipper with an easy-to-grab leather pull guarantees effortless release while a removable bootie helps keep the foot warm and dry—and serves as a satellite slipper.



The limited edition Nike Aeroloft 800 Summit Jacket and Nike LunarTerra Arktos debut Dec. 21, 2013 at Dover Street Market New York.

Source Nike


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