Industry Insight

News and advice from the sponsors of Shop-eat-surf.com

In the new era of internet, YouTube, social media, scanners, copiers and other technical devices the ability to infringe on other peoples intellectual property is incredibly easy. Getting caught at it, sometimes with severe financial implications is even easier.

It is also important for the creative people in the industry to understand the boundaries of fair interpretation, and not infringe on other people’s intellectual property. In recent years the following infringements have given rise to numerous claims and large financial liability!

TRADEMARKS

A trademark is a word, symbol or device that may be used to identify the source or origin of goods or services, guaranteeing the quality of the goods bearing the mark and distinguishing those goods from others. The trademark can be a word, a design (logo), look, color or even smell. The distinctive stitching on denim pockets can also be a trademark and Levi’s very aggressively protects there arch design.

Before attempting to launch a new trademark or using a name as a “style name,” extensive research should be conducted to ascertain whether there is any danger of the proposed usage infringing a third party trademark, which could be registered or obtained by prior usage.

The first and simplest check is to Google the name. If this shows usage in the product category probably better to try again. Even if the Google search is negative, search US Patent and Trademark Office. If the name does not come up on either search you should consult with an attorney to confirm your findings. Choosing an impaired name can be disastrous.

Often style name use of another’s mark does not constitute infringement. However getting called on use and dealing with it is an expense not needed.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright protects original works of authorship. Copyright arises automatically whenever a creative work is fixed in any tangible medium. A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort such as artwork, literature, music, paintings, and software. The standard for copyright infringement is whether the infringing work bears a SUBSTANTIAL SIMILARITY to the protected portion of the copyrighted work. This is obviously a very subjective test in practice, substantial similarity is usually obvious.

In recent years there have been a number of copyright infringement cases brought against retailers and manufacturers arising from the use of copyrighted prints. Changing a few details of the original design is no guaranty against an infringement. There is no magical “10% rule” as is commonly believed. Last year, Target Corporation and the vendor which sold Target the garment were ordered to pay EKB Textiles more than $389,000 and attorneys’ fees arising from Target selling a garment purchased from a vendor, incorporating a floral/paisley print. The colors, layout and the composition remained the same but a few details were changed.

Whether the print is internally created, if there is substantial similarity and the infringer is liable often to disgorge profits and pay attorney’s fees. If purchased there may be a right of indemnity which is of little use if they are a small time vendor with no resources to indemnify with! If purchasing a print, either probe as to the origin or change the print substantially. There is no “good faith” exception. Defending these cases is costly, win or lose.

PERSONAL LIKENESS

Living people (and in some cases dead people) have the commercial right to exploit their own image. Any use of the likeness, name, image, or even distinctive voice of a living (or in some cases dead) person could be a violation of that persons rights, and entitles them to damages.

The person doesn’t have to be a celebrity or even be clearly identifiable in the picture. They only need to be recognizable by a small number of people.

You MUST obtain that person’s written consent (usually accompanied by payment) before use – this includes athletes, models, employees or anybody involved in a photo shoot. Have your attorney prepare a standard template release for signature in each instance. If acquiring from freelance photographer or artist, make sure he supplies appropriate releases.

Another misconception that prevails is that stopping or making changes after receiving a cease and desist letter will suffice. This is not always the case. Plaintiff’s attorneys will assess profits on prior sales and if the amount is worth chasing they will not accept an apology and undertaking to stop the infringement.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as a professional opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. Professional advice should be consulted with regard to specific application of the information on a case by case basis.

You're invited to join Moss Adams for our Spotlight Series event for apparel, accessories and footwear business owners and executives. Experts in areas that include operations, supply chain, corporate finance, accounting and tax, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions provide guidance on pressing topics affecting your business.

At this event we'll be discussing the following:

- The State of the Retail Industry. Analysis of 2012 retail performance and a look at 2013 retail trends and what they could mean for your business.

- Why Now is the Best Time in Four Years to Sell a Company or Raise Capital in this Sector (And Why Transactions are Not Happening). A discussion of the factors in place which should create the strongest demand from strategic and financial investors since the end of the recession, and what’s contributing to low deal activity in 2013.

When & Where

Friday, June 7

8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. PT

Moss Adams LLP, Orange County office

2030 Main Street, Suite 1400

Irvine, CA 92614

Presenters

Geoffrey Haydon | Moss Adams Capital LLC

Vice President, Investment Banking

Frank Kaufman| Moss Adams LLP

Business Assurance Partner

For questions, please contact:

Nicole Hagaman | 949-221-4084.

In the latest video in the CIT Perspectives Factoring in Fashion series, the Tharanco Group explains why it looks to CIT Trade Finance for accounts receivable factoring and financing services.

Tharanco is a privately-held holding company that includes an established apparel division that supports more than 20 brands ranging from couture to contemporary. Based in New York City, Tharanco started as a manufacturer of private label apparel, providing branded goods to sell exclusively in a variety of well-known retailers.

Here’s what Haresh Tharani, Founder and Chairman, says about the value of a working with a factoring company and his long standing relationship with CIT.

Presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, the first biennial Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction "California Gold" went off at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday May 11 with total sales of $680,000. The event was organized to raise funds for the Surfing Heritage & Cultural Center, which has as its mission the preservation of surfing's history for current and future generations.

Hundreds of surfers and collectors attended the event to enjoy the art, music, book signings, vintage cars and of course the silent and live auctions. Surf legends and industry icons in attendance included Tom Curren, Peter Mel, Keith Malloy, Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, Mark Cunningham, John Van Hamersveld, Greg Noll, Larry Bertlemann, L.J. Richards, Mickey Munoz, Peter Townend, Rich Harbour, Rusty Miller, C.R. Stecyk III, Paul Naude and Fernando Aguerre.

With more than 50 surfboards from the early 1900s through today, a highlight of the auction included the Pete Peterson 1949 California Point Break Board, which sold for the highest price of $32,400. In addition, the most anticipated portion of the evening, the sale of "The Surf Riders of Hawaii" by A.R. Gurrey, Jr. book sold for $28,000.

The proud new owner of a $32,400 Pete Peterson 1949 California Point Break Board is Reef co-founder Fernando Aguerre.

"I'm stoked that all of the surfers and collectors supported the event's debut in California. The strong demand for the rare surfboards and memorabilia, was demonstrated by more than 90% of the lots selling," said Scott Bass, director of the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction. "After the solid showing yesterday, we are looking forward to doing it again in two years."

As soon as Tom Curren took the stage all other event happenings seemed to stop, and all eyes and ears were tuned into his performance.

The Surfing Heritage & Cultural Center would like to thank the presenting sponsor Quiksilver Waterman collection, and supporting sponsors Surfers Village, Longboard Vineyards, Sticky Bumps and Primo Beer, as well as the other participants, sponsors and volunteers that helped make the day's event a great success.

The Surfrider Foundation announced this week that professional surfers Alex Gray and Dave Wassel have signed on to be this year’s International Surfing Day Ambassadors. Observed globally on June 20th, International Surfing Day celebrates the sport of surfing and helps raise awareness about issues facing our oceans, waves and beaches.

No matter the wave size, Alex Gray is always down for a good surf mission wherever the waves are good. Growing up in the South Bay near Los Angeles, Alex is probably one of the last people you would think would end up on Oahu’s North Shore for six months out of the year and chasing giant swells around the world, but it was only a few years ago when he made the decision to transition from aspiring WCT surfer to Freesurf freak, slaying waves anywhere between two and twenty feet.

In 2011 Alex won “Best Barrel of the Year” at the Surfer Poll Awards, and has been invited to the Quiksilver “In Memory of Eddie Aikau” contest at Waimea. He’s also graced the covers of multiple surf magazines including Surfer, Surfing and TransWorld SURF. Additionally, the charismatic Alex has co-hosted the prestigious Surfer Poll and Billabong XXL Awards multiple times.

“International Surfing Day is a fun way to inspire ocean awareness through a day dedicated to the greatest sport and lifestyle in the world…surfing,” says Alex.

Big wave surfer, North Shore lifeguard, and free diving addict Dave Wassel encompasses everything that it means to be a waterman. For over a decade, Dave has been in an elite group of big wave surfers. In the last three years, he’s been invited to the prestigious “In Memory of Eddie Aikau,” and scored the covers of both Surfer and Surfing magazines for his rides at Tavarua. Last year, Dave won the Monster Paddle Award at Billabong’s XXL Big Wave Awards for a 53-foot wave at the famed Jaws break in Maui.

“I am thrilled to be working with Surfrider Foundation for this year’s International Surfing Day,” says Dave. “Who knew I needed another excuse to go surfing? Stay wet and we’ll see you in the water!”

“We are excited to have both Alex and Dave as this year’s International Surfing Day ambassadors,” says Surfrider Foundation Director of Marketing & Communications Laura Lee. “Their positive contributions to surfing and stoke align perfectly with the goals of ISD and we hope their involvement helps us reach a wider audience.”

To stay updated on ISD happenings, follow Alex Gray on Facebook, Twitter (@turkeymelt1) or Instagram (@a_gray), Dave Wassel on Instagram (@davewassel), or visit us online at www.intlsurfingday.com.

*Photos courtesy of Body Glove

Exciting news keeps rolling in from Turtle Bay Resort! April 29th our renovated spa and fitness center opened after undergoing multi-million dollar enhancements. The reinvented spa takes on a new name: Nalu Kinetic Spa.

Nalu is Hawaiian for wave and ocean surf. It’s also a verb, the action of waves. To nalu is to meditate, ponder and contemplate.

Nalu Kinetic Spa provides a multi-sensory experience of the ocean. Three outdoor treatment rooms were added where guests can get a massage, relax and unwind to the sound of the ocean. State-of-the art kinetic equipment is available in our fitness center that offers panoramic ocean views to those working out on cardio machines or lifting weights.

April 30th, The Oakley Store at Turtle Bay opened offering the most extensive range of technical eyewear and offering styles for both men and women. The store also has a broad range of Oakley logo surf wear and lifestyle apparel, including an exclusive resort line of t-shirts created for Turtle Bay.

There’s still more exciting changes on the way! June 2nd the first wing of our enhanced guest rooms will be finished. The updated decor reflects a contemporary, beach house feel, authentic to the North Shore with warm tones and splashes of tropical color.

The redesign is led by award-winning Honolulu-based firm WCIT Architecture and includes all-new fixtures, furnishings, bedding and décor in the guest rooms, as well as completely remodeled bathrooms with new tile, vanities, and walk-in showers. We invite you to come experience the epic changes first hand! Aloha and we hope to see you soon!

Must-Attend Surf Culture Auction Takes Off with an Online Catalogue!

Extraordinary works of art, surfboards, and other sought-after collectibles that make the culture of surfing tick, go on the auction block this Saturday, May 11 at the Orange County Fairgrounds. There will be a fast-paced live auction as well as an exciting silent one at this much-anticipated event. Here are a couple of pieces of note:

A Barry McGee and Joel Tudor collaboration board. In 2004 Thomas Campbell produced his second 16mm film "Sprout." This board was created as a fundraiser for the film and was a collaboration between Thomas, Joel, Barry, and shaper Bill Shrosbree. Barry McGee is internationally acclaimed for his work as a street and graffiti artist and is a much-respected cult figure in the bi-coastal subculture that comprises skaters and surfers. Exhibitions include the 2001 Venice Biennale; the 2006 "Beautiful Losers" at the Circleculture Gallery, Berlin, Germany; and the 2012 Barry McGee Retrospective at the Berkeley Art Museum.

Visionary publisher, surfer, artist, and filmmaker, John Severson has focused on subject matter that deals with surf culture since the 1950s. His watercolor Golden State is an evocation of the best days of surfing in California as we might remember them and the sunlight that infuses our experience on the water. Everyone knows that Severson is a Hall-of-Fame surfer and founder of Surfer Magazine.  
 
The Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction "California Gold" takes place on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at the Orange County Fair & Events Center. The event starts at 12 noon with the Auction Preview. The Silent Auction follows at 1 p.m., with the Live Auction kicking off at 5 p.m. For $10 you can get into the auction exhibition, live music, and reception areas, which will have no-host food trucks. For $25 you can get a bidders paddle to participate in the auctions. Live bands include Tower 7, Mattson2, Tom Curren, and Ray Barbee. The event will also feature collectible appraisals, book signings, and special guest appearances. For $150 you can bring your date and be admitted to the exclusive VIP area with complimentary food and drinks. VIP tickets must be purchased by Wednesday.
 
To reserve tickets Click Here.  
To view the silent and live auction Click Here.
To view the online auction catalogue Click Here.  
This auction is a fundraiser benefit for Surfing Heritage & Culture Center.

FAN PLM was recently profiled on CoolCompanies.ca, which provides insights into entrepreneurial opportunities.  The article describes how FAN PLM helps global sports footwear and apparel manufacturers of global brands use workflow software to improve their product lifecycle management.

The article notes that FAN PLM software systems improve efficiency, saying “Using this web-based software system, everyone involved in developing a new product can see the workflow and participate in the multi-time zone and multilingual communication from research and development in the US and Europe to manufacturing and even the shipping status in Asia. It also provides information on delivery to retailers and real-time sales. “

The full text of the article is here.  To contact FAN PLM, email me or visit our website.

For more, please also visit and "like" our Facebook page.

Check out all the action at KNOWSHOW's Spring/Summer show.  Registration is now open!

NEXT SHOW : July 30 - August 1st, 2013

Tuesday / Wednesday : 9:00am - 6:00pm Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm

West Hall A 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC

 Vist our new website for more information!

We recently caught up with Stefanie Sekich of Surfrider Foundation about the Foundation's efforts to Save Trestles Forever. 

On Friday, April 19, the Foundation's Save Trestles Blog reported that the TCA had "held a 'Special Meeting' to approve plans for their so-called 'Tesoro Extension,' the first 5 miles of the 241 Toll Road that would end up paving over a large portion of San Onofre State Beach and connect with I-5 near Trestles."

The blog notes that "Previously we were assured multiple times that the TCA would hold public workshops and have an open comment period to take input on this project before approving. Instead, they put an agenda on their website with less than 48 hours notice, notified nobody, and then held a vote."

We asked Stefanie to give us a few more details on future plans for the Save Trestle Forever effort.

1. What is Surfrider Foundation doing next on this issue?

We will continue to follow their plans to build the road in segments--especially as they try to obtain a permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The Board will issue a decision sometime this spring/summer. In the meantime, we will follow their plans to finance the road--which isn't looking good. If they don't have money, they can't build the road!

Recently the Los Angeles Times reports that the Pacific Research Institute, a conservative think tank, released a new analysis of TCA's finances that concludes “the operations of these toll roads presently appear to be unsustainable and likely have been unworkable from their inception.” The report explains that TCA’s shaky financial plans and debt structure will make its financial status worse, “likely forcing a default or another restructuring.”

Surfrider is working with our long-standing Save San Onofre Coalition and we have other tricks up our sleeves to ensure they do not build this road--the same road that was rejected by the State of CA and the Bush Administration.

We will continue to pressure the TCA and attend their Board meetings. Surfrider and NRDC recently testified before the TCA chastising them for making a rush decision to build the road in segments.

TCA says they will conduct public workshops and we plan to make sure we personally invite as many people to those workshops as possible.

2.  What can industry companies do to help?

Help us spread the word. Many people think that the fight is over. Despite our best efforts to inform our members about TCA's plans to build the road in segments, many people still don't know the TCA is illegally trying to carve the road up into pieces.

Please circulate links to our Save Trestles page and feel free to use the image above. 

3.  What is the official timeframe?

They must obtain a few more clearances to build the first section of the road. While that process varies, we know the Regional Board will be deciding this spring/summer.

The work TCA needs to do for other agencies is still in the air, that is why it's so important that we keep spreading the word, so as they try to obtain their permits they are stymied by public opinion.

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for all Agenda summer shows.

Agenda:NYC, Agenda Long Beach & Agenda Vegas

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda. Register now to attend.

Agenda:NYC

Wednesday, July 10th & Thursday, July 11th, 2013, 9am - 6pm

82 Mercer Street,New York, NY 10012

Visit the Agenda:NYC microsite here

In the heart of Manhattan, AGENDA New York provides an intimate two-day forum comprised of the top men's brands representing the street, skate, sneakers and California lifestyle.

Agenda Long Beach

Thursday, July 25th & Friday, July 26th, 2013,9am - 6pm

Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, Ca 90802

AGENDA Long Beach presents our paramount two-day youth-culture forum. Encompassing each facet of California lifestyle. We bring you streetwear, fashion, action sports, sneakers, surf and hardgoods, the BERRICS AGENDA curated skate section, and now expanding the Women's voice. With over 600 brands represented, this makes for a cohesive experience showcasing brands grouped by styled merchandising story.

Agenda Vegas
Monday, August 19th & Tuesday, August 20th, 2013,9am - 6pm

Sands Expo at Venetian | Palazzo, 201 Sands Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89169

For more info: themodernassembly.com

AGENDA Vegas is the meeting ground where lifestyle and streetwear collections converge during the Vegas fashion market week to represent the subcultures of California lifestyle. AGENDA Vegas is proud to be part of the strategic alliance, known as the Modern Assembly, along with AccessoriesTheShow, Capsule, Liberty, MRket, and Stitch. Dispelling the myth of the competitive nature between the fashion tradeshows of yesteryear, the Modern Assembly provides an ideal mix of resources in the right environments, with the utmost of convenience by co-locating and cross-marketing. More than 2500 of the world's most exciting men's, women's clothing and accessory brands to meet with North America's largest audience of fashion retailers.

Todd Harrington, CIT Trade Finance

CIT Group Inc., a leading provider of financing and advisory services to small businesses and middle market companies, today announced that Todd Harrington has been named Northeast Regional Sales Manager of CIT Trade Finance. He reports to Marc Heller, Northeast Regional Manager and International Manager of CIT Trade Finance.

“Todd is an asset to our team as we look to grow our factoring, asset-based lending, and accounts receivable management services in the Northeast Region,” said Heller. “His sales and credit experience is a benefit to our business and his expertise in building new and existing relationships make him an excellent choice for this leadership role.”

Previously, Harrington was Managing Director and Chief Sales Officer for CIT’s Small Business Lending group, in which he was responsible for sales, marketing and relationship management related to all small business lending products in the United States, including Small Business Administration programs.

Harrington joined CIT in January of 2007. Prior to CIT, Harrington was Executive Director, National Sales for Morgan Stanley’s Commercial Financial Services (CFS) division. At CFS, Harrington had national responsibility for sales staff and strategy in support of small business and middle-market focused lending products. Previously at Morgan Stanley, Harrington served as the national Director of Business Advisory Services for the small and mid-sized business clients of the firm.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Harrington held several VP level banking positions at Chase Manhattan Bank/Chemical Bank, where he originated and syndicated leveraged buyouts and traditional middle market and small business banking transactions starting in 1992 when he graduated from Chemical Bank’s Credit Training Program. Harrington holds a BS in Management from Binghamton University.

The Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quicksilver Waterman Collection will be held on Saturday, May 11th at the OC Fair and Events Center. We caught up with SHACC Board Member and Auction Director Scott Bass to find out about this highly anticipated event.

What is the theme of the auction?

The theme is “California Gold” and the auction will feature surfboards and memorabilia from the 1920s-1970s. Surfboards are our primary focus, with 80% of the main auction items falling into this category.

What are some of the featured items at the auction?

We have the ultra rare Gurrey family copy of The Surf Riders of Hawaii by A.R. Gurrey Jr., published in about 1914. There are only 8 known copies in the world, and one copy recently sold at Sotheby’s for more than $37,000. Next week, PBS is running a feature on the book. You can see a video about it here.

We will have more than 50 unique and rare surfboards in our live auction. For example, we have a 1940s era Pete Peterson board that is expected to go for upwards of $25,000. Pete Peterson was the preeminent waterman of the first half of the 20th century. After serving in the Navy in WWII, he applied the technology he learned about to surfboards.

Our auction program gives more detail on each of these items and many more. Download it here.

What else is happening at the auction?

In addition to the live auction, we’ll have a silent auction and an art wall. We’ll also have surfboard appraisals, cool cars to check out, and book signings by luminaries such as Rusty Miller and Anna Trent Moore. There will be live music, including Tom Curren’s band, the Tom Curren Trio. Keith Malloy is screening his film "Come Hell or Highwater", and surfing legends like Larry Bertlemann and Greg Noll will be in attendance as well.

How do we get tickets?

Visit our website to get tickets and bidding paddles. You can also just come by – doors open at noon.

The NBFF Action Sports Film Series will take place during the week of the Newport Beach Film Festival (April 25 - May 2, 2013) in Orange County, CA, a location celebrated as the epicenter of the surf wear and action gear industry and the ultimate destination to experience music infused cutting-edge adventure on the big screen.

Films will screen at Island Cinema (999 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach), Triangle Square (1870 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa) and at the Regency Lido Theatre (3459 Via Lido Drive in Newport Beach).

You can click on the festival photo above to purchase tickets and find scheduling info.

Or, you can click here to see a schedule of films in the action sports series.

2013 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL ACTION SPORTS FILM SERIES LINEUP
Anything Sing
(2013, USA, 25 minutes)
Directed by Kai Neville, Victor Pakpour
Featuring: Luke Davis, Nick Rosza, Conner Coffin, Mick Fanning, Ford Archbold, Beau Foster, Shane Dorian, Alana Blanchard
The world is filled with distractions. Everything around us blinks, rings, sings, shouts, distracts, vibrates, reminds, likes, comments and downloads. The chaos and beauty of the world is overshadowed by technological distractions and tweets that possess no lasting significance outside the screen they’re displayed. We seek to rise above that chaos by creating our own
environments and settings. On different surfaces. New canvases. On concrete. On walls. On water. On arms, with ink. Permanently. Like moments.

Away
(2012, USA, 14 minutes)
Directed by Elisa Bates
Featuring: Katrina Del Mar, Jee Mee Kim, Mary Leonard
Explore the subculture of the New York City surfing scene through the lens of a few women, divulging the highs and lows of riding waves at Rockaway Beach, Queens.

BIRDMEN: The Original Dream of Flight
(2012, USA, 43 minutes)
Directed by Matt Sheridan
Featuring: Ellen Brennan, Matt Gerdes, Mike Steen, Palmer Pattison
For millennia, humans have looked to the sky and dreamed of arcing through the air, like birds. And now, after hundreds of thousands of years, the dream of human flight has become a reality: humans can fly. Wingsuit BASE Jumping is a dangerous and deadly sport that requires years of training, but a select few have committed their lives to the pursuit of the purest form of human flight.

Children of the Wind
(2012, USA, 95 minutes)
Directed by Daphne Schmon
Featuring: Gbenga Akinnagbe
The Bonaire windsurfers, a group of native kids under the mentorship of the remarkable Elvis Martinus, founder of the Bonaire Aquaspeed windsurfing club, overcame insuperable odds to dominate and revolutionize an inherently elitist sport. When Tonky, Tati, and Kir, three kids who refused to be defined by the limits of their circumstance, decide to attend windsurfing’s North American Championship in Florida, they embark on an incredible journey that takes them from humble beginnings to international fame in the sport of windsurfing, transforming not only their tiny island but the face of the sport worldwide.

Congo: The Grand Inga Project
(2012, USA & Congo, 60 minutes)
Directed by Steve Fisher
Featuring: Steve Fisher, Tyler Bradt, Ben Marr, Rush Sturges
Legendary kayaker Steve Fisher and his elite expedition team battle seemingly insurmountable obstacles, navigate the maddening politics of a crooked country, and face their own worst fears in an attempt to be the first explorers ever to survive the Inga Rapids.

Cranberry Wake
(2012, USA, 8 minutes)
Directed by Alex Horner
Featuring: Ben Horan, Brian Grubb
What happens when a wake boarder is pulled through a flooded cranberry bog?

Discovering Mavericks
(2012, USA, 96 minutes)
Directed by Josh Pomer
Featuring: Jeff Clark, Richard Schmidt, Flea, Peter Mel, Jake Wormhoudt
Mavericks is California’s most notorious big wave and most people didn’t even believe it existed. Not only is it off the coast of Northern California but it is one of the most dangerous and incredible waves that surfers can ride. With interviews frommany of the pioneers of big wave surfing, this film gives firsthand accounts on the history, the danger and the excitement of catching one of the best waves in the world.

European Surf Journal
(2012, USA & Portugal, 53 minutes)
Directed by Peter Sterling
An epic journey through Europe featuring the best waves and surfers from 10 European countries that features adventure surfing to the extreme in Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Madeira and Spain.

Gauchos del mar- Surfing the American Pacific
(2012, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, México, Perú, USA, 59 minutes)
Directed by Julian Azulay
Featuring: Julian Azulay, Joaquin Azulay
Julian and Joaquin Azulay, two Argentinian brothers, travel from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires to follow their dream of surfing the American Pacific coastline. Their adventure takes them through different cultures, villages, food, people, and landscapes as they surf their way home.

HeartChild
(2012, Ireland & USA, 103 minutes)
Directed by Ben Duffy
Featuring: Crys Worley, Sasha Worley, Peter Karvonen
When Crys introduced her autistic son Sasha to skateboarding, she was surprised to see him not only instantly fall in love with the sport, but that he was able to function at the skate park better than anywhere else before in his life other than home. Inspired by the challenges that parents of autistic children face, Crys started a nonprofit organization called A.Skate -Autism. Skating with Kids through Acceptance, Therapy, and Education. Today, parents with autistic children line up to
take part in the group activities, and are amazed with the results.

Isolated
(2012, Indonesia & USA, 106 minutes)
Directed by Justin Le Pera
Featuring: Travis Potter, Jenny Useldinger, Jimmy Rotherham, Josh Fuller, Andrew Mooney
A group of merciless surfers and modern day explorers embark on a journey to search for one of the world’s last undiscovered waves in the journalist dead zone island of new Guinea. Their adventure becomes all too real as they encounter real life cannibals, uncover governmental genocide, expose highly unethical gold mining corporation and are followed by the military only to be later kidnapped by the rebel freedom movement. Enjoy never before seen footage of a dying
aboriginal culture as well as one of the most epic wave discoveries of the past 20 years.

The Motivation
(2013, USA, 88 minutes)
Directed by Adam Bhala Lough
Featuring: Nyjah Huston, Paul Rodriguez, Chris Cole, Bastien Salabanzi, Chaz Ortiz, Luan Oliveira, Ryan Sheckler, Sean Malto, Rob Dyrdek
Eight of the world’s best pro-skateboarders prepare for the upcoming Street League Championship in NYC. Each equally talented, they all must overcome unique challenges—family pressures, injuries, money, fame and their own internal struggles—for a chance to win $200,000 and the title of best street-skateboarder in the world.

The Signal Hill Speed Run
(2012, USA, 90 minutes)
Directed by Michael Horelick, Jon Cornoy.
Narrated by: Ben Harper

In 1975, the Guinness World Records TV show asked skateboard promoter James O’Mahoney to stage a skateboard race which resulted in the world’s first skateboard contest, known as the Signal Hill Speed Run. It soon turned into an annual event with crowds over 5,000 people along with television crews and national coverage. Signal Hill Speed Run shows the evolution of this downhill dash, which became notorious in its day and began attracting daredevils of all types. It became a
singular microcosm of the exploding skateboard culture worldwide, until closing for good in 1978 when a stunt woman had a brush with death, crashing at 60mph.

Tempting Fear
(2012, Canada, France, Norway, Peru, USA, 25 minutes)
Directed by Mike Douglas
Featuring: Andreas Fransson, Bjarne Sahlen, Paul Roderick, Magnus Kastengren, Xavier De La Rue, Felix Hentz, Morgan Shalen
A Swedish skier, who is known for extreme adventures and his near death experiences, explores a place where fear overwhelms all emotions.

WE: A Collection of Individuals
(2012, Canada, France, Switzerland, USA, 65 minutes)
Directed by Cody Carter, Peter Alport
Featuring: Sean Petit, Pep Fujas, Karl Fostvedt, Bobby Brown, Clayton Vila, Dane Tudor, Leigh Powis, Banks Gilberti, Cam Riley, Sean Jordan, Sammy Carlson, Bene Mayr, Paddy Graham, Josh Stack, Charley Ager, Mike Henitiuk, Riley Leboe, Joe Schuster, Joss Christensen, Alex Schlopy, Alexi Gosbout
Venture behind the scenes of the life and times of the modern day skier. While long considered an individual sport, skiing is a collaborative art that takes the energy of many different venues and styles, the core remains within the crew of individuals that help scout, build, transport, struggle, and keep each other safe. Follow one season in the lives of several influential skiers as they travel the world in search of epic powder lines.

Where The Trail Ends
(2012, Argentina, Canada, China, Nepal & USA, 81 minutes)
Directed by Derek Westerland, Scott Bradfield
Featuring: Darren Berrecloth, Cam Zink, Kurt Sorge, James Doefling, Andreu Lacondeguy
The world’s top freeride mountain bikers search for untraveled terrain around the globe, ultimately shaping the future of big mountain freeriding. This unparalleled story documents man’s continued challenge of Mother Nature showcased through a cast of colorful characters. This is the most progressive and ambitious mountain biking ever attempted resulting in an entertainment adventure unlike anything experienced before.

Youth of Yangon
(2013, Myanmar & New Zealand, 12 minutes)
Directed by James Holman
Youth of Yangon documents the emerging skateboard youth culture in Myanmar. It is a new voice of new generation, one that is not restricted and shut out from the rest of the world. It is a struggle to find a place in a rapidly developing country, a struggle to be supported doing something they love.

With summer rapidly approaching, men’s wardrobes will become more minimal and beachy fresh.  The new staple for every man’s closet this summer is the Brand Tank. 

Giving just the right amount of fabric in the right places, this tank is the perfect fit.  The Brand Tank comes in an assortment of masculine colors as well as the basics.  

Ei-Lo’s Brand Tank is made of 4.9 oz of 100% USA Cotton.  The 24’s ringspun yarn allows unparalleled softness while keeping durability.  It is also reactive dyed dischargeable for optimal printing and NAFTA certified.

For more information, contact us or visit ei-lo.com.

NRI Distribution Inc. was just certified as a 2013 "Most Democratic Workplace™" by WorldBlu. We caught up with President and CEO Peter McKenna to discuss this award and other recent happenings at NRI.

Congratulations to NRI on being certified as a Most Democratic Workplace by WorldBlu! Why did NRI seek out this prestigious certification?

We have worked hard on engaging our employees through practices like LEAN manufacturing, which emphasizes creating value, as well as Town Hall meetings.  We are always trying to measure the effectiveness of our actions. Sometimes the opportunity to have a voice is missed by employees who are accustomed to other work cultures so this was a chance for us to get a solid measurement.

What did the application process require you to demonstrate?

You are measured on 10 principles, Purpose and Vision, Transparency, Dialogue and Listening, Fairness and Dignity, Accountability, Individual+Collective, Choice, Integrity, Decentralization, Reflection and Evaluation. There is a lot of focus on measuring leaders actions and their accountability to employees.

How does the award reflect NRI's corporate culture and values?

My partner Bruce Churchill and I had both worked in unhealthy environments when we met. We decided from day one that fairness and respect would be cornerstones of our business relationships both internally and externally. Since then we have added and defined our values further and we communicate and demonstrate those values every day. We also communicate those values in the hiring process at all levels so that our managers and employees know that we are genuinely committed to them. We hire for culture and fit.

What aspects of its culture help NRI retain and attract top tier talent?

We try to share as much information as we can with our crew and engage them in decision making. Obviously you expect to gain insight from key employees in the decision process. If you share information through to all employees it’s amazing the valuable feedback we receive.

We all have expectations in the work environment and quality and accountability are a big part of our values. So is a balance of success and lifestyle. We want to make sure we are supporting their success at work and in their personal lives. The give back can be amazing as their vision of our business becomes one of shared ownership rather than a paycheque. The company is now 15 years old and I look through my calendar and see numerous 10 and 15 year anniversary celebrations. It’s definitely a reflection of the sense of ownership and valued input that makes someone want to invest that much of their life to a company.

What's next for NRI?

The results we received from WorldBlu showed us we still have areas of opportunity. We will be participating with other companies who made the list beginning in May to share concepts and results to try and improve where we fell short. This is a strategic focus for us as our product is a blend of people and tech with tech being the easy part. We are also continually working on our listening skills.

As we increase our footprint in the USA and bring on new staff and clients, it is important for us to partner with brands who share and support our values. Finding those customers is essential to maintaining our culture and it’s culture that comes first.

The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) proudly announces its 2013 Action Sports Film Series (ASFS), an international showcase of films celebrating athletes, visionaries, filmmakers, cinematographers, pioneers, entrepreneurs, artists and designers who have shaped the action sports culture and cultivated its progression with their innovation, energy and creativity.

Emerging on the forefront as the largest action sports cinema event in the nation, the NBFF Action Sports Film Series will take place during the week of the Newport Beach Film Festival (April 25 - May 2, 2013) in Orange County, CA, a location celebrated as the epicenter of the surf wear and action gear industry and the ultimate destination to experience music infused cutting-edge adventure on the big screen. Films will screen at Island Cinema (999 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach), Triangle Square (1870 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa) and at the Regency Lido Theatre (3459 Via Lido Drive in Newport Beach).

The Action Sports Film Series offers filmgoers an opportunity to experience breathtaking cinematography, fascinating cultural journeys, in-depth portrayals and compelling stories that explore the physical, emotional, historical and spiritual realms of surfing, skateboarding, skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, base jumping, mountain biking and other extreme sports.

Highlights include red carpet film premieres, spotlight screenings, post-parties,filmmaker panels, athlete guest appearances, autograph signings and the participation of action sports industry leaders.

Co-produced by the Newport Beach Film Festival and Orange County-based ChopShop, the NBFF Action Sports Film Series will spotlight seventeen (17) films from around the world. Tickets to the screenings are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Tickets are available here. 

In today’s fast-paced environment, it can be difficult to find new ways to connect with consumers. We caught up with Dilip Daswani, CEO of Zeebric, LLC, which provides software solutions to consumer product brands to help them get closer to their end customers

What kinds of solutions can you offer brands that want to get closer to their end customers?

There are many ways to incorporate software solutions that help expand brands’ relationships with their end customers. We offer mobile commerce, NFC marketing and QR code marketing solutions.

Can you give us an example of one of your solutions?

Using QR codes in creative applications is a great way for retailers to get more connected to their clients. Our recent blog post talks about one company who incorporated QR codes into the fabric of pajamas. As the article explains, “Each group of dots actually functions as a QR code which, when scanned with a smartphone or tablet with the Smart PJs app, will play a lullaby, read a bedtime story or provide the child with interesting facts. “

Options like these offer parents new opportunities to engage with their kids, and this technology can work for other kinds of retailing as well.

What are some ways that action sports brands can do similar work to better connect with their consumers?

We have a new blog post on our site today about how action sport brands can use QR Code marketing to connect with end customers. "Action sports brand are in a great position to leverage the power of QR code marketing: not only can QR code-enabled hang tags and labels be used to convey basic instructions and safety guidelines, they can also be used to share messages about the lifestyle associated with action sports." 

Our blog discusses the top three ways brands can use QR codes to market to and connect with their clients.  For more information on how best to use these technologies, contact us.

