The Rebirth of an Industry
Surfers don't have to cast their memories too far back to remember a time when companies – most notably Billabong and Rip Curl – proudly espoused their heritage and longevity in marketing campaigns.
Up until a few years ago 'Since 1969' and 'Since 1972' were central to each companies identity, in Billabong's case it was even a part of their logo. Most articles of their clothing featured the innocent sounding epigraphs amongst the patterns and prints. Rather then being innocuous statements however, the date stamps were devised to send a strong message to consumers and to other companies: We were here first. In effect Billabong and Rip Curl were staking off the historical ground surrounding surf culture to prevent newcomers from making their own claim.
History is a strong suit in surfing. In the water it manifests itself in localism and exclusivity over outsiders and newcomers. In the marketplace it exemplifies the 'core' aspect of a company: How long they've been around for and how dedicated they are to the sport. So vital has this perception been that Nike's 2002 purchase of Hurley was reportedly a means to acquire their own slice of surf history.
Yet such are the whims of fashion and the nuances of youth culture that history and tradition aren't always a positive for a company.
In the early 1990's Levi's Jeans had been in business for over 100 years and was one of the world's most popular brands. Part of Levi's success was advertisements that used classic old songs, 'Stand By Me', 'When A Man Loves A Woman'. Songs recorded up to forty years earlier that embodied the ideas Levi's were trying to sell: history and tradition.
In the mid-90's the fortune's of Levi's Jeans took a hit. They became desperately unpopular amongst younger consumers, the consensus being that kids didn't want to wear what their parents were wearing. Tradition had backfired on Levi's and sales plummeted. A new strategy was rolled out in 1994 with new lines of jeans catering solely to kids. Their advertising followed suit; in 1994 Levi's scrapped the use of old songs and featured a contemporary song in their marketing campaign for the first time. They no longer sold history but youthful relevance.
A very similar thing is currently happening in surfing and it is best exemplified by Rip Curl and Billabong scrapping their long-standing date stamps. The marketing campaigns of each brand no longer push the barrows of tradition and longevity. In the ever-evolving marketplace such claims have suddenly become a burden. The people who actually care about such core credentials - that is, older surfers - aren't their target market and they also aren't buying their clothes.
Mike Beckerleg is the director of Ogilvy Public Relations, in a recent Sydney Morning Herald article he said, ''A lot of companies had their moment in the limelight only to wake up and find themselves out of touch." The goal, he says, is to stay relevant. In the same article an anonymous source made a statement that echoes Levi's plight of the 90's: ''Once a kid sees his father wearing a youth brand the game is already over.''
Although it's assumed that Nike bought Hurley to acquire history and get a toehold in the surf market the Oregon-based multinational are now making their own self-branded foray into surfing. Unlike some of the existing surfwear companies Nike appear have a clear sight on the direction the wind is blowing. They have built up a stable of sponsored surfers – Kolohe Andino, Julian Wilson, Carrissa Moore Laura Enever – that reflect their target market in age and attitude. Most tellingly, Nike aren't banking on history or tradition but the inverse of that – youthful relevance and a new beginning. The catchphrase to Nike's latest campaign sums it all up succinctly: Create Your Own Legacy
Comments
I see Hurley, I see Nike and I would touch that sh1t with a longish pole. I stick with aussie stuff even if it is global these days. Nike isnt surfing for me no matter how they brand it.
Nor me, Sum cat, but then I ain't in their target demographic. The yoof will eat it all up, I reckon.
I think the problem now is a lot deeper for the surf industry,than just removing their start up dates......the surf industry market is now mostly made up of people who don't surf...you just have to to the MCG in winter to an AFL game and you will see BBG/QS/Rc everywhere,so this demographic group is now the foundation for the Surf brands sales.
the surf company's are currently just branding and marketing company's..with little creativity,no real new Tech products,and the same ol marketing formulas....so what can we expect in the next few years...probably the surf Co's losing more market ,and the question of branding ,and how much will people pay to wear a brand??
maybe the time of selling $5 T-shirts for $45 has ended..and the surf co's will have to drop their retail prices to survive,if they continue on their current course...
Stu,
if any company makes a great product, people of all ages will freely choose to exchange their crumbs for said products.
On a second note, many times it does not even have to be, IMHO, that good of a product.
Check the linked video below.... as i present you the guy, and his hired brand that the hypocritical old rottkamp been currently "proofreading" for.
Both working overtime to make the product, a finely brewed sugar drink, seem edgy.
http://vimeo.com/23292182
Capitalism 2.0!
