Google+

Google+: What Google’s Attempt To Create The Ultimate Social Network Means For Your Brand

Google’s new social network, Google+ is storming the nation. Well, not really, because the site is still on an invitation only basis. Oh, and brands are excluded. However, the site will only remain this way for a limited time basis, and within a couple of months people will be able to sign up for Google+ themselves and brands will be able to create their own pages with more information than Facebook can dream of at their fingertips.

Following the popularity of its search engine and Gmail, Google has been attempting to expand into the social networking digital realm for some time. In the past, the site tried and failed to create a social networking hub withGoogle Buzz.

However, from the beta versions of the new Google+, it looks like they’ve learned numerous lessons, and if the hype surrounding the plus, as we’ve taken to calling it, is anywhere near the finished version, now is the time for brands, shops, and everyone in between to start taking notes on the next frontier of social networking.

 

Skullcandy Hits Nasdaq – NY with Guerrilla marketing

Skullcandy Inc. announced yesterday that it has revised the share price of its common stock to $20 per share, higher than the anticipated IPO range of $17-19 per share for its Nasdaq debut today. Additionally, it has increased the number of shares offered, to 9,441,693, up from approximately 8.5 million shares.

The stock, which now trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “SKUL,” opened at $23 per share and was largely overshadowed in the market by the day’s other IPO, Zillow Inc, which is up 123% in early trading.SKUL (Track trading live here) rose 12% to $22 in early trades after dipping from its opening price. The brand reportedly raised $188 million dollars, raising its market value to $535.6 million.

“We are stoked to reach this important milestone for our company,” said CEO Jeremy Andrus in a brief statement to TWBiz. “It is a testament to the hard work of our team and we are excited about the future.” (Stay tuned for a full interview following the company’s 25-day quiet period following initial trading).

“Given where we are in the macro economic cycle, classic growth stories are resonating well with investors, particularly companies that are approaching new industries, and have a product that is in high demand,” said Paul Bard, research director at IPO research and management firm Renaissance Capital in an interview with CNBC, adding that he thinks Skullcandy fits the bill.

According to the brand, Skullcandy is offering 4,166,667 shares and the selling stockholders are offering 5,275,026 shares. Certain selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,416,253 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. Skullcandy will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

The news comes on the same day as the Skullcandy crew hit the NYC streets early this morning for “Skullcandy’s NYC Takeover,” placing oversized headphones on some of the city’s largest monuments and placing product around the city in scavenger hunt style for people to collect.

Here’s a look at their Street Team’s guerilla marketing strategy:

 

Manufacturing Stoke is a brand new documentary

Manufacturing Stoke is a brand new documentary that examines one of surfing’s greatest paradox: no other sport is so intrinsically linked to nature, and yet a majority of the materials used are environmentally toxic.

misfit pictures presents…

For more information, www.manufacturingstoke.com

contact: misfitpic at hotmail dot com
PMK

Surfboard shaper goes global

He’s always loved the water, but Sydney surfboard shaper Hayden Cox has pulled off a global deal that might just afford him an endless summer.

Cox has recently signed a deal with the world’s largest distributor of surfboards, Global Surf Industries, which will see his innovative surfboard technology sold in 58 countries around the world.

The founder of Haydenshapes Surfboards on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is also the inventor of the FiberFlex technology currently making waves in the global surfing industry.

It’s hard to overestimate the way FiberFlex is changing surfboards, the design for which has long been dominated by foam ‘blanks’ with a wooden core known as a stringer that provides the board’s integrity.

Although FiberFlex boards are also made of foam, their strength comes from a parabolic carbon fibre frame that hugs the rail of the board and its epoxy laminate. The result is a stronger, faster, more responsive board.

The global deal is not a bad result for someone who started his career as a 15-year-old work experience shaper in a surfboard factory in Sydney beachside suburb Mona Vale.

Cox got his first break when the owner of the factory he was doing work experience with realised he wasn’t there as part of an organised work experience program. “He was blown away I was working for free in my school holidays, and he helped me shape my first [surfboard] blank – he did one side and I did the other”.