Actor David Chokachi, Surfrider Foundation and Heal The Bay

Speak Out Against EPA Budget Cuts

Last week, the Obama Administration released the FY2014 budget, and once again it eliminates the EPA’s Beach Grant Program that funds recreational water quality monitoring programs to protect swimmer safety.

Public outcry over these same cuts last year motivated supporters in Congress to ensure continued funding for this program throughout 2013 but the President’s current proposal threatens future funding of this popular program.

EPA’s Beach Grant Program funds beach water testing efforts and ensures that health standards are applied consistently in coastal states across the country. The proposal to eliminate this program will seriously endanger the health and safety of the over 100 million beachgoers and swimmers across the nation and the vitality of US coastal, tourism-based economies that are worth more than $80 billion annually.

“If you take away funding for water quality testing, you put families and children at risk,” says actor and Surfrider Foundation supporter David Chokachi. “Everyone has a right to know if the water at the beach is safe to swim in.”

Last year, David along with representatives from the Surfrider Foundation and other environmental organizations traveled to Washington D.C. to speak at a Senate briefing about the importance of continued federal funding for the BEACH Act.

“By defunding the BEACH Act program, state and local governments will now be solely responsible for water quality testing,” Chokachi continues. “Unfortunately, the reality is that some states rely entirely on the EPA grants to support their beach programs, so these states may stop their beach water quality monitoring altogether. Many other states will likely test less often, use less safe standards, or could drop monitoring completely during the offseason, when surfers tend to dominate ocean use.”

“We’ve spoken to representatives from several different state agencies across the country over the past year, and they are deciding which beaches to stop testing, which staff to lay off, and if they can keep their water testing labs running at all with these looming budget cuts,” says Surfrider Foundation Water Quality Manager Mara Dias.

“Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card Program uses beach water quality monitoring data to provide the public with weekly grades at over 650 beaches along the West Coast,” says Kirsten James, Heal The Bay’s Science and Policy Director. “If the proposed funding cuts occur, the public will be swimming at their own risk at many of these beaches.”

Visit the Surfrider Foundation’s website to contact your representatives in DC and let them know that you have the right to know if a day at the beach could make you sick.

A recent article in ABF Journal features CIT Trade Finance’s efforts to increase awareness about accounts receivable factoring.

The article discusses CIT’s recently launched Internet –based Factoring University as one of a series of initiatives put in place by CIT Trade Finance president Jon Lucas. Lucas is aiming to raise awareness of factoring as a financing option, especially for small and middle market companies.

Here is an excerpt: “When people want to research a product or service, they almost always turn to the internet for information. That is true even for professional services, like factoring. As recently as one year ago, there was no central repository of educational information about factoring," the ABF Journal article notes. "Since CIT has been in the factoring business for almost 100 years, Jon Lucas, President of CIT Trade Finance, decided to do something about it."

Lucas’ efforts include CIT's "Factoring University" campaign, on display on Shop-eat-surf. “ 'As one of the leading factoring organizations in the United States, we wanted to lead the discussion about factoring,' ” Lucas said in the ABF Journal article.

The article lists resources available through the Factoring University website, including educational videos and a link to a forum for business owners, advisors and factoring professionals.

CIT has offered accounts receivable factoring to its clients for almost 100 years. More information is available on CIT’s website.

The article is part of ABF Journal’s paid content and is available to ABF Journal subscribers here.

Moss Adams is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Donate Life 5K/1K Run/Walk to be held at CSU Fullerton on Saturday, April 27, 2013.

We invite you to join our MATCH team, along with our family, friends and local university students, who will be participating in this event.

WHEN

Saturday, April 27

8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. PT

WHERE

CSU Fullerton, Intramural Field

800 State College Boulevard

Fullerton, CA 92831

If you’d like to join us, please click here. During the registration process, select "Join a Team" and then "Moss Adams LLP" in order to register and join the Moss Adams team.

The MATCH group (Moss Adams Team for CHarity) is our Orange County office community service team. By strengthening our ties to our communities, we provide our employees with opportunities to gain fresh perspectives and to share their enthusiasm for charities important to them.

Please contact Corinne Baughman for more information.

AGENDA staff pictured from left to right: Brittney Nelson, Show manager; Vanessa Chiu, Director of Women's Sales and marketing; Cody Debacker, Director of Sales and Partnerships; Christine Warren, Director of Retail Relations; Aaron Levant, AGENDA founder; Chris Pablo, Art director; Mike Carter, VP of Sales and Marketing; Sarah Tehrani, Finance Manager

AGENDA Trade Show has been branching out with a financial partnership, new hires, and an additional show in Las Vegas in August.  We caught up with AGENDA President Aaron Levant to ask him more about these exciting changes.

How has the partnership with REED Exhibitions benefitted AGENDA?

It has been a supportive alliance. Since REED's involvement, we've been able to increase our bandwidth with both our key new hires and dedicated AGENDA staff seated on the East Coast. With REED's expertise, we've been able to fine-tune our sales and marketing tools, enabling us to focus on curating a great tradeshow experience for all our brand partners and provide superior customer service.

What do your new hires bring to AGENDA?

Most recently, we've welcomed two new hires to our AGENDA team in LA. Mike Carter, comes to us with a wealth of experience after his track co-founding Electric Eyewear and VP of Global marketing for SkullCandy. And Vanessa Chiu, brings her creative Women's point-point-of-view in fashion, lifestyle, and ASR. After her eight year stint at Insight as US Marketing and PR Manager, she's ready to bring her female-centric vision to life at AGENDA. We've also beefed up our in-house customer service support to include a NorthEast retail relations manager, customer service, and marketing coordinator.

What directions do you see your team heading in the next few months?

Our team is focused on curating a one-stop-shop with all the best brands. We are bringing the best action sports, lifestyle, footwear, streetwear and women's brands together under one roof.

What can we expect to see in Las Vegas?

With AGENDA's strategic and unified alliance with Capsule, Liberty, and the BJI Fashion Group, we're able to provide retailers with a truly authentic show experience. Each exhibiting brand can tell their unique stories and be surrounded by the best in the business, and each attendee will be able to have a cohesive experience whether they're a buyer, a member of the media or an industry affiliate. Conveniently housed at the Venetian, the whole Modern Assembly group will be able to provide retailers an unparalleled brand selection. Pooling all our resources and collective high-level customer service, we are most certainly poised to deliver an amazing show.

We’re excited for the opening of our new retail space, The North Shore WaterShed.

"More story than store", the WaterShed plays upon the concept of a North Shore waterman's accessory shed - a place of pride in Hawaii's coastal communities where every waterman and woman house their "tools" for maximizing their adventures. The WaterShed features all locally designed and crafted custom fixtures - many cleverly created out of repurposed local woods and materials.

The WaterShed features apparel for men, women and youth, as well as select shoe styles, accessories and gifts. Featured brands include Quiksilver Waterman Collection, L-Space and Miko Swimwear, Vans, Volcom, RVCA, Olu Kai, Maui Jim, Surfer The Bar, and an exclusive line of Turtle Bay surfwear. It is also home to a permanent events desk that serves as a venue for guests and locals alike to connect to coastal activities and special events.

Music has always gone hand-in-hand with coastal living, and in a special collaboration with Martin & Co, makers of high quality guitars and ukulele, The WaterShed features a classic selection of guitars and ukes. Guests of the resort will be able to borrow or buy guitars from here, or book a ukulele lesson from Tutu Janet.

Located alongside the Hans Hedemann Surf School, The North Shore WaterShed shares a new outdoor events deck with the newly renovated Hans Hedemann Surf School. The deck boasts an uninterrupted view overlooking the resort's pool, surf bay and sunset coastline. Expect plenty of music, fun and memories to be created here!

Other exciting news includes the opening of the North Shore WaterShed Lab by GoPro. "The Lab" will offer a full range of GoPro cameras and accessories and will assist guests in becoming the stars of their own adventures via its staff-supported edit and upload suite. The Lab is located at the pool level, by the elevators.

NRI has been certified as one of WorldBlu’s “Most Democratic Workplaces™” for 2013.

WorldBlu, a company specializing in democratic workplace cultures, today announced it is has certified 51 organizations as part of the seventh annual WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces, published annually on “Democracy in the Workplace Day.” NRI Distribution is part of the list along with other great companies such as Zappos.com, Menlo Innovations, Podio & others.

“Over the years, NRI has stayed focused on our core values. When we first heard about WorldBlu, we felt it was an organization that could help us to continue to improve our culture and ensure that NRI would always be a place where people would be happy to come to work.” says Bruce Churchill, co-founder and CFO of NRI. “We were very excited to make the list of “Most Democratic Workplaces” with our first employee survey as it confirms our efforts to date have been effective. There is however still much to do and we look forward to working with WorldBlu and its members to become an even more democratic company.”

Here's what I had to say about the award: “The greatest insight often comes from inside. We are learning to listen and reaping the reward.”

“People would rather work in freedom-centered rather than fear-based organizations,” comments WorldBlu Founder and CEO, Traci Fenton. “WorldBlu-certified workplaces model how freedom and democracy unleashes human potential to build high performing companies that change the world for the better.”

The organizations ranged in size from five to 50,000 employees representing over $15 billion in combined annual revenue. This is one of the largest and most diverse WorldBlu Lists to date, indicating a global trend towards freedom and democracy in the workplace.

See the full list here.

9th Annual Event Encourages People To Surf And Enjoy The Waves

Short board, long board, no board, International Surfing Day returns, on Thursday, June 20.

Now in its ninth year, International Surfing Day (ISD) continues to unite surfers around the world to celebrate the sport of surfing, while raising awareness and showing appreciation for our coastal environments.

“Part of the beauty of International Surfing Day is that people everywhere can celebrate and give back,” said Surfrider Foundation Director of Marketing & Communications Laura Lee. “Whether that’s paddling out for the very first time, sneaking in a quick session with friends, or picking up trash at your local beach, ISD is as big as you make it.”

Surfing has a history as diverse as the characters that shaped it; it has grown from an almost forgotten sport of kings to a billion-dollar industry. ISD began in 2005 with a small handful of local observances in the United States and has since expanded to more than 200 events in 30 countries worldwide.

As in previous years, the Surfrider Foundation will be organizing various surf sessions, beach cleanups, and coastal restoration events for people to participate in. In 2012, International Surfing Day participants removed more than 3 tons of trash from our coastlines. Additionally, 1,800 people joined or renewed their Surfrider membership and hundreds of thousands of people watched the first-ever ISD Web-A-Thon.

Surfrider Foundation encourages you to start planning now and save the date for June 20 so you don’t miss out on this awesome annual celebration. For additional information on International Surfing Day or to plan your own event, please visit www.intlsurfingday.com.

CIT, founded more than 100 years ago, is celebrating its history of success with the release of a new video:  Put Knowledge to Work.

In addition to an overview of the company's operations, the video explains how CIT provides financing, leasing capital and advisory services to its clients and their customers. CIT maintains leadership positions in many business sectors, including small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance, and global vendor finance.

CIT also operates CIT Bank (Member FDIC), which through BankOnCIT.com, offers a suite of savings options designed to help customers achieve a range of financial goals.

For more information, contact us today.

Displayit, Inc. provides unique customer experiences, unlike any other, through our design, fabrication and management of custom exhibits, retail fixtures and environments, and corporate spaces.

There is nothing like working in an office that inspires you. A beautiful environment can take your spirit away from the mundane task of going into work day after day. For us, it’s an uplifting experience and a daily reminder of what we do. Our work space is our muse- it has helped us to cultivate a culture of creativity everywhere we look.

Here at Displayit Inc. we love what we do. Every one of us has a passion for the creativity- from our builders to our designers- we all love to create stimulating and inspiring spaces. We pride ourselves on being able to elevate brands, to make them into the structural vision of the essence the brand wants to give off, but this time it’s our turn.

We recently went through quite an extensive renovation to the first and second level of our building in Foothill Ranch, Calif. We are growing rapidly and needed to make room for new employees. We decided that while we were at it, why not rejuvenate the space and get as imaginative as can be?

Our design team has done such a great job incorporating some of the most beautiful materials into each area, and utilizing them in the most interesting ways. For example in our lobby, why put a regular wood plank floor when we could break up the room in an interesting way and put paths of Mexican beach stones in between?

From the unique angles in the conference room table, to the bold walnut textured ceiling runner, and contrasting wood drawer faces in the new upstairs offices- you can tell that each nook has been carefully planned and fabricated to precisely match the vision of our designers. It is truly a unique experience to be a part of every day. The visual stimulation is invigorating to the senses and keeps the daily doldrums at bay.

We have also done corporate headquarters for brands such as Electric Visual, Peligroso Tequila, Nixon Showroom, Arnette Showroom and Boost Mobile. We know that these brands are able to really sit and feel the breath of their brand- it’s something we like to call visual motivation!

CIT's Livingston, NJ-based employees have donated more than 30 tons of food as part of its inaugural company-wide global initiative to fight hunger. The food will be donated to Morris Plains, NJ-based Interfaith Food Pantry and is expected to provide approximately 50,000 meals to families in New Jersey. This effort will be added to the 87 tons of food and personal items previously donated by CIT’s Jacksonville, Florida employees over the last seven years during their annual food drive.

Building on this strong foundation of giving, CIT offices around the world will sponsor similar Employee Food Drives throughout 2013 in addition to continuing to sponsor local volunteer projects that support their neighbors and community organizations.

“I am extremely proud of the overwhelming support and generous contributions of our employees who donated in excess of 30 tons of food – more than triple our initial food drive goal,” said John Thain, Chairman and CEO of CIT. “Volunteer groups and non-profit organizations such as New Jersey’s Interfaith Food Pantry do a tremendous amount to support our communities. It’s important that we support their good work in an effort to further strengthen the fabric of the communities in which we live and work.”

Rosemary Gilmartin, Executive Director at New Jersey’s Interfaith Food Pantry, said, “We’re grateful to CIT for their generous donation to our organization – which was sorely needed as our supply was perilously low. The demand has been incredible as the economy continues to struggle. While we receive wonderful support from the entire community, we have never seen a drive on this scale done by one company. It’s truly remarkable and we are extremely overjoyed to receive such great support from such an extraordinary team of people.”

We caught up with Richard Wilner, founding member at Wilner & O'Reilly to ask why April 1st is so important in the world of immigration law.

Why is this month so important for immigration law?

It's basically tax season for business immigration lawyers. H-1B visas are visas for professionals. According to the government, professionals are those with at least a bachelor's degree seeking to work in a position that requires a bachelor's degree.

There are only 65,000 of these types of visas available per year and the soonest they can be filed is on April 1 for a start date of employment of October 1.

Prior to 2008, the 65,000 visas were used up within the first few days of filing availability. Over the past several years it has taken a number of months to reach the quota. Based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, USCIS anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013.

USCIS will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public of the date on which the numerical limit of the H-1B cap has been met. This date is known as the final receipt date. If USCIS receives more petitions than it can accept, USCIS will use a lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to reach the numerical limit. USCIS will reject petitions that are subject to the cap and are not selected, as well as petitions received after it has the necessary number of petitions needed to meet the cap.

The lottery for the H-1B cap was last used in April 2008.

What does that mean to companies with employees who are interested in applying for visas?

Basically, if the case is not received by the government by April 4th or 5th, 2013, it might be too late. It is our goal to courier all cases to the immigration service on April 1, 2013.

Where can companies and individuals get more information?

We have additional information on our website, or just send us an email.

On Saturday, February 23rd, the Surfrider Foundation honored their 2012 Wavemakers at Cannon’s Seafood Grill in Dana Point. This annual awards ceremony honors individuals and companies for their outstanding volunteer efforts and support to help the Foundation fulfill its mission of protecting our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

The Surfrider Foundation congratulates the 2012 Wavemaker Award recipients:

Coastal Impact Award

Susan Jordan

Susan Jordan has worked on California coastal issues for almost 30 years and today is the Executive Director of the California Coastal Protection Network, a group she helped to launch in 1999. Susan was one of the key strategists for the Save Trestles campaign and more recently helped lead the successful effort to stop destructive seismic testing in the waters off the Central California coast near Morro Bay, a significant and precedent setting victory. Beyond these specific campaign efforts, Susan helps guide the California Coastal Commission Conservation Vote Chart, a project Surfrider has been involved in for over a decade. She regularly provides mentoring, input and strategic advice on numerous campaigns for Surfrider’s chapter network and staff up and down the coast of California. Susan is a former Commissioner and Chair of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission and is an active advisor for a number of other coastal protection organizations where she is content to work behind the scenes and allow others to take credit for successful campaign victories.

Chapter Leadership Award

The Erkeneff Family

Rick, Denise, Lulu and Emma Erkeneff have been incredibly involved with the South Orange County Chapter, as well as in the development of QUAD (Surfrider Foundation’s youth service program). Rick chaired the chapter for a number of years and the entire family had leadership roles in the Save Trestles campaign, the Strands Access battle and the Chapter's ongoing Rise Above Plastics work to ban bags and polystyrene in cities within their area. Additionally they have designed t-shirts for our membership department, pulled together youth focus groups and have led a group of high-school students to testify before the CA State legislature in Sacramento.

Development Award

Curtis Mathewson & Julie Padach

Curtis and Julie have been donors since 2007. In the last five years they have given over $300,000. Nearly half of this was unrestricted support for our mission-related priorities. The remainder was directed to the Santa Barbara and South Orange County chapters. Their 2011 gift to the Santa Barbara chapter led to the creation of the movie trailer for "The Twenty" which leveraged an additional $81,000 in donations via a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012. The funds that were directed to the South Orange County chapter were used for their Rise Above Plastics and Water Quality efforts as well as seed money for their QUAD program, which is now a model for our other youth service clubs.

Environmental Activism Award

Sandy Lejeune

For the last 20 years Sandy Lejeune has been one of 20 activists who have worked relentlessly to preserve the Gaviota Coast - the last 20 miles of undeveloped land in Southern California. Sandy took a leadership role in this campaign and in some ways has served as the spokesperson for these efforts. He has been a long-time active member of the Chapter and most recently served as its Chairman. In late 2012, Sandy helped conceive and drive the wildly successful effort that raised over $81,000 on Kickstarter.com for "The Twenty," a film documentary to Save Gaviota.

Distinguished Service Award

Steve Combs

Steve Combs is the current Chair of Surfrider Foundation’s Atlanta Chapter. He is a lawyer by trade and a self-admitted tech geek. He has been a very successful chapter chair but even more he has helped the organization tremendously through his tech-related work. In the past few years, he developed chapter websites and conference registration sites, provided hours of consultation on the International Surfing Day site and most recently updated, redesigned and restored missing information to Surfrider’s Chapter intranet. He did all of this free of charge. He also hosted a tech "genius bar" at the 2012 East Coast Chapter Summit to help chapters with our new email system and action index among other tech support needs.

Corporate Partner Award

GoPro

In 2012, GoPro came on board as co-sponsor for World Water Day and our Three Second Movie contest. A new initiative, Surfrider Foundation's Three Second Movie contest collected user generated content to tell the story of water. Thanks to support from GoPro, the Foundation saw remarkable response for the first year initiative, garnering over 300 individual submissions. GoPro also signed on to support Surfrider Foundation's International Surfing Day, donating over $100,000 in product, which helped to raise a one-day total of over $176,000 in donations.

Outstanding Contribution Award

Bonnie Harvey & Michael Houlihan

Michael and Bonnie are the founders of Barefoot Wine and have been supporters of the Surfrider Foundation for nearly 20 years. While they have since sold Barefoot, they continue to support us through their other ventures - most recently with their book "The Barefoot Spirit" which features their support of the Surfrider Foundation. They are committed environmentalists and lifetime supporters of our mission.

Surf Industry Partner Award

Rusty

For the last two years, Rusty has sponsored Surfrider Foundation's One Foot At A Time plastic cleanup event. This single-day initiative is held annually as part of Surfrider's RAPtober Plastics Awareness event that challenges the public to go out and collect one square foot of plastic litter from local beaches, parks and other areas within their communities. People are then asked to use this material to create unique mosaic sculptures – the best of which are rewarded with a pair of Rusty's Eco-stretch board shorts (made from recycled PET plastic bottles) and a Rusty surfboard.

In addition, the Surfrider Foundation handed out Special Recognition awards to the following volunteers for their service, commitment and dedication:

Ed Hendricks for his nearly 20-year commitment to Surfrider Foundation, his involvement in the Long Beach Chapter since its creation, and his tireless work on the “Sink the Breakwater” campaign.

Bill McLaughlin for his tireless efforts to “Save Sloat,” including helping to develop the Ocean Beach Master Plan, that was supported by the Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco Chapter and attending numerous city planning meetings.

Joe Woerner for his leadership of the Jersey Shore Chapter’s efforts on coastal armoring in New Jersey. And, most recently for leading the Chapter’s response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, and for guiding the Chapter’s efforts in a chaotic and difficult time.

Congratulations to all of the 2012 Wavemakers and Special Recognition honorees.

We believe that action sports provide you with these key pillars:

1. Resilience - always getting back up no matter what

2. Self-Reliance - being your best cheerleader

3. Community - embracing the bigger picture

On March 24, we're gathering 100 people to join our youth to snowboard in Big Bear, then surf in Santa Monica, and lastly skateboard along the boardwalk - all in one day - for this year's STOKED Trishredathon.

We teach our youth the courage to push their limits because we know they can achieve anything. We set the bar high.

Our goal is to raise $20,000 for STOKED's programs that serve low-income youth in Los Angeles. The Kelly Clark Foundation, Asymbol, Zoo York, Flat Fitty and 20 other supporters have already raised nearly $10,000. We're almost there! You can help us. Click here to donate.

Southern California is one of the only places on the planet where you can surf, snowboard, and skateboard in a single day. Few people ever do this; most of our kids will never get the chance. The 2013 Trishredathon is your opportunity to show them that they can accomplish the impossible. Click here to participate on March 24.

Join us in ensuring that underserved youth have the opportunity to transform their lives and achieve their dreams.

Here are some highlights of the Apparel, Accessories and Footwear Market Monitor published by Moss Adams Capital:

• Over the past year, public companies in the Aspirational sector of Apparel, Accessories and Footwear (“AAF”) have performed best, increasing 15% and outperforming the market. The Aspirational sector was led by Fifth & Pacific (+52%) and Michael Kors (+32%). Youth Lifestyle companies fared the worst over the past year, decreasing 12%, with Billabong (-73%), Skullcandy (-57%) and WeSC (-53%) leading the decline.

• U.S. middle market M&A transaction volume in Q4 2012, and for the full year 2012, grew a modest 3% from one year ago.

• Global AAF M&A activity declined 9% in 2012 from 2011, but the past three months saw some notable acquisitions by major corporate buyers. Key transactions include the acquisition of K-Swiss by E-Land (South Korea), the acquisition of J Brand by Fast Retailing (Japan), the acquisition of Warnaco by PVH, and two acquisitions by Iconix.

• Moss Adams Capital expects that strategic acquirers, and specifically Asian acquirers, will be more active in 2013 than in the past two-three years.

You can download the entire March 2013 report here.  For any questions, please contact Rich Anderson.

As announced earlier this month, the Surfing Heritage Foundation is rebranding itself to become the Surfing Heritage & Culture Center, or SH&CC. We caught up with Executive Director Bolton Colburn to discuss this exciting transition.

Why the name change now?

The board wanted to create an umbrella that’s more reflective of the organization’s aspirations and will help us engage a broader audience.

It’s the perfect opportunity to redefine the way the public sees us. SH&CC makes it clear that we are a public institution with a great collection related to surfing but we are also a serious museum. Our mission is preserving, presenting and promoting surfing's heritage for the appreciation and education of current and future generations.

What will be changing at SH&CC in the coming months?

In addition to our extensive permanent collection, we’ve added a dedicated rotating exhibition space.

The current exhibition, The Surf Riders of Hawaii at SHF, features the earliest known photographic book on surfing, by A.R. Gurrey, Jr. The book was originally published sometime between 1910-1914. The exhibition includes Gurrey's personal edition of the book, on loan from the Gurrey family, along with photo reproductions and historical materials. The exhibition runs Monday-Saturday from March 2- May 4, 2013.

Future exhibitions include:

• The California Gold Portfolio, May 18 - June 16, 2013

• Fifty Years of Graphic Design: John Van Hamersveld, June 22 - August 4 (working dates)

• 50th Anniversary of the Endless Summer, May - July, 2014

Our email newsletters list upcoming exhibitions. Go to our website to sign up.

Over the remainder of 2013, we will gradually incorporate the new name and logo in our signage and marketing materials, as well as develop our new website. We believe this is the start of a great new chapter for our organization.

This is the first time we have run The Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction, and we’re excited about the amazing items that are coming in. Some of the auction items are already on view online.

We’ll be auctioning off historically important surfboards from the 1970s and 80s, as well as surf memorabilia and, for the first time, more than 60 works of art.

The auction will be held Saturday, May 11th at the Orange County Fairgrounds and is open to the public. We have created a dedicated auction website with more information.

Bidding packages and registration for the auction are available now. You can also visit us on facebook.

AGENDA X - Long Beach, January 4th & 5th 2013 - Part 1 from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

Thanks to all who attended our January show!

Please mark your calendar with the AGENDA Summer Date Schedule:

Agenda:NYC

Wednesday, July 10th & Thursday, July 11th, 2013

9am-6pm

82 Mercer Street

New York, NY 10012

Agenda Long Beach

Thursday, July 25th & Friday, July 26th, 2013

9am-6pm

Long Beach Convention Center

300 E. Ocean Blvd

Long Beach, Ca 90802

AGENDA X - Long Beach, January 4th & 5th 2013 - Part 2 from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

Photo credit Kyle Lishok

Grab A Camera And Shoot Three Seconds To Raise Awareness And Inspire Change On World Water Day, Presented by Teva and Finlandia Vodka

That dripping sink faucet often fades into white noise, but what most people don’t realize is that one leak can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day.

To raise awareness about our world’s water issues and the small changes individuals can do to help, Surfrider Foundation is proud to bring back the “3 Second Movie Contest” presented by Teva and Finlandia Vodka. Between now and March 15th, the Surfrider Foundation is challenging participants to capture the essence of water in just three seconds. The top movie selections will be compiled into a short set to release on March 22nd – World Water Day.

Last year we saw a variety of submissions, from breathtaking scenic moments along the coast, to belly flops, snowboarding and river surfing. What was really great about all these videos is that they helped raise awareness about our world’s most precious resource in only three seconds.

So what does water mean to you? Good, bad, or recreational, water is something different to everyone and we want to see it. Last year, Surfrider Foundation received over 160 submissions. This year the Foundation is looking to double that amount.

Between now and March 15, submit your video via Surfrider’s Facebook page for a chance to win one of three grand prize packages that include gear from Teva and a GoPro Hero camera. The winners will also be announced on March 22nd, World Water Day.

Founded in 1993 by the United Nations, World Water Day is a global observance that highlights the need for the care and management of the world’s water resources. The Surfrider Foundation celebrates World Water Day to help educate and drive awareness and support for its various clean water campaigns and programs.

Click here for additional information on the Surfrider Foundation’s World Water Day activations and to view last year’s winners.

Spectra USA is excelling because of YOUR support! The most frequently requested item by you is a 100% USA MADE QUALITY t-shirt..

We have listened and are proud to announce the addition of a 100% USA Made 30 singles ‘Spectra Spun‘ combed t-shirt. Due to our exclusive Spectra Spun process, the finished blank has a buttery soft feel! Ideal as an everyday t-shirt, or for many of your design ideas like: screen printing, embroidery, heat transfers and DTG Direct To Garment processes.

"Made in America" translates into more jobs here at home.

“Patriotism is easy to understand in America – it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.” ~Calvin Coolidge

Presidential facts:

• George Washington had 9 brothers and sisters

• Abraham Lincoln was the tallest US President at 6’4

• George Washington never attended any school or college. He was educated as a child by his father and brother, and also self-educated ashe became an adult.

• Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have a beard.

• Washington took only one trip outside of what is now the United States in his life. He went to Barbados with his older half-brother Lawrence in 1751. The purpose of the trip was to find relief for Lawrence’s tuberculosis with the warmer weather.

• Abraham Lincoln had no middle name.

• George and Martha never had any children together. George had bouts with both smallpox and tuberculosis earlier in life and these may have left him unable to have children. In spite of their inability to have their own children, George and Martha raised two children from her first marriage.

• Robert Lincoln, the only son of Abraham Lincoln who would live to raise a family of his own was almost killed at a train station in New Jersey near the start of the Civil War. He slipped from a platform and would have fallen in front of the carriage had he not been grabbed by the collar and pulled to safety by Edwin Booth. Later Edwin’s brother would shoot and kill Abraham Lincoln.

• George Washington proposed to Martha Dandridge Custis after knowing her for only three weeks and meeting her only twice!

• Lincoln was the only president to ever obtain a U.S. patent.

• George Washington never wore a wig as some did in that day, he did powder his hair though and wore it in a pony tail that was sometimes put in a silk bag!

• Lincoln was the first major leader in the United States to feel that women should be allowed the right to vote.

Celebrating Celebrating a Century of Service

It’s a pretty simple story, really: Young man arrives in Seattle. Opens his own accounting practice. It becomes one of the largest in the nation.

OK, so perhaps we’re leaving out a detail or two. Want the full story? We compress 100 years of history and look toward the future, all in a short video we’ve put together for you.

Moss Adams LLP: 100 Years. That Counts. from Moss Adams on Vimeo.

1913: Congress enacts the first federal income tax law. John G. McIntosh opens an accounting firm in Seattle to support the Pacific Northwest’s forest products industry.

1918: McIntosh is joined by Charles S. Cowan. The firm’s name will change to McIntosh, Cowan & Co in 1924.

1919: Albert Moss emigrates from Canada and joins McIntosh, Cowan & Co.

1922: The firm establishes an office in Portland.

1929: McIntosh dies. The firm is renamed Charles S. Cowan & Company.

1938: Cowan dies. Edwin Adams joins the firm and, together with Moss and Paul Nielsen, another member of the staff, buys the firm from Cowan’s widow, changing its name to Moss Adams & Co. This will get shortened to Moss Adams LLP in 1995.

1941–1945: The firm’s staff shrinks as many of its employees are drafted to aid the war effort. The war also brings rapid growth to the lumber industry, the firm’s specialty.

1960s: The firm opens an office in San Francisco and Southern California as well as additional offices in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State.

1970s: The firm continues to grow, adding four more offices in Washington State and one more in Southern California. Moss Adams also adds a consulting arm in 1972, offering clients value-added services that complement our core assurance and tax solutions.

1990s: Moss Adams becomes the 15th largest accounting and consulting firm in the nation, adding offices as well as personnel in Oregon and Washington.

1999: Moss Adams Capital LLC is born, offering investment banking and strategic advisory services and helping our clients create greater value in their business.

Early 2000s: The firm expands its presence in California, adding offices in Sacramento, Stockton, and San Diego and increasing staff in Los Angeles and Orange County. Moss Adams establishes a wealth management division offering financial planning, investment management, and insurance services.

2006: Moss Adams expands into New Mexico, opening an office in Albuquerque.

2007: Moss Adams expands into Arizona, opening an office in Phoenix. In addition, Moss Adams helps found Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance that today counts more than 100 independent accounting firms as members, providing our clients who do business internationally with trusted expertise in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.

2009–2012: Moss Adams grows its footprint, opening offices in Silicon Valley, Kansas City, and Napa.

2013: The firm celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The Importance of Having a Mentor:  Five reasons to seek assistance from seasoned entrepreneurs

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned during my first year at SD Sport Innovators, it’s that successful companies don’t get to where they are without help from people who have gone before them. Most of the veteran entrepreneurs who are part of SDSI have shared that having a mentor played a crucial role in their success. For businesses starting out, developing a professional relationship with an experienced professional is extremely important in the growth and success of your company.

Here are five reasons to work with a mentor.

1) Knowledge. In many cases, an individual will come up with an idea and start the company, but perhaps they might not have the strongest business background, connections, or knowledge. In our sports and active lifestyle in particularly, having a commercialization strategies, and sales and distribution experience are necessary in order to grow. Mentors and domain experts participate for a key reason – they want to pay it forward. Take advantage of the fact that they’ve been in your shoes before and have learned valuable lessons to pass along to assist in your company’s success.

2) Introductions. Let’s be honest, while what you know is important, it is who you know that separates out the frontrunners. Mentors not only share resources, but they typically provide important introductions. Are you seeking an investor or board member to help you grow your company? Mentors have a wealth of contacts to help secure assistance in various areas.

3) Ideas. Even companies who have had some measure of success and recognize between $5-$10 million in annual revenues can benefit from mentoring. For example, it’s not uncommon for a company to hit a glass ceiling and then not have the depth of experience on how to move beyond what could become a plateau. No company is immune to growing pains and business obstacles, and there is always someone who is further along, more successful and has been where you are. When you work with a mentor you have a great opportunity to take advantage of their successes and learn from their mistakes.

4) Feedback. While many companies look within their organization for feedback on issues, many times what is really needed is a fresh eye. Turn to experienced people outside your organization who can share their experiences and provide unbiased opinions. From an outsider’s perspective, mentors are more likely to be honest and ask questions that the internal team may not have taken into consideration. Mentors are typically not as emotionally attached to the company and will speak honestly.

5) Pack it up. One of the most difficult responsibilities a mentor has is telling a company when things aren’t working and change is needed. Such thing are as simple as staffing changes at senior levels based on experience and performance to the hard truth of sharing their view that the company will not achieve success in its current state without significant changes. While no one wants to hear this kind of news, wouldn’t it be better to know early, before you get yourself and possibly family and friends in too deep?

For start-ups, it’s important to team up with a mentor who you respect and trust. At SD Sport Innovators, we offer a Springboard program and pair qualified entrepreneurs with industry veterans for hands-on mentoring to help fine tune business plans, create compelling commercialization strategies and prepare for capital funding opportunities. We’re accepting applications until March 3 and interested companies can learn more and apply here. 

For more information on SDSI programs and events, visit our website. For more information on becoming an SDSI mentor, contact Renne Catalano. In addition, we invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Premier Small-Cap Growth Conference to Host More Than 370 Public Companies

Featured Sectors Include Business Services, Consumer, Cleantech, Industrials & Resources,Healthcare, Metals & Mining, and Technology & Media.

ROTH Capital Partners, a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving emerging growth companies and their investors, will host its 25th Annual Growth Stock Conference March 17-20, 2013, at The Ritz Carlton, located at 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, California.

One of the largest of its kind, ROTH’s flagship three-day investment conference brings together executives from more than 370 growth companies and 1,000 institutional investors. The event provides attendees with investment ideas across a variety of sectors, including Business Services, Consumer, Cleantech, Industrials & Resources, Healthcare, Metals & Mining, and Technology & Media. Company presentations, Q&A sessions, panels and management one-on-one meetings offer institutional clients opportunities for extensive interaction with executive management to gain in-depth insights into each business and sector.

"This is our flagship conference, and we look forward to this event each year," said Byron Roth, CEO of ROTH. "We hope to provide our clients the opportunity to gain useful insights, fresh new perspectives and the chance to share ideas. As a destination conference, the setting is conducive for focused attention on the presentations and the building of relationships, without many of the normal day-to-day distractions. We look forward to another productive event.”