I still think Nike are hedging their bets, just as they did in their take over of major Ice hockey brand Bauer. When they bought out Bauer they created a new company called Nike Hockey which ran parallel to the newly purchased Bauer (Even sponsoring major name players). Seeing Nike as a separate entity along side Bauer made people forget Bauer was Nike. Then after it became apparent Nike hockey wasn't gaining market share, it vanished, leaving only Bauer. I believe this was premeditated for a few reasons.
1) The Ice hockey market is (much like the surf industry) based heavily on perception of historical roots. They would have known consumers wouldn't take to Nike - Ice hockey is an alternative sport, not grown out of athletics.
2)Creating 2 seperate companies would lead the majority of consumers to believe the non-Nike branded company was its own entity or at least not affiliated with Nike.
3)Entering Nike into the market still no doubt generated profit in the short run, especially when they already had the production technologies in place (ie clothing). In regards to ice hockey equipment, they obtained the production technologies and patents from Bauer, hence gaining two income streams from the same R & D expenditure.
In the future, if Nike isn't achieving the market returns it wants in surfing, we will see Nike 6.0 drop out. And considering the surfing market sees itself as alternative, I doubt a mainstream company like Nike will ever gain real acceptance. But in its wake it will leave Hurley, a company complete with alternate history, and seemingly unaffiliated with Nike.
At least IMO...
But time is known to make monkeys of us all.
It doesn't matter if it appears mainstream or not, everyone that doesn't surf wants to be a surfer because it has had a "cool" image for years now. Surf shops in places 1000 miles from the nearest surf location.
The companies expanded into snowboarding and skateboarding to broaden their reach.
As has been metioned many times before, they are no longer relly a surf brand and alot of surfers don't really buy many of their products. But sometimes it is hard to avoid. Clothing and the like are easy to avoid, but sometimes, depending on where you are and the need at the time, things like legropes ect can be difficult.
Great example Rouby D. Remains to be seen if Nike's foray follows the same path but interesting nonetheless.
One point though: Don't you live on the Eyre Peninsula? How the hell do you know about ice hockey??
Roller, you're living in the 50's if you think business success is only contingent upon having a good product. Sixty years of marketing would suggest otherwise with many two-bit products sold on the back of sharp advertising.
And also, my mate Wolfy just emailed me and asked if you could please stop saying 'Booyah' and 'Capitalism 2.0'
Actually, he didn't say please he just said, 'tell that wanker to stop'.
Just thought I should let you know...
Ha Ha... thanks for that Stu. Though i don't think i said wanker, wasn't it broken record?
As for marketing a product that is rubbish, the best case i can think of in the past few years were those balance bracelets or whatever they were called. They were in every mag and various pros the like of AI were wearing them, and they didn't do shit! Capitalism 2.0 at it's fucking best.
Marketing and product manufacture rarely overlap these days. It's been a long time since MNC's pushed the quality of their product. Nike, Coke, and Apple (and other similar co's) promote lifestyle and aspiration in their advertisements. The theory goes like this: You don't buy something because it is well-constructed, you buy it because of the perceived values of the brand. (Power bracelets? Exactly)
Some of us may not succumb but all of us are prey.
That's Capitalism 2.0 Roller.
So Hot Tuna won't be bringing back their 8108 boardies then?
Oh Patty, you bring back the memories now!!!
How does that place Jordy Smith (and O'Neill) then? In an excellent place.
Nike obviously has no problem attracting talent to legitimise its brand (don't forget Michel Bourez is on the
roster; an excellent power surfer).
Smith refused a (reportedly very large) Nike contract for one with O'Neill. In the press releases he emphasised the heritage and support of O'Neill as the reason for his decision.
This seems to me to be an excellent marketing move by O'Neill: grab a highly-youth marketable surfer and ensure that the rhetoric surrounding him/her emphasises the heritage and ethics of the brand.
The people who care about core credentials, as Stu observed, will still hear the message, and the youth market will buy Jordy! board shorts.
Perhaps this multivalent marketing is the key to survival (Quiksilver does it well too) in what seems to be an otherwise depressed surf market.
@TRZA,
Great point about Jordy/O'Neill (wish I thought of that). I've been thinking how Quik fits into the youth idea, yet they have Kelly as their marquee rider and he kinda transcends age. They don't need a teenage superstar cos young kids still bubble and froth on him. Might be a different story after this year when he's not competing anymore.
But yeah, O'Neill have got the proverbial best of both worlds; they display both tradition and youth.
Stu, Quiksilver has Dane Reynolds. You know, the guy that sells more clothes than any other surfer?
You forget more than you can remember.