After renting a shaping bay in high school to make boards for mates, and a stint in Bali shaping boards for tourists, Cox took the leap and borrowed $20,000 from a friend to set up his own surfboard factory.

This was the first step in establishing his Haydenshapes brand. But Cox soon realised focusing solely on that path wouldn’t allow him to sell to every surfer, so he came up with the FiberFlex concept so he could market his technology more widely.

“The brand and the technology can be custom-made locally or mass produced offshore, offering a high quality product and good margins,” he explains.

Cox laughs when compared to Simon Anderson, the shaper who pioneered the three-fin thruster design that now dominates the surfboard market. “Simon pushed the boundaries when designing and surfing the thruster, and I’m trying to do the same with FiberFlex,” he says. Anderson is famous for not patenting his design, which is now used by almost every other surfboard maker in the world.

Although Cox says he has a “zero dollar marketing budget,” he has been able to create a buzz around his brands in magazines, with world-class surfers such as Josh Kerr, Dane Reynolds and Craig Anderson pictured riding boards made with his technology, helping to create consumer demand.

“I shaped the first-ever FiberFlex board for Tom Carroll. He is an amazing person to work with when it comes to surfboard design,” Cox says.

“But it’s really all about plugging away, speaking to retailers and getting boards to shapers for their team riders. There’s also really good word of mouth around our boards,” he says.

He was able to start building a profile in the US market thanks to a well-connected contact who introduced him to the major players in the US.

Cox concedes the financial crisis was a tough period, but he has developed ways to bring cash into the business quickly. For example, customers pay upfront for custom-made surfboards, rather than when they are finished, in return for guaranteed manufacturing in two weeks.

Cox’s boards are manufactured in Australia, Japan, the US and Thailand. The partnership with Global Surf Industries has enabled Cox to manufacture in Thailand and supply the global economy from one manufacturing source. “We also offer locally-made custom boards through shapers around the world”.

His ability to sell the FibreFlex technology to shapers means that Cox can target all surfers in the marketplace. “But really, it’s all about having fun – there’s just something about being in the salt water that makes you happy. I make surfboards that are fun to ride,” he says.

Cox is featured in a new online book released by Nokia, In Hindsight, explores the stories of people building businesses.

Tips

• Try to have a number of different business strategies to increase revenue streams.
• If you can, ask contacts with a public profile to use your product or service to create a buzz for your business in the consumer space.
• Focus on developing products that ‘change the game’ in your market segment.
• Don’t give up. If you have a vision for your business, keep chipping away because dreams don’t come true overnight – they take time to come to fruition.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/entrepreneur/surfboard-shaper-goes-global-20110630-1gs8f.html#ixzz1Qu048dDu

 

 

Dane Reynolds Signs with Vans

VENTURA, California/USA (Tuesday, June 21, 2011) – Dane Reynolds (USA), 25, progressive surfing innovator and stalwart member of the ASP Top 34, has been out this season, rehabilitating a knee injury sustained last season in Hawaii. While the surfing world awaits his return to competition, Reynolds has been re-familiarizing himself with the sport via trips to Central and South America. Amidst the rehab and training, Reynolds recently signed with ASP’s Hawaiian Triple Crown sponsor Vans for all his footwear needs. This…is their story…

We are extremely excited to announce the addition of Dane Reynolds to the Vans Surf Team. Dane is one of the most exciting and unique surfers to date and brings a quiet sort of revolution with him. His approach is completely different to what’s been done and his reach touches every facet of surfing. For decades Vans has been home for people choosing their own path and it’s a pleasure to be able to uphold that principle to this day and have Dane become a part of it.

The 25 year-old from Ventura, CA has already made his mark on the ASP World Tour with Top 10 final rankings in both 2009 (10th) and 2010 (4th) – just his second and third years on tour, but Dane is much more than a contest surfer. When a surfer is described as straddling the demands of the pro tour while simultaneously establishing himself as a top free surf talent, perhaps no one reaches such heights in both worlds as the ultra-talented and creative Dane Reynolds.

In addition to Vans, Dane is sponsored by Quiksilver wetsuits and clothing, Channel Islands surfboards and accessories and Ventura Surf Shop.

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