This year’s lineup of presenting companies includes a balanced mix of small-cap growth companies, representing a range of market capitalizations across ROTH’s focus industries, including 32% Healthcare, 22% Technology, 18% Cleantech & Industrials, 14% Consumer, 8% Business Services and 6% Resources. ROTH’s research team of 16 analysts publishes research on half of the 370 presenting companies. Additionally, ROTH’s newly-formed ROTH Venture Finance Group is pleased to include an increased number of private companies at this year’s event.

Agenda and Events

This year’s event will continue to feature 30-minute presentations in eight tracks, from Monday at 8:00 a.m. through Wednesday afternoon. In addition, this year’s conference will feature eight extensive, one-hour discussions with companies that ROTH analysts believe have significant business developments of interest to investors. These extended presentation slots are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday to enable enhanced dialogue between management and investors. As in prior years, ROTH’s research team has assembled a number of panels designed to educate and promote sector-specific discussion, including an Energy Panel on Sunday afternoon that will discuss the future of natural gas and electricity named “The Resurgence of Renewable Energy”, moderated by DLA Piper’s Senior Partner, Kevin Lipson.

ROTH is also hosting a panel on the JOBS Act on Tuesday morning which will provide updates on the evolving market framework for emerging growth companies.

Conference Website
Click here for more information about this invitation-only conference including agenda and web cast schedule.

We caught up with Steven Fisk, principal at Barney & Barney and winner of Risk & Insurance's prestigious 2013 Power Broker® award.

Steven, please give us a little background on your experience in the insurance industry.

I joined Barney & Barney in 2008. I’m a Principal in the Property & Casualty department and co-lead the firms Apparel Practice Group alongside David Nava.

What trends are you seeing in risk management and insurance lately?

It’s been a trying year in the industry for all employers. On average, workers compensation rates are up between 15% to 25% - driven mainly by medical costs, liens, and attorney fees. California currently ranks as the 3rd most expensive state for Work Comp. Super Strom Sandy had a slight impact to the Property & Casualty side of the business. Increases on that segment range between 2% to 5%. Fortunately we’ve taken a proactive approach for our apparel clients and developed an exclusive work comp program to help shelter them from the standard market increases. This has been a safe haven as rates are substantially more competitive and includes full access to our dedicated team of Risk & Loss technicians.

How can companies learn more about what level of coverage is appropriate for their needs?

GREAT question – the best approach is by allowing us to do a full audit of the current program, inclusive of supply chain analysis, international compliance, and health care reform modeling. We go into these engagements with no expectation and are willing to provide this to apparel companies at no cost. Not only does this allow organizations to identify potential areas of deficiency in the program, but enables them to avoid adverse impact to their balance sheet at time of loss.

See the full article in Risk & Insurance Magazine here.

Judge Dismisses Trespassing Charges Against Five Surfers

In early February, Judge Davis granted the County of San Mateo District Attorney’s motion to dismiss the trespassing charges filed against five surfers accessing Martin’s Beach.

"The Surfrider Foundation San Mateo Chapter heartily congratulates the Martin's Beach five on their significant legal victory in favor of open beach access that reaches far beyond this specific case to all of California and the nation,” say Michael Wallace, with the San Mateo Chapter. “Their determination not to be bullied and or shaken from their principles that beach access is for all, not just a privileged few, is a tribute to their integrity and character. By personally shouldering the legal burden in court they have quickly cut to the nub of the access issue, which was being stretched on indefinitely by the new owners to the harm of the next generation of beach goers. We applaud them for their tenacity and foresight."

Two years ago, apparent Martin’s Beach owner and Sun Microsystems founder Vinod Khosla made a decision to close the access road to the popular beach just south of Half Moon Bay. These actions have denied the public their right to access a stretch of coastline that has been open for decades for fishing, surfing, and recreation. The County has reached the conclusion that they will not defend the property owner’s allegations that this is a private beach that cannot be accessed from the nearest public road.

October 21, 2012, five San Mateo County surfers crossed Mr. Khosla’s land to access the public beach. The property manager informed them they were trespassing as Khosla has posted a sign falsely stating that the public beach is closed. The surfers claimed they had a constitutional right to access the beach and continued to the ocean to surf. Upon exiting the water, the surfers were met with a San Mateo County Sheriff deputy who issued citations. The surfers once again stated that they had a right to access a public beach and they had done nothing wrong.

The trespassing statute does not prohibit people from engaging in activities, such as accessing a public beach, which are protected by the California Constitution. Article X, section 4 of the California Constitution generally prohibits property owners from depriving the public from access to California beaches.

“This marks a major victory for Surfrider Foundation in our mission to secure universal beach and wave access for all people,” said Surfrider Foundation’s Legal Director Angela Howe. “The County’s action to dismiss the case today demonstrates that these brave surfers were acting under their rights as Californians to lawfully access the beach.”

A wave of change is rolling into Turtle Bay Resort! Multi-million dollar re-styling projects are underway at the main hotel. Our renovation, which began in early January, is scheduled to be completed by the 3rd quarter of 2013 and includes all of the 840-acre resort’s 397 standard and premium guest rooms and hallways; Spa Luana and fitness center; two restaurants; as well as improvements to the main building roof and lobby area.

One extremely important aspect of this restyling is that it will be completed in phases to minimize impact on guests, with little disruption expected in public or exterior areas of the resort. Guest rooms will be renovated one wing at a time, and the affected restaurants will be upgraded at separate times to ensure a selection of dining options is available.

Our guestrooms are getting major face lifts that will reflect the energetic pulse of the ocean as well as the laid-back vibe of the Fabled North Shore.

The enhancements are led by award-winning Honolulu-based firm WCIT Architecture and include all-new fixtures, furnishings, bedding and décor in the guest rooms, as well as completely remodeled bathrooms with new tile, vanities, and walk-in showers.

“The guest rooms will be redesigned to have a contemporary, beach-house feel, authentic to the North Shore," said interior designer Lisa-Maria Priester of WCIT Architecture. "Typically, a Hawaiian home is light and airy, done in a neutral palette because with scenery like we have here, especially on the North Shore, the accents are the views. As with our design of the recent lobby renovation, the new guest rooms will inspire a casual, hip sophistication with subtle accents of island and Hawaiian motifs custom designed exclusively for Turtle Bay Resort."

Our full-service Spa will nearly double in size to 11,000 square feet, which will include the creation of a movement studio for popular wellness programs such as Zumba and yoga; the relocation of the fitness center from the ground floor to the lobby-level Sunset Room, which will allow for expansive ocean views from all-new fitness equipment; as well as an expanded salon; reception and retail area; and women’s locker room. Three open-air treatment rooms will be added, and two single treatment rooms will be converted into one larger indoor couples treatment area. These exciting renovations began Monday, January 7th and the grand re-opening is scheduled for April.

Two of the resort’s premier restaurants – Palm Terrace/Leonardo’s and 21 Degrees North – will be completely renovated in the spirit of their new menus, with natural décor and lighting, wood accents and the cool blues and greens of the nearby ocean and farmland. At Palm Terrace/Leonardo’s, the enhanced menu will feature locally sourced cusine as part of a farm-to-table focus that incorporates the rich agricultural history of the North Shore. Guests will be able to choose from a “farmer’s market” of fresh vegetables, fruits and dressings; as well as premium meats and seafood with sauces inspired by Hawaii-sourced flavors such as macadamia nuts, pineapple and coconut. 21 Degrees North will highlight Hawaii’s abundant array of fresh seafood, with a customizable menu including a mix-and-match approach of sauces, side dishes and cooking styles. New décor will feature an ocean theme.

The renovation project in the Palm Terrace began on January 14th with a la carte breakfast service provided in 21 Degrees North during this time. The 21 Degrees North renovation project is scheduled to begin March 18th.

Please give our readers a general description of this transaction.

• Sage was engaged by Royal Robbins’ parent company, Kellwood Company (“Kellwood”), to explore strategic alternatives for Royal Robbins (the “Company”).  Kellwood is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.
• Founded in 1968, Royal Robbins is a leading designer, manufacturer, marketer, and retailer of outdoor and travel apparel.                            
• The Company designs and markets premium quality active sportswear and travel apparel for men, and is well known for designing products with technical features for consumers seeking performance-oriented garments, but with the style and comfort to cross over into everyday life. Royal Robbins can be found in the most respected outdoor and specialty retailers throughout the country and abroad. 
• Sage pursued a robust marketing process, and reached out to a select group of strategic and financial buyers most likely to have interest and with the ability to quickly consummate a transaction.
• The transaction attracted interest from among a distinguished group of strategic and private equity firms. Royal Robbins’ brand integrity and authenticity was a key decision making factor in marketing the Company and discussing its potential going forward.
• Sage’s discussions with Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. (“BRS”) advanced rapidly, and the transaction successfully closed in December 2012, with BRS purchasing 100% of the Company.

Why did the timing of this sale make sense for Royal Robbins and Kellwood Company?
 
Royal Robbins was and continues to perform very well, and the owners were interested in assessing the market’s interest in the brand.  There was a general consensus that the brand had been under-marketed to the consumer, and could benefit from the reinvigoration that a new partner can bring.
 
What made the BRS offer stand out from other offers?
 
The principals of BRS were fans of the product and brand, which demonstrated itself through their ability to close quickly and confidently, and through their enthusiasm to help the brand reach new levels of awareness and distribution strength. 

As they considered their options, our client felt comfortable that BRS’s combination of price, structure, shared strategy, and certainty of close made it the clear choice.
 
Beyond price, what additional considerations go into a sale like this one?
 

Similar to most of our transactions, the culture fit with the buyer and management needed to be there, and the team is very excited about what is next for Royal.  Given that we were representing a client as part of a corporate divestiture, the usual issue of the proceeds the owners get was only part of the puzzle, since the owners weren’t the same group as the management. BRS needed to put in place a structure that worked for all parties.

Nationally recognized architect Rob Quigley grew up in a bedroom in Pacific Palisades lined with murals painted by the artist Rick Griffin. Those same murals have just been donated by an anonymous source to Surfing Heritage Foundation. On Thursday, March 14, at an unveiling of the works of art, Rob Quigley will talk on the influence of Rick Griffin on his architectural practice.

Rob Quigley's work has garnered more than 60 design awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 2005, the AIA California Council honored Rob with the Maybeck Award-California's equivalent of the Gold Medal-for three decades of architectural design excellence.

Rob earned his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Utah in 1969. Upon graduation he entered the Peace Corps, where he developed his skills designing and building affordable housing in underserved areas of Chile. After two years of service, Rob settled in San Diego and opened his own architecture and planning firm. Shaped by his early experiences, he became a pioneer in the design of architecturally significant yet affordable housing for the working poor. Rob was also an early leader in the sustainable design movement, designing solar-powered homes in the 1970s-long before "green" became an industry buzzword. His work is driven by a deep sense of responsibility to conserve natural resources.

Current projects in his diverse practice range from a single family house to the new Central Library in San Diego.

Rick Griffin (1944-1991) first reveled in the art and politics of the counterculture as a surfer. A teenager in Southern California during the late 1950s and early 1960s, he developed the seminal cartoon-strip character, Murphy, published in Surfer magazine. Griffin's rebellious and prankish cartoon character initiated the surf cartoon genre and helped define the look and voice of the incipient surf culture. Griffin's Quigley murals are among the earliest examples of his surf cartoon art and are the only known murals from this period, 1960-1961, that have been removed from their original supports and donated to a collecting institution.

Two upcoming briefings by McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and Salem Partners LLC are of particular relevance for the action sports industry: one covers M&A and capital markets and the second addresses protecting shareholder value during volatile times.

Strategies for Growth and Maximizing Shareholder Value: Perspectives on M&A, Capital Markets, Acquisition Integration and Driving Organic Growth

Panelists:

Edward M. Lake, Executive Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (La Jolla Event)

Joseph P. Bellino, Chief Financial Officer, Ducommun Inc. (Marina Del Rey Event)

Jerry Friedman, Chairman and CEO, The Marvin Group (Marina Del Rey Event)

Trevor Bohn, Managing Director, Salem Partners Investment Banking

Jeremy Silverman, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

Mike N. Thielman, Partner, Holthouse Carlin and Van Trigt LLP

Moderator:

Chad Ensz, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

How to Protect and Grow Wealth in Uncertain Times: The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, California Tax Environment and Investment Considerations

Speakers:

Andy Torosyan, Partner, Holthouse Carlin and Van Trigt LLP

Frederick Vandeveer, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (La Jolla Event)

Jeremy Crickard, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (Marina Del Rey Event)

William B. Witte, President, Salem Partners Wealth Managament

Moderator: 

Joseph Blanco, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

Tuesday, February 26

8:30am - 12:00pm

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

11480 North Torrey Pines Road

La Jolla, CA 92037

Wednesday, February 27

8:30am - 12:00pm

Marina Del Rey Marriott

4100 Admiralty Way

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

These events are complimentary, but seating is limited.

Please RSVP to Candace Broeker at cbroeker@mckennalong.com or

Aaron Peltz at apeltz@salempartners.com.

We need your help providing quality data to the industry– and it can win you $500 or a trip to Surf Summit worth $1600*!

Dear Specialty Retailers,

Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is currently conducting its fifth biannual retail study of the surf and skateboard specialty business with their market research partner, the Leisure Trends Group. Buyers or managers of specialty retail stores are being surveyed in a short 15-minute phone call regarding broad 2012 sales trends with the goal of painting a snapshot of the industry nationally and providing the most statistically valid overview of our industry to date to encourage and support the continued success of our businesses. Read more about this Retail Distribution Study.

Get rewarded for your time.
We strongly encourage all specialty retailers to participate in this study when they receive the phone call from Leisure Trends Group. In addition to receiving a complimentary copy of the final report (a $5,000 value), the next 150 retailers who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a cash incentive of $500.00 AND entered into a drawing for a chance to win a trip to the surf industry's top conference -- Surf Summit 16, hosted by SIMA and BRA, this May in Los Cabos, Mexico. The trip is a $1600 value and includes the three-day conference and all-inclusive hotel stay.*

How do you participate?
To be entered to win the $500.00 and the trip to Surf Summit all you have to do is agree to take the survey when the research company calls you this week, and complete the survey. If you would prefer to set up a specific time to take the survey please call Bethany Cooner at 303-786-7900 x129 or email her at bcooner@leisuretrends.com

Thank you!

(* Surf Summit is May 15-18, 2013, at the Melia Cabo Real, an all-inclusive resort in Los Cabos. Airfare not included.)

KNOWSHOW Fall Winter 2013 from KNOWSHOW on Vimeo.

KNOWSHOW's January show was one of our best yet, with almost 400 shops from across Canada and over 300 brands represented.

Here's a little taste of the show to bring you back. Thanks to Liam (liammitchell.net) for the great work, and to everyone for coming to the show.

Please plan to join us for a Webinar on Health Care Reform and Employee Benefits: What You Need to Know on Thursday, February 14, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. PT.

Register Now

With health care reform underway business leaders are asking:

• Should we continue offering health coverage?

• Would employees prefer to find their own?

• What is more beneficial to everyone?

• What do I need to know and when do I need to know it?

Join us as we review the Affordable Care Act’s impending requirements and the variety of options for an employer’s consideration.

Level: Intermediate | No Prerequisites

Free Seminar | 1 CPE Credit

Presenters

Chris Rivard, Moss Adams National Practice Leader, Health Care Consulting Group

Rob Grannum, National Practice Leader, Medical Groups and Physicians Practice

Brian Connor, National Practice Leader, Hospitals

After 15 years of running Skin Industries, owner Al Borda has decided to sell his brand to focus more time on his family, health and Professional Poker career. The decision to sell came as a surprise to friends and industry associates, since Al has turned down more then a dozen offers for the company over the years.

We talked with Al to find out more about why he decided now is the time to sell Skin Industries.

What made this the right time to let go of Skin Industries?

I have built Skin Industries into a brand I'm really proud of, but it's time to move on.  I'd like to have time to pursue my other businesses and interests, as well as spend time with my family and friends.

What are the terms you are looking for?

I'm looking for a simple asset sale. The company has no debt, no partners and no loans -- I own everything free and clear.

What assets are included in the sale?

The sale includes Skin Industries' world famous trademarks, registered in over 30 countries, as well as thousands of images and artwork designs along with all the IP.

How can those who are interested learn more?

Please email me directly, or check out our website.

Immigration law can be a complex field to navigate. We sat down with immigration law expert Richard M. Wilner of Wilner & O'Reilly to find out what every brand should know about this important topic.

Please give us a little background on your firm.

In 2003, Kelly S. O'Reilly and I decided to to form our own firm.  We had been partners at another large immigration law firm that had evolved into more of a volume, cookie-cutter type practice. Neither of us were interested in that business model. It wasn't who we are. 

Rather, we were interested in a more unique, narrowly tailored approach to our clientele. So we decided to give it a go and Wilner & O'Reilly, APLC was born. Kelly was formerly an officer with the INS. I am board certified as a specialist in immigration law by the State Bar of California.

What should every brand know about immigration law?

All brands should know that U.S. immigration laws are the same no matter how big or small you are and no matter what state in the United States your business is in. From new hire documentation (even for U.S. citizens and permanent residents), to compliance, to hiring foreign nationals, to sponsoring foreign born riders, immigration is out there.

Enforcement efforts on the part of the government continue to rise even in what is perceived as a benefits driven environment. And, if the new immigration reform passes, several employees that you now have that have represented themselves as "legal" will most likely come forward and tell you that they now can become legal. What to do then?

What issues in immigration law do you see as particularly important to the action sports industry?

Immigration law issues in the action sports industry are primarily within the realm of hiring foreign nationals on the executive or creative side, namely, H-1b's. The H-1b visa is a visa for professionals (requires college degree) and are limited in number as well as the timing of when can file.

Also of particular importance in the AS world is sponsoring riders. Men and women that compete in the U.S. on behalf of U.S. based brands often reach out to their brands for potential sponsorship on visas.

How have you helped action sports brands with their immigration law needs in the past?

We have helped brands secure visas for their top level c-suite peeps to green cards for warehouse supervisors and everyone in between including visas for surfers, skaters, snowboarders, moto-x riders and fighters. From internal I-9 audits to management of foreign national portfolios, you name it....

On Thursday evening, February 21, at 7 p.m., Harry Chandler will talk and present slides and film clips on the surfing history of the Chandler family, and from his book, Dreamers in Dream City. The Chandler family and its surfing is legendary; it is said that Otis Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, would often suspend meetings at the newspaper when the surf was up.

The Chandler family also had a beach house in Dana Point and frequently surfed there. Harry will show rare footage of his parents, Otis and Marilyn, surfing Killer Dana and Dana Strands. Otis Chandler (1927-2006) was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times between 1960 and 1980. He developed the Los Angeles Times into one of the nation's leading dailies and was considered one of the most powerful men in the country.

In The New York Times obituary on Otis, Jonathan Kandell noted that: "His critics [the Eastern news media establishment] could not understand his enthusiasm for surfing, big-game hunting, motorcycles and sports cars-obsessions that several times nearly cost him his life."

Harry Brant Chandler is a fifth-generation Southern Californian who has had a successful career as a movie executive and Internet executive, and is now an artist. His publication, Dreamers in Dream City, (Angel City Press, 2009), presents his stylized portraits and biographies of sixty of Southern California's most inspirational individuals.

The photographs were the basis of exhibitions at the California Museum in Sacramento and the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.

Admission is $10 and the program starts at 7 p.m. at Surfing Heritage Foundation, 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672.

F/W KNOWSHOW just wrapped up.  As we always say, the show was full of busy days and busier nights. We've recapped all of the events in one place, and you an check it out HERE

As always the show was filled with the best looks coming out an those who know how to use them. Check out a recap of our KNOWSTYLE sartorial look at who was at the show.

WIth over 300 brands showing there are soo many great products to find. We enlisted a crew of influential media friends to help sort through and find the best of the best. Click HERE for a recap

One of the best ways to keep up with the show is Instagram. If you search our hashtag #knwshw on Instagram you will find hundreds of photos from last week. We've grabbed some of our favourites in a gallery HERE

Next show date is July 30-August 1, 2013 at the Vancouver Convention Center in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Watch our website for more information.  See you there!

It is a smart practice to bring your car to a mechanic for a complete inspection/diagnostic, and the same is true for your business. You should consult with a qualified attorney about your business on a regular basis and request an inspection/diagnosis to help you run the business safely, efficiently, and profitably. The problem is you need to find an attorney who is experienced in all aspects of “fashion law” and who can strategically advise you on best practices.

This year at MAGIC, I am presenting at a Seminar called “ALL THE FASHION BUSINESS LEGAL INS AND OUTS YOU NEED TO KNOW.” While I obviously cannot cover every topic for every company during the presentation, I will touch on the key components of fashion law you need to know. These fashion law topics are also covered in more detail in Call & Jensen’s proprietary “DIAGNOSTIK,” which is a one hour business inspection/diagnostic to identify potential legal areas in need of attention. Among other areas covered in DIAGNOSTIK that I will discuss at MAGIC this year are issues regarding trademark protection, trade dress, copyrights, patents, and licensing.

After organizing and financing your business, your intellectual property (i.e., your trademark brand, logo, look and feel, product designs, copyrights, patents) is probably the most important asset. The various forms of intellectual property in fashion law to protect include graphics on apparel and accessories, textiles, jewelry designs, logos, and other forms of artistic expression used on or in connection with apparel products. Copyright protects the “artistic” expressions of a product. The actual brand is protected by trademark law. Trademarks can include logos, designs, slogans, symbols, and words, and designate the source of a product. Similarly, if the brand has developed a consistent aesthetic over time, then trade dress laws may also protect the brand’s look and feel. For example, if, through extensive advertising and sales efforts, the public has come to associate a certain look with a particular source – say Tiffany & Co.’s little blue box, or Christian Louboutin’s red soled high heels – then trade dress laws may prohibit any copying of that look. Finally, design patent laws can protect the ornamental designs of products that are novel and non-obvious – think a new shoe design or eyeglass frames. Because fashion design – a garment’s cut and assembly – is generally not protected under U.S. laws, some fashion companies are turning to design patents for protection, i.e., Lululemon’s recent design patent suits over a line of its yoga pants.

Once your intellectual property portfolio is developed and legally protected, you will have a significant intangible business asset that is valuable. The value of the intellectual property can increase with a strategic “branding” campaign that may include some form of licensing. The ability to understand licensing is crucial to success. If you look at the top licensing companies in the U.S. – Disney, Liz Claiborne, Major League Baseball, and others – you will recognize or at least appreciate the fact that licensing has allowed brands to expand and increase sales across various categories. If you are looking for opportunities to expand, then licensing may provide the path to success.

Come visit the MAGIC seminar “ALL THE FASHION BUSINESS LEGAL INS AND OUTS YOU NEED TO KNOW” on February 20th at 11:15 a.m.

If you are interested in learning more about DIAGNOSTIK, please contact me. All SIMA members receive a free DIAGNOSTIK.

The Sage Group, LLC just announced the December 2012 closing of the aquisition of Intermix by Gap, Inc.  We caught up with The Sage Group's Paul Altman to find out more about this exciting transaction.

1. Please tell our readers a bit about the sale of Intermix to Gap Inc.

In July 2012, Sage was engaged by Intermix to explore strategic alternatives.

Founded in 1993 by Khajak and Haro Keledjian, Intermix is a leading multi-brand specialty retailer of luxury and contemporary women’s apparel and accessories.

Intermix operates a network of 32 highly-productive small-box format stores in the U.S. and Canada, as well a robust e-commerce destination. The Company is a highly-regarded platform for the stylish consumer and a pioneer in the mixed merchandising of luxury contemporary fashion.

Sage pursued a targeted approach in launching the process, and reached out to a select group of strategic and financial buyers most likely to have interest and with the ability to quickly consummate a transaction.

Sage’s discussions with Gap Inc. advanced very rapidly, and the transaction successfully closed in December 2012, allowing the client to also benefit from favorable tax treatment.

 2. What was The Sage Group able to do on behalf of Intermix that made this a successful deal for both sides?

We are fortunate to work with terrific clients, and Intermix was a very attractive asset, which gave us a great starting point.

We bring large firm experience to an entrepreneurial market which usually doesn’t have access to such expertise. We worked hard to understand their business and best position it to the marketplace of buyers and investors. Given the shorter time frame to reach the desired closing, we prepared as much of the diligence as possible before a broader marketing process, so that we’d be ready once we settled on a buyer. Our client had several good choices; we had garnered interest from among the world’s most recognized retailers and private equity firms.

Furthermore, we believe in having an active dialogue with the buyer throughout the process so we can best understand what is important to them; all successful deals require compromise. Our specialty is moving the deal forward while maximizing the value of the transaction for our client.

3. What should a brand look for when seeking representation for a transaction like this one?

Beyond the obvious sector expertise and track record considerations, we always encourage our prospective clients to call our previous ones and hear first-hand how we were able to add value and help get their transaction closed. Clients also need to feel a good rapport with their advisor given how much time they will be spending with them!

Pennywise frontman and “Punk Rock Dad” author Jim Lindberg can add another line to his expanding resume – Surfrider Foundation board member.

Surfrider Foundation’s Board of Directors recently appointed Jim to serve on the board for a two-year term, during which he will focus on fundraising efforts and expanding the Foundation’s relationships with tastemakers in the music industry.

“I was lucky enough to grow up a surfer in Hermosa Beach in the south bay of Los Angeles,” says Lindberg. We've faced a huge challenge being such a large and densely populated metropolis with industrial pollution and sewer and storm runoff into the Santa Monica Bay. Strong environmental initiatives have helped return much of the sea life to the area, but it's a constant battle, and one that I'm happy to fight along with the great people at Surfrider. My main goal is to bring together as many musicians, surfers and ocean minded people as I can to help support the cause."

“Jim has been a part of Surfrider’s mission for years; from the streets as an activist fighting for clean water in Los Angeles, to the stage pushing awareness during Pennywise sets about ways people can engage to protect the beaches they love,” said Jim Moriarty, Surfrider Foundation’s CEO. “Having Jim join our Board of Directors is a natural extension of his work with us and we’re excited to have him engage on a deeper level."

As lead singer for the legendary South Bay punk band Pennywise, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, Jim has mixed his career as a musician with a healthy dose of charity work and activism. A South Bay native since birth, and a lifelong surfer, Jim has witnessed firsthand the deterioration and re-birth of the region’s sea life, and is dedicated to maintaining and protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. For over 10 years Jim has been involved with the Foundation, spearheading Pennywise’s participation on benefit albums and in celebrity surf events.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide. For more information visit Surfrider.org.

We're proud to be exhibiting at the  ISS Long Beach Show and we hope to see you there!

Be sure to visit us in booth number 551, where we will be highlighting this exciting offering, among others:

Keeping jobs in North America! We can help you succeed by offering your customers the 3 keys to success in the apparel business: Quality, Price & Delivery! 100% of our product is knitted & dyed in California. Our inventory has been engineered to support the historical seasonal fashion demands and trends! Due to the high quality of our product, it is perfectly suited for all kinds of embellishment from screen printing to direct to garment. 95% of the product line is made utilizing ring spun yarn which has a soft hand, yet is extremely durable and perfect for your stylish clients.

As Aristotle so eloquently said: “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”

If you haven't registered yet, register today for a Free expo pass and be sure to visit us in booth number 551.

Being mindful about the garment making cycle is a way of life today for most manufacturers that are trying to have a softer footprint on our dear mother earth. One company that has led the charge for many years with a mindful practice, from how they treat their employees, what the working environment looks and feels like, the fabrics and trims utilized in their garments, the vendors they work with to produce their garments, to the retail partnerships that sell their garments, is prAna.

PrAna is inspiring the moment one walks through the front office doors. Signs point the way to recycling centers, how to have mindful water practices, images with photos that embrace and inspire a mindful way of life by incorporating yoga, rock climbing, and meditation practices, to a daily gong that stops the whole company for a silence break in the hustle of the day.

PrAna’s belief: Making good stuff in a good way. The action prAna takes to do this is using sustainable textiles, holding themselves accountable by being a bluesign® system partner, shipping all clothing in paper bags that have 100% recycled content instead of industry standard plastic bags, and being a member of the Fair Labor Association that actively supports Fair Trade Certified™ Apparel. PrAna empowers their people, is mindful, always tries to do the right thing, has a "one for all" attitude, stays connected, lives and learns.

May we all aspire to create greatness in everyone and all things around us as the people at prAna do on a daily basis. To learn more about their many amazing programs and way of life visit prAna's website

Check out all the action at KNOWSHOW January 16-18, 2013 at the Vancouver Convention Center.

The KNOWMAG team has been hard at work putting together Vol.2 Issue 2. Click here to get a sneak peak at the next issue you will be picking up at the show.

• 01/15 - How could we be a Canadian show with out a good ole Hockey Game! Come out to the PNE Coliseum and watch your fellow industry members slug it out on ice. Space is limited, cost is $55 and you get a jersey and refreshments. Details can be found HERE

• 01/16 - KNOWSHOW Opening Night Party -  From 4PM - 6PM on the first night of the show we welcome media partners from across the country to meet and greet the brands and products that will be shaping retail. Come down to say hello and connect with those who are most connected.

• ALL SHOW - Don't forget to check out the Burton Archives at KNOWSHOW. This exhibit will run through out the show and should be an interesting look at some of the innovations that Burton has brought to the industry. Find it at BOOTH 617.

• 01/16 - On Wednesday January 16th Vans Syndicate and AWS are proud to present a night or art and music to celebrate the release of the Mike Hill "S" Show. Art will be on display from Mike Hill and Jay Croft and music by The Spits, The Tubuloids and DJ Vinyl Ritchie.Click HERE for Details.

• 01/16 - Join Quiksilver on Wednesday January 16th for live interviews by Bryan Fox with (Big Wave Surfer / Shark rider) Mark Healey, Canadian hometown hero Jordan Hoffart & special guests. Click HERE for more details

• 01/16 - Wednesday January 16th, Sitka presents their new skateboard video "Into the Thicket" at Fortune Sound Club. Doors are at 9:00pm and the viewing is at 9:30. Your KNOWSHOW pass gets you in for free, click HERE for more details.

• 01/16 - Endeavor invites all show attendees to come by the Archtype Lab and witness a board build in person. This will be a unique experience for anyone who enjoys sliding sideways. Click HERE for details.

• 01/17 - Thursday January 17th will see a return to Grouse Mountain for a great night on the mountain and all the joy that Apres brings. Presented by Quiksilver and sponsored in part by KNOWSHOW , Grouse Mountain and Snowboard Canada this year will feature the inaugural Quiksilver Banked Slalom. Click HERE for more details.

• 01/18 - When your appointments are done you only have one more thing to show up to. The Official KNOWSHOW Party at Fortune Sounds Club featuring DJ's Morse Code, Justin Foosh, Lonnie Ce, Butter & Ricky Mars. Free with KNOWSHOW pass all night long. Sponsored by KNOWSHOW, Livestock, Instance, The Hundreds, G-SHOCK and Altamont. FORTUNE SOUND CLUB 147 E. Pender.  Click HERE for more details.

The Agenda:NYC Trade Show will be taking place on Wednesday, January 23rd & Thursday, January 24th, 9am-6pm, at 82 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.
 
Click here to register online now.

AGENDA:NYC July 2012 from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

We are pleased to announce the closing of another

successful transaction.

Has Received an Equity Investment from

Moss Adams Capital is pleased to announce its role as the exclusive financial advisor to Neff, Inc. ("Neff" or the "Company") in its equity investment transaction with Marlin Equity Partners ("Marlin").

Founded in 2002 by Shaun & Joe Neff, the Company has expanded rapidly from its roots as the maker of the iconic Neff beanie, into one of the strongest brands in the Action Sports industry. Over the past several years, the Neff brand has expanded successfully into watches, eyewear, and other accessory products, in addition to establishing a strong apparel business. Neff is known creating fun and unique products at accessible price points – “consumer candy” - and the brand has been rewarded by consumers with extremely rapid growth over the past three years.

Shaun Neff, CEO, is excited to be partnering with Marlin Equity Partners, a private equity group with over $1 billion of capital under management. Marlin will assist the Company in expanding its product categories and global distribution, and bringing in key additional personnel to drive the future growth of the Neff brand.

Shaun Neff commented, “We’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with Moss Adams over the past several years, and they have provided excellent advice as Neff has grown rapidly. Based on the strength of this relationship, we engaged Moss Adams Capital to help us find a strong partner. Rich Anderson and Geoff Haydon were awesome to work with and brought a number of excellent investors to the table. Joe and I really appreciated how much Rich and Geoff were personally committed to getting us the best deal possible.”

Joe Neff, Shaun's father, added, "The Moss Adams folks worked as a team during the process, with Rich and Geoff getting assistance along the way from Frank Kaufman (audit) and Alan Villanueva (tax). They work well together and we were very pleased with the services we got from Moss Adams."

Moss Adams Capital ("MAC") provides Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance advisory services to successful middle market businesses. MAC's investment bankers provide extensive transaction experience, in-depth market intelligence and the relationships necessary to access corporate and prive equity investors. Moss Adams Capital is a FINRA registered broker/dealer with offices in Seattle, WA, and Irvine, CA, where its Consumer Products team is based. Moss Adams Capital is affiliated with Moss Adams, a top national accounting and financial services firm with 22 offices in the U.S.

Stanton Hartsfield and Jason Cohn, the authors of the book Surf To Skate, installed an exhibit "Skate Garage" at Surfing Heritage Foundation. Skate Garage features more than 100 vintage old school skateboards from the 1950s and 60s with logos and designs that are driven by innocence and fueled by customization.

As part of the exhibit, we're screening an edited version of the first major skateboard film, "Skater Dater," an American short film written and directed by Noel Black in 1965. It won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Subject category.

The exhibition will open to the public on Saturday, January 12 and be on public view through Saturday, February 2, 2013.

Stanton and Jason will be on hand to sign their book on Saturday, January 12 from 2 - 5 p.m. Primo Beer will be available for those 21 and older. You can also buy the book through our website, SHF.

The California Fashion Association held its fifth annual Economic Crystal Ball at the City Club in downtown Los Angeles. The event attracted over 200 industry executives, and was hosted by Wells Fargo Capital Finance, with sponsorship from Moss Adams LLP.

Dr. Eugenio Aleman, Senior Economist for Wells Capital Management detailed the current financial "mess," and offered significant projections and a thesis for the future.

As the featured guest speaker Marshal Cohen of the NPD Group gave an outstanding presentation entitled, "Retailing in Today's World... a Look to the Future," with an overview of current economics as they affect retail business decisions from the consumer's point of view.

Stuart Brister, CEO and President of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, outlined fashion industry lending directions; Rich Anderson, Managing Director of Moss Adams Capital LLC, gave positive projections for M&A activity for the coming year. The event was moderated by Kevin Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Capital Finance; the program was introduced by Lonnie Kane, owner of Karen Kane, Inc., and Chairman of the California Fashion Association.

For more information on how the Trade Capital team at Wells Fargo Capital Finance can help your business, click here or give us a call at 1-866-703-4932.

Spectra USA has recently moved to a 500,000 square foot facility in Chino, California. We checked in with Spectra’s Brian McLaughlin to see what impact the move is having.

