The privately-owned independent chain Red Herring Surf are proud to style themselves as Tasmania’s ‘original surf company’. It’s a claim that carries substantial backing when you consider that they’ve been at it for over forty years, and employ around eighty Tasmanians. These are no small feats to have accomplished in regional surf retail. For the last seventeen years, the group has been under the guiding hand of Victor Tilley, a man with a distinctive vision for surf retail nationally, and in particular for his island home.   This FEATURE article takes a look back at Victor's incredible contribution to Australian surf retail and the state of Tasmania and includes 30 never released photos from behind the scene's at Red Herring. It follows the news last week that Red Herring had sold to Wilson Retail

 

ASB MAGAZINE:  Red Herring has sold to Wilson Retail and the Saltwater Wine &  Stormrider stores.  With the ink only just dry, the deal includes all Red Herring stores "Lock, stock and barrell," Red Herring's Victor Tilley told ASBMAG.  The stores include Red Herrings flagship Liverpool St, Hobart address as well as Launceston, Burnie and Northgate. The transition is effective June 30th and at this stage it's anticipated the stores will continue to trade as Red Herring branded (TBC). For now though, Victor maintains it's 'business as usual'. Fresh from a surf trip to PNG which Victor booked almost 10 months ago, Victor was on the road today briefing staff and assuring them "everything's the same, it's just... I'm not the boss anymore."ASBMAG  reached out to Anthony Wilson of Wilson Retail and the multi award winning Saltwater Wine and Stormriders stores and more information is expected to follow tomorrow. News broke amongst sales reps today but at this early stage no formal letter to suppliers or customers has been sent out.

PROFESSIONAL EDITION: Indomitable: The Many Lives of Rob Bain

From a factory job chopping timber, to shop grom and skateboard whiz to surfing world title contender, and on to global roles with  pioneering surf brand O'Neill…Rob Bain has seen and done things most of us can only dream of.

It’s tempting to say he’s been lucky. Or outrageously talented. But that would be to overlook his most striking characteristic – a straightforward determination to get the best out of everything life throws at him. Because life has thrown Bainy some life-threatening, soul-destroying shockers. He gets up, he dusts himself off, and he starts again – as likeable as the Road Runner, yet as indestructible as the Coyote.

As life stories go, this one is more instructive for us in the surf industry than a thousand positive thinking podcasts. So it’s worth asking – just what makes Rob Bain tick?

ROXY launched their new global campaign, ‘Make Waves. Move Mountains’. As a lifestyle brand that caters to women all around the world, ROXY has been inspiring women and dreamers since 1990. The brand’s overall mission has laid the groundwork of the ‘ Make Waves. Move Mountains’ movement where ROXY celebrates the empowerment of women in action sports and beyond. The brand taps into their well – renowned snow and surf athletes, including Stephanie Gilmore, Dara Howell, Lisa Andersen, and Torah Bright to help promote a message of strength and support to young women of any age, sport, or dream. Activations are planned for the opening Quiksilver and Roxy Pro on March 11 and the Drop Festival March 17 Coolangatta.

According to the author Jock Serong, in an interview with Bainy it’s impossible not to be struck by his humility, his matter-of-factness about the extraordinary life he’s lived. He seems as surprised as you are that things worked out so well. From a factory job chopping timber, to shop grom and skateboard whiz to surfing world title contender, and on to global roles with pioneering surf brand O'Neill…Rob Bain has seen and done things most of us can only dream of. It’s tempting to say he’s been lucky. Or outrageously talented. But that would be to overlook his most striking characteristic – a straightforward determination to get the best out of everything life throws at him. Because life has thrown Bainy some life-threatening, soul-destroying shockers. He gets up, he dusts himself off, and he starts again – as likeable as the Road Runner, yet as indestructible as the Coyote. As life stories go, this one is more instructive for us in the surf industry than a thousand positive thinking podcasts. So it’s worth asking – just what makes Rob Bain tick?

The World Surf League (WSL) and Facebook announced a historic partnership  that makes the social media platform the exclusive digital home for the top live events in surfing in 2018 and 2019. The deal builds upon the non-exclusive live rights agreement that Facebook and WSL struck last year. Aside from the significant reach on WSL channels, more than 13.9 million people watched a World Surf League event on Facebook in 2017 – and they came from countries all over the world. The top three countries in terms of unique viewers were in the U.S., Brazil and Mexico.

There’s been a lot of external commentary around Boardriders Inc. acquisition of Billabong International, but since the deal was announced, there’s been radio silence from Boardriders and Billabong beyond the official press release and ASX statement. According to CEO Dave Tanner, there was some 150-people working on the deal for the last 6 months.With the transaction unlikely to settle until April, and while lawyers from both sides pore over the 92-page Scheme of Implementation Deed we decided to examine the deal, based on the facts we know at this time.

Nixon introduced the next installment of their STAR WARS™ | Nixon collaboration with the debut of Star Wars: The Last Jedi  in cinemas this summer.  The latest collection builds on a partnership first established in 2015 with Lucas Film and connects Nixon fans with one of the most respected film franchises in pop culture history. The capsule combines Nixon’s signature watch and bag silhouettes with unique elements that pay homage to The Star Wars: The Last Jedi central characters. We are unashamedly Star Wars nerds here and so we reached out to Nixon co-founder Chad Di Nenna and Joe Babcock, Director of Product to get the Lo-Down on the partnership.

WOW. Boardriders Inc. Announces Acquisition of Billabong.

ASB MAGAZINE: There’s been a seismic shift overnight, and never in our wildest imagination did we dare to dream that Boardriders  Inc (the parent co of Quiksilver, Roxy and DC) would acquire the Billabong Group to create  the world’s leading action sports company. Standby for our exclusive interview with Boardriders APAC boss Greg Healy, and in the meantime, read the official statement from Boardriders. An ASX statement has also been released from Billabong, with shareholders intent to vote in favour of the $1 per share offer representing  an implied enterprise value for the business of A$380 million.

PROFESSIONAL EDITION

THE STATE OF INDEPENDENT RETAIL - By The Numbers.