And in case you didn't notice last years J-Bay event had Jordy ads all over the place. Bong wanted him bad. Nike did too, but you'll have to ask his pops why that happened. Though he may not have a kind word for the souls here.
Whoever still thinks surfing is popular needs to travel inland.
The days of "surfshops" in malls of Nebraska were gone years ago.
Want to know who sells the most Quik gear over seas?
Jeremy Flores.
Surfing in 2012.
The Mayans were right.
'Stu, Quiksilver has Dane Reynolds.'
Of course they do, but I said marquee rider and he's still second fiddle to KS. Take a look who's front and centre of their latest 'Best of Boardriding' campaign.
My question is this:
Bob Mac has already been on record saying surf contests aren't all that important to Quik. Witness them passing on Julian and paying Dane the big bucks. Even when Dane surfs with barely or non-legible Quik logos kids still love him. Like Curren in the OP years.
Once Kelly retires, will they sponsor a single event again? I don't think Quik gives a shite about comp surfing, and Volcom just realized the same thing.
No return on investment.
Nike already knows this.
They're waiting for the tiny empire to collapse and then they'll sell their team through movie clips, ads in prime time, and whatnot.
Just my three cents.
Second fiddle?
Who has a bigger contract and more marketing clout?
C'Mon Stu.
Kids don't care about world titles because they don't watch the events.
They just want to be entertained by something that resembles the same thing and I do everyday. Surf until your tired and do your best. Marine Layer is successful because it shows Dane's human side. Why do you think Kelly started his own clothing company last year... a rip off if Dane. Because Kelly always wanted to be Tony Hawk and felt he got fucked.
Think about it for a minute.
And Stu, if you think Dane isn't a marquee surfer, then just quit now. The Ball handed you all your ass last night. Go write about important stuff like restrroom sanitation with Freeride.
Tiny Hawk isn't Hipster, but Dane is.
That's why surf writing sucks. They're ten years behind the times.
I'm already cognisant of those facts. Quik were reluctantly dragge into comps 'cause KS is a contest animal. Once he's done - if BMc is still pulling all the shots - they may well move from the contest arena. Contests are marketing machines, pure and simple, yet there far less quantifiable than any other type of advertising - itself largely unquantified. In the future either economic rationalism or commonsense will see money being spent in more effective ways and comps as we know them - large WT comps - will altogether change.
Any grown ups comment here?
I'm out.
Who us Andrew?
QS Pro @ goldy costs QS zip, zero, nada.
Seriously Stu, who us Andrew?
My name is Ben and I'm an engineer in central Cali.
Your ideas are awesome Stu. It's almost like your career depends on the tours success.
Who is Andrew?
I never logged in with that name. I have a nephew name Adam. But I don't know anyone named Andrew.
Were you talking to me?
Sid,
Same as New York?
Is Trza Andrew?
Is Fitzroy Andrew?
Who us Andrew?
Is Trza Andrew?
Is Fitzroy Andrew?
Who us Andrew?
Why is it taking so long to answer a simple question?
Who is Andrew?
Is it as important as who Kaiborg is?
Wot? I was agreeing with your premise. Where was the point of difference? (Aside from what you assume I think)
dunno about NY, but someone will always put on a comp on the goldy, always have, always will, to some lesser or greater degree.
and if they don't. who cares. no bark off my foreskin.
who is Kaiborg ?
dunno, don't care.
you've got me confused with someone who gives a fuck.
dunno if stu cares much either, but he can speak for himself, even in the nude.
but am looking forward to freddo pawle's blockbusting gutter media expose', I specially go out for a huge bush shit and use it to wipe my ass, as I will the last issue of The Australian newspaper.
Stu,
Who. Is. Andrew?
He meant John.
New Outsider story up. You might enjoy it to Andrew. Or John. Or Kaiborg. Or Kaiborg's vanquished victim.
Whoever you are.
Stu, you erased the name from your comment but screenshots don't lie.
Who is Andrew?
Andrew who ?
And roo ?
Stu,
The 50's?.... your kidding me, mate... Marketing is as old as civilization itself.
And tell Wooly that he knows this better than most up in here, that not every offering in the range sells well. In fact, most companies in the tog biz like Volcom, make it or break it on a handful of their seasonal offers. (Just ask Billabong how well the Bob gear went over)...With a very large slice of of any companies line always ending up in the remainder bin, tossed off at a loss to closeout opportunists.
Go ring up Jamal and Fuzzi.
Just like Wollard,... they are all capitalists to 'da max.
Interesting how Fuzzy Zoeller's comments from back in the day apply to Woolard today!
Congrats Woolard..... All of your hard work and ideas paid off... And don't ever be ashamed that you are a top shelf Capitalist.