Please tell our readers a bit about Spectra USA

Spectra offers 10 styles of t-shirts for children and adults. We

are NAFTA-friendly; w

e cut and sew our entire product line in Baja, Mexico. Our t-shirts are made pr

imarily fro

m yarn that is knitted and dyed in the USA and most are NAFTA compliant. We maintain a large inventory in popular colors to ensure rapid turnaround.

Spectra USA is a young company and though we are growing fast, we retain the nimble response of a smaller operation. We accept any size order, from one to 1,000,000.

What are the advantages to being in Chino?

For one, our facility is much larger, which allows us to maintain the deep inventory our customers have come to expect. Our NAFTA-friendly products are stocked in large quantities for our clients in our warehouse so we can turn around orders quickly.

A second advantage is location. Being in Chino makes us an easy drive for customers in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

Where are your clients located?

Anywhere and everywhere! We sell to clients all over the country, and serve a lot of clients in the action sports industry. We also provide high quality t-shirts for the direct-to-garment market.

What’s next for Spectra?

We’re working on establishing our name, and we’ll be attending a lot of shows in January. Come see us at ISS Long Beach, January 18-20 (Booth #551), PPAI, January 14-18 (Booth #3666) and Toronto Imprint Canada Show January 11-12!

The latest installment of CIT’s Executive Insights video series (cit.com/executiveinsights) discusses the retail industry's holiday sales expectation, their growing interest in social media and mobile marketing, and some of the challenges that will be confronting them in 2013 and beyond.

The video features Burt Feinberg, Managing Director and Group Head of CIT Commercial & Industrial, cit.com, discussing CIT’s recent U.S. Retail Sector Outlook, (cit.com/retailoutlook2012), which analyzed the insights of more than 250 middle market retail executives on the U.S. economy.

Key points from the video include:

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday Drive Holiday Sales
• Retailers Focused on Growth Initiatives
• Technology and Social Media a Key Component of Retail Today
• Economic Uncertainty Prevails – Retailers Look To Future For Recovery

Black Friday and Cyber Monday will Fuel Stronger Holiday Sales

More than a third (37%) of U.S. middle market retail executives expect stronger sales this holiday season, due in part to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according Feinberg.

Shift from Bricks and Mortar to Innovation

Retailers continue to focus on growing their businesses, but have shifted from traditional bricks and mortar storefronts to drive this growth. “Retail executives are focused on being more innovative, expanding product lines, improving service and staffing, marketing initiatives, advertising, utilizing new media and implementing loyalty programs to drive growth,” said Feinberg.

Gaining Market Share through Social Media and Technology

Technology and social media are playing an increasingly larger role in retail today. “It’s critical for retail executives to be on top of where social media’s going,” says Feinberg. “About half of our respondents said they’re active or very active in using social media and more than sixty percent have created mobile applications, having shifted marketing dollars from other channels. Others have implemented e-mail marketing campaigns, texting programs and expanded the use of handheld devices.”

Retailers are excelling at mining their customers through electronic platforms. “They know who their customers are and how to communicate with them,” says Feinberg. “They now send their customers e-mails, coupons and promotions, which are all part of retention strategies that keep customers coming back.”

Looking to the Future for Recovery

Middle market executives surveyed believe the U.S. economy will not fully recover until 2013 or 2014. “There’s still high unemployment, and healthcare and energy costs are up,” says Feinberg. “Although our political landscape has been decided for the next four years, there are prevailing economic problems in Europe. There’s still a tremendous amount of uncertainty in the U.S. economy.”

The F/W 2013 KNOWSHOW returns to the Vancouver Convention Center, January 16-18, 2013. All attendees must preregister and are encouraged to do so online at www.knowshow.ca

Check out our latest video to get a sense of our show and aesthetic:

KNOWSHOW Fall Winter 2013 from KNOWSHOW on Vimeo.

More information on our collaboration with Vancouver Urban Timberworks is on our blog.

See you at KNOWSHOW in January!

NRI is pleased to announce the addition of Bill Bellerose as General Manager of its US operations. Bellerose will be joining the team in the coming week and will lead the transformational growth and development of their USA operations based in Los Angeles.

Bellerose offers NRI and its clients over 20 years of leadership in the retail distribution industry. Coming recently from Hot Topic as VP-Logistics-transitioning between City of Industry and Nashville; Bill was tasked with completely transforming all facility locations including their Internet fulfillment centers and supply chain functions.

In years previous Bellerose provided valuable transformational leadership with regards to distribution efficiency and service performance within TJX, Toys R’US, Kmart and Ross Stores. The injection of his knowledge and experience into NRI will provide Client relevant touch points along the entire supply chain experience.

We see this as an exciting time for both NRI and our Clients. We are excited for the customer relevant experience that Bill brings to our US operation. Our shared company values made it a natural fit for us; with an appreciation for both a successful and balanced lifestyle approach to doing business. Bill promotes success at all levels within an organization and will be the leading hand in further developing how we operate and service our Client’s and their customer’s needs.

Bellerose said, “My decision in joining the NRI team was simple after meeting the senior group and observing their outstanding culture and their state-of-the-art operations. I have made it my goal to assist in bringing NRI to the next level of excellence to their customers. I am excited to be joining such a culture-driven and solid organization.”

As of January 2013 NRI USA will be doubling its footprint in the Los Angeles area to 120,000 sq. ft. in order to accommodate its Clients’ growth. We expect Bill will play an instrumental role in enhancing the overall experience for all our Clients as our services and operations continue to grow and adapt to meet their needs.

Since 1997, NRI has been providing Boutique, Turn-Key Fulfillment services to the Action Sports, Outdoor and Lifestyle industries. Operating now in the USA and Canada, NRI offers 3PL Pick and Pack services, Inventory Management, Vendor Compliance, Freight, Returns & Repair Management, EDI, Customer Service, and a variety of Brand Support Services. NRI’s custom-built WMS offers clients access to superior technology and seamless integrations. With years of experience and industry focus – over 50 leading brands of the Action Sports, Outdoor and Lifestyle industries entrust their business to the team at NRI.

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda Long Beach, Friday, January 4, and Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA.
 
And Pre-Registration is also NOW OPEN for Agenda:NYC, Wednesday, January 23, and Thursday, January 24, 2013, at 62 Mercer Street, New York, NY.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.
 
Click here to register online now.

Here's a video recap of our August show with Lyndon Cormak of Herschel Supply Company, Mark Copeland of Neff, Johnny Schlereff of Element and others talking about why they love the show.

AGENDA Long Beach - August 1st & 2nd, 2012 - Interviews 01 from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

With many on the East Coast still coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we touched base with Shorepoint Insurance to see how companies can prepare for similar disasters.

First of all, please tell us about your company.

Shorepoint Insurance Services specializes in businesses with an international connection. If importing or exporting, a company faces unique risks. We provide not only traditional insurance solutions, but also act as your consultants, reviewing your business and personal needs to provide a customized plan that will enable you to take advantage of new risk protection opportunities.

How can companies protect themselves against Mother Nature?

Many executives are asking themselves that very question and insurance can provide some answers. For example, Shorepoint offers all-risk coverage for your goods in transit anywhere in the world, from overseas warehouses to your final destination in the U.S.

What does your “all-risk” policy cover?

Property polices do not cover your inventory if it is damaged by an earthquake or flood and we’ve developed a solution that does, with lower deductibles and less premium than what you may be currently paying. In addition, it covers damage to your goods from acts of war, piracy and hurricanes. If you do have a loss, it will reimburse the full selling price of pre-sold goods, not just the manufactured cost, to protect your profits.

How can companies learn more about their insurance options?

More and more companies are looking to get coverage for these natural and man-made disasters. We also offer business interruption coverage, in case your business is shut down by a major event like Hurricane Sandy.

We offer the right solutions for our action sports clients and we can help you assess your company’s risks to get the coverage you need.

Contact us at 714-430-0035, or email Mike Kelly or Lorae Farmer.

As the holiday season draws nearer, more than a third (37%) of middle market retail executives believe their holiday sales will increase over 2011, while 42% believe their sales will increase in 2013.

These are some of the findings in the research study “Taking Stock in Tough Times: U.S. Retail Sector Outlook,” produced by CIT Group Inc., a leading provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies, in association with Forbes Insights.

Other findings include:

• 37% of Middle Market Retail Executives Will Invest In Their Business In The Coming Year
• 51% Will Use Social Media To Grow Their Business
• 60% Believe The Presidential Election Will Significantly Impact Their Business
• 71% Favor Change in Tax Policy to Spur New Hiring

The study, which was conducted in August and September 2012, analyzes the insights of more than 250 middle market retail executives on the U.S. economy, as well as the opportunities and challenges they are facing.

“Now a full three years removed from the Great Recession, we’re seeing moderate consumer confidence despite the sluggish economy as evidenced by increased retail sales and decent comps,” said Burt Feinberg, Group Head of CIT Commercial & Industrial.

“Although retail executives still have concerns about the overall U.S. economy, they have been optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, however some are now concerned that the impact of ‘Superstorm Sandy’ may cause late delivery of some items by Black Friday. Beyond the holiday season, while the election is settled, uncertainty about tax rates, anxiety with regard to the ‘fiscal cliff’ and an uncertain regulatory climate are prompting a more cautious approach to 2013.”

Mr. Feinberg added, “This year’s survey showed more caution than our past two surveys so perhaps the continued slow growth in GDP, and the stubborn employment numbers, coupled with European economic concerns, are curbing retailers’ enthusiasm. It seems that the sting of the Great Recession still affects the psychology of retail executives and growth initiatives are more focused on maximizing business through technology versus major expansion.”

Key Findings from the Study:

• U.S. ECONOMY REMAINS CHALLENGED: Respondents indicated there were several factors still weighing on the recovery of the U.S. economy, including an uncertain political climate (55%), uncertainty in tax rates (45%) and an uncertain regulatory climate (38%).
• RECOVERY STILL MONTHS AWAY: Nearly 61% of survey participants expect the financial crisis to bottom in 2013 (40%) or 2014 (21%). In the 2011 survey, 57% expected the financial crisis to reach bottom either in 2011 (11%) or in 2012 (46%).
• GROWTH IS THE GOAL: Survey participants are undertaking an array of initiatives intended to preserve margins and spur growth. The most frequently implemented steps include expanding product selection (45%) and implementing/improving customer loyalty programs (42%). Over a third (37%) said they will invest in their business in the coming year – with 6% indicating significant new investment.
• INTEREST IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND MOBILE MARKETING: Respondents are pursuing innovation, such as the implementation of new technologies to control/reduce costs (39%) or expanding the use of social media, with 51% saying they are either very active (21%) or active (30%) in the space. Among those active in social media, 94% say they are undertaking social media campaigns and 31% are offering discounts (e.g., Groupon). Forty-three percent of respondents say they are very active (15%) or active (28%) in mobile marketing ? 63% have created mobile applications featuring their company’s products or services and 47% have implemented texting campaigns.
• PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS WILL LIKELY SPUR CONTINUED CAUTION: Pre-election, 60% of executives said their businesses would be significantly impacted by the outcome of the presidential election, with 22% gauging the impact as very significant. Issues impacting businesses include the cost of healthcare, tax rates, energy development costs and the general regulatory climate, all of which play a profound role in the economy at large.
• TAXES A TOP CONCERN FOR RETAIL EXECUTIVES: Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would favor a change in tax policy, substituting lower tax rates for the current system of detailed tax write-offs. Lower tax rates with fewer write-offs, the survey shows, would in turn spur companies to increase hiring, as well as to invest in new product development and new manufacturing.

Click here for additional information about the study, “Taking Stock in Tough Times: U.S. Retail Sector Outlook,” including the full whitepaper, an infographic, and related materials.

One of the emerging trends in the apparel industry is the move toward more socially responsible products.

This can stem from pressures from consumers, but retailers and brands are also pushing themselves to be more socially responsible.

And there’s also a regulatory impetus: As a result of the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, many apparel retailers are requiring wholesalers to sign codes of conduct regarding their labor practices.

As more retailers become compliant with the new California regulations, more suppliers and wholesalers will in turn be required to adhere to retailers’ code of conducts.

It doesn’t stop there. Companies are going above and beyond simple legal requirements or retailer code-of-conduct requirements. More apparel companies are joining socially responsible organizations such as the Fair Labor Association, whose members include adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, ASICS, Juicy Couture, Nike, Patagonia, and Puma.

We’ve also seen the rise of apparel-specific organizations such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a group of apparel and footwear brands, retailers, and manufacturers whose goal is to reduce the environmental and social impacts of their products around the world.

Recently, Nike released the Nike Jordan XX3, whose “jigsaw puzzle” design reduced plastic waste by at least 17 percent. And eBay created WorldOfGood.com, a site devoted to the sale of socially responsible goods.

What these and other companies are coming to realize is that even if they’re not out to save the planet, an increasing percentage of their customers are. As consumers are becoming more educated on sustainable products and options, they expect companies to incorporate sustainability options within those products.

Whether it be products that use certified recycled materials or are produced with “ethical cotton” through the Better Cotton Initiative, consumers will expect more socially responsible products to wear. Few companies can afford to ignore this growing customer segment.

But the question remains: Are consumers willing to pay more to cover the extra costs associated with producing socially responsible products?

Here the answers are mixed. A 2011 survey conducted in Britain and reported in the Independent showed that 20 percent of respondents in the United Kingdom and the United States would spend more than 10 percent extra on green products.

However, according to a study by researchers at Villanova University and the University at Albany, while most consumers may not be willing to pay more for green products, they do expect companies to offer them—and may take their business elsewhere if they don’t.

So the holy grail appears to be the ability to produce sustainable products at the same price point as standard ones. Although the effect is greater for premium products selling through specialty stores, even brands selling through low-price retailers stand to gain customers if they can maintain their low price points while using socially responsible materials.

I'm pleased to announce that ROTH Capital Partners received two awards at the annual 2012 Americas M&A Atlas Awards sponsored by Global M&A Network on October 24th in New York City.

ROTH was recognized as the Boutique M&A Investment Bank of the Year in North America and received the award for Middle Market Technology & Telecom Deal of the Year for advising 1st Auto Transport Directory, Inc. (“1st Auto”) on its sale to DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. (“DealerTrack”).

It’s an honor to be recognized by Global M&A Network as Boutique M&A Investment Bank of the Year for our advisory work over the past 12 months. This year’s award is a testament to the depth and breadth of ROTH’s M&A advisory practice and the quality of services ROTH provides to its clients.

ROTH was also a finalist for the Small-Mid Market USA M&A Deal of the Year, as well as for the Entertainment & Media Deal of the Year, for its work advising Manchester Lynch Integrated Media, a diversified holding company, on its acquisition of San Diego Union Tribune, the second oldest newspaper in Southern California, from prior investor Platinum Equity.

In addition, ROTH was a finalist for Small-Mid Market Private Equity Deal of the Year, as well as for the Consumer Goods & Services Deal of the Year, for its work advising Macadamia Natural Oil, a professional hair care products company, on receiving an investment from Star Avenue Capital.

This year’s awards mark the third consecutive year ROTH has earned an Americas M&A Atlas Award.

In 2011, ROTH received the award for Small-Mid Market USA Deal of the Year for its work advising ZAGG, a mobile device accessories brand, on its $105 million acquisition of iFrogz, a mobile device accessories brand specializing in lifestyle audio products and protective cases, and the structuring of a $90 million senior credit facility to finance the acquisition.

In 2010, ROTH received the award for the Consumer Goods Deal of the Year for its work advising Revolution Dancewear, a provider of dancewear and recital costumes directly to dance studios, on its sale to PNC Equity Partners.

Americas M&A Atlas Awards is part of the prestigious M&A ATLAS AWARDS global brand, exclusively honoring top deals, outstanding dealmakers and A-list firms from the North and South American mergers, acquisitions, corporate, private equity, investment bank, intermediaries and legal deal communities.

For 2012 a total of 612 deals were considered per eligibility standards, and ultimately, only 46 deals were judged as the award winning deals from the North and South Americas, including country deal awards from Brazil, Canada, Mexico and U.S.A.

Click here for more details on the awards.

About ROTH Capital Partners, LLC

ROTH Capital Partners, LLC (ROTH), is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving emerging growth companies and their investors. As a full-service investment bank, ROTH provides capital raising, M&A advisory, analytical research, trading, market-making services and corporate access.

Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, ROTH is privately-held and owned by its employees, and maintains offices throughout the U.S. and Hong Kong. For more information on ROTH, please visit www.roth.com.

ABOUT GLOBAL M&A NETWORK

Global M&A Network is a privately held, diversified information, media, and educational forum-connecting company. The company exclusively serves the mergers, acquisitions, alternative investing, restructuring, and turnaround communities worldwide from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Mumbai/New Delhi, to London. Additional information about Global M&A Network can be found at www.globalmanetwork.com.

Joe Schimmelpfennig is the Managing Director and Head of Consumer and Internet Investment Banking at ROTH. Email him at jschim@roth.com or call him at 949-720-7151.

On October 10, the Fashion and Retail group supporting the City of Hope held a Spirit of Life Award gala in downtown Los Angeles, honoring Halston CEO Ben Malka. Sponsors of the event included Wells Fargo Capital Finance.

Ben put together an outstanding event, recreating Studio 54 at Exchange LA.

Guests were entertained by the Pointer Sisters, Miley Cyrus, and Jordin Sparks with Boogie Knights as the house band. In addition, the Andy Warhol estate agreed to allow a number of his paintings to be shown at the event.

The Gala raised more than $900,000 to benefit City of Hope in its fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Wells Fargo Capital Finance has worked with City of Hope for more than ten years, and we’ve seen firsthand how their approach towards developing cures moves treatment from the test phase to deployment in the medical field in a rapid manner. We are honored to be among the sponsors of this important award.

“Information does not take sides and inherently should be the “facts” that are considered between all stakeholders.” -- Lenny Holden

Today’s Executive management is dogged by many issues but from my experience there is nothing more exasperating then when polled, that your stakeholders, (employees) biggest complaint is “lack for communication.”

There is nothing more frustrating than being in meetings where everyone has different numbers that they are looking at.

Having multiple systems trying to “communicate” is rarely nothing more than a constant nightmare. I have talked to executives who seem baffled about “how different Teams can be on dramatically different page” when it comes to vital and strategically critical initiatives.

I am sure that these systemically are related to the Executive Teams communication but there is also often an institutional issue related to the information systems that are predominant within the organization by also become preeminent within certain Teams.

Information does not take sides and inherently should be the “facts” that are considered between all stakeholders and that there shared source for all facts.

There is no solution to these kinds of issues by having specific systems that are tailored for a specific function within the organization. Proliferating different independent information management has exactly the opposite effect of improving communication.

The best option is to tailor one system that will relate and communicate directly through the PLM ( Product Lifecycle Management) system and have portals that are specific to each Team. Information should be able to be managed, manipulated, and analyzed to any Teams ultimate purpose but at the end of the day the source of this information should be one shared resource. Innovation and new product development are essential for most companies to sustain future revenue growth.

Customers demand more new products in shorter time intervals, often customized to their own needs. They want more attractive designs, better performance, better quality, lower prices, and instant availability. To meet these needs we have create a PLM Software that can improve performance and offer you the power to control your entire business through the integration of all crucial aspects of your product lifecycle and value chain, regardless of your global location.

To know more about how our product can improve performance and offer you the power to control your entire business please visit us at www.fanplm.com.

Definition of an PLM system (pulled from the web):

“Product lifecycle management or PLM is an all-encompassing approach for innovation, new product development and introduction (NPDI) and product information management from ideation to end of life. PLM is an enabling technology for PLM integrate people, data, processes, and business systems and it provides a product information backbone for companies and their extended enterprise.”

For more, please also visit and "like" our Facebook page.

Leading the way to providing clean drinking water to people everywhere in the world is a mission one of our clients, Hurley, is accomplishing.

One local partnership helping this endeavor is the amazing people at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Together, through classes, events like the Hurley Pro surf championship, publications, and exhibits like “The Water Shed” (2011), “Protect Your Watershed” (2012), and “SPLASH! How Good Water Works!” (2010, and currently on view at the Lodz Design Festival 2012 in Poland), Hurley H2O and The Ecology Center educate thousands of people of all ages with water-wise practices and more.

I know from visiting The Ecology Center with my son, seeing the pathways to be water wise, and visiting the big blue man “Juggy” (composed of 365 Sparkletts bottles symbolizing the average Orange County resident’s direct and indirect water consumption of 1,800 gallons per day) put a visible perspective and much gratitude in our hearts to have clean water to drink and utilize in all areas of our lives.

Check out further amazing stories of the H20 project Hurley is doing to educate people all over the world at their H2O website.

If you haven’t been to The Ecology Center, do not wait another day! Check out all their resources and events for children and adults on their website.

Here's a look at the Ecology Center:

Our Market Monitors contain current information on industry trends, valuation multiples for public companies and summaries of recent mergers & acquisitions.

Moss Adams Capital produces Market Monitors for a variety of industries.

Highlights of our current Apparel and Footwear Market Monitor:

• Middle market M&A volume in the third quarter of 2012 was up after two quarters of declines, and is now up slightly for the first nine months of 2012.
• Apparel and Footwear M&A volume is down 17% year to date, after two years of increasing deal volume.
• Strategic acquirers, including Richemont, Pentland and G-III, have recently made moves to acquire brands, after deal headlines earlier in the year were dominated by private equity.

Click Here for Access to the Market Monitor.

Moss Adams Capital is a leading investment banking firm dedicated to helping companies and individuals create business value, sell and acquire businesses, raise equity and debt capital, and evalutate strategic opportunities.

Moss Adams Capital LLC offers strategic advisory and investment banking services, helping you create greater value in your business.

Moss Adams LLP is a national leader in assurance, tax, consulting, risk management, transaction, and wealth services.

Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC provides investment management, personal financial planning, and insurance strategies to help you build and preserve your wealth.

Youtube video: http://youtu.be/74sKiYLteGU

Board meetings have a whole new meaning at Turtle Bay Resort, located on the North Shore of Oahu.

By “board” I mean surfboards! That’s why Turtle Bay is the ideal location for true team building, increasing company morale and of course having a good time.

Take adventure website TheClymb.com for example. For the second consecutive year the company has packed up its entire office and moved it to Turtle Bay for a “workcation.”

“We actually uproot the entire office from Portland, Oregon to the North Shore here and we work from crazy early in the morning until midday and then we enjoy the North Shore all afternoon,” said TheClymb.com Co-Founder Cec Annett.

“It’s been absolutely amazing you know for us, it’s really important to be authentic to who we are as a brand and there’s no better place in the world to come and play and have a workcation than Turtle Bay,” explained Annett.

About 70 employees traded in the brisk air of Portland for sunny skies on the Fabled North Shore of Oahu.

“Because we’re an e-commerce company we are quite virtual. We were able to set up internet lines and customer service lines here, so really it’s just been work as normal and our members, our consumers don’t notice a difference.

"We’re still offering great daily products on our site, our vendors are stoked that we’re here, always asking if they can get a job at TheClymb,” explained Annett.

But why Turtle Bay Resort? As mentioned earlier, this is the second year TheClymb.com has come to work at Turtle Bay. Annett says it’s not only how accommodating the resort is for meetings and work but the adventures offered on property and the North Shore.

“As far as Turtle Bay goes it’s been amazing. Every day we’ve been closing down the office at 1 or 2 o’clock and we hit the beach. You know there’s people that are out there surfing ripping it up in the line-up. There’s people that are just taking surf lessons for the first time.

"There’s people on the Stand Up boards, it’s a great scene out here for Stand Up Paddling. Snorkeling has been amazing. We also have people just laying by the pool relaxing having a good time.

"We’ve got guys that did the two mile walk down to one of the private little pools on property, we got people that hiked Waimea Valley to the waterfall. We have people today, I think there’s 20 people jumping out of an airplane. So we’ll see how that goes, ask me tomorrow how many enjoyed that!”

Adventure doesn’t stop when the sun sets.

The original Surfer, The Bar gives guests a weekly line-up of experiences to choose from. Whether its listening to local talent take the stage and show their stuff during Kanikapila, Hearing true tall-tales of the ocean from famous waterman or dancing to live bands our DJs the bar creates experiences that last a lifetime. Surfer, The Bar is a collaboration between Turtle Bay Resort and Surfer Magazine.

“One of the great things about being here at Turtle Bay Resort is Surfer, The Bar. For us Chris and Julia and Vince- one of the bartenders there has absolutely been so good to our crew and just the fact that it’s the original Surfer, The Bar I mean it’s so on brand with us and what we do and we sell Surfer publications on our website so we’re really stoked to make that connection and have such a great lobby compared to some of the other lobby bars out there,” said Annett.

For those who find their passion in the outdoors, The Clymb inspires human-powered adventure by delivering member-exclusive 72-hour sales on premium brands and experiences, hand-picked by their team of fellow enthusiasts and experts. Membership is free, allowing users to shape the community by inviting like-minded friends. The company is based in Portland, Ore., and was founded in 2009 by a seasoned team of outdoor and sport industry veterans. For more information visit www.theclymb.com

So what are YOU waiting for?! Bring your team to Turtle Bay to get inspired while having a great time. www.turtlebayresort.com

The Stokes Me Surfers Helping Humans fundraising campaign is in its final hours. Mandy Lausche of SIMA updated us on the progress made during this innovative online challenge.

The Stokes Me Campaign is in its final day! When’s the cutoff?

The Stokes Me Campaign officially ends today (Tuesday, October 30th) at 11:59 pm Pacific time. We expect to see a lot of movement on the board as the deadline approaches!

What are the teams doing to raise awareness of the campaign?

We’re seeing all kinds of great posts. Rob Machado just tweeted about Stokes Me.

Kelly Slater posted about the challenge on his Facebook page and got more than 2,500 likes. And the band Switchfoot posted about the campaign on their Facebook page.

The reach of this challenge is tremendous. We’re seeing tons of donations come in from all over the country. Our top fundraisers have each set up their own fundraising page with their own messaging. You can click on their name on the stokesme.org page to see the videos they created.

Remind our readers what’s at stake here?

First of all the campaign benefits 10 amazing surfing-related organizations. The best thing about the challenge is seeing everyone rallying to raise money for a cause, not just to win a prize.

That said, those who raise the most money will win some great prizes. The brands are competing to win the prestigious SIMA Humanitarian Award and complimentary advertising on Surfline.com and in Surfer Magazine and TransWorld Surf magazine.

Individual fundraisers are competing for a trip for two to Hawaii to attend the Triple Crown of Surfing on the North Shore.

We're excited for the final day and we can't wait to see what our fundraisers do in these last few hours to raise awareness and encourage donations - this is a very competitive group!

Stef Hunter of Ei-Lo asks owner Eddy Chavez 10 questions.

1. Hello there Eddy, here we go. EI-LO has now been around almost a whole year! What was the real inspiration for EI-LO?

A: EI-LO’s biggest inspiration was our customers. Our customers were frustrated with not having a good off the shelf blank. Honestly, our blank isn’t for everybody… it’s select. EI-LO’s customer is knowledgeable about their product and cares about the blanks they put their name on.

2. What is different about EI-LO?

A: EI-LO was designed and developed by brands for brands. We have specifically created our 24 singles, mid lightweight tee for our customers. EI-LO is currently the only one with a 24 singles blank off the shelf. We intentionally kept our product category narrow in number of styles but very deep in inventory. With a slightly longer body- we truly feel we offer the best product, from quality to price to availability.

3. What separates EI-LO from their competitors?

A: EI-LO is completely vertical. We do every step of the t-shirt making process in house. This allows us to have consistency in our product with a very fast turn-around, since our factory is in Mexico.

4. Why are you so select with the styles you carry? What are the advantages to this??

A: We intentionally kept our product category narrow in number of styles, but deep in inventory to insure availability and immediate delivery. We focused on our strengths – which are better, Ring-spun fabrics. We feel we are the best in the industry in this specific category and provide a better quality at competitive pricing.

5. For everyone not in the “blank business,” what is a “24 singles” tee?

A: The number represents the gage of yarn, the higher the gage, the finer the yarn. A 24 singles tee is slightly lighter fabric made with finer more premium yarn. It has the same fit as a normal (20 singles) blank but drapes like a more fashion basic (30 singles) tee. Our 24 Singles, Brand Tee is lighter, softer and breathes better than an average tee. A 30 singles tee tends to be less forgiving on the average, not-so-in-shape man, but has a more deluxe feel. Our Brand tee offers the premium quality that a more fashion forward tee provides without the premium price.

6. Elaborate on S-Twist, what does that mean?

A: Without getting too technical – The “S- Twist” has to do with the process of spinning yarn. With basic single knit jersey “Tee Shirts fabric” the most common type of yarn has a Z-twist which is spun in a clock wise direction. Since we spin our own yarn our engineers have found that we get better stability in the fabric when we use the S-twist which is spun in a counter clockwise direction. Fabric is first knitted clock wise but our yarn (S-twist) is spun counter clock wise, which creates a more balanced, stable fabric with less torque and shrinkage. Our fabric is a tighter knit, cleaner faced, and has a softer hand great for embellishing or just as a blank.

7. I hear that term, “Ringspun” a lot… what does that add to a tee?

A: Ring-spun yarn is a superior cotton yarn that results in a softer, more durable fabric than open-end yarn. The processing time of ring spinning requires two more steps than open-end yarn production. Ring-spun yarn takes five times longer to produce. The additional steps involve continuously twisting and narrowing the rope of cotton fibers. This continuous twist gives ring-spun yarn extra softness and strength. The resulting garments feel softer wash after wash.

8. Tell us about the new styles recently added to EI-LO’s line?

A: Still focusing on our strengths we recently developed a phenomenal 30’s premium fashion basic (MC14500) in colored heathers including neon colored heathers that our customers can’t get enough of. We also added a basic street tee (MC1900) that street brands are all over.

9. What was the most surprising trend in sales you saw in 2012?

A: While we were in the midst of working on our Premium tee we watched the market flip and get hungry for a basic, old school, 6 oz street tee. We worked hard and fast to make sure we could develop this style for our customers following the Street trend.

10. What do you see in EI-LO’s future? What are you currently working on?

A: We are working on a lot for 2013. The biggest news is the addition of a tank coming early 2013 in 12 colors. We are also adding an array of new colors in all of our current styles. The most exciting thing we are working on for our customers is the availability of inventory online.

The Stokes Me Surfers Helping Humans fundraising campaign runs through Tuesday, Oct. 30th. SIMA Humanitarian Fund President Ross Garrett and SIMA Communications Manager Mandy Lausché update us on the progress made during this innovative online challenge.

How is the campaign going as you enter the final days?

Mandy: The teams are doing great! We had a strong last few days and we’re almost at $60,000. There’s nothing like a deadline to get people motivated!

Editor's note: Since we spoke to Mandy and Ross late Friday, Stokes Me topped $60,000 over the weekend and the total funds raised continues to grow.

What are the teams doing to raise awareness of the campaign?

Mandy: Our teams and individual fundraisers are using social media innovative ways to motivate their donors!. We’ve seen so many explosions of interest on team and individual pages.

For example, Rip Curl is giving away a Flash Bomb wetsuit to the top fundraiser on their team. Quiksilver just posted that they will be giving their top fundraiser a Clay Marzo surfboard.

Another good example is Ocean Minded – they are offering a free pair of sandals to people who donate $100 for their team. Their New Wave Surf Ambassador Avery Aydelotte started her own personal page and posted her own video about a friend who was in an accident – her fans and friends are lovin’ on that.

Jason Mraz posted on facebook about Stokes Me – he does a ton of work with Life Rolls On – the post grows every day and has over 2300 likes. Volcom also posted a great photo of a child from a Life Rolls On charity event. It’s a great way to promote giving back.

How are the teams doing?

Ross: The final days are really spurring the competitive spirit. Yesterday, Hurley made the leader board and bumped Billabong off the top six teams. I think we’ll see a lot of movement on the board in the next four days.

The teams are putting the pedal to the metal on getting their donations in. The success they are having is really something the surf industry and surfers can be proud of.

Our Turtle Bay Resort Ambassador Kai Lenny conquered the Stand Up World Series Finals October 12-14.

Saturday, Kai came in first for the 12.5 mile long distance paddle. The treacherous trek spanned from Turtle Bay Resort to Haleiwa. Sunday Kai continued to show his dominance in sprint races off Turtle Bay's pool bar Hang Ten.

The Stand Up World Series Finals turned Hang Ten Bar into a surf stadium. Guests cheered on their favorite SUPers from the swimming pool, bleachers and even with a mai tai or Pacifico beer in hand from the pool bar! The energy was epic and the action was out of this world.

Congratulations Kai!!!

Here are the final results for men and women:

And here's a quick video recap to go out on:

The Stokes Me Surfers Helping Humans fundraising campaign runs through Oct. 30th. SIMA Humanitarian Fund President Ross Garrett updates us on the progress made during this innovative online challenge.

How close are you to your goal for the Stokes Me Campaign?

We're doing well. As of Friday, October 19th, we've raised over $43,000, with 430 individual donors.

Who's in the lead?

Last Friday, Surfline led the teams, with Shop-eat-surf and Ocean Minded in second and third, followed by Roxy, Billabong and Rip Curl. But Grind Media just signed up a team - and they'll likely be giving our current number one a run for its money.

Among our individual donors, Judy Burlingham is in the lead, followed by Avery Aydelotte and John Pike. Our donors are averaging $100 per donation - it would only take 26 friends donating to win if the contest ended today.

How are teams promoting their fundraising efforts?

Surfline did an email blast last week that generated good results for their team. A lot of teams and individuals are using social media to raise awareness for the campaign and to show potential donors where their money will go.

We also had some athletes send Tweets about the campaign -- Kalani Robb and Sunny Garcia both sent out some great messages. It's important to keep up the awareness -- things like emails and tweets can have exponential effects.

Remind our readers of the prizes?

The brands are competing to win the SIMA Humanitarian Award and complimentary advertising on Surfline.com and in Surfer Magazine.

Individuals are competing for a trip for two to Hawaii to attend the Triple Crown of Surfing on the North Shore. It's a great opportunity because employees can join the campaign as individuals and help their company's team at the same time, all for the benefit of some really important surfing-related organizations.

Any final thoughts this week?

Last week was a big week, and now we're in a sprint to the finish. Individual fundraisers have some real opportunities -- you only need to beat the top fundraiser by $1 on Oct. 30th at midnight to win.

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for our Swim Collective - Summer Edition - National Trade Show.

Our Summer Edition show is on Wednesday January 23 and Thursday January 24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach, California.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Swim Collective- Summer Edition.

Please visit our website at www.swimcollective.com.

Meantime, please enjoy this video recap of our Swim Collective August 2012 show.

Swim Collective HD from Swim Collective on Vimeo.

Dear Friends,

Join SDSI for some Pre-Halloween festivities as we take a Time Out in Newport Beach with our Advisory Board, members and Orange County partners.

Before you take your ghosts and goblins trick-or-treating, join us at the Tap Shack from 5-8pm to kickback and share a cold beverage with SDSI’s sports business community.

While costumes are not required, we might have some prizes for those who give us a Halloween costume preview.

See friends, make new connections, foster new business and talk shop in the OC.

Happy hour prices will be available.

Please register for this free event here.

Date: Tuesday, October 30

Time: 5:00-8:00pm

Place: Tap Shack

1617 Westcliff Dr

Newport Beach, CA 92660

If you'd like to attend, please register here.

San Diego Friends, we will be at D Street Bar and Grill on November 8 for some additional Time Out Fun!

See you there!

#StokesMe 2012 from Stokes Me on Vimeo.

The Stokes Me Surfers Helping Humans fundraising campaign runs through Oct. 30th. SIMA Humanitarian Fund President Ross Garrett updates us on the progress made during the first two weeks of this innovative online challenge.

Please remind our readers of how the Stokes Me campaign works, and what the goals are.

Stokes Me is a 30-day contest to see which brand and which individual can raise the most money for surfing-related humanitarian causes.

Which companies have raised the most funds to date?

At the moment, on Friday Oct. 12 at 5pm, Surfline is in the lead, followed by Shop-Eat-Surf, Ocean Minded, and the Board Retailers Association. Billabong & Nixon are tied for 5th place.

It is by no means a done deal though – someone could come in on October 28th and win the whole thing.

Do you have examples of companies that are doing something interesting or unusual in their Stokes Me campaign?

At Surfline, we challenged the employees themselves, offering a case of wine for whoever raises the most money.

GLOBE included the leader board and the story of the SIMA Humanitarian Fund beneficiaries in an email blast, and Hurley put up sports water bottles for the first 100 donations in one of their posts.

The most successful efforts are when people tell the stories of the beneficiary organizations, using social media and their own websites. We’ve provided the teams with photos, links and video from each of the benefitting organizations.

Do companies and individuals still have time join the campaign? What do they need to do?

Absolutely! Companies and individuals can join at any time at stokesme.org. It’s not over until it’s over.

What are the prizes for the top fundraisers?

The great thing about this campaign is it can focus in on the individuals and their contribution as well as on the company as a whole.

The brands are competing mainly for the SIMA Humanitarian Award. Companies also win complimentary advertising on Surfline.com and in Surfer Magazine.

Individuals are competing for a trip for two to Hawaii to attend the Triple Crown of Surfing on the North Shore. Employees can get engaged in the campaign and help their company win at the same time, all for the benefit of some really important surfing-related organizations.

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda Long Beach, Friday January 4 and Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA.

And Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda:NYC, Wednesday January 23 and Thursday January 24, 2013.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.

Click here to register online now.

Here's our Agenda Long Beach August 2012 Video Recap:

AGENDA Long Beach - August 1st & 2nd, 2012 from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

Two industry vets are at it again.

A great article published by CNNMoney, gives insight into the minds of Gene Montesano and Barry Pearlman.

The dynamic duo are in the business again with a fresh look at denim called Civilianaire.

You can be certain with Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman at the head of Civilianaire they can and will get “lucky” again.

I hope this will bring back their amazing charity parties.

When it comes to giving back, these two show no end for their love and support of children.

Check out their new adventure at: Civilianaire.com

Following the success of our first two online auctions - day-long concert experiences with Dave Mathews Band and Jason Mraz - that raised over $35,000 combined, the Surfrider Foundation is announcing the third item in the “Treasures for the Coast” online auction.

The latest item up for bid is a mint-condition Modern/Classic solid redwood surfboard shaped by the legendary Dale Velzy.

Measuring 10’2” x 23” x 2” this board was shaped in the mid-1990s by Dale to replicate his boards from the World War II era. Dale only shaped between 20 and 30 of these Modern/Classics - this one is in “like-new” condition - and there has never been one like it for sale on the open market.

The board will be up for auction for three weeks exclusively on Charity Buzz.

Click here to bid on the board.

In coming weeks the auction will feature other one-of-a-kind items including a California surf trip for three with a former World Champion, an original piece of fine art and, lunch for six with a New York-based investment luminary.

All proceeds from the auctions will support the Surfrider Foundation’s efforts to protect and preserve the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

Check back often in the coming months to see the latest bids and find out which item will be auctioned off next. Don’t miss this chance to win a unique treasure while protecting the treasured coasts you love.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

Procopio is pleased to announce the launch of its annual Labor and Employment Seminar featuring, among others, former Luce Forward partners: Marie Burke Kenny, Phillip L. Kossy, and Robert A. Levy.

This informative and entertaining seminar will address recent developments and changes in the law in the following key areas:

• Wage and Hour
• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Retaliation
• Social Media
• Medical Issues in the Workplace
• ...And More!?

Register Now!

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Time: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, 10905 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037

Click for Directions >

Event Fees:

$50: Pre-registration

$75: Onsite Registration

Click here for more information and to register.

CIT executives rang the opening bell at the NYSE
on Sept. 27 to highlight our survey results.

Our Middle Market survey shows that a Majority poised for growth in coming year

More than half (53%) of middle market executives say that their companies are stronger today than before the Great Recession. During the next 12 months:

• 65% are likely to increase the range of products and services they offer in current markets
• 54% are likely to expand into adjacent markets
• 54% are likely to enter other geographic regions
• 42% expect to expand their workforce in the coming year.

While economic uncertainty at the national level is a top concern among middle market executives, many still believe that their companies are on solid ground.

More than half (53%) say that their companies are stronger today than before the Great Recession, according to the “CIT Voice of the Middle Market: Perspectives from the Heart of America’s Economy” survey released by CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) cit.com, a leading provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies.

The majority of middle market executives also report that, during the next 12 months, their companies are likely to: increase the range of products and services they offer in current markets (65%); expand into adjacent markets (58%); and enter other geographic regions (54%).

In addition, about 4 in 10 middle-market leaders (42%) also expect to expand their workforce in the coming year.

“Middle market companies have long been the backbone of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of Americans and generating trillions in revenue annually,” said John A. Thain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“At CIT, we recognize the importance of these companies and have been dedicated to providing lending, leasing, and advisory services to the middle market for more than 100 years. This research is another extension of our commitment to this critical group of companies, exploring their views and perspectives on important issues affecting them today.”

According to the research, a vast majority of middle market executives agree that middle market companies are: job creators (97%), barometers of the U.S. economy (95%), and drivers of innovation (91%).

The online survey was conducted by KRC Research among 300 U.S. middle market executives who represented a range of industries. In order to be eligible to participate in the survey, respondents had to be in a leadership role at a firm whose revenue was between $25 million and $1 billion and a majority of whose employees were based in the United States.

Dr. Arnoldo Hax, Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Management Emeritus and a Professor of Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, provided guidance and insights throughout the research process.

“Although they might often be overlooked for more blue chip companies, the middle market is a critical component of the U.S. economy today,” said Dr. Hax. “The factors that are explored in this research study are of great centrality for every company, but they are particularly critical for the middle market, given the imperative that relies upon them to achieve success.”

Other Key Findings

• Financing an Area of Satisfaction. Overall satisfaction with financing proves high. Eight in ten middle market executives (81%) report that they are satisfied with their company’s access to financing, as well as the cost of financing for their company. Most also say that they are satisfied with the variety of financing alternatives available to their company (79%).
• Impact of the Presidential Election. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of middle market executives (81%) say that the outcome of the presidential election will have an impact on the health of the economy; 38 percent say it will have a major impact. However, 71 percent say that the presidential candidates spend too little time talking about the middle market.
• Federal Regulation a Concern, along with Economic Uncertainty and Talent Management. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, middle market executives express concern about continued economic uncertainty at the national level (83%) and talent management—the ability to retain top talent (59%) and to hire top talent (55%). Additionally, more than half (56%) are concerned about compliance with federal regulations, and healthcare reform tops the list of existing or pending federal legislation or regulation with the greatest impact on their companies.
• Room for Improvement in Strategic Management. Many middle market companies seem to fall short on their strategic management capacity. Based on the findings of the study and questions about company strategy, organization structure, effectiveness of business units, measuring and rewarding performance, and organizational culture, researchers developed an index to rate the management capacity of middle market companies. According to this index, only 26 percent of middle market executives represent companies that have strong strategic management. In fact, just one third (33%) of executives surveyed say that their company has in place a clear strategy that was reached by a consensus of key executives, that has been communicated, and that addresses short- and long-term implications. Almost one in four (24%) say that their company’s strategy has not been communicated or that their company has no clear strategy in place.

Click here for additional information about the study, “CIT Voice of the Middle Market: Perspectives from the Heart of America’s Economy,” including the full whitepaper, an infographic, and related materials.

The world’s greatest watermen and women will surf into Turtle Bay on October 12-14 for the Stand Up World Series Finals.

Turtle Bay is the official headquarters of the Waterman League and Stand Up World Tour, making the grand finale for the sport this year extra special.

The epic event includes a keiki contest, long distance race, sprints, live music and of course celebrations. You can check out the whole event schedule here.

If you think you got what it takes to make your mark in the SUP world, register here.

Entry Fee includes:

• Entry fee for both days of competition (long distance and sprints),
• Dinner & Live music event at Surfer the Bar, Saturday 13th
• Luau and entertainment on Sunday 14th at Kuilima Point
• Welcome pack
• Opportunity to win from the min. $15,000 prize-purse

Come watch the best of the best battle it out for the glory.

Turtle Bay Ambassador and defending World Champion Kai Lenny will also be holding some special events at the hotel.

So what are you waiting for?!

Start planning your trip to Turtle Bay because the event is fun for everyone, whether you are participating or watching all the action from Hang Ten Bar with the world’s best mai-tai in hand.

Aloha!

Presented by Moss Adams Capital and Moss Adams Apparel Group

Join Moss Adams for our next Spotlight Series webcast for apparel and footwear business owners and executives.

Experts in areas that include operations, supply chain, corporate finance, accounting and tax, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions provide guidance on pressing topics affecting your business.

During this webcast we'll be discussing the following:

• Financing Working Capital Growth: A discussion of alternatives available for funding working capital needs, including factoring, production finance, arranging vendor terms, and revolving lines of credit.
• Sources of Junior Capital: A look at capital alternatives beyond debt financing, including mezzanine debt, preferred & common and equity.

Event Details

DATE October 10, 2012

TIME 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Pacific

Register Here

Presenters

Frank Kaufman, CPA | Moss Adams

Partner

Frank has been directly involved in the apparel industry since starting with Moss Adams LLP in 1983. His focus is assisting apparel and retail clients grow and achieve their goals. Frank's role includes identifying trends that are impactful to the industry, developing relevant strategic plans, and assisting in implementation. Frank spends a significant portion of his time with our clients during liquidity events, where preparation and negotiation are integral for success.

Rich Anderson | Moss Adams Capital

Managing Director

Rich joined Moss Adams Capital in 2002. Rich provides capital raising and merger and acquisition advisory services to his clients, many of which are in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Rich was a Senior Vice President with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Company, a publicly-owned investment bank, where he managed Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance assignments for public and private businesses. Previously, Rich was a Director with Trenwith Securities, a specialty investment bank. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from Ohio State University and his MBA degree from Pepperdine University.

Geoffrey Haydon | Moss Adams Capital

Vice President

Geoff has been with Moss Adams Capital since 2006. Geoff provides capital raising and M&A advisory services to consumer products companies, primarily in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Geoff was an Associate at Haydon U.S., a boutique financial restructuring firm in Seattle which he cofounded. Previously, Geoff was an Analyst with JP Morgan in New York, where he worked in the mergers and acquisitions group. Geoff received a BS in Business Administration from Washington and Lee University.

Surfrider Foundation “Ocean Armor” Art Exhibit and Aquarium of the Pacific Ocean in Motion Program Officially Debut September 15, 2012

Beginning September 15 and running through November 15, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, will be the first to host the Surfrider Foundation’s inaugural Ocean Armor art exhibit to educate visitors and raise awareness about coastal issues affecting the world’s coastlines.

Also debuting on September 15 at the Aquarium of the Pacific is Ocean in Motion, a multimedia experience where visitors can learn ways to help conserve the ocean and its resources.

While marine animals have many natural defenses, they are powerless against man-made threats of pollution, ocean warming and over-industrialization.

The Surfrider Foundation, in conjunction with Saatchi & Saatchi LA, worked with production designer Bruce McCloskey, special effects artist, puppeteer, model maker and production designer Greg Aronowitz, and production designer Paul Rice to create a collection of life-sized ocean armor sculptures meant to inspire viewers to preserve the ocean and the creatures that call it home.

The message is simple: They can’t protect themselves.

“The elegance of these sculptures is matched only by the poignancy of their message,” said Surfrider Foundation Marketing Director, Matt McClain. “We all must do whatever we can to safeguard the animals with whose environs we share.”

The armor of these ocean animals – Ocellaris Clownfish, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Alaskan Sea Otter and the Red-Crowned Crane – contain design influences from around the world – from medieval European armor to 12th-century Japanese samurai gear and represents the global and timeless relationship with the ocean and its inhabitants.

“To truly appreciate the artistry, detail and sheer presence of the armor, you need to see them in person,” said Saatchi & Saatchi LA Creative Director, Raymond Hwang. “We are thrilled about this opportunity to share the collection and its message with the public. Hopefully, this will be the first of many exhibit showings.”

Ocean in Motion is an ongoing program that will be projected on the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Science on a Sphere® display, located in the Aquarium’s Ocean Science Center. This show connects ocean health to human health from a global perspective, using a dynamic combination of music, video, narration, and data.

The ocean is always in motion and supports life all over the planet, from the microscopic animals in the ocean to the billions of people around the world who rely on seafood as a major source of protein day in and day out. Ocean in Motion visually communicates the links between algal blooms, fish migrations and human activity to tell a compelling story about our dependence on the ocean.

For more information on the Ocean Armor art exhibit, visit www.oceanarmor.org.

For more information visit on Ocean in Motion, visit www.aquariumofpacific.org.

KNOWSHOW Recap Video

KNOWSHOW Spring Summer 2013 Recap from KNOWSHOW on Vimeo.

Here's our KNOWSHOW Spring Summer 2013 Recap from KNOWSHOW on Vimeo.

Once again we wanted to capture the show for those who weren't there, or those of you who wish to relive the three great days we had in August.

Thanks to The New Royals and The Hastings Set for the soundtrack!

The Word on Wealth: The Business Owners' Financial Guide to Plan, Value and Transition - Part 5

As a business owner, your personal wealth is intricately aligned to that of your business. Some common questions we hear from business owners everyday are: How much wealth do I have invested in my business? How much is my business really worth? What is my plan for when I retire, sell or transition to my children?

These questions, as well as other financial matters, are just some aspects that we'll discuss in this five-part webcast series. Regardless of the stage of your business lifecycle, we hope you'll join us at all five or pick and choose the ones which resonate most with you now.

Since this series is relevant to business owners across various industries, sizes and stages of the business cycle, we hope you'll walk away with some relevant information that you'll be ready to put into practice today.

Please feel free to invite a family member or a friend!

Register Today!

Part 5 - From Business Owner to InvestorBefore and After the Transition to Financial Independence

As the lifecycle of your business completes, there are a number of considerations that you must reflect on such as reevaluating your plan to ensure that you are still able to meet your goals. You'll need to assess these goals in the context of you overall investment portfolio and lay out a strategy.

This final webcast will walk through some case study examples of plan adjustments such as unexpected planning and investing for long-term growth taking into consideration the before and after on the road to financial independence.

Webcast Details

DATE

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

TIME

10:30am – 11:30am

REGISTER TODAY

www.mossadams.com/financialindependence

Complimentary Webcast | 1 CPE Credit

We hope that you can join us!

One of the key components to our Ei-Lo team is our VP of Sales, Brad Bleick, who is pictured above. Brad left Alstyle is September 2011 after five years with them. In October 2011, he joined the Ei-Lo team adding his expertise and experience.

Ei-Lo, Brad and our Mill in Mexico teamed up to develop the new brand, giving Brad a bigger hand in development and partial ownership opportunity. The Warehouse in Irvine was established as our headquarters and main distribution center and only a few months later in January, the Brand was launched.

Our Irvine location encompasses a huge warehouse, mirroring our Mexico City warehouse. This enables us to replenish holes in our stock within a week, while most companies take 6-12 weeks. If we run out of something in Irvine, we contact our Mexico mill and get stock on a truck the next day, enabling us to restock in very little time.

We knew that quick replenishment and a quality product were both necessities for Ei-Lo. After the cotton is sent from Tennessee to Mexico City, our mill spins, knits, dyes, cuts and sews the tees- overseeing and providing every step in the process. Having a completely vertical mill in Mexico allows us to provide excellence and consistency in our products made from 100% USA cotton at a competitive price point.

Ei-Lo has no minimums and we are pleased to offer our services to even the smallest business owner, nurturing your needs to allow your business to grow.

For more information please contact me, or visit Ei-Lo.com.

Fiscal Year-End Inventory Count vs. Cycle Counting

A52 Warehouse Inc. has an inventory accuracy of 99.982% because of our cycle counting practices.

This results in an end-to-end control process being auditor approved by such firms as KPMG, Deloitte and Wells Fargo. Our website provides reliable, real time information enabling you to view immediate delivery status and inventory levels online. We provide monthly reports giving a detailed overview of your available stock on hand.

Free of charge to our customers, our Inventory Control Team practices daily cycle counts, providing an accurate measure of your inventory. Here is why A52 Warehouse’s methods matter to you:

Fiscal Year-End Inventory Count:

• Time consuming

• No shipping or receiving for duration of count

• Costly

Benefits to Cycle Counts:

• Free at A52

• Real time inventory numbers

• Higher inventory accuracy

• Your business never stops

Cycle counts can be tailored to focus on items with higher value or movement volume. Absolute inventory visibility gives you peace of mind, through every step of the process.

We provide 100% visibility, 100% of the time, so you can see where your product is from the moment it scans into our warehouse to the moment it scans out and delivered to your customer.

Call us at A52 today at 1-866-966-0252, we’d love to meet your warehousing and logistics needs in Canada, please visit www.a52.ca, or email info@a52.ca

Through education and outreach Surfing Heritage Foundation tells surfing's story and brings its rich lore to life. Now Surfing Heritage Foundation is making significant gains realizing its digital future by launching two innovative initiatives that will allow public access to their outstanding holdings of material documenting surf culture.

Surfing Heritage Foundation has the largest collection of surfboards, photographs, and artifacts relating to surf culture anywhere as well as a video oral history project preserving the legacy of the culture.

A new SHF TV Channel on YouTube presents films and video oral histories drawn from the extensive SHF digital film archive. The channel is also designed to encourage the public to share their own films by posting them to the site. These posts run the gamut from movies about favorite surf spots to "talk story" to surf music. You can access the SHF TV Channel by clicking here.

The other major initiative aimed at expanding the Foundation's worldwide presence is the SHF Collection Online Database. This online database makes SHF's extensive collection of photographs and surfboard holdings available to the public for research and browsing.

The goal of the ongoing project is to create and preserve the world's largest publicly accessible database of surf culture. While currently a small percentage of the photography collection is available, most of the surfboard collection is online. The SHF Collection Online Database can be accessed by going to the SHF website and clicking on the Collections tab.

Help us to build the world's largest online database of surf culture! With your support we can add more of the SHF archive to both the TV Channel and the Collections Online Database. Make a contribution in support of SHF's digital future by clicking here.

Over the last few months, SDSI has participated in multiple discussions on doing business in China. Many companies, start-ups in particular, seem to believe that as everyone else is doing it, they too should be there sourcing their materials and manufacturing their products as well. The perception is that it is less expensive and easier, but we are not 100 percent convinced this is true. SDSI is assembling a panel of experts to discuss this topic in greater detail. However, with their insight and information being so valuable, here are a few key tips to share now.

1) Do you need a Business agent or a Developer agent? According to Bob Rief, COO of Boardworks and previously with Nike Golf and Sanuk, knowing the difference between these two is extremely important. A business agent coordinates business relationships between your organization and the factory and ensures products are shipped.

A significant amount of trust must be placed in the business agent and that person has to have the right connections. The developer agent can be an employee and actually work at a factory. Rief will present a case study on Secrets of success and pitfalls to avoid when manufacturing in Asia.

2) Do you have clear expectations? According to Joshua Saltman, Designer at Resource Creative, companies need to be very clear about expectations when it comes to manufacturing. The most common is that China is the place to go because the costs to manufacture are less. However, many people have not been successful because they do not consider all the other costs involved such as expenses of ocean freight and duty, or the costs and time for staff to spend overseas and to coordinate the business programs.

The actual price of a two week trip with airfare can cost around $8,000. Multiply that by 12 times a year, factor in the time for travel and how much they are out of the office and expenses can go through the roof. It is imperative that companies understand all the factors. Saltman will present more on Assessing China Business: Opportunities and Aggravations.

3) Where in China should you set up shop? Another key consdieration is where the factories are located. Saltman, who has been doing business in China for 30 years, stresses that you must properly vet the facilities. Quesitons to consider include – who else is doing business in the area? What service providers exist and what is their reputation within the industry? What is the technical training of the facility staff? How close are they to the ports and/or what is the access to the ports? Is there support from local authorities?? Don’t overlook these important factors.

4) Is your product or technology protected? One of the biggest misconceptions is that United States intellectual property, such as U.S. patents and trademarks, are recognized in China. According to Kathleen Pasulka-Brown, Partner at Procopio, companies need to obtain formal protection for IP in China by filing patent and trademark applications.

Although U.S. copyright certificates of registration may be recognized in China, it is best to file for copyright protection directly in China as well. Without this formal protection, in most cases, it is not possible to take any action against an infringement. In addition, cease-and-desist letters, have little or no power without having formal protection. Pasulka-Brown will present on Intellectual property legal tips in setting up your business internationally.

5) Have you done your due diligence on your partners? In addition, Pasulka-Brown cautions companies to thoroughly check out potential partners including manufacturers, distributors, and agents. Business practices in China are very different from the US, and trust is earned in an entirely differently manner. With US Protection not being enforceable, it is possible for a factory owner to take the plan for your skateboard, sell it to another factory, manufacture and then export it. Companies must be careful when it comes to trade secrets as it only takes one employee to take your information and go to another factory because they know that there’s a demand for those products.

6) Do you have an understanding of the Chinese Culture? The Chinese are not Westerners and one very important aspect to always keep in mind is that the social connections, such as those that the United States has in Europe, South America, Australia and others are extremely rare in China. According to Glenn Brumage, Director of Business Development for Wabsono International, Ambassador of Action Sports for China’s People to People Exchange 2012 and Vice President of the International Association of Skateboard Companies, the Chinese work very differently and their business practices reflect these differences.

Successful companies understand these thought processes, practices and are able to give up their Western thinking to some degree. Companies can keep their brand’s DNA and business principles, but you must be willing to adjust what you’re doing. Brumage also adds, “You have to give up some of the preconceived notions that you think are right about doing business to be able to work in China. You can’t move forward without accepting that first.” Brumage will present on How to get your brand into the Chinese Markets.

Please join SDSI on September 18 at our Chalk Talk Workshop 18: Manufacturing and Sourcing Overseas where the above experts will provide additional information and answer your questions. . For more information and to register, please go to http://www.cvent.com/events/sdsi-chalk-talk-sourcing-and-manufacturing-internationally/event-summary-b2d38fc56d9e4a37b6b4494674938282.aspx.

For more information on SDSI programs and events, visit our website. For information on becoming an SDSI member, contact me at lfreedman@connect.org. In addition, we invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

On top of the economic uncertainty all companies must contend with, retail stores face significant long-term challenges, including the continued rise of e-commerce and the ongoing need for financing.

And while there’s no easy fix, these companies can enjoy a higher level of financial security and take advantage of potential opportunistic moves in a soft market by focusing more attention on their cash and capital.

To do this properly, they need to truly understand their sales peaks and valleys and carefully project their cash flow on a rolling 12-month basis. The following seven factors can help you make the most of your cash flow potential.

Gift Card Revenue Recognition

When companies receive cash for gift cards, they credit their balance sheet with deferred revenue until the card is redeemed and, normally, recognize any applicable taxes. The IRS, however, allows unredeemed gift card revenue to be deferred until the last day of the second taxable year following the year of the sale. This can significantly increase cash flow by reducing current tax liabilities, so it’s important that a company’s system accurately tracks the age and use of gift cards.

Inventory Planning

To take full advantage of tax deductions, every company—no matter the size—must regularly analyze its inventory and push off old and slow-moving products from the books. Proactive planning also involves determining the root cause of slow moving inventory so a company can apply the correct method to segregate and dispose of the problem goods.

Accelerated Depreciation

There are a number of accounting methods currently available for companies to accelerate the depreciation of assets and increase their cash flow. These include traditional methods found in the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, a “bonus depreciation” that currently allows up to 50 percent of some investment costs to be expensed in their first year, and the Section 179 accelerated depreciation that allows 100 percent of the cost of qualifying property to be deducted in the first year, up to a cap and with limitations. The upcoming election may impact what depreciation options are available in the future, making it extremely important for companies to stay up to date on legislative and policy changes.

Cost Segregation

Particularly relevant to companies that have recently purchased or constructed a building, cost segregation is the process of identifying certain nonintegral building items whose costs can be depreciated more quickly, thus saving current-year taxes and increasing cash flow. Examples of potential items include special flooring or air conditioning systems.

Accounts Receivable and Bad Debt Reserve Planning

The objective of this activity is to accelerate tax deductions by identifying specific debts that a company has unsuccessfully tried to collect. Like cost segregation, this requires a detailed approach.

Prepaid Expense Acceleration

The IRS doesn’t normally allow retailers to write a check and then deduct the expense; instead, companies have to wait until the service they purchased is rendered. That said, certain prepaid purchases are eligible for immediate write-offs, such as insurance, taxes, and licenses.

Payroll and Employment Tax Opportunities

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is available to companies that hire people facing barriers to reemployment, such as veterans and individuals receiving federal or state assistance. However, gathering the necessary background information on these hires in order to obtain the tax credit can be difficult, and the process requires careful legal consideration. Additional tax credit opportunities can be found in the many enterprise and empowerment zone credits that are available in certain regions.

The Bottom Line

Targeted deductions and increased cash flow can translate directly into more safety and security for your business, and these seven areas of focus can have a noticeable impact.

Click here for a downloadable version of this article, to see our archive of past articles of interest to retailers and wholesalers and to get our mobile ap.

The Surfrider Foundation and Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) have announced a strategic, fully-integrated partnership for the 2012-2013 seasons as part of the “AVP Serve & Protect America’s Beaches™ Program.”

We’re thrilled to be partnered with the AVP for the re-launch of the tour. These amazing pro beach volleyball athletes spend countless hours on our beaches training and playing, and conditions such as restricted access and pollution affect them just as it would any other beachgoer. By partnering with the AVP we hope to increase our activist network and continue protecting our coastlines and waterways.

AVP Serve & Protect America’s Beaches™ Program” is a multi-phased branding initiative that combines elements of environmental protection-based corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and U.S. armed services support platforms. As the cornerstone of that new AVP program, the new Surfrider-AVP partnership will be activated across a number of strategic philanthropy, cause marketing, branded entertainment, media, digital/social and event marketing channels.

“Helping protect America’s beaches and supporting the efforts of such a well- respected and essential foundation as Surfrider are core to the AVP’s DNA and mission,” explained AVP owner Donald Sun. The beach is where we do business … it’s our players’ office space, and fans’ playground. This strategic partnership marks a huge a first step in establishing our proactive beach environmental initiatives nationwide, and we’ll actively encourage our players, sponsors, business partners and fans to join us in lending their support to such a vital organization and cause,” added Mr. Sun.

The Surfrider Foundation and AVP will work together at this year’s inaugural events – AVP Cincinnati Open and 2012 AVP Championships – educating players, sponsors and fans alike on issues affecting our nation’s coastlines and waterways, encouraging them to take a step to join the ever-expanding network of activists and raising funds to help operate Surfrider programs.

For more information on the AVP, AVP Tour events, players and the “AVP Serve & Protect America’s Beaches™ Program” visit www.avp.com.

For more information on the Surfrider Foundation and how to get involved visit www.surfrider.org.

AVP 2012 Schedule

• AVP Cincinnati Open – August 31 – September 2 at Washington Park

• 2012 AVP Championships – September 7 – 9 at West Beach in Santa Barbara, CA

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

About AVP

AVP is a lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP athletes have won gold medals in all four Olympic Games where beach volleyball was an official discipline, including the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball in London. AVP is headquartered in Orange County, California. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.

Thank you to all of the retailers, brands, reps and media who came through last week. You guys make our show what it is.

Please take a moment to complete our ATTENDEE EVALUATION, it will help us improve the KNOWSHOW experience for all.

We were very happy with how the show ran on an operations standpoint, and how the look and feel came together including our vintage market collaboration with F as in Frank.

The floor was busy had top quality retailers in attendance from across Canada including High Grade Clothing, NRML, Charlie & Lee, The Source, Boathouse, Spareparts, Zumiez, One Of a Few, Hills Of Kerrisdale, Gravity Pope, Secret Location, and Ballistic just to name a few.

Of the 250 or so brands we had on the floor approximately 40 of them were new to the KNOWSHOW.

Here's a link to our full recap.

A video recap of the show week is forthcoming in the next couple of weeks -- check back here to see that.

Have a great buying season, and we will be talking to you all soon about KNOWSHOW F/W 2013, January 16-18, 2013.

We will be back at the VCC with what we expect to be our largest show yet.

Keep posted for developments and announcements at knowshow.ca.

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) carries on the more than 20-year Luce Forward tradition that is the Labor & Employment Law Seminar.

With expanded expertise in the employer services area, including labor relations and government contracts, MLA is recognized as the source of the most comprehensive, compelling and useful information regarding new developments in labor and employment law impacting California businesses.

When:

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

8:00 am to 12:00 pm PDT

Add to my calendar

Cost:

$50 per attendee

($30 for additional people at the same company)

Where:

San Diego Marriott La Jolla

4240 La Jolla Village Drive

San Diego, CA 92037

Register now!

PROGRAM AGENDA

• Moderator: William Earley
• Registration/Breakfast: 8:00 to 9:00 am
• Introduction: 9:00 to 9:10 am
• Labor Law for the HR Professional: 9:10 to 9:50 am
• Cybersecurity - Employees, Hackers & the Advanced Persistent Threat: 9:50 to 10:25 am
• Break: 10:25 to 10:40 am
• @Employers Guide to Navigating #SocialMedia: 10:40 to 11:15 am
• Recent Developments in California Employment & Benefits Law: 11:15 to 11:55 am
• Closing Remarks: 11:55 am to 12:00 noon

TOPIC DETAILS

Labor Law for the HR Professional

Presenters: Richard Hankins, Alston Correll

Labor law can be a particularly complex area for human resource professionals. Especially with the significant changes to the nation's labor laws that have taken place in recent history. This presentation will provide an overview of issues today's HR professional has to deal with including union organizing drives including campaigns and elections, unfair labor practice charges, collective bargaining and contract administration, and union issues arising out of mergers and acquisitions, successorship and business or plant shutdowns.

Cybersecurity - Employees, Hackers & the Advanced Persistent Threat

Presenters: Justine Phillips, Ray Aghaian

All employers store personal employee data and have affirmative obligations under state and federal laws to secure such information. Employers must not only protect and secure employee information, sometimes employers find themselves protecting the company against employee intrusions. Justine and Ray will explain the vulnerabilities employers face, best practices and prophylactic measures to protect employee information and data, and what employers should do if they discover or suspect a data breach.

@Employers Guide to Navigating #SocialMedia

Presenter: Seth Borden

In recent years the popularity and participation in social media has grown immensely. Employers must now pay close attention to issues that can arise out of the use of the numerous social media platforms that are available. This presentation will focus on issues pertinent to employers including traditional labor issues, employee privacy issues, employment law issues, social media use in litigation, and social media policies.

Recent Developments in California Employment & Benefits Law

Presenters: William Earley, Ann Murray

In this dynamic and entertaining presentation, Ann Murray and Bill Earley will highlight significant legal developments from the past year that affect California employers, including the new commission agreements and wage notice and employer-provided health coverage laws along with -- a perennial favorite -- an update on the latest wage and hour developments. Ann and Bill will analyze recent cases and new laws, and provide practical guidance for employers on how to deal with California's ever-changing legal landscape for employers.

The Stand Up World Series returned to its HQ at Turtle Bay Resort for the Summer Paddle.

The race, sponsored by Pacifico and Naish Challenge, brought some of the world’s best SUPers to Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore.

On Saturday, August 11, sozens raced downwind from Hukilau Beach in Laie to Turtle Bay Resort.

The epic but largely undiscovered run linking the north east corner of Oahu with the North Shore, and benefiting from one of the fastest closing stretches of any race had athletes battling down the home straight to Turtle Bay Resort.

17-year-old Connor Baxter of Maui conquered the event and went on to make a statement in the sprint races the following day at Turtle Bay Resort.

Baxter posted consistent wins to make it through to the final and storm to an impressive finish. These two wins earned him the overall win at this stop of the World Series, propelling him into first place overall.

Here is the top positioning for this leg of the Stand Up World Series:

Men

1. Connor Baxter, Maui

2. Kody Kerbox, Maui

3. Andrew Logreco, Oahu

4. Mo Freitas, Oahu

5. Bart de Zwart, Holland

Women

1. Annabel Anderson, New Zealand

2. Morgan Hoesterey, Oahu

3. Halie Harrison, Oahu

Highlights for both epic days of action will follow at www.standupworldseries.com, as well as photo galleries and much more.

You can also see full timing results at www.pseresults.com, while other World Tour and World Series videos are online at both Stand Up World Tour and Stand up World Series Youtube Channels.

Little Man On Wheels

September 30 - November 4, 2012

The much-anticipated biography of flamboyant surfing legend Dewey Weber (1938-1993) is the inspiration for an exhibition at Surfing Heritage Foundation that will open to the public Sunday, September 30 and run through Sunday, November 4.

Little Man On Wheels is the story of the coming of age of modern surf culture in Southern California. Beginning in the 1950s, the burgeoning Los Angeles film industry rocketed surfing into popular culture in unprecedented ways.

Of course Malibu was the film location of choice and surfers with such monikers as Kahuna, Tubesteak, and Gidget developed into important representations of surfing within cinema.

South Bay surfing sensation Dewey Weber was at the center of the action and author Gerald B. Derloshon notes that:

"He was a blur in the water and did things no one else thought about, much less tried. His aggressive, charging, flamboyant style defined what was meant by the term 'hotdogging.'"

The exhibition, Little Man On Wheels, is curated by Barry Haun and consists of key surfboards (such as the Dewey Weber Performer, the single most produced longboard model in the history of surfing), photographs, illustrations, and other objects that punctuate the development of Dewey Weber as an iconic surfer, millionaire businessman, and tireless industry promoter.

The 215-page, fully illustrated book by author Gerald B. Derloshon includes a foreword by 1966 World Champion Nat Young and an introduction by pioneering big wave rider Greg Noll, and photorgraphs by acclaimed surfing master lensmen such as Ron Stoner.

The Member's reception and book signing is Saturday, September 29. Become a Member of Surfing Heritage Foundation and receive an invitation to this exclusive reception. Currently on view at SHF through September 16 The Innovations of Hobie.

For more information on the exhibition and photograph requests please contact me.

The Innovations of Hobie, April 29 - September 9, 2012

Little Man On Wheels: Surfing Legend Dewey Weber,

September 30 - November 4, 2012

John Van Hamersveld: 50 Years, November TBD, 2012

Educational Web site Highlights the Benefits of Factoring for Business Owners

CIT Factoring University, created by CIT Group Inc., a leading provider of factoring services in the U.S., has launched “How to Minimize Bad Debt Losses,” the second in our series of videos that educate business owners on the features of factoring and how the service could benefit your business.