Even if it's to be avoided in public, and at all costs in this day and age of advert schemes tailored towards rebels, tatts, "revolutionaries", and neckbeards.
farkin seppo's keep bombarding these forums with shit [not all] but some, just saying
x
I am still curious as to why Stu Net called me Andrew. Then he deleted it from his comment (I have the screenshot) and then said that Andrew, or John or Kaiborge would enjoy the puff piece by Freeride.
Why would you call me those names?
Why won't you answer?
My real name is Ben. Not Matson. But you already knew this.
So what's the deal.
Transparency.
Oh, and The Ball's comment in Shearer's last post was the best thing I've read since BR quit his blog.
I think you should send that screenshot directly to the FBI. This is a serious indictment. Don't hesitate now.
@niggly,
This here is the mod con, you know, interactive social media and all that?.... where it's more like a cocktail party, than a rottkamp'ed one sided heap of fuckery..
I guess you can always avoid it all, and tune in the evening news.
just gettin yous goin rolls,
"A smash of glass and the rumble of boots
An electric train and a ripped up phone booth
Paint splattered walls and the cry of a tom cat
Lights going out and a kick in the balls"
all together now "that's entertainment ahh... laa ......
vanguard, no one gives a jatz cracker what your name is.
one day, you conspos will work out that few of us take much seriously,
even when I'm serious, I'm not really serious.
goodluck with your seriously uptightness.
joe, someone is using your hand to wank their dick.
Sid
Stop changing forums on me... I'm spinnin out Man
sorry joe, I'm all over the shop.
Who needs a twitter acc when others will do the heavy lifting for you.?
Yeah Stu I think Billabong was "since 1973". You want to get your dates right on these flashback moments....
Quik was "since 1970" then "since 1969"...bit of a toss up there I spose.
I still reckon the more telling change for Bong is the vanishment of "Only a surfer knows the feeling", to be replaced by "Life's better in boardshorts". The one exclusive, hitting close to how a lot of surfers feel about their sport, and suggesting "you won't get it unless you work for it". The other inclusive, scarily reminiscent of GSI's "Life is better when you surf", and basically saying "we're pretty much anyone's".
These slogans seem surfactant but they carry a lot of meaning, both internally and externally. In this change of BB's you can see the generic change in surf culture over the past 25 years, from a thing done by relatively few who considered themselves a breed apart, to a thing done by....everyone! Hurray!
'Yeah Stu I think Billabong was "since 1973". You want to get your dates right on these flashback moments....'
Well that's a tad embarrassing, though it doesn't alter the point being made: the surf industry is reinventing itself. I hadn't really thought about BB's new tagline but it is indicative of an 'everyone's invited' attitude. A real change from their past marketing drives.
You gotta wonder what will happen to BB with Big Gordy ramping up his stake in the company. Clearly he still cares about Billabong so you've got to wonder if he'll have a say in their future direction. Will they return back toward the core? Then again, is it too late to do so?
On another note: I see that Quiksilver are opening Holiday Apartments in Byron Bay offering "tourists and surfing fans the chance to live, breath and sleep the Quiksilver brand."
'Live, breath and sleep the Quiksilver brand'? A word from the core, Quiksilver: Sack the unimaginative, gormless bastard who wrote that sentence.
stu, really. QS moving into the holiday real estate space ?
no doubt, debt funded.
will they never learn ?
sounds "safe as houses" (bahahaha).
@sid,
QS has always been the first to offer differing product lines. And with these housing/vaca digs i guess they are just kicking it old school with the offering of compartments and adjacent dance clubs.
Check it Sid:
QUIKSILVER SURFS INTO NEW TERRITORY IN BYRON BAY
For over forty years Quiksilver has travelled to the world’s greatest beaches, supported legends like Kelly Slater and witnessed some of the greatest moments in sporting history. Last night marked a new milestone for the brand and an Australian first for a surf brand, with the opening of the new Quiksilver Apartments and Flagship Store in Australia’s premier surfing destination, Byron Bay.
Surrounded by locals and Quiksilver surfing alumni, the new complex was warmly welcomed by the crowd who turned out in force to celebrate the occasion. The new store has been created to appeal to locals and tourists alike and will be run by local hero and former pro surfer, Danny Wills.
Set in the heart of Byron Bay, the Quiksilver Holiday Rental Apartments sit above the new store, and offer tourists and surfing fans the chance to live, breath and sleep the Quiksilver brand.