“Bad debt losses can be a significant problem for business owners who need these funds to operate their companies,” said Jon Lucas, President of CIT Trade Finance.

“This short video provides business owners with information about how a factoring company could help them minimize bad debt losses.”

A bad debt loss occurs when a business is unable to collect a debt that it is owed, and all reasonable efforts have been exhausted to collect the amount owed.

CIT Factoring University is a Web site that offers a comprehensive education-based approach to the financial service known as accounts receivable factoring.

The site provides a variety of exclusive content that highlights the benefits of factoring for business owners. Visitors can view testimonial videos that feature executives from consumer product industries who explain why they use factoring and how it benefits their businesses.

In addition, CIT Factoring University provides a list of Frequently Asked Questions; infographics that explain the factoring process, business solutions provided by factoring, and more.

CIT Factoring University’s inaugural tutorial video featured “What is Factoring?” Individuals interested can join the discussion about factoring on the Factoring University LinkedIn group.

Follow us on Twitter: @citgroup, on Facebook: facebook.com/citgroup, and on LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/cit.

About CIT Trade Finance

CIT Trade Finance is a leading provider of factoring services in the United States for companies that sell into retail channels of distribution. It provides factoring credit protection, accounts receivable management and asset-based lending to manufacturers and importers. www.citfactoringuniversity.com

About CIT

Founded in 1908, CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a bank holding company with more than $33 billion in finance and leasing assets. A member of the Fortune 500, it provides financing and leasing capital to its small business and middle market clients and their customers across more than 30 industries.

CIT maintains leadership positions in small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance, aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and global vendor finance. CIT also operates CIT Bank (Member FDIC), BankOnCIT.com, its primary bank subsidiary, which offers a suite of savings options designed to help customers achieve a range of financial goals. cit.com

The three most important aspects to any t-shirt are comfort, fit and lastingness.

Ei-Lo’s new Premium Tee, style number MC14500, promises this and more. Ei-Lo currently carries 5 styles and over 25 colors offering off the shelf blanks at a competitive price point and the MC14500 is the latest to hit the shelf.

Seeing demand for an off the shelf 30s blank, Ei-Lo answered it with the Premium Tee.

What makes this tee so premium is the 30’s Combed Ring-spun yarn. For those unacquainted with the apparel business, the key terms are Combed, Ring-spun and 30s. Combed Ring-spun yarn requires several more steps in the spinning process.

Basically, the yarn is laid out and combed through, ridding the shorter fibers and impurities. In turn, this allows the cotton to have a consistency causing a smoother face and softer hand, making it ideal for printing. 30s refers the yarn gage, the higher the count, the softer and lighter the fabric.

While we love and stand behind all of our blanks here at Ei-Lo, the Premium Tee is just that, Premium.

The Action Sports industry and the Fashion Industry are really starting to collide and we knew it was a necessary step to add this tee to the collection. The last few months have been spent perfecting our spec and performing wash tests to ensure our product has a better quality, consistency and price then our competitors.

Another exciting aspect to the Premium Tee is the new colors we are offering. We have been carefully watching trend patterns and have analyzed our predictions for the color future and our Premium Tee colors reflect this.

Along with the basics, we have colored heathers and neon colored heathers.

Ei-Lo has no minimums and we are pleased to offer our services to even the smallest business owner, nurturing your needs to allow your business to grow. For more information please visit: EI-LO.com

NRI Distribution Inc., long-standing 3PL specialists in the action sports, outdoor and lifestyle industries, have expanded into Greater Vancouver! The facility is now open and shipping on behalf of all our clients. Daycare coming soon!

Jamie Meegan - 12 year NRI veteran and former Production Manager has graciously accepted the promotion to Operations Manager and will be overseeing the Vancouver operation. He is accompanied by an experienced team of NRI employees; excited for the transition and opportunity to join Jamie in bringing the NRI presence and culture to the B.C. coast of Canada.

Our initial space is comprised of a new twin building development with approximately 145,000 sqrft. The new facility is a modern, concrete tilt up construction with both dock and grade level loading, 28' clear ceiling heights, and fully implemented safety and security systems.

Please visit us on www.nri-distribution.com or give us a call: 1.888.662.8811.

Check out our latest Team Video:

Since 1997 NRI has been providing Boutique, Turn-Key Fulfillment services to the Action Sports, Outdoor and Lifestyle industries. Operating now in the USA and Canada, NRI offers 3PL services such as Pick and Pack, Inventory Management, Vendor Compliance, Freight, Returns & Repair Management, EDI, Customer Service, and a variety of Brand Support Services. NRI’s custom built WMS offers clients access to superior technology and seamless integrations. With years of experience and industry focus – over 50 leading brands of the actions sports, outdoor and lifestyle industries entrust their business to the team at NRI.

Here's a summary of some of the events at the upcoming KnowShow.

Full list HERE.

• Kicking things off on Wednesday August 8th, the folks from Cheap & Easy along with Axion and Circa will be throwing a Cheap & Easy Rap Edition with special guests Adam Cassidy, Double P and Nick Brown. All vinyl, and loads of brews to wash it down with at the London Pub. Don't miss this one. Details HERE.
• Succeeding in retail has never been harder that it is in todays changing economic landscape. Feedback Management, SBC Business and the KNOWSHOW recognize this and have come together to produce a seminar during the show that will help illuminate ways to stay sharp and on top of your business in the new global economy. Details HERE.
• Be sure to crush a few PBR at Fortune on August 9th while The Meatmen tear apart the stage! Brought to you by KNOWSHOW, Instance and Omit along with Pabst and No Bollocks Events with opening guests The Authorities, Bishops Green and Total War. Details HERE.
• We are so excited to drop the new issue of KNOWMAG on you that we have decided to throw an official launch party at the Red Bull Lounge on Saturday August 10th. This is subject to capacity so please make sure to RSVP to knowmag@knowshow.ca. Join us from 8pm till midnight! Details HERE.

After the surfers ride their final waves and the awards are given out on Sunday, August 5, at the 2012 Nike U.S. Open of Surfing (USOS) in Huntington Beach there will be one more thing to do – party!

For the first time, an “After the Open” (ATO) Celebrity Surfing Champion Recognition Party will be held at the Huntington Beach Waterfront Hilton at 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., on the Hilton’s Driftwood Sands beach. The party is from 4 – 10 p.m.

Honoring 2012 U.S. Open of Surfing participants, surf industry leaders, community, and sponsors, the ATO event is a fund-raiser for the non-profit Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide.

KROQ “Surfologist” Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti, the official announcer for 19 USOS events, will be at the ATO bash to celebrate and serve as MC all evening for those ready to party.

In fact, it was his idea to put on this ATO Celebrity Surfing Champion Recognition Party to help raise money for the Surfrider Foundation HB/SB Chapter and honor the surf champions and all the people who make the USOS the number one surfing event in the world.

Fig, a Huntington Beach local hero with a surf shop on Main Street, multiple surf championships – including two national titles he recently won - and a spot on the Surfing Walk of Fame, is the perfect choice to helm this event.

As part of the ATO festivities there will be a silent auction. Marine life artist and environmentalist Wyland is contributing a signed and numbered lithograph. Ocean Beach surf artist Art Scholl is going to be painting on the Hilton stage and donating his creations.

Party-goers will be entertained by five live bands. Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is setting up taco bars on the beach and Tres Sietes Tequilla and Primo Beer will help quench everyone’s thirst. In addition to this, a new Margarita drink will be unveiled which will be named in honor of the 2012 Nike USOS champion.

Surfrider’s HB/SB Chapter sponsors helping to support the ATO fund-raiser include: Hurley, Kohl's, F&M Bank, So. Cal Edison, Boeing, Shorebreak Hotel, Quicksilver, Vans, Jack’s, and 17 Street Surf Shop. Representatives from Surfrider Foundation Worldwide and other Surfrider chapters have been invited.

Waterfront Hilton representative and ATO Event Coordinator Andrea Roberson said, “This is going to be an every year event because of Surfrider. They do so much for the environment that everyone wants to be involved. It’s going to be a blast!”

“This is the first time in my 40 years of surfing that I’ve seen anything like this event. It’s just taken off,” said Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation HB/SB Chapter Chairperson. “It’s fantastic how the beach community is coming together to celebrate surfing and support Surfrider.”

For those wishing to attend the ATO event there will be a $20 entrance fee to be given as a donation to the Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter. For more information about the party or the Surfrider Foundation contact Andrea Roberson at 657-206-9781.

The ATO Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/AfterTheOpenHuntingtonBeach. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

Privacy has become one of the most controversial and debated issues of the internet age. Companies involved in action sports, apparel, and retail are increasingly finding new ways to rely on and utilize the internet for business purposes. We are moving forward at a rapid pace.

Unfortunately, neither Congress nor the Courts have entirely kept pace with the subject—making it difficult for companies to know precisely how to deal with the issue. Adding to the complexity is the fact that privacy may be protected under state constitutions, state privacy acts, insurance record laws, unfair and deceptive trade practices acts and state common law.

Privacy cases involve misrepresentation, failure to disclose, breach of contract, state advertising violations, trespass to chattels, basic invasion of privacy, and more.

Given this backdrop, companies must take care when developing on-line privacy policies and practices, and must also take care not to do anything contrary to their adopted policies. To avoid liability, companies should be familiar with the potential triggers for FTC investigations and personal causes of action.

Congress has passed various privacy laws directly affecting businesses that collect customer information. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) plays an important role in policing privacy on behalf of the government. It has taken a pro-consumer approach to internet privacy—stating that its role is to “work[] for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.”

FTC File No. 042-3047. Under the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTCA”), the FTC can initiate enforcement actions against companies for alleged online consumer privacy violations of section 5 of the FTCA. Section 5 states that “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce are declared unlawful.” 15 U.S.C.A. § 45(a)(1). The use or dissemination of personal information in a manner contrary to a posted privacy policy constitutes a deceptive practice under the FTCA. 15 U.S.C. § 45.

Thus, it is not enough to have a privacy policy in place: companies must not use or disseminate information in a manner contrary to the privacy policy. Consider the following key areas that may trigger an FTC investigation:

• Inadequate Security: Promising security, but then failing to provide adequate security. This can be true even if a data breach does not occur. See In the Matter of Microsoft Corp. (2002); In re Guess.com, Inc. (2003).

• Security Issues and Failure to Train: Suffering a data security breach due to negligence or failure to properly train employees about adequate security practices. FTC v. Eli Lilly (2002).

• Broken Promises: Failing to adhere to promises made in a privacy policy. In re Liberty Financial Cos. (1999); Selling customer data when privacy policy states data will not be shared with third-parties. In re Toysmart.com, LLC (2004).

• Retroactive Privacy Policy Changes: Altering a privacy policy to allow more disclosure of personal information without acquiring people’s consent to the change. In re Gateway Learning Corp. (2004).

• Deceptive Data Collection: Collecting data deceptively even if the individual is not visiting the company’s website. FTC v. ReverseAuction.com, Inc. (2000).

• Inadequate Disclosure of Extent of Data Gathering: Failing to clearly and conspicuously inform users about the extensiveness of internet browsing tracking software. In re Sears Holdings Management Corp. (2009).

The federal government created multiple statutes to address the technology age and privacy, such as, The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 (“CFAA”), 18 U.S.C.A. § 1030 (enacted to make it a criminal offense to damage or steal data by accessing a computer without authorization or by exceeding any authorized access); The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) U.S.C.A. §§ 6501 et seq., (enacted to addresses children's privacy on the Internet); and The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (“CAN SPAM”), (enacted to regulating unsolicited commercial e-mail, and others), to name a few.

States have also taken action by creating laws similar to those we see on the federal level and by adopting relevant language in insurance codes, consumer protection statutes, and industry specific regulations. The wireless industry has created an onslaught of privacy concerns.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (“EPIC”) has taken action against violators of privacy policies and is quickly demonstrating its dedication to protecting consumer privacy.

More recently, the Obama administration created new regulations referred to as a “Privacy Bill of Rights.” This has not yet been signed into law, but would require companies to increase protection of consumers’ online information, maintain reasonable expectations of security, collect of only necessary information, and hold companies accountable for lost data.

Ultimately, companies must keep up with the regulations governing how they use and store consumer information. Companies should evaluate their current privacy policies for any potential issues that could trigger an FTC investigation or private claim.

A simple change in current business practices or changes in the use of stored data may lead to a significant FTC inquiry and/or private cause of action. Broken promises and/or retroactive privacy policy changes can create grounds for liability and investigation. Companies are encouraged to seek legal advice when assessing, creating and changing their privacy statements and related privacy policies.

AGENDA LONG BEACH IS THIS WEEK!

Wednesday, August 1st

(9am-7pm)

Thursday, August 2nd

(9am-6pm)

Long Beach Convention Center

300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802

Map it!

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda Long Beach

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.

Click here to register online now.

PLEASE NOTE: This registration section is NOT for registering your brand to EXHIBIT or SHOW at Agenda. This section is just for attendees to register to obtain passes for the shows.

NEW AGENDA ADMISSION POLICY: Please note that Agenda has changed our admission policies and now everyone must pre-register online HERE.

Buyers, distributors, and press are admitted into the show for free but are now required to pre-register for each show by clicking HERE.

Manufacturers, suppliers, non-exhibiting sales reps & non-exhibiting designers will also need to pre-register by clicking HERE. After registering you will receive an email prompt with the next steps. If you are approved to attend, you will be required to pay a $200 admission fee per person online.

No sourcing agents of vertical manufacturers are allowed at Agenda. The general public is not admitted into Agenda and we reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone.

For more information, please visit agendashow.com.

ROTH Capital Partners recently initiated Equity Research coverage of the Active Lifestyle Retail & Consumer Products sector with a specific focus on the Action Sports category. I initiated coverage of Tilly’s and Skullcandy, while assuming coverage of Zumiez, Quiksilver, and Pacific Sunwear. Here are some of my thoughts on the industry.

Action sports have achieved mainstream appeal over the last two decades, helped by the launch of the X Games in the mid-1990s, snowboarding’s introduction and subsequent new events at the Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2006, and the addition of BMX at 2008’s Summer Games.

Meanwhile, the X Games have gone from ESPN2 to primetime ABC. These events provide significant global exposure for emerging brands and retailers, in an area where only larger athletic brands have participated historically.

Action sports are aspirational, and consumers of the category’s brands are not necessarily participants in the sports themselves. They identify with a lifestyle very different from that of more traditional organized sports, one that crosses age barriers with people expressing individuality in efforts to fit in.

Although we see signs the category is maturing, it continues to grow and we believe sales growth is outpacing that of broader retail.

Action sports continue to garner more widespread adoption across gender, ethnicities, and international borders. Category brands seem to resonate across gender and ethnicities in Southern California, and we see an opportunity for similar success across the United States, helped in part by growth in streetscape crossover brands.

Internationally, Europe has an existing affinity toward action sports, but parts of the region remain fairly underpenetrated. We also see potential for significant growth in Latin America and China.

We expect growth in skate and snow brands to outpace surf, given greater relevance in parts of the world lacking access to water, and enthusiasts who tend to be more brand-loyal. The rising popularity of motocross and other newer action sports should help to support this growth.

In evaluating different action sports industry stocks, we see retailers like Zumiez (ZUMZ, Neutral, $34.92) and Tilly’s (TLYS, Buy, $16.76) as the greatest beneficiaries of continued growth in the category. Both offer a broad and unique product offering, and are more immune to the brand cycles that naturally exist within the industry.

Zumiez is positioned for significant growth online and internationally, while Tilly’s already has the infrastructure in place to support a much larger domestic footprint.

Skullcandy (SKUL, Buy, $14.00) should continue to benefit from growth in action sports as well as increased consumption of mobile media on smartphones and tablets. SKUL shares are undervalued in our view, given investors concerns that on-ear and over-ear headphones are a fad.

Quiksilver (ZQK, Neutral, $2.20) and PacSun (PSUN, Neutral, $1.83) shares also look cheap, but we rate them at Neutral given limited visibility into success with ongoing turnarounds.

Dave King is a Senior Research Analyst at ROTH Capital Partners, a full service investment bank based in Newport Beach, CA.

You remember your first wave...

Think of a girl who grows up with few options in the summer.

She has no summer camps, family vacations, or a summer job.

Instead she has a hot one bedroom apartment shared with her mom and two brothers, with only the city streets to wander.

Now imagine that same girl spending her summer on the beach and surfing for the first time with STOKED, having the best summer of her life.

And think of what it’s like for her when she catches her first wave.

The feeling of conquering something that seemed so impossible only days, or even minutes before.

SURF Mentor is starting its 7th year this Saturday, July 7 in NYC and later this month in Los Angeles.

We'll be sending a series of stories this summer to show you our amazing teens doing the impossible, overcoming their fears, and becoming successful.

Our SURF Mentor series will:

entertain & inspire

tell you how to get involved

be the best thing to hit your inbox this summer!

The first email is coming Thursday, July 5. Keep an eye out for it!

Forever STOKED,

"Stoked" Steve Larosiliere

Founder & President

STOKED

P.S. Watch a 4 minute video from our very first SURF Mentor program in 2005 - featuring the music of Hugh Masekela. It has never been shown before.

P.P.S. We started the very first surfing mentoring program in the country. #humblebrag

STOKED, a 501(c)(3) action sports youth development agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York, promotes personal development, academic achievement, and healthy living to under-served youth through action sports culture.

A properly selected Board of Directors and Board of Advisors can be an invaluable asset to an emerging company. Building these boards is an early opportunity for a company to gain credibility, industry contacts, experienced counseling and even access to cash.

A stock option or other equity incentive plan can be a company’s top recruitment tool in this regard, and if established early and administered properly, it can allow a start-up company to offer prospective independent directors and advisors a financial upside beyond what the company’s cash account can currently afford.

In counseling hundreds of emerging companies through this process, rules of thumb emerge that help provide guideposts for emerging companies. This article will discuss five of these rules of thumb.

1. Reserve 10-20% Of Your Company’s Outstanding Equity For A Stock Option Plan.

An emerging company should typically reserve 10-20% of its outstanding equity for a stock option plan. The options can be issued to independent directors and advisors as well as the employees.

2. Issue Options According To Value Added And Risk Taken.

Compensation should depend on the optionee’s value to the company, the prospects of the company, how far along the company is, and the track record of the founders. In any case, an outside director’s take typically falls between one-half of a percent and two percent, and an advisor’s between one-quarter of a percent and one percent.

3. Subject Director And Advisor Shares To A Two-Year Vesting Schedule, Vesting Monthly.

Gradually vesting a director’s and advisor’s options aligns compensation with actual service while protecting the company in the event that the director or advisor is prematurely removed from the board. Vesting should be automatically accelerated upon a change in control.

4. Set A Lenient Post-Termination Exercise Period When Possible.

If a director or advisor’s term is discontinued, a lenient post-termination exercise period may be very valuable to an option holder. Forcing the ex-director or advisor to exercise with no liquidity event in sight is not fair when options are the only compensation provided.

5. Try Not To Jeopardize Relationships.

Up-front communication of an independent director or advisor’s term of service and duties helps to foster a healthy relationship and facilitate a potential termination without jeopardizing relationships. When expectations are clear, everyone is happier.

Conclusion

Ultimately, equity incentive based compensation should motivate independent directors and advisors by offering them a vehicle through which they can profit. Simultaneously, a stock option or other equity incentive plan can help preserve cash, serve as a tool for recruiting talent, and offer a compensation structure that aligns incentives and promotes dedication to the emerging company’s growth and success.

Although the information contained herein is provided by professionals at Procopio, the content and information should not be used as a substitute for professional services. If legal or other professional advice is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

You're Invited

Moss Adams Spotlight Series

Join Moss Adams for our next Spotlight Series event for apparel and footwear business owners and executives. Experts in areas that include operations, supply chain, corporate finance, accounting and tax, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions provide guidance on pressing topics affecting your business.

At the July event we'll be discussing the following:

· Financing Working Capital Growth: A discussion of alternatives available for funding working capital needs, including factoring, production finance, arranging vendor terms, and revolving lines of credit.

· Sources of Junior Capital: A look at capital alternatives beyond debt financing, including mezzanine debt, preferred & common and equity.

· ITAC Action Sports Survey Overview: A summary of the results of the recent Action Sports survey regarding current exporting and manufacturing practices among action sports companies, and U.S. Department of Commerce services available to assist companies with their international expansion.

Event Details

DATE July 20, 2012

TIME 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Pacific

LOCATION Moss Adams Orange County Office

2030 Main Street, Suite 1400

Irvine, CA 92614

A complimentary continental breakfast and validation for on-site parking will be provided.

Register Here

Presenters

Frank Kaufman, CPA | Moss Adams

Partner

Frank has been directly involved in the apparel industry since starting with Moss Adams LLP in 1983. His focus is assisting apparel and retail clients grow and achieve their goals. Frank's role includes identifying trends that are impactful to the industry, developing relevant strategic plans, and assisting in implementation. Frank spends a significant portion of his time with clients during liquidity events, where preparation and negotiation are integral for success.

Rich Anderson | Moss Adams Capital

Managing Director

Rich provides capital raising and merger and acquisition advisory services to his clients, many of which are in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Rich was a Senior Vice President with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Company, a publicly-owned investment bank, where he managed Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance assignments for public and private businesses. Previously, Rich was a Director with Trenwith Securities, a specialty investment bank. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from Ohio State University and his MBA degree from Pepperdine University.

Geoffrey Haydon | Moss Adams Capital

Vice President

Geoff provides capital raising and M&A advisory services to consumer products companies, primarily in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Geoff was an Associate at Haydon U.S., a boutique financial restructuring firm in Seattle which he cofounded. Previously, Geoff was an Analyst with JP Morgan in New York, where he worked in the mergers and acquisitions group.

John Bernards | Bernards Associates

President

John has over forty years experience in theaction sports industry. Bernards currently serves as the Executive Director Emeritus to the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) where he held the title of Executive Director for over eight years. Before joining IASC, Bernards was President of the largest garment trade show in the world, MAGIC. Prior to that he was the President of Newport Blue, Jimmy Z and COO of Ocean Pacific. He was the Founder, President and CEO of OffShore Sportswear. He started his career in the action sports industry as Vice President of Hang Ten.

Hello all, I wanted to share this new video with you we just did with artists Dabs & Myla.

This season they designed the poster for the Agenda show in Long Beach, which you can see here:

Also, I wanted to share our most recent video, which shows the creation of the poster and profiles the artists.

I hope you like it.

Dabs & Myla for Agenda Long Beach from Agenda Tradeshow on Vimeo.

AS WE REVIEW THE POST-EVENT SURVEY,

Networking with Retailers/Manufacturers was the number one answer when asked how important the various activities are at Surf Summit. Manufacturers overwhelmingly value your presence and interaction and it remains the reason they attend. After all, a number of major manufacturers in the industry financially back the organization so that you are afforded a minimal cost $99/year membership.

The event is always brightened further by dynamic speakers from within the action sports industry and beyond, and they're always inspiring. This year Sam George led a discussion with Stacy Peralta, Ken Schmidt from Harley Davidson evoked a look at why consumers are so passionate about industry brands, and aol's David Shing took us on a wild ride through what's now, but mostly what's up next in digital tech and trends.

ROUNDTABLE TOPICS SERVED RETAILERS WELL. AMONG THEM WERE:

Best Practices for Internet Marketing

Surviving the Amazon: New Strategies to Combat Price Undercutters

Trade Marketing: What Really Reaches Retailers

Special Treatment: Exclusive Merchandise Programs for Specialty Retailers

Fueling the Passion: Fostering the Growth of Emerging Brands

DID YOU MISS THE EVENT?

Please let us know if you wanted to come but couldn't and why so we can use that feedback towards future event plans. Additionally, for any new member that signs up through June we'll send you an exclusive copy of the Roundtable Takeaways that Surf Summit attendees value so much.

Thanks again to Surf Expo, BRA's sponsor for this event, as well as Surf Summit 15 Sponsors: Surf Expo, Walter Wilhelm Associates, Ritholz, Levy, Sanders, Chidekel & Fields and Moss Adams.

For more information, please visit our website.

The Happy Beach Bums from San Onofre

August 5 - November 15, 2012

This extraordinary exhibition focuses on 150 black and white Polaroid photographs taken by architect Don Davis of the families and friends that frequented San Onofre State Beach from 1960 to 1964. These photographs include noteables such as actor James Arness and his son, world surfing champ, Rolf; Hobie Alter; Brennon "Hevs" McClennand; and the Whitey Harrison clan.

This slice of history will trigger memories for anyone who has enjoyed the "Waikiki of Southern California." And who knows-your family may even be included. 

Member's Preview Reception, Saturday, August 4. All Members receive mailed invitations to the preview parties at SHF. If you are not a Member and would like to be invited to the exclusive Member's Preview Party click here.

Additional Happy Beach Bums from San Onofre

August 5 - November 15, 2012

Be included in the Additional Happy Beach Bums from San Onofre exhibition and email us your favorite photograph of friends and family at San Onofre.

Here is how it works: Email your photograph to Steve@SurfingHeritage.org. There is a limit of 1 image per household. The photograph must be in a JPEG or TIFF format and no smaller than 4"x5" at 72dpi. Surfing Heritage Foundation will print and pin the photographs to the wall in order of receipt. Photographs can be sent anytime from June 7 to July 30, 2012.

Space is limited. Surfing Heritage Foundation reserves the right to exclude inappropriate images.

We look forward to seeing your photograph in the exhibition!

The Innovations of Hobie

Open Daily 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

through July 22, 2012

This exhibition has been made possible through major support from Gordon Clark, Founder of Clark Foam. With additional support from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

This is the inaugural exhibition in the new Croul Family Foundation Gallery. The exhibit is curated by Barry Haun.

We have Hobie by Hurley Exhibition Tee-shirts featuring a classic image of Hobie at Sano.

$20 while supplies last

Thank You to Opening Event sponsors:

Longboard Vineyards Wines

· Agave Underground Tequila

· Primo Hawaiian Lager

· Hawaiian Spring Waters

· Hobie Polarized

· Modern Postcard

· Hobie by Hurley

Surfing Heritage Foundation

110 Calle Iglesia · San Clemente · CA · 92672 · 949.388.0313

Visiting hours: 11am - 5pm daily

Admission $5 and Free to Members

Ma'alaea, on the island of Maui, is home to “Freight Trains” - one of the fastest waves in the world. It’s also the site of a small boat harbor. Since 1989, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had plans to enlarge the harbor.

We were concerned that the expansion would not only destroy Freight Trains, but would also impact the coral reefs, the marine ecosystem and local ocean water quality. So, we joined the Protect Ma'alaea Coalition and local activists to fight these plans.

This May, after a 23-year campaign to save Ma’alaea, we achieved victory when the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers announced that they abandoned plans to extend the breakwater at Ma’alaea Harbor.

Campaigns like Save Ma’alaea require dedication, perseverance and financial support. It was your support that helped save Ma’alaea. And it’s your ongoing support that makes winning these marathon campaigns possible.

For many groups a multi-decade campaign is unheard of – but for Surfrider, the Save Ma’alaea campaign wasn’t unique. In fact, we’ve been fighting for decades to save a number of threatened waves:

1. Surfer’s Point, Ventura, CA: We’re fighting for dam removal and restoration of the watershed to save the waves.

2. Surfrider Beach, Malibu, CA: We support wetland restoration and an inlet relocation effort that will protects the waves.

3. Sloat Ave, San Francisco, CA: We’re calling for long–term solutions to address coastal erosion that threatens the beach and surf quality.

We don’t take our commitment to saving waves lightly. We have the dedication, the perseverance and the grit to keep fighting until we win. But, we need YOU. Long-term campaigns have real costs and it’s your donation that sustains our work. Your support allows us to take on 20+ year campaigns and turn them into victories.

We’re in the fight ‘til the end, but not without you. Please make a donation today to back these long-running campaigns and save these incredible waves.

For our oceans, waves and beaches,

The Surfrider Foundation

I am proud to introduce you to EI-LO and our new line of T-shirts, the 24 singles blank. Here at EI-LO, we offer designers, manufacturers, and apparel brands the perfect T-shirt at the perfect price point. We combine quality blank knit apparel with easy ordering and immediate delivery.

For those of you unfamiliar with T-shirt production, think of sheets. The higher the thread count, the softer the fabric. The same goes with T-shirts. In the action sports industry, everyone used to use the 20 singles for their tees. Then, there was a switch to the 30, which is softer and thinner. The problem with the 30 singles is that it is more expensive, thinner material, and only flattering to a specific body type. So, to solve this problem, we created the 24 singles blank T-shirt. It is right in the middle of the other two, with better quality and fits a better demographic.

We currently offer the new 24 singles blank, as well as the 20, and will soon be introducing two more styles, including the fashion forward, premium 30 singles tee.

EI-LO uses exclusively USA grown cotton from specifically selected regions to produce our premier products. Every bale of USA grown cotton is tested and approved by our state-of-the-art laboratory to insure quality and consistency. To produce EI-LO T-Shirts, we have selected the optimum fabrics from our in-house library.

Using 100% USA cotton, we spin yarn, knit dye & finish fabric, cut, make & sew garments, as well as distribute the finished product. By controlling every aspect of the manufacturing & distribution process and staying focused on a specific range of products, we are able to be efficient, provide a consistent quality, with immediate delivery at competitive pricing.

For more information, please visit our website or contact me.

She won the world title in 2011 and now Carissa Moore is hungry for more. The talented 19-year-old dropped in Turtle Bay Resort’s Surfer, The Bar’s weekly “Talk Story” series. Moore is currently ranked third in the world.

With two ASP World Tour events remaining she is striving to defend her title.

You can check out our interview with Carissa Moore here: http://youtu.be/hISinI6HjZ4 and view the entire Talk Story event with her here: www.livestream.com/surferthebar.

The Talk Story Series is hosted by Jodi Wilmott and streamed live at www.surferthebar.com. Dan Moore drops in next to discuss his life spent chasing the ultimate wave.

July 4th Turtle Bay Resort will be doing more than giving North Shore residents and guests a spectacular fireworks display, the resort will also host the Hui O He'e Nalu Paddleboard and Stand Up Paddle Race presented by Da Hui.

The 7 mile long distance race begins at Turtle Bay Resort and ends at Sunset Beach. The last day to register is June 25th. You can get more information here: http://dahuipaddlerace.com/.

Want to Stand up to the challenge? Turtle Bay Resort and Hans Hedemann Surf Center is launching the North Shore Stand Up Paddle Summer Race Series.

The series from June to September includes five sprint races and weekly Thursday paddles.

Each race event will be a heat elimination format sprint course featuring 10 to 12 minute sprints customized to suit the surrounding environment of Kuilima and Kawela Bay at Turtle Bay Resort.

Divisions include Beginners, 17 & under, 18-49, 50 & over and Open Prone Divison (all ages.)

All races being at 1 p.m. and are followed by a 6 p.m. awards ceremony at Surfer, The Bar.

For the schedule and registration form visit www.NorthShoreSUPseries.com.

For more information on Turtle Bay Resort or featured events on the North Shore, please contact me or visit our website.

Freight management is yet another of our key specialties at A52 Warehouse. Our freight management system is designed to get the best price and service for every shipment while avoiding chargeback fines.

Due to the large volume of product we ship, we can ship your goods using our exceptional volume discounts with the majority of domestic and international couriers. Using our proprietary warehouse management shipping system every single order is “rate shopped” against every carrier in order to find the best price and service for each shipment.

This ensures that the brand receives exceptional freight rates and eliminates the call from the retailer complaining about costly freight charges.

A52 is also an expert in handling every major retailer’s routing guides (i.e. Forzani, Arlies, MEC). We house retailer-specific compliance guides within our advanced warehouse management system and also help our customers comply with all labeling and shipping requirements of big box retailers.

This is necessary to prevent costly chargebacks and avoid non-compliance fines. We also visit these retailers regularly to ensure our shipping standards are exceeding the requirements of the retailers. This ongoing communication with these major retailers has helped establish A52 as an industry leader when handling complex routing guides.

Before each order is processed, the system prompts our compliance auditor with precise instructions for labeling or other Value Added Services (VAS) requirements. Some of our service features that help prevent chargebacks include close monitoring of retailer routing guide changes, advanced EDI capabilities, as well as printing all labels or documentation required necessary to meet vendor demands

We are ready to help you with your warehousing and third party logistic needs with exceptional service and care.

Please check out our website or contact me for more information.

I’m writing this as I sit on a beach in Cabo San Lucas looking out over the ocean. Only a finance guy would find this scene a metaphor for the current credit landscape, but I’d like to paint a picture for you.

The first thing I notice is an incredible white sand beach that is smooth and inviting. Looking out into the ocean there are powerful waves crashing. Kids venture out into the pounding waves, eventually retreating to the safety of shore. A surfer paddles out and rides the momentum provided by the waves. An hour later the wind kicks up and he stops for the day. A sailboat cruises by at a rapid clip.

A thought occurs to me – they are all in the same ocean. The success of each was driven by managing the environment and using the right tools. This is exactly what companies need to do to be successful in the current credit landscape.

Let’s say yours is an established company with moderate growth. You’re the sailor, with a steady breeze at your back. Banks want your business. Why? The competing forces in the banking industry have created internal frustration. The credit committees don’t want to approve a bad loan.

They need solid deals. Business development officers are pressuring their credit departments to move quickly, create flexibility, require few covenants or guarantees, and offer competitive rates. With the right technique, you can get an effective interest rate below 2 percent. In fact, for established businesses, there hasn’t been a better credit environment in our lifetime.

But maybe your company is a start-up. You’re a novice surfer and no banks want to fund you. So you’re looking for a cash injection from friends and family, with nominal rates and flexible payback terms—but, of course, this limits your ability to grow as you need more capital.

You could also consider credit cards, which are expensive but easily obtained. Both options can help fund the start-up phase, but they’re focused on sources of repayment outside your business.

The next step is typically an asset-based loan, in which advances are based on percentages of accounts receivable and inventory. These loans generally entail a lockbox scenario or other forms of “dominion of funds” to protect the lender’s interest. Their security puts them in front of trade creditors—this way, in the event the company is unsuccessful, these lenders get paid out of an asset liquidation, leaving your trade creditors empty-handed. Since these deals are riskier, they have higher rates—5 to 7 percent, with a commitment or monitoring fee that varies with the size of the deal.

The two scenarios above occur daily in the current credit landscape. If you don’t have the board, boat, or technical ability, get some help. Now more than ever, learning to ride the waves or the wind is crucial.

We are very excited to announce the annual KNOWSHOW Golf tournament has evolved in a major way. Presented by DC Shoes, the Devun Walsh Charity Classic to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society will take place at Vancouver's UBC Golf Club on Sunday, August 12th.

Sponsored by KNOWSHOW, The Source, Skullcandy, Arnette and GoPro, this tournament will bring together Devun's colleagues and our industry greats for a day of golf, laughs and fundraising for a special cause.

"I have come to love the game of golf over the last ten years and have always dreamed about having my own tournament. Teaming up with KNOWSHOW and with the support of all my sponsors it has become a reality. After losing my dad to cancer I have always wanted to find a way to contribute to this charity and I'm finally getting a great chance." -Devun Walsh

The $200 fee per golfer includes 18 holes of golf, a charitable donation to the CCS, a banquet supper, lunch provided by NIMBY BURGER, a shared cart, tee gift, range balls and great prizing. Go Pro will bring a Big Break style "Break the Glass" competition, and the tourney will again feature a $20,000 Hole-In-One.

Single Hole sponsors include OGIO, SBC Business and Fox Canada. There are still hole sponsorship opportunities available, if you are interested in getting involved please email me.

This is an open tournament but space is limited. All parties interested in playing are encouraged to email golf@knowshow.ca for more information on how to register.

CIT ANNOUNCES JOHN F. DALY TO RETIRE AS PRESIDENT OF CIT TRADE FINANCE

Retirement Effective June 29, 2012

NEW YORK - CIT Group Inc., cit.com, a leading provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies, today announced that John F. Daly will retire as President of CIT Trade Finance effective June 29, 2012.

John Daly

“John’s leadership and invaluable contributions over the years have maintained CIT’s position as a leading provider of factoring in the United States,” said John Thain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CIT.

“Drawing on nearly four decades of experience in factoring, credit administration and secured lending, John has worked tirelessly with manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and their retail customers throughout his career and has established himself as the “Dean of Factoring.”

"I wish John the very best in his upcoming retirement and thank him for his years of committed service to CIT and our clients.”

Daly has served as President of CIT Trade Finance since 1999. Prior to this, he was Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of CIT Trade Finance and served in various other senior management positions since joining CIT in 1987.

Daly began his factoring career in 1973 with Manufacturers Hanover Commercial Corporation, one of several predecessor companies to CIT.

CIT APPOINTS JONATHAN A. LUCAS PRESIDENT OF CIT TRADE FINANCE

Appointment Effective July 2, 2012 Following Retirement of Current President John F. Daly

CIT Group Inc. announced that Jonathan (Jon) A. Lucas has been named President of CIT Trade Finance effective July 2, 2012 following the retirement of current CIT Trade Finance President John F. Daly on June 29, 2012. Lucas will report directly to Nelson Chai, President of CIT Group Inc.

Jon Lucas

"Jon has played an important role within CIT Trade Finance over the past 15 years and I am confident in his ability to lead and grow this business,” said Mr. Chai.

“As one of the largest providers of factoring services in the United States, Jon and his team will continue to develop tailored factoring and financing solutions for consumer product companies in all stages of the business cycle. I look forward to working with him more closely in the future.”

Over his career, Lucas has worked with hundreds of middle market companies and their advisors to develop secured financing and factoring solutions to meet their business needs. Lucas most recently served as Chief Sales Officer of CIT Trade Finance.

Prior to that, Lucas held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in CIT Trade Finance in which he was responsible for client service and retention, business development and client credit quality.

Prior to joining CIT, Lucas developed middle market lending solutions for corporate borrowers while at Fleet Bank and Chemical Bank.

About CIT Trade Finance

CIT Trade Finance is a leading provider of factoring services in the United States for companies that sell into retail channels of distribution. It provides credit protection, accounts receivable management and asset-based lending to manufacturers and importers. cit.com/TradeFinance

About CIT

Founded in 1908, CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a bank holding company with more than $34 billion in finance and leasing assets. A member of the Fortune 500, it provides financing and leasing capital to its more than one million small business and middle market clients and their customers across more than 30 industries.

CIT maintains leadership positions in small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance, aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and global vendor finance. CIT also operates CIT Bank (Member FDIC), BankOnCIT.com, its primary bank subsidiary, which offers a suite of online savings options designed to help customers achieve a range of financial goals. cit.com

Whether you’re in a social or professional setting, there’s one question that has a tendency to get asked more often than not. The “What do you do?” query has the ability to get people frazzled and prevent them from accurately conveying their company’s mission and their specific role.

Regardless if someone has worked at a company for three months or six years, many people react the same way when posed with this question. Here are five tips to perfect your response so that the next time someone throws you a pitch, you hit it out of the park.

1) Keep it short. Your elevator pitch shouldn’t be longer than 30 seconds and in most cases, can be shorter. This is your opportunity to provide a quick summary on the company’s products, services or value proposition. The goal is to paint an interesting picture with words.

2) Consider your audience. Are you going to a networking event that caters to investors or potential customers or suppliers? Your elevator pitch shouldn’t be the same for all audiences so like the Scouts, be prepared to deliver messages that are relevant and interesting to whom you are speaking.

3) Watch your language. Avoid the use of words or phrases that might confuse people. If you’re not at an industry event, don’t use terminology or acronyms that might leave others with a blank stare wondering what language you’re speaking. You have a brief moment to explain what you do, so don’t showcase your extensive vocabulary, but rather communicate with words that everyone can understand.

4) Watch your language, Part II. Be conscious of the words you use when discussing your company. There are many words and phrases that are overused in both personal and professional conversations that do not convey a message. Using “I mean,” “you know,” “like” and “um” may prevent you from selling your product, business or service and can be a distraction.

5) Develop confidence through practice. Many people have a tendency to get nervous when delivering a pitch and this is largely due to a lack of confidence. Rehearse your delivery out loud and make sure it sounds the way it did on paper. Then, practice with your friends, family or co-workers. The final step is to utilize your elevator pitch in the real world. Attend networking events and be prepared to share your elevator pitch with each person you meet.

Once your 30 second pitch is nailed down, your work isn’t done. Companies evolve as new products or services are added or taken away. Be sure to revisit your pitch every so often to ensure you’re still accurately describing what the business does and where you fit in.

For more information on SDSI programs and events, visit our website. For more information on becoming and SDSI member, contact me at lfreedman@connect.org. In addition, we invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Book your rooms now before they sell out!

Take advantage of the Agenda discount rates at these nearby hotels for both the NYC and Long Beach shows. All rates are approximate and only available while supplies last.

See below for details.

Agenda NYC

AGENDA: NYC

Monday, July 16th

Tuesday, July 17th

(9am-6pm)

New Location

82 Mercer Street

New York, NY 10012

Map it!

Launch NYC Micro-site

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda: NYC.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.

PLEASE NOTE: This registration section is NOT for registering your brand to EXHIBIT or SHOW at Agenda. This section is just for attendees to register to obtain passes for the shows.

NEW AGENDA ADMISSION POLICY: Please note that Agenda has changed our admission policies and now everyone must pre-register online HERE.

Buyers, distributors, and press are admitted into the show for free but are now required to pre-register for each show by clicking HERE.

Manufacturers, suppliers, non-exhibiting sales reps & non-exhibiting designers will also need to pre-register by clicking HERE. After registering you will receive an email prompt with the next steps. If you are approved to attend, you will be required to pay a $200 admission fee per person online.

No sourcing agents of vertical manufacturers are allowed at Agenda. The general public is not admitted into Agenda and we reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone.

NYC Accommodations

Ace Hotel

Agenda Rate: $259+

Phone: (212) 679-222

Book by June 15th.

Click here to book your room.

Thompson LES

Agenda Rate: $249+

Phone: (212) 460-5300

While they last.

Click here to book your room.

Agenda Long Beach

Agenda Long Beach, California

Wednesday, August 1st

(9am-7pm)

Thursday, August 2nd

(9am-6pm)

Long Beach Convention Center

300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802

Map it!

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda Long Beach.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.

PLEASE NOTE: This registration section is NOT for registering your brand to EXHIBIT or SHOW at Agenda. This section is just for attendees to register to obtain passes for the shows.

NEW AGENDA ADMISSION POLICY: Please note that Agenda has changed our admission policies and now everyone must pre-register online HERE.

Buyers, distributors, and press are admitted into the show for free but are now required to pre-register for each show by clicking HERE.

Manufacturers, suppliers, non-exhibiting sales reps & non-exhibiting designers will also need to pre-register by clicking HERE. After registering you will receive an email prompt with the next steps. If you are approved to attend, you will be required to pay a $200 admission fee per person online.

No sourcing agents of vertical manufacturers are allowed at Agenda. The general public is not admitted into Agenda and we reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone.

Long Beach Accommodations

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $145

Phone: (562) 491-1234

While they last.

Click here to book your room.

Renaissance Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $129

Phone: (562) 437-5900

While they last.

Click here to book your room.

The Westin Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $135

Phone: (562) 436-3000

While they last.

Click here to book your room.

Hyatt The Pike

Agenda Rate: $129+

Phone: (800) 233-1234

While they last.

Click here to book your room.

Please visit the Agenda Travel section here for more info.

Cheap Monday at AGENDA

"Cheap" is more than a part of our name. High level design combined with low prices is the core of our brand. You should always be pleasantly surprised with Cheap Monday prices.

We make Jeans and Fashion for the people. Our prices and distribution are meant to make great design accessible to everyone and FINALLY Cheap Monday will be showing at AGENDA Tradeshow!

For more info: cheapmonday.com

Incipio at AGENDA

Incipio® is a Southern California based designer and manufacturer of award winning mobile device accessories. Established in 1999, Incipio® is widely recognized for consistently creating state of the art protective solutions for the mobile world. Through an untiring commitment to innovative and original designs, Incipio® is globally recognized for the functional and premium accessories the brand produces without the lofty price tag.

Incipio® has creatively collaborated with action sports and street wear labels aligning themselves with like-minded, reputable lifestyle brands. Incipio's® products are sold worldwide in leading consumer and electronics retailers, wireless retailers and through www.incipio.com.

Happy Socks at AGENDA

It all started under the cloud-ridden April sky of yet another belayed Swedish spring in 2008. A vision to turn an everyday essential into a colourful design item and spread happiness. A rigid standard of ultimate quality, craftsmanship and creativity. A concept brought to perfection. The latest collection,Chapter #FIVE offers a complete palette of what feet need to live Happy – always in very Happy fabrics, Happy colours and Happy patterns. Always at the right price and with the best quality.

"Happy Socks can be found on pretty much anyone – hipsters, business people, fashion interested, the sneaker lovers, you name it, people who love colour; Happy Socks, is and will always be, for everyone who wishes to give colour to an everyday essential."

-Mikael Soderlindh, CEO of Happy Socks

For more info: happysocks.com

IN4MATION at AGENDA

In4mation is comprised of four partners, Ryan Arakaki, Todd Shimabuku , Jun Jo and Keith Kanagasuku . The concept of the name In4mation was from a popular cartoon VOLTRON, in which unique characters assembled to become one indestructible machine. The name In4mation and the "plus" logo mark symbolize a unique bond and signify In4mation's positive outlook and welcoming attitudes attained by exploring varied paths of life. In4mation's motto, "I SHALL PROCEED AND CONTINUE" is a catch phrase taken from an influential hip-hop band that serves as a reminder to follow our chosen paths and to keep on moving forward.

In4mation is in a unique position to offer Hawaii special things from special places throughout the world, and and vice versa. In4mation will always be going against the grain, leading instead of following, with alternative design concepts and eclectic lines and products.

For more info: in4mants.com

MUNITIO at AGENDA

MUNITIO is a San Diego, California based precision sound brand specializing in lifestyle electronic accessories. We believe in the power of music to enrich and individualize our experiences while strengthening our connection to community. Latin for defense works and fortification, MUNITIO is a brand of quality, utility and performance.

The MUNITIO team is a diverse collection of music and recording industry veterans, audiophiles, visual artists with expertise in mobile technology, industrial design and specialty metals manufacturing. Their motivation? To bring true craftsmanship to portable electronic peripherals.

It began in 2010, when MUNITIO set a new standard in listener enjoyment and electronic accessory fashion with the release of the world's first titanium-coated and 18K gold plated earphones. With each successive product, we at MUNITIO continue to stretch our collective imagination and remain a leading innovator of the mobile lifestyle movement.

For more info: munitio.com

SPY+ at AGENDA

2013. 1994.1956. Square. Round. Cat eye.

Subway. Motorcycle. Muscle Car. Folk. Jazz. Rock.

Black Metal. Moonshine. Flask. Tall Can. Quality.

Integrity. Technology. Artistry. Snow. Skate. Surf.

Board. Smooth. Soul. Shred. Tyler. Florence. Mell.

Tudor. McGrath. Block. Earnhardt. Skinner.

HonkeyKong. Pose. Mathes. Vito. Larsen.

Keep A Breast. Seventh Letter. Herschel. Targa.

Marshall. Platoon. Bowery. Helm. Discord. Vintage.

Classic. New. Limited. Uptown. Downtown. Crosstown.

Beware of the usual.

SPY.

For more info: spyoptic.com

For more information on the upcoming AGENDA shows, please visit www.agendashow.com.

Early stage companies often raise money from friends and family and angel investors in order to launch their businesses or bridge the gap to a larger raise. One method of raising funds is to issue convertible promissory notes to investors. A convertible promissory note converts to stock at a later date upon the occurrence of certain specified events; typically the closing of a larger capital raise where the company sells stock.

A triggering (or “qualifying”) financing is an equity financing that occurs subsequent to the issuance of a convertible promissory note, where a stated minimum amount of capital is raised. Upon a triggering financing, all principal and interest under the convertible promissory note converts to stock based upon the valuation of the company assigned at the time of the triggering financing. Typically, the conversion is “automatic,” meaning the investor does not have the ability to seek repayment of the loan at the time of the triggering financing, but must convert the note to stock.

The company should set the maturity date of a convertible promissory note conservatively to ensure it will have the time to build value, and close on the triggering financing prior to the repayment obligation on the note. Setting the maturity date too soon pressures the company to close on a triggering financing prior to building its value, which would result in selling stock at a lower valuation than anticipated or desired.

The typical interest rate for convertible promissory notes is between 7% and 10%. In the most common structure, all principal and interest is paid at maturity or converts along with the principal into stock.

All principal and accrued interest on a convertible promissory note usually converts into the same class of stock issued in the triggering financing, and on the same terms of such financing. That means convertible promissory note investors often receive preferred stock, with preferred terms, because these investors essentially tag along with the larger investor(s) in the triggering financing. Convertible note investors usually receive a discount to the valuation assigned to the company in the triggering financing, which results in a correlating discount to the price per share paid by investors in the triggering financing.

A typical conversion discount ranges between 10% and 25%, although it is possible in some situations to have conversion discounts of up to 50%.

A “conversion cap” provision provides that upon a triggering financing, the investor will convert at the option of the investor into stock at a valuation that is the lower of (a) the valuation after applying the conversion discount, or (b) a pre-set valuation. The conversion cap is a method of ensuring early-stage, convertible note investors are rewarded for their early-stage investment. If the triggering financing does not occur for quite some time, or until the company’s valuation has substantially increased, a discount to the triggering financing may not be attractive to convertible note investors.

John Cleary specializes in corporate and securities law, with an emphasis in representing companies seeking financing for their businesses through seed capital, venture capital, PIPE financings and public offerings. Mr. Cleary also regularly assists clients in mergers and acquisitions, advising both privately held and publicly traded companies in transactions involving the sale of assets, sale of stock, mergers, joint ventures, licensing, strategic alliances and other business combinations. His practice includes general corporate transactions and counseling, and he acts as outside general counsel for numerous local companies.He can be reached at john.cleary@procopio.com or 619.515.3221.

In today’s digitized business and social world, nearly every company has faced – to some degree – the difficult question of how to handle social media in the workplace. This is a particularly hot issue for employers in retail, who  often have to balance a desire to leverage social media to advertise with a desire to protect their brand.

While many companies have put some guidelines or general policies into place, these policies are often overbroad and lack practical application. Given that overbroad social media policies are high on the National Labor Relations Board’s enforcement agenda and a current “hot” area for employee lawsuits, 2012 is the time to implement a comprehensive and tailored social media policy.

While every company is different, we have set forth some questions below that you should consider when thinking about what should be included in your Company’s social media policy. Attorneys in Call & Jensen’s Employment Law Group are also readily available to further discuss these issues and assist in the revision of your social media policy.

Julie R. Trotter

Could Your Policy Be Construed To Interfere With Protected Concerted Activity?

• The NLRB has repeatedly found that postings on social media websites may be considered protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the NLRA.

• The following prohibitions in social media policies have been found to interfere with such concerted activity:

o Prohibiting employees from identifying themselves as Company employees.

o Prohibiting employees from making disparaging or inappropriate remarks about the Company or the employee’s supervisor.

o Prohibiting use of the Company’s logo.

o Restricting employee use of social media while on “company time.”

• The NLRB is drawing a line between situations where employees are complaining about the terms and conditions of their employment versus situations where employees are merely airing personal gripes.

• Any “Savings Clause” needs to be carefully drafted to cure any potential chill your Company’s social media policy may have upon Section 7 concerted activity.

Are Your Social Media Guidelines Incorporated Into Your Other Policies?

• Although a stand-alone social media policy is valuable, your social media guidelines should be incorporated in your other policies.

• For example, your sexual harassment training, corporate code of conduct, and confidentiality agreements should cross-reference guidance from your social media policy.

Does Your Policy Have A Grievance Procedure For Co-Workers?

• Just as you have reporting mechanism for employees that feel they are being harassed or discriminated against, your social media policy needs  to contain procedures for employees to report potentially improper conduct.

How Do You Communicate Changes In Your Policy?

• Notice of changes in your social media policy should be communicated Company-wide.

• If distributing by e-mail, consider using a return receipt function to document employee acknowledgement that the employee has read and understood the change in policy.

Attorneys in Call & Jensen’s Employment Law Group are happy to assist you or answer questions on these or other issues. Call & Jensen attorneys handle all aspects of employment law on behalf of employers including the defense of lawsuits alleging wage-and-hour, misclassification, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and Labor Code claims in single plaintiff and class action matters. Attorneys in the firm’s Employment Law Group may be contacted by email: Julie Trotter, jtrotter@calljensen.com; Virginia Miller, gmiller@calljensen.com; John Egley, jegley@calljensen.com and Jessica Boschee, jboschee@calljensen.com.

How Changes in Consumer Behavior at Retail Will Impact Your Business

Holiday 2011

Online Portion of the Pie Grows

Better deals and convenience online Consumers expect free shipping and returns (52% of surveyed)

Shipping clubs (Amazon Prime, Williams-Sonoma Reserve, etc.) 55% shop more with companies that have shipping membership programs

Social commerce struggles to find measurable success

Social networks are negligible % of source of sales

 “Silence is deafening”

Mobile is making everyone’s life challenging

Mobile sales = $6B and ~2% of online retail Mobile is about driving cross-channel efforts Tablet users:

– 49% spend more time on internet

– 42% spend same amount of time on internet

Companies making headlines: 

Amazon: 33% of shoppers

Google: 44% of web users

Facebook: 43% of web users

What can be learned from them?

1. Innovation iPad app in Nordstrom stores to help customers choose sunglasses

2. Simplicity “lowest common denominator”

3. Online sales tax won’t change game 38% would continue to shop online 39% don’t know if it would change behavior

4. A lot of hype around these companies

Shopping is now Omnichannel, which includes shopping from home, on-the-go, and in store.

2012 Predictions:

1. Bye Bye Best Buy-"Best Buy to Cut Costs and Close Stores" (Associated Press)

2. Deep discounts, deals, and free shipping are cost of doing business (thanks to Amazon.com)

3. Email and search will continue to drive traffic

– Google/paid search budgets will get bigger

4. Mobile optimization

– Consumer sessions across multiple devices (tablet, mobile, computer)

5. ROI for cross-channel investments? – Is this just a cost of doing business?

6. Facebook and social media impact is strong but not easily quantifiable or direct

For more information, please contact me.

NRI Distribution Inc., long-standing 3PL specialists in the action sports, outdoor and lifestyle industries, will be expanding to the Greater Vancouver area this summer as part of our long term strategic goals, as well as to facilitate our clients' continued growth.

Our initial space will be comprised of a new twin building development with an estimated 145,000 SF and approximately 12,000 SF of bay space.

The new facility is a modern, concrete tilt up construction with both dock and grade level loading, 26-foot clear ceiling heights, and fully implemented safety and security systems.

To learn more about this expansion and potential opportunities visit NRI at www.nri-distribution.com.

HORSE TURTLE BAY STYLE

Professional Surfers Zeke Lau and Keanu Asing faced off in the waters surrounding Turtle Bay Resort’s pool. The challenge : SURF. It’s like HORSE in basketball but better. Find out who won here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5wcohJ5MFc

TALKING STORY WITH A LEGEND

Director of the Triple Crown of Surfing Randy Rarick dropped in Surfer, The Bar to talk story with host Jodi Wilmott and a full house of fans. Randy used photos to bring guests on his quest for the perfect wave that took him around the world.

He visited more than 70 countries on his surfari. So where is the world’s sweet surf spot? Randy says the North Shore of Oahu has the best waves, but if he had to choose another place, Africa would take the cake. Africa is his favorite continent to experience not only epic surf but amazing cultures.

COME TALK STORY WITH US

Every Wednesday night influential figures in surf culture visit Surfer, The Bar for our Talk Story Series. Here’s a look at whose dropping in next:

April 11th Best-selling author Stuart Coleman will discuss “Eddie Would Go” – the powerful biography of Hawaiian hero and big wave pioneer Eddie Aikau, and “Fierce Heart – the Story of Makaha & the Soul of Hawaiian Surfing.”

Stuart will share his insight into these uniquely Hawaiian books. Stuart is also the Hawaii Coordinator of the Surfrider Foundation, whose mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches around the world.

April 18th- The North Shore's own Jock Sutherland - a big wave pioneer of the '60s and '70s - and his inspirational mother Audrey, who has paddled half-way around the globe in her canoe, penning three books along the way, share their stories of a life on the ocean that most of us could only imagine, at best. Both have defied the stereo-types of their time and illustrate the benefits of pairing 'the road less traveled' with a passion for life.

Donations for charity are accepted at the events.

Surfer, The Bar opens at 6p and the discussion begins at 8p HST.

Can’t make the journey to the North Shore of Oahu? All of our Talk Story sessions are streamed live at www.surferthebar.com and questions for the guest of honors can be submitted to talkstory@surferthebar.com.

You're Invited

Spotlight Series Webcast

Presented by Moss Adams Capital and Moss Adams Apparel Group

Join Moss Adams for our Spotlight Series Webcast for apparel and footwear business owners and executives. Experts in areas that include operations, supply chain, corporate finance, accounting and tax, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions provide guidance on pressing topics affecting your business. In this webcast we'll be discussing the following:

• Working Capital and its Impact on Cash Flow: Understanding what working capital is, and how changes in working capital can have a major impact on your cash flow.

• How the changes in consumer behavior at retail will impact your business during 2012: We will provide insight into ecommerce, mobile, and bricks and mortar trends and best practices, including selected topics from the National Retail Federation 2012 Conference.

Event details

DATE

April 19, 2012

TIME

9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Pacific

Register Here

Presenters

Rich Anderson, Managing Director, Moss Adams Capital LLC

Rich joined Moss Adams Capital in 2002. Rich provides capital raising and merger and acquisition advisory services to his clients, many of which are in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Rich was a Senior Vice President with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Company, a publicly-owned investment bank, where he managed Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance assignments for public and private businesses.

Previously, Rich was a Director with Trenwith Securities, a specialty investment bank. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from Ohio State University and his MBA degree from Pepperdine University.

Geoff Haydon, Vice President, Moss Adams Capital LLC

Geoff has been with Moss Adams Capital since 2006. Geoff provides capital raising and M&A advisory services to consumer products companies, primarily in the apparel and footwear sector. Prior to Moss Adams Capital, Geoff was an Associate at Haydon U.S., a boutique financial restructuring firm in Seattle which he cofounded.

Previously, Geoff was an Analyst with JP Morgan in New York, where he worked in the mergers and acquisitions group. Geoff received a BS in Business Administration from Washington and Lee University

Frank Kaufman, CPA, Partner, Moss Adams LLP

Frank has been directly involved in the apparel industry since starting with Moss Adams LLP in 1983. His focus is assisting apparel and retail clients grow and achieve their goals. Frank's role includes identifying trends that are impactful to the industry, developing relevant strategic plans, and assisting in implementation. Frank spends a significant portion of his time with our clients during liquidity events, where preparation and negotiation are integral for success.

Freddie Roach

Congratulations to client, world-renowned boxing trainer, Freddie Roach, for the recent critically acclaimed documentary series in which he featured – On Freddie Roach. Produced by Emmy nominated filmmaker, Peter Berg, the HBO series delves into Freddie’s life and career and provides a closer look at Freddie’s famed gym, Wild Card Boxing Club. Amanda Mooney and her husband, John, were thrilled to be invited to the series premiere at Soho House in Hollywood.

Linsanity

So you thought you had heard everything there is to hear about LINSANITY, but think again. When LINSANITY began, so also began other parties’ attempts to “cash-in” on Lin’s success. Beginning 3 days after his NBA debut, on March 7, 2012, individuals and entities, having no relationship whatsoever with Lin, began filing federal trademark applications for the term “LINSANITY” in various classes for goods including apparel, jewelry, sunglasses, cell phone backplates, computer software and games, sports drinks, duffel bags, and advertising services.

By mid March, no less than 10 trademark applications were filed along with other filings for “LINMANIA,” “LINSANE,” “LINNING,” and “LINNING IS THE ONLY THING.”

However, only Lin has the right to capitalize on his name and celebrity and the legal doctrine concerning such rights is usually referred to “Right of Publicity.”

That being said, Lin filed his own federal trademark application on February 13, 2012 for “LINSANITY” and we suspect he will get his registration by the end of the year.

Let us know if you have any trademark questions or if someone is using without authorization your name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness – we can help.-David Berstein

Executives, entrepreneurs, and investors are increasingly asking how they can get out of their joint ventures in China. It’s not that they want to stop doing business there; it’s just the opposite. They want to increase their commitments to the Chinese marketplace, but on their own terms.

To understand that, it’s important to consider a few things about achieving success in China today:

- Before independence can bring meaningful revenues and profits, it’s necessary to take exploratory steps and set up imperfect, short-term joint ventures with Chinese partners.

- Few US companies have had sustainably positive experiences with joint ventures in China.

- Strong and solid results can be attained by going it alone.

To put it another way, there are three distinct phases that all companies must go through as they attempt to capitalize on the potential of the Chinese market. This is a complex cross-cultural commercial journey with bumpy, frustrating, and extremely uncomfortable stages, but those that persevere and stay focused on the ultimate business possibilities in China will be rewarded.

Finding Partners

The first phase is about taking baby steps. US companies start by scouring China to identify like-minded and strategically similar vendors and customers. The search is designed to reduce risks by finding Chinese players who can help explain their business culture and climate.

Creating Joint Ventures

The second phase kicks in when companies pinpoint one Chinese distributor or supplier who truly stands out. This is the moment when a joint venture is formed. The Chinese partner contributes the crucial country-specific relationships, access, and expertise—both cultural and institutional—to the collaborative enterprise, and the US company provides the essential capital and intellectual property.

Unfortunately, though, the notion of a joint venture is very different in China. In the United States, we think of these alliances in terms of consolidations stemming from the US parent; in China, the proposition is seen more as a stand-alone enterprise that could be at conflict with the US parent.

Going it Alone 

This dissolution eventually leads into the third phase, when US entities double down and make serious commitments to go it alone in the Chinese market. During this period, they put real skin in the game and invest money and resources into their Chinese operations. This often means making the commitment to send personnel to ensure the operation is run with consistent cultural values.

The bottom line is that this three-stage process is the process, for both US and Chinese companies. And it’s clearly a necessary means to a potentially profitable end, so it must be embraced.

One of the most important factors in all this, however, is correctly establishing expectations. A joint venture helps US companies navigate their initial forays into China, but it’s never been and never will be a long-term ticket for success in this market.

For the full report, please click here, or contact me.

At some point in our careers, many of us have received some sort of assistance from a thriving entrepreneur or an industry veteran. It only seems appropriate that we would then contribute to the success of another and “pay it forward”. In fact, I believe it is our duty to take our positive experiences and continue the chain by assisting others starting out who may be experiencing business challenges. Here are four ways you can pay it forward:

1) Become a Mentor: Get involved in a program that focuses specifically on helping other entrepreneurs. At SDSI, we offer a free program called Springboard that matches sports-minded entrepreneurs and early stage companies with experienced executives. Under the guidance of our mentor, the entrepreneur develops a compelling business model and investor presentation in preparation for commercialization and capital funding opportunities. Mentoring programs like Springboard provide great opportunities for business leaders to share their expertise with others.

2) Volunteer: Whether you’re still working or retired, volunteering will help advance the next generation of entrepreneurs and business owners. Many organizations don’t have the resources or knowledge to take their ideas to the next level. Look for groups that interest you and then provide your expertise and guidance to help others achieve their goals. In addition, one of the most valuable contributions a successful entrepreneur can offer is time out of their schedule to talk with people who were once just like them. Meet over coffee and let them pick your brain. As you learn more about their business plan, you might be able to put them in touch with resources that can help as well.

3) Judge Awards: Last December, the Better Business Bureau hosted its annual Torch Awards, and I was invited to help judge the competition. This particular program honors the community’s most outstanding and ethical companies, both for-profit and not-for-profit. I was honored to not only have been selected, but to have been involved. There are a plethora of award programs out there and those organizations need qualified experts to participate on judging panels. For example, each year CONNECT hosts its Most Innovative Product (MIP) Awards and SDSI looks for partners and members to participate on the judging panel for the Action and Sports category. This is just one of many opportunities available to get involved through SDSI. I encourage folks to research programs in which they have expertise and offer to judge an upcoming event.

4) Attend Networking Events: One of the things I love most about SDSI networking events is the wide-range of people who attend. For example, it’s not uncommon to find successful entrepreneurs, business leaders and veterans in the room mingling with young entrepreneurs and listening to their new start-up business ideas. I’ve seen it happen on numerous occasions and it’s gratifying to see conversations take place which result in enduring relationships.

There are many ways that you too can pay it forward. It all depends on the time you have to give and how you want to help. It is important for seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders to remember when they were in a position where they benefited from input or received guidance from someone they admired and respected. It’s the support from others that allows companies to get over the hurdles and be successful. Do you part and get involved!

For more information on SDSI programs and events, visit our website. For more information on becoming and SDSI mentor, contact Renne Catalano at RCatalano@connect.org. In addition, we invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Value added services are the third of our six core specialties at A52. Our standard value added services include ticketing, hanging, labeling, pre-packing, and kitting orders.

We are experts at interpreting, managing, and adhering to complicated retail compliance and routing guides. A52 also specializes in helping our customers comply with all labeling and shipping requirements of retailers to prevent potentially costly charge backs.

Our advanced warehouse control system for vender compliance helps in avoiding chargeback fines by housing retailer-specific requirements within the system. As with every order, A52 acts on behalf of each brand.

Before a Value Add order is processed, the system prompts our compliance auditor with precise instructions for labeling or other requirements. Our service features that prevent charge backs include:

• Close monitoring of retailer routing guide changes

• Advanced EDI capabilities

• Labeling, packaging, and bundling services

• Promotional packaging

Additionally, we provide quality control and quality assurance services, POS/POP display assembly, and our system prints any label or documentation required.

At A52, we are here to exceed your warehousing and third party logistics needs. For more information on value added services or any of our services please contact me.

Apparel and Footwear Market Monitor

Highlights:

• Apparel and footwear M&A volume increased 11% in 2011 from 2010, faster than the growth in the overall market.

• Most notably, the past several months witnessed the unraveling of Liz Claiborne, which sold its Liz Claiborne and Monet brands to JC Penney, and also divested Dana Buchman, Mac and Jac, Kensie and Mexx. The remaining business, now known as Fifth & Pacific, owns the Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Dungarees brands.

• Stock performance has been mixed over the past year, with Diversified companies outperforming the market and Outdoor and Action Sports companies underperforming.

Outdoor companies have been hurt by the warm winter and Action Sports has been negatively affected by company-specific issues at Quiksilver, Billabong and PacSun.

Click Here for Access to the Market Monitor

Our Market Monitors contain current information on industry trends, valuation multiples for publis companies and summaries of recent mergers & acquisitions. Moss Adams Capital produces Market Monitors for a variety of industries. To access those Market Monitors, please click here.

Building on the Luce Forward legacy

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP have combined.

Our merger is about creating more value for our clients through an expanded network of attorneys and public policy advisors whose experience and expertise are exponentially more powerful when working together.

Our complementary cultures and commitment to our public service strengthen our ties to each other and to our communities. Our thought leadership and our ability to leverage economies of scale enable us to deliver innovative opportunities and solutions for our clients.

The combined firm will continue to be known as McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.

• 13 offices
• 11 markets
• 575 Attorneys and public advisors
• 16 industries
• 18 practices
• 230 charities supported in communities where we live and work

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is an international law firm with more than 575 attorneys and public policy advisors in 13 offices and 11 markets.

The firm is uniquely positioned at the intersection of law, business and government, representing clients in the areas of complex litigation, corporate law, energy, environment, family wealth, finance, government contracts, health care, infrastructure, insurance, intellectual property, public policy, real estate, and technology. To further explore the firm and its services, go to www.mckennalong.com.

We’re pleased to introduce Moss Adams Insights, a free app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Its goal? To give you the best of our content, updated regularly via in-app RSS feeds, and make it easy for you to view it on the go.

Through our industry-specific MA Now articles, timely MA Alerts, and educational webcasts, we’ve kept business leaders in the know about mission-critical accounting and other financial issues.

Now we’re taking it one step further, giving you mobile access to relevant, actionable business information from thought leaders in the accounting profession.

Read more about Moss Adams Insights.

Nationwide, Moss Adams and its affiliates provide insight and expertise integral to your success. Discover how we make a difference:

Moss Adams LLP is a national leader in assurance, tax, consulting, risk management, transaction, and wealth services.

Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC provides investment management, personal financial planning, and insurance strategies to help you build and preserve your wealth.

Moss Adams Capital LLC offers investment banking and strategic advisory services, helping you create greater value in your business.

Some people dread it and others enjoy it. Some people thrive in social settings while others fear having conversations with complete strangers. The fact of the matter is that in business, it really isn’t all about what you know but who, and excelling at networking is one of the great skills everyone should have. It’s essential and something that all employees and business owners can engage in. The fastest way to success is through making new connections.

At SDSI, one of our goals is to continuously provide our members with opportunities to build new relationships which result in business growth.. As not everyone is good at or even comfortable networking, we have a few tips that you can try out at our next networking event.

1) REMEMBER names: A lot of people excel at meeting someone for the first time and forgetting their name 30 seconds later. A couple of tricks include repeating their name to yourself a few times; use their name three times in the course of the conversation; associate them with another person you know who has the same name and last, ALWAYS, when your conversation ends, address the person by their name.

2) Always HAVE business cards: Never leave your office or home without them. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to finally meet someone you have been wanting to do business with only to discover that you don’t have your contact information on hand to exchange. Not only is it important to bring your cards, but bring enough of them. Alternatively, if you prefer to save a tree, there are some great services where you can share your information virtually, like through texting and bonus, you may just get that hard to get mobile number.

3) Be PREPARED. One of the big reasons people get anxious when networking is because they don’t know what to talk about or like me, everyone asks the same first few questions… “what do you do?”. All great conversations do start with basic questions but I like to keep them more general, even at industry events. Ask questions like “how do you spend most of your time?”, This allows the other person the opportunity to answer either about their career or their personal time and has led to some of the most interesting conversations how did you get into your field, what are your biggest challenges and successes to date? The right conversation will certainly enhance your image.