Specially designed to reflect Quiksilver’s authentic surf style, the apartments are steps away from Main Beach, Byron Bay’s best cafes and restaurants and legendary surf breaks The Pass and The Wreck.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Quiksilver Apartments and Flagship Store in Byron Bay,†said Greg Healy, President of Quiksilver Asia Pacific. “As a brand we are continually striving to break the mould of traditional surf brands and are thrilled to launch this milestone in Australia’s most iconic surfing destination.â€
is it just me, or does the spiel make you want to puke.?
dunno about that move, I'm real suss on aussie real estate. Methinks it's a stack of cards.
QS should pay down residual rossignol debt (750 mil), before they venture into egotistical real estate flutters like this.
...and turn a consistent profit... maybe this is another directors' plaything, just like the massive salary rises and director bonuses they gave themselves last year.
one for you rolls...
http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/03/15/historys-biggest-heist-uk-mp...
be prepared, most won't.
sid,
cheers for the link, but i'm more the realist than the conspiracy theorist.
Now back to Quik's latest adventure..... guess what?... they have competition.
The Weller.
The Weller is 107 square feet, not including the porch. The gable over the offset front door gives the Weller a distinctive look as well as a little extra loft space inside. The exterior dimensions are approximately 7' wide x 18' long. At the roof line, the Weller is 9'6" wide and 20' 6" long; and it stands at 11'2" tall (not including the foundation). The downstairs has a ceiling height of 6'6", and the loft height is 3'.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/weller/
no worries rolls, everything is fine,
you keep borrowing,
I'll keep stacking fizzy silver.
no borrow here, Sids... nor am i a lender. (at least with rates this low)... i'm a buyer/owner of businesses. one who was lucky enough to buy AU and AG back in 1999/2000.... and even luckier to sell it all last August, 2011.
good luck with the hoard you're accumulating, mate.
keep this in mind, since last time the prices got this out of paw it took the holders of G&S a mere 30+ years to break even.
http://inflationdata.com/inflation/images/charts/Gold/Gold_inflation_cha...
not so sured about that rolls,
the US Govt. has already borrowed and spent your great grandkids' future.
and we won't mention California, will we.
again, someone is looking at only one side of the balance sheet. is it prudent to look at only the liabilities and ignore the assets?
besides, a country and or state is quite different than an individual or company. does the individual or company have the ability to right their ledger sheet thru taxation, shipmate?
it's insurmountable debt rolls.
be real, the USA cannot afford a recovery and the subsequent interest rates returning to historical norm.
she's a skanky ho hooked on cheap smack.
it's a fucken ponzi scheme.
Insurmountable?
Cannot afford a recovery, and or more level, historical rates?
Pfffft.... just watch.
watching, waiting, waiting.
rolls, there is NO recovery.
it's a botox economy .
Really sids? You must lay off relying on the evening news for your figures.
'cause that sure must be a heap of botox being shipped on a daily basis!
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IMPxpMEVxdw/TlwHrlS8rXI/AAAAAAAAPpo/Y1Iv8bwTjF...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tndHw7VfkM0/TxSD_9shsJI/AAAAAAAAQsE/kKkqcI_Gb-...
oh, and the export traffic has had a 5.9% increase over last January, and a 19% increase over two years ago...
http://www.portoflosangeles.org/maritime/stats.asp
rolls, stop being a naive gullible fool.
whats really happening in the USA economy isn't on the evening news.
stop trying to stooge me like the time you put up Nike's revs and tried to pass them off as surfing.
I don't get any of my info from the evening news.
have fun smoking them green shoots. you're fucking tripping mate.
sids, my linking of Nike's revs and bottom line was not to pass of Nike as "surfing". But it does provide evidence that with their entry into the field that they can afford, and may quite well dominate sponno'd surfing in the very same ways they have dominated many other sports, not only on the professional level, but the high school and collegiate level as well.
Contest surfing. i don't care if it fails or if it does not. But it is quite clear that it is here to stay, and not going away anytime in anyone's lifetimes.
speaking of dominating, how'd you like those Brazilian surfers of late, dominating that just completed Burton Toyota Pro Newcastle Surfest?
oh, and as the overall US and global economy is doing so well, underreported and fully represented by the current neggo sentiment, don't forget to always buy the dips!
its all just FAshion…. i hear david bowie now…
@feral D,
ain't that true.
Marggies River goes off the hinges for the Telstra Druggie Aware Pro, and only one Brazilian is currently left standing...
on the soul train.
struth, feral D,
as it is with fashion,
surfing, even in it's many competitive forms, is not ending any time during our lifetimes.
digging how Tom Whits just beat Kelly in the Telstra Pro round of 24 heat by pulling manoeuvers circa 1989!