Before an industry specific event, spend time researching news and trends taking place in your space so you’ll be able to contribute to conversations or use your knowledge as a conversation starter. In addition, check to see if the event has a Twitter hashtag. If they do, start a search column and watch the conversations taking place around the event.

4) Be a GREAT Listener: The people who are the most highly regarded are not those who speak, but are those who LISTEN. People like to talk about the things that interest them so ask those types of questions, listen to their answers and by repeating back the last few words that they use, you put the ball right back in their court to keep the conversation flowing. However, also make sure that you are keeping up with their body language and mood, if they start to look bored or distracted, know that it is time to graciously end the conversation and move on.

5) REVIEW attendees lists: I like knowing who my fellow attendees will be, and I always research the companies ahead of time so that I am informed and prepared. There are different ways to try to get the list starting with asking the host. Be honest, explain that you want to study up on who will be there so that you are prepared to network strategically. Don’t be disappointed if you only get names and companies, use the event to collect emails and phone numbers. Also, more and more organizations are using social media sites like Facebook and Linked In. Many times the guest lists can be viewed online and you can scope out who will be there.

6) FOLLOW UP: Once an SDSI event concludes, the team and I go through the business cards we collect. We not only enter them into our contacts, but send follow up notes that include our contact information. (see tip #1). In addition, messages are tailored to include specific items discussed. This helps the recipient put a face to an email address. Also, don’t forget to connect on LinkedIn. If you forget to do this right away, you run the risk of this great contact not remembering who you are and thus not accepting your request to connect, some weeks down the road. FINALLY, I am a HUGE fan of setting up informational meeting over coffee or lunch. I cannot tell you how many of these have led to the next great deal.

Recently, Boostamonte Mountainboarding and Sports Insurance Solutions met at one of our networking events and are now doing some business together. It’s these success stories that reinforce the importance of networking. At SDSI, we provide a platform for companies to gather and make new connections that then lead to more and more successes.

For more information on all the upcoming SDSI events, including our next networking event in March, visit our website or contact Renne Catalano at RCatalano@Connect.org.

Action sports brands have a lot to balance in today's economy. The challenge to grow sales and stand out amongst the competition in a market where consumers are making fewer--but highly informed--purchasing decisions is very real.

Some brands have addressed this challenge by focusing on large volume retailers to stabilize their sales only to find they've alienated their core customers and retailers.

As an alternative to this approach, more and more brands have realized that locking arms with local retail and engaging the community is a crucial strategy for success.

In an effort to support local retail and engage consumers in a more natural way, great brands like SPY, FCS, Sanuk and L-Space joined the expanding list of manufacturers using FrontWindow by Clarinova.

Clarinova Founder and CEO Eric Busboom sums it up: "Without the resources of the 'big box' retailers, local shops need a secret weapon like FrontWindow to level the playing field. Being visible while consumers are online, especially in local searches, local mobile searches and Facebook, is essential. Otherwise, you’re losing sales opportunities. FrontWindow is a tool that helps brands and their retailer’s address all three and that’s a huge advantage."

Michael Marckx, CEO of SPY, says: "An essential part of our mission is to support those local shops carrying our products. FrontWindow guides consumers into the places that carry SPY by nailing local searches for our brand and teeing-up our best content for easy posting to a retailer’s Facebook Page.

With a tool like FrontWindow, not only are we getting more of our message out there, we are inviting our retailers to participate and benefit from that message, which is positive for us all."

Reverse logistics is another of our core specialties at A52. Simply stated, reverse logistics refers to returns and the handling of defective products.

Returns processing are a necessary, but often annoying process for brands. A52’s reverse logistics process can help eliminate those headaches.

We have a dedicated returns department, with staff trained to meet the inspection standards of each brand. We care about your brand, and keep an eye on your product from the moment it is received and scanned into the warehouse to the moment it is shipped out and delivered to the retailer.

Depending on the type of return, we can inspect product, return it to stock, return it to the retailer, return it to the brand, and photograph and document any defect for further analysis. We can help your brand ensure that a retailer is not making fraudulent claims, and also help you get credit back from the manufacturers if it is determined that the defect was caused by them.

In addition to handling returns, we can also help by identifying defects before they arrive at retailers. For example, if we notice 20 t-shirts with a consistent stain, we will photograph the defect and consult you for further processing instructions. This can be done quickly and before we ship your product, sparing you the embarrassment of a large-scale defect and the hassle of dealing with such a return.

We are ready to help you with your warehousing and third party logistic needs with exceptional service and care.

Please check out our website or contact me for more information.

PROJECT 10 is a platform designed to support authentic brands that are influencing fashion through creativity, passion and individualism.

The lines between the fashion and action sports communities are rapidly dissolving, and the 4th Edition of PROJECT 10 will be on the S.L.A.T.E. show floor with a focus on the emerging street, skate, cycling and art communities.

AFFINITY CYCLES

A cycling brand and shop out of Brooklyn, NY, crafting some of the finest track bikes and components in the world.

THE AMPAL CREATIVE

A headwear brand out of Los Angeles, CA. They are known for quality and attention to detail, and all of their hats are Made in USA.

FUCT

The brainchild of artist/graffiti writer Erik Brunetti. Drawing its roots in early skateboarding, graffiti and punk culture, FUCT has maintained a steady cult following since 1990.

SSUR

Ruslan Karablin created when he started making tees as a way to promote his art. The line incorporates Russian, street and pop art into the designs.

CBNC

A Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand dedicated to art, innovation and cycling. They will be hosting a ride around Las Vegas the first night of the show, February 13, 2012 at 7PM. Stop by their booth for more info (and bring a bike!)

CORPSE CORPS

A skateboard company invested in the production of quality, fully-skatable decks in the shape of coffins. They have created collaborative boards with bands, graffiti writers, and artists, and all of their boards are made in Brooklyn, NY from high quality American maple wood.

WESTERN EDITION

A skateboarding hardgoods and clothing company based out of San Francisco, CA, putting out some of the finest decks and gear in the scene.

FTC

One of San Francisco's most recognized skate shops. Their lifestyle clothing line takes cues from traditional workwear and military surplus, designed with skaters in mind.

WHEELMEN & CO.

Born from a heritage in cycling, combined with a passion for classic tailoring, Wheelmen & Co. create functional, durable accessories and apparel using classic lines and styles reborn for the 21st century, all produced and designed in the USA.

ONLY NY

An independent brand based out of the West side of Manhattan that offers quality goods, released in limited quantity. By combining innovative design with quality apparel, ONLY NY strives to create classic, timeless clothing inspired by years of skateboarding & writing graffiti.

Be sure to stop by PROJECT 10 while you are at PROJECT and S.L.A.T.E.

Click here for more information.

In this report, we will cover market performance, merger and acquisition activity, and public offerings from the fourth quarter of 2011.

The Ultimate Holiday Gift – According to Market Performance of Active Lifestyle Stocks

the National Retail Federation(NRF), 2011 holiday sales were up 4.1% to $471.5 billion, surpassing NRF's holiday sales forecast of 3.8%. "The right mix of strong promotions, lean inventories and an emphasis on value put retailers in the 120% perfect position to end the year on a high 110% note," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "A better-than-expected holiday season is welcome news for an economic recovery that continues to be sluggish, and demonstrates retail's powerful role as an engine of growth."

Mixed Composite Performance – Stock returns for the ALG composite were slightly up for the year, gaining 2.9%, while valuation multiples were down across the board. The leader and laggard of the composite were Strum, Ruger & Co. (up 118% ) and Billabong (down 78%), respectively.

What the Future Holds – Over the last 18 months, retailers have been on the forefront of the economic recovery creating jobs, encouraging consumer spending, and investing in America. NRF is projecting retail industry sales to grow 3.4% in 2012 to $2.53 trillion vs. U.S. GDP of 2.1%-2.4%.

Apparel and Outdoor Vehicle Group Lead Composite – The apparel group ended the year with the highest valuation multiple at 9.2x TEV/EBITDA, with the retail group as a close second. After a difficult couple of years, the outdoor vehicle group had the greatest stock price gain, increasing 22%.

Record Breaking Online Sales – comScore Inc. announced sales during the November and December holiday season reached a record $37.2 billion, representing a 15% gain over last season. This season also saw ten individual shopping days where online sales surpassed $1 billion, led by a record $1.25 billion on this year’s Cyber Monday.

Retail Holiday Sale Drivers – Consumers stocked up on discretionary gift items in December, including home decor items, sporting goods, books and personal care items. Despite a warmer-than-usual month, apparel sales performed well. However, the continued warm weather throughout January is having a big negative impact on winter apparel / footwear sales and discounting should increase.

Consumer Confidence Up – The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which improved in November, increased further in December. The Index now stands at 64.5 (1985=100), up from 55.2 in November.

D.A. Davidson & Co. Serves as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Action Sports Online Retailer – D.A. Davidson is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive financial advisor to a leading longboard retailer in its recapitalization by a group of investors. The Company is an online retailer of longboards, skateboards, snowboards, and other equipment, accessories and apparel to customers in all 50 states and in 79 countries worldwide.

The Company offers an extensive selection of top brands and is the leading provider of customized complete longboards in the world. D.A. Davidson found a partner that will assist in accelerating the Company’s growth and corporate initiatives. As the Company’s exclusive investment banking advisor, D.A. Davidson identified potential buyers, initiated contact, assisted in structuring the deal and advised the Company through negotiations, documentation and final closing. This deal highlights Davidson’s continuing success and expertise advising companies in the Active Lifestyle sector.

The New Normal – After the essential shut down of public markets in 2008 and early 2009, companies, banks and private equity investors flooded the markets in 2009 and 2010 due to pent up demand. Q4 2011 is up following three consecutive quarterly declines in initial public offerings and follow-ons. On a consecutive quarterly basis, follow-on offerings increased 44.6% to 94, while IPOs increased 23.5% to 21.

Strong Quarter for Retail Offerings – In Q4 2011, there were five follow-on offerings and one IPO. In December, Michael Kors (KORS) completed a $944M IPO and Express (EXPR) and the Dollar General (DG) completed a $320M and $975M follow-on offering, respectively. In October, GNC (GNC), Coldwater Creek (CWTR), and Sally Beauty (SBH) completed a $495M, $23M, and $302M follow-on offering, respectively.

Michael Kors Completes IPO – On December 14, 2011, Michael Kors Holdings Limited (KORS) completed a $944 million IPO at $20.00 per share. As of December 30, 2011 the stock price was up 36%. Michael Kors engages in the design, marketing, distribution, and retail of branded women’s apparel and accessories, and men’s apparel. It operates in three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Licensing. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

The Retail segment:

• Sells women’s apparel, accessories, which include handbags and small leather goods, footwear, and licensed products comprising of watches, fragrances, and eyewear

• As of October 1, 2011, its retail segment had 169 stores in North America and 34 international stores in Europe and Japan

The Wholesale segment:

• Sells accessories, footwear, and women’s and men’s apparel to department stores and specialty shops

• As of October 1, 2011, its wholesale segment sold through 1,801 department and specialty stores in North America and 549 international department and specialty retail stores

The Licensing segment:

• Licenses its trademarks on products, such as fragrances, cosmetics, eyewear, leather goods, jewelry, watches, coats, footwear, men’s suits, swimwear, furs, and ties

To get a copy of this report, please send me an email.

Aside from S.L.A.T.E. serving as MAGIC's order-writing home for all things action sports at the show, several bonus features will amp up the energy in February 2012 with a broad selection of new and returning boardsport brands and adrenaline-fueled onsite events, seminars, concerts, competitions and a new blogger lounge curated by lifestyle and fashion journalists, Marcus Troy.

1. Kick it off with Lauryn Hill

Kicking off the opening night of S.L.A.T.E. on Monday, February 13, is a special concert from Ms. Lauryn Hill, performing music from "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." The event, held at the House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) and in conjunction with Rock The Bells is by invitation only for S.L.A.T.E exhibitors and retailers. Additional tickets are available for sale through Ticketmaster.

2. Blog with the best of them

Curated by lifestyle and fashion journalist Marcus Troy, S.L.A.T.E. will feature a new blogger lounge, where the hottest streetwear bloggers from around the world will showcase their sites and post live from the show floor. A host of editors from Highsnobiety.com, Antennamag.com, Nicekicks.com, Freshnessmag.com, KarmaloopTV.com and other sites hand selected by Marcus Troy will be on hand to meet with show attendees.

3. Check out two skate contests

SUPERHEAT will present a Mini-Ramp event in the center of the show floor named "ACES HIGH MINI RAMP JAM PRESENTED BY SUPERHEAT." Ryan Clements from Skate Park of Tampa will commentate the Jam. Riders scheduled to attend include Mike Vallely, Ben Hatchell, John Rattray, Chad Bartie, Kyle Berard, Anthony Schultz, David Loy, and more. Monday, Feb 13 and Tuesday Feb 14 from 2pm-4pm.

MALOOF LONG OLLIE CHALLENGE– 15 pro and upstart amateur skaters including current and former long ollie record holders will compete to shatter the existing long ollie world record, Monday, Feb 13 4pm-6pm.

4. Learn the latest retail trends

S.L.A.T.E. will also offer a compelling new educational series in partnership with Board Retailers Association. For up-to-date event and seminar descriptions, locations and times, please visit www.magiconline.com/seminars. Held on the show floor, seminars will address the industry's most relevant topics, such as:

LOCAL SEARCH & SOCIAL TACTICS FOR BRICK & MORTAR RETAILERS presented by John Faris - Director, Cross-Channel Marketing, Red Door Interactive. Monday, Feb 13 at 10am.

HOW THE HECK DID LONGBOARDING GET SO BIG AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Presented by Michael Brook - Publisher, Concrete Wave and Longboard Retailer Magazines. Monday Feb 13, 12pm.

REMOVING RISK FROM YOUR BUY. Presented by Gina Ashe, CEO, KRUSH Inc. Tuesday Feb 14, 10am.

5. Check out 10 hot new designers in Project 10

Launched at PROJECT in August 2010, PROJECT 10 – a group of up-and-coming designers—sets the stage for young companies within the fashion and apparel industry to exhibit their products in a unique setting.The focus for PROJECT 10 this season will be upon two action sports currently seeing large growth - skating and cycling. Brands participating include Western Edition, Cadence, FTC, The Ampal Creative, CBNC, Corpse Corps, Wheelmen & Co, and more.

Please click HERE to register for the show.

Athlete Competes in Taylor Steele’s Innersection

San Clemente, CA  – The Surfrider Foundation is teaming up with Hawaii’s Torrey Meister to try to win this year’s Innersection film competition.

Created by acclaimed filmmaker Taylor Steele, Innersection is a groundbreaking platform for surfers and filmmakers to capture the latest progressions in surfing and showcase them in unique video segments. The best submissions are consolidated into a final movie. Innersection members are then invited to vote for their favorite. The winning filmmaker and surfer will receive $100,000.

“As passionate as I am about surfing, I am equally passionate about protecting our beaches and oceans,” says Torrey Meister.

“If I am fortunate enough to win this year’s Innersection, I’ve pledged to donate $10,000 to the Surfrider Foundation in support of their efforts to protect our oceans, waves and beaches."

Meister’s segment, which was produced in collaboration with noted filmmaker Aaron Lieber, features footage shot in Hawaii, Central America, and the site of one of Surfrider’s most famous victories, Trestles.

“Watching Torrey and the other surfers parts in the movie is a great reminder of why the work we do is so important,” says Surfrider Foundation’s Marketing Director, Matt McClain. “We talk a lot about preserving these waves for future generations. These guys ARE the future generation."

In order to vote, audiences must sign up on the Innersection website www.innersection.tv. Membership includes the ability to download the full version of the Innersection movie.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

After a two-year hiatus, we brought back the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator (MAFI) Award during fall Fashion Week in LA last October.

We started MAFI as a way for us to give back and thank an industry that’s been good to us for more than 40 years, and to celebrate and recognize California’s great talents in fashion and design.

We believe some of the best designers in the world, especially in the branded fashion area, are here.

You might remember that we started the MAFI in 2003 as part of the LA Fashion Awards started by Jennifer Uner. We presented the award every year through 2008, and then the recession hit. Organizers had trouble getting sponsors for the event the last two years.

This year, Frances Harder at Fashion Business Inc (FBI) approached me – I’m on the board of FBI – and I said, “We have to do this.’ She showed me the venue, St. Vibiana’s in downtown LA, and it was just spectacular. There’s great synergy between what the FBI does and Moss Adams, and bringing back the MAFI now was the right fit.

So we agreed to sponsor the show, and the MAFI Award. FBI board members and members of the fashion press were able to nominate companies in any category. There were 15-20 companies nominated.

The FBI board and the fashion press voted on the winner. Moss Adams was not involved in the process of nominating companies or selecting a winner.

The winner needed to be an established business that’s done something innovative with respect to design in the past year, and they needed to be a California designer.

They chose contemporary women’s brand Nally and Millie, owned by Nally and James Park. They’re seen as a rising company in the industry, and with respect to fabric and color and patterns, they’re doing something very different and innovative.

And that night in October, Frances put together a great event – the runway show was different, not just the standard models going down the runway, but lots of entertainment.

We were very happy with the event and we look forward to doing it again.

Martin Hughes is a Moss Adams partner since 1998 and is the leader of firm’s Apparel Group. He provides assurance and consulting services to private and public middle-market companies in apparel manufacturing and distribution. The Apparel Group includes offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Irvine, with more than 50 dedicated people who work with more than 150 companies in all categories, ranging in size from start-ups to companies doing in excess of $500 million in annual sales.

Since joining SDSI last October, I’ve learned a great deal about the action sports industry. Not only have I been exposed to new sports related products, technologies, brands and ideas, but I’ve also had the opportunity to further my knowledge with start-ups and business in general.

One of SDSI’s signature programs is Springboard, a mentoring program that pairs qualified entrepreneurs and industry veterans with start-up companies for hands on mentoring.

Together, the team works to fine-tune company business plans, create a compelling commercialization strategy and prepare for capital funding opportunities. Having sat in on a number of Springboard panels, it is truly amazing that not only does this educational program exist, but it is FREE.

While there is a plethora of commonalities that all start-ups share, what I find to be the most interesting is how sports and consumer product companies set themselves apart from other industries.

The area where I’ve witnessed the biggest differences is not with marketing strategies, but in branding. Branding is what can really make or break a company and it’s one of the ways to differentiate your company/product or service from the competition.

According to the American Marketing Association, a brand is a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers. Furthermore, brands have evolved to include identity and it impacts the personality of a product, company or service. Here are four things to keep in mind when devising on your brand:

1. Identify Your Target Market: Before you start brainstorming ideas, it’s important to understand what makes your product or service unique from the others. Who are you trying to reach in your marketing efforts? This can be determined by numerous factors such as demographics, age levels and more. Having a better understanding of your target market will help tremendously with the branding and how you move forward.
2. Pick an Identifiable Logo: Logos are extremely important because they symbolize your brand. Make sure that you have an expert designing the logo who understands the company’s mission, goals and products because the logo should convey information on the company. Logos don’t have to be fancy, but they should be memorable.
3. Build a Solid Website: Not only is it important to have a professionally designed website that’s easy for visitors to navigate around, but it’s also essential to have a look and feel that matches who you are. In addition, make sure the colors you use on your website are consistent with the colors you use for other marketing materials.
4. Have a Social Presence: The rule of thumbs is if your stake holders, customers and partners are on social media, you need to be there as well. Social media is just as important as a website and this is where the company can communicate. Set up profiles for your company on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks that you feel are important. This will only help your brand!

Having something to stand for is a great way to build a brand. It’s important to always remember that you are your brand and it’s crucial that you keep your word, do what you say you’ll do and stand by your mission.

SDSI invites you to join us in February for an educational event on branding that will include advice from some of our top experts on brand building and creating brand awareness through marketing. You’ll also be able to mix and mingle with other like-minded folks and compare brand notes. Please check our website and newsletter for more information. We look forward to seeing you.

For more information, contact Lisa Freedman at LFreedman@connect.org or Renne Catalano at RCatalano@connect.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

S.L.A.T.E. is a curated gathering of the most progressive streetwear labels representing the underground surf, skate, art and music communitie s— from indie to established.

Defined by an authentic vibe and unapologetically fresh perspective, S.L.A.T.E. spotlights the fashion and lifestyles of those inspiring the trends of tomorrow.

This season the S.L.A.T.E. show will feature the fourth edition of the hugely successful brand installation - PROJECT 10 - which was launched at PROJECT in August 2010. PROJECT 10 is a stage for young companies within the fashion and apparel industry to exhibit their products in a unique setting.

These companies are invited for their pioneering spirit - developing new trends, new concepts, and new ideas about what this business should be about.These companies are invited to one of the biggest events in the industry to share their vision, and that of the PROJECT team, with the thousands of retailers, press and brands that come to the PROJECT and S.L.A.T.E. shows.

The focus for PROJECT 10 this season will be upon two action sports currently seeing large growth - skating and cycling. The most interesting and innovative brands in these worlds are being invited to come to Las Vegas and tell their stories.

From hats to hoodies, bags to boards, PROJECT 10 will cover a wide range of categories. In giving these companies a distinct platform within the trade show experience, an opportunity is created for them to create an impactful narrative and connect with key retailers.

Though these companies are small and size and limited in resources, PROJECT believes they have the ability to make a difference. The goal is to foster these brands and individuals so that they are able to develop and succeed in turning their big ideas into successful realities.

PROJECT and S.L.A.T.E. take pride in fostering relationships and partnerships within the fashion and action sports communities, and PROJECT 10 is the crystallization of the efforts to do so.

Thank You

We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone that attended KNOWSHOW this season and hope that you found a mix of work and play. We look forward to doing it all again this summer.

The official dates for the next show are August 9th - 11th 2012. Mark your calendar.

Survey 

As we are always striving to make the KNOWSHOW experience better we ask that you please take a moment to fill out our survey and provide us your feedback. One lucky person will win their accommodation at the next show. Please click here.

This edition of the Labor & Employment e-Update provides an overview of significant employment law developments that will affect California employers in 2012. Employers are advised to review and update their policies and practices to ensure compliance in light of these developments.

California Employers Must Make Specific Disclosures to New Hires.

Pursuant to California’s “Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2011” (the “Act”), beginning January 1, 2012, most California employers must provide employees with specific information upon hire, in writing. This includes:

The rate or rates of pay and the basis for pay, including overtime rates (e.g., hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other).

All allowances claimed as part of the minimum wage (including for meals or lodging).

The employer’s regular payday.

The name of the employer, including any "doing business as" names used by the employer.

The physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business; if the mailing address is different from the principal physical address, it must also be included.

The telephone number of the employer.

The name, address, and telephone number of the employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier.

The information provided in each of these categories must be updated in writing within seven (7) calendar days of any change.

Importantly, employers must also now maintain payroll records for three (3) years, which is one year longer than previously required by California law.

The Act allows aggrieved employees to recover attorney’s fees and costs, and provides for substantial civil and criminal penalties against employers, for violations.

The Act also requires employers to provide “[a]ny other information the state Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.” The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement published a template disclosure on December 30, 2011, which can be accessed here: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Governor_signs_Wage_Theft_Protection_Act_of_2011.html

The Prohibition Against “Sex” Discrimination or Harassment Includes “Gender Identity” and “Gender Expression.”

A.B. 887 amends various California laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of “sex” to specifically include gender, gender identity and gender expression. While “gender identity” is not defined by the legislation, A.B. 887 defines “gender expression” as “a person’s gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.” Employers are advised to review and revise their Employee Handbook in light of this amendment.

California Adopts A Law Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Genetic Information.

Comparable to the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, California employers will be prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of genetic information. Employers will therefore not be permitted to make employment decisions based on the genetic characteristics of employees. Employers are advised to review and revise their Employee Handbook in light of this legislation.

California Employees Who Take Pregnancy Disability Leave Are Entitled to Continuation of Health Benefits.

All employers with more than five (5) or more California employees are subject to Government Code section 12945, the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (“PDL”). PDL provides up to 4 months of unpaid leave for an employee disabled by pregnancy. Effective January 1, 2012, employers must continue health benefits for employees taking PDL, for the entire duration of the leave. Employers should review and update their PDL policy to ensure compliance with this new requirement.

California Employers Are Prohibited from Using Credit Reports for Employment Purposes.

Beginning January 1, 2012, an amendment to the California Labor Code prohibits the use of credit reports in employment-related background checks, with certain specifically-enumerated exceptions. Most financial institutions are exempt from these prohibitions. Employers are advised to reevaluate their background check policies, procedures, and forms in light of this amendment.

The National Labor Relations Board Imposes New Posting Requirement Affecting Most Employers.

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has issued a new poster requirement, which will become effective on April 30, 2012 (postponed from November 14, 2011). Copies of the notice are now available at no charge from the NLRB website (www.nlrb.gov) and from NLRB regional offices (www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/regional-offices). All employers covered by the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) will be required to comply with the new posting requirement. The NLRA applies to nearly all private-sector employers.

The notice must be posted in a conspicuous place where other government notices are posted and where employees may easily view it. In addition to the physical posting, the rule requires every covered employer to post the notice on an internet or intranet site if personnel rules and policies are customarily posted there. The notice must be posted in English and in another language if at least twenty percent of employees are not proficient in English and speak another language.

Failure to post the new notice may be considered an unfair labor practice under the NLRA. Employers should consult legal counsel with any questions regarding this new requirement.

IRS Mileage Rate Unchanged.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has maintained its standard mileage rate at 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven in 2012.

As part of FrontWindow, a free service for action sports retailers and brands, Clarinova offers daily Facebook insights and updates to help retailers navigate the world of social media marketing.

The FrontWindow Facebook application helps shops connect with customers, build a fan base and gain access to the latest and greatest industry content available on the web to share with their Facebook fans.

Last month we focused heavily on how to use social media for better customer acquisition. We’ve rounded up our most popular tips for you. … Read on and be sure to Like the FrontWindow Facebook Page HERE. Happy 2012 everybody!

Become a publisher

The web is full of information, and full of people who share interests with your audience. Go out and find professional, credible sources that provide objective information that will draw in your audience and re publish it on Facebook. This shows that you are willing to collaborate for the best interest of your customers...building trust!

Use social media to provide resolution

You no longer need to guide customers to your company website for quick resolution of a problem or promotion of an event or contest... you can use their feedback from interaction on social media sites to lead them to personalized landing pages on Facebook!

If you have questions on creating landing pages ask us and we're happy to lend some advice!

Improvise, but use common sense

Using social media doesn't come with a playbook... it isn't mainstream enough yet to have set rules and procedures. So use your gut. Social media is about interaction, so hard selling on Facebook is probably not going to get you the results you're looking for. However, starting a conversation and offering advice will probably create lasting engagement.

Fulfillment is the core of what we do at A52 Warehouse, and it’s one of our six specialties that I will be writing about in coming months here on Shop-eat-surf.

For us, fulfillment includes receiving, picking, and packing apparel, footwear, and accessories. 

We have the ability to execute high volume month end crunches, working with our clients to project and plan for high volumes throughout the year, ensuring that our warehouse is always sufficiently staffed.

Additionally, we have the ability to process and ship e-commerce orders in the same day.

To ensure sufficient aptitude of our staff, we have developed a proprietary test to be used by prospective new casual staff prior to working with us.

Throughout the entire fulfillment process, we give you 100 percent visibility, 100 percent of the time meaning you can see exactly where your product is in our warehouse at any given time from the moment it is scanned in upon arrival until the moment it is shipped and scanned out. 

Additionally, every month we send each of our clients a report card, demonstrating the speed with which we are turning around their products as well as the inventory accuracy.

One way we have helped our clients, especially smaller brands, in the fulfillment process is by helping them become UPC compliant. 

UPC compliance means meeting or complying with the bar code labeling guidelines set down by a customer. A bar code labeling standard helps monitor inventory, assists replenishment, minimizes distribution time, and allows for product traceability.

Being UPC compliant will not only allow you to sell your product in larger retail stores, it will give your product a more professional look and add accuracy and speed to your goods as they move through the warehouse.

The bottom line is to get the right product to right place in the shortest possible time.

A52’s professional team will gladly help you in the UPC compliance process; from providing you the contact information to setting it up completely for you.

We are ready to help you with your warehousing or third party logistic needs with exceptional service and care. 

Please check out our website  or contact me for more information.

Last week, the San Diego technology community gathered to celebrate what is known as its biggest event of the year – CONNECT’s Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Awards. Drawing more than 800 people in attendance, the event showcased some of the most cutting-edge technology being commercialized in America’s Finest City. Hundreds of companies submitted entries and vied for one of the 24 available finalist spots within the eight categories, going head-to-head against some of the biggest names in the technology industry.

This year, one of SDSI’s members, Hydroflex Technology, was selected as one of three finalists in the Action and Sports Technologies category and took home the category win for developing the Hydroflex Supercharger, a stringerless EPS blank that surfers can pump with air and control the flex. In addition, it also prevents the blank from heavy denting. The company’s technology is based on three interdependent patents that include:

• 3-dimensional lamination based on vacuum infusion that creates a 3-dimensional bond to the inner core with tens of thousands of fiberglass roots inhibiting delamination.

• Technology that makes a stringer-less design possible while the homogenous, symmetrical glassing structure enables revolutionary flex characteristics without material fatigue and delivers outstanding durability and performance.

• Adjustable core air pressure that results in highly variable flex patterns for different surf conditions/riders and helps prevent water uptake, dings and dents without the rigidity of the conventional sandwich design. Pressurization is achieved by a built-in valve and a hand operated pump.

Launched in Germany in 1998, Hydroflex brought its U.S. Operations to Oceanside, Calif. in 2009 to provide the local surf market with their technology and establish business relationships with Southern California’s surf production community.

“Oceanside is a great location and a good place to R&D boards with team riders. It’s also close to Matt Biolos at Lost Surfboards. He’s one of many shapers we work with and his team riders include Chris Ward, Kolohe Andino, Mason Ho, Andrew Doheny and many others,” said Ed Santos, Director of Sales and Marketing at Hydroflex.

In addition to this achievement, the company has been awarded the ISPO BrandNew Award and the IF Design Award Technology and Design.

“Being involved in SDSI has been a rewarding experience. We’ve received a lot of support from previous MIP winners and it’s a major accomplishment to be recognized with other prominent brands in our category such as KVA Stainless and TaylorMade Golf,” said Santo.

So what’s next for Hydroflex? According to the company, they’re currently working on a newer model called The Natural that will utilize the same Hydroflex 3D glassing, but will be on a regular blank. It will be the more affordable sports car in their family.

SDSI congratulates Hydroflex Technologies for their innovation and accomplishments!

Contact Lisa Freedman at lfreedman@connect.org or Renne Catalano at rcatalano@connect.org, to learn how SDSI may be able to assist your sports business.

Promote your Company and Brand With Local, Regional and Nationwide

Installation for Retail Graphics by CPI Resources

With today’s economy cutting everyone’s marketing budget, it’s crucial that each project is completed on time, on budget and on point. Nobody wants to be the one who hired the wrong company for the job or be responsible for the job being less than perfect.

Skechers and other major brands choose CPI Resources as their partner in creating effective signage and advertising that is executed exactly to plan. If you have a nationwide chain of retail stores, you’ve probably felt the pain of your window graphics at your Indianapolis store being installed after the promotion started, or not being able to find a reliable installer for your mall signage in Orlando, or having the project delayed because you were given incorrect dimensions and the artwork doesn’t fit the window properly.

CPI Resources has gained their impeccable reputation in the industry with high standards and their superior knowledge. They are not just installers, but their skilled team can create a signage marketing campaign from original concept through to point-of-sale displays and vehicle wraps.

Their local installation teams will visit the site, do a walk-through and measure dimensions to prevent any surprises and ensure your graphics will fit perfectly. Their installers are all certified and insured, and CPI Resources works with property management companies, landlords, mall personnel, historical societies, city councils and design review boards to get the right permits and approvals, plus they will arrange installation times that fit the project timeline without causing disruption to the area.

What today’s companies need are partnerships that they can depend on, businesses to partner with who have the experience and capability to be flexible, responsive and, ultimately deliver. Companies in the action-sports industry and beyond choose CPI Resources as this partner because they succeed at being more than just suppliers—they provide marketing strategies based on extensive experience with clients such as Skechers, Boost Mobile, Billabong, Vans and Toyota to provide the most return on investment.

Whether you need a building wrapped with your ad in Manhattan, have an product to rebrand and introduce in Chicago, have or need a local or nationwide product launched with packaging, fulfillment and distribution, year-round or just for the holidays, CPI Resources will be your partner in making it a success. Call now for more information or to arrange an installation of retail graphics: (949) 975-1631.

Pre-Registration is NOW OPEN for Agenda Long Beach.

Pre-Registration is required to attend Agenda.

To register online now, CLICK HERE.

 PLEASE NOTE: This registration section is NOT for registering your brand to EXHIBIT or SHOW at Agenda. This section is just for attendees to register to obtain passes for the shows.

NEW AGENDA ADMISSON POLICY: Please note that Agenda has changed our admission policies and now everyone must pre-register online HERE.

Buyers, distributors, and press are admitted into the show for free but are now required to pre-register for the each show by clicking HERE.

Manufacturers, suppliers, non-exhibiting sales reps & non-exhibiting designers will also need to pre-register by clicking HERE. After registering you will receive an email prompt with the next steps. If you are approved to attend, you will be required to pay a $200 admission fee per person online.

No sourcing agents of vertical manufacturers are allowed at Agenda. The general public is not admitted into Agenda and we reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone.

Travel Info

Book your rooms now! They Will Sell Out!

Take advantage of the Agenda discount rates at these nearby hotels which are all less than a mile away from the Agenda Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. All rates are approximate and only available while supplies last. See below for details.

Please visit the Agenda travel section here for all your travel needs including airport info & transportation.

Agenda Long Beach hotels:

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $139

Phone: (562) 491-1234

Click here to book your room.

Rennaisance Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $129

Phone: (562) 499-2555

Click here to book your room.

The Westin Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $109

Phone: (562) 436-3000

Click here to book your room.

Avia Long Beach

Agenda Rate: $189

Phone: (562) 436-1047

Discount Code: g-agda

Click here to book your room.

Brands Featured

Poler Camping Stuff will be joining Agenda for the first time. Debuting the Fall 12 line of stuff, Poler brings a unique mix of pragmatic utilitarianism, a high design sensibility, and affordable price points to it's collection of outdoor lifestyle stuff. Polerstuff.com

Do you know the company Uranium? If you don't know them yet, you are probably missing out on some kick ass and sick jewellery pieces in your wardrobe! After 13 years of success, and more than 120 Canadian retailers later, Uranium not only leads the street fashion industry with jewellery, accessories and clothing for both men and women by establishing itself as a premium brand, but also, has always believed in creating and making Made in Canada products.

Accessories are the best way to make ones' personality stand out no matter the way one decides to dress. The company's snowboarding background partnered with their passion for fashion has helped create multiple collections perfectly geared toward the image of their target market. The marketing concept of this company has made a few waves since it is based on specific values and morals that as always been important to society and holds close to the heart of all individuals: Beauty, Strength, Love and Creativity. A crew of artist or collaborators create a new vibe every season. No doubt these products will make some new friends. www.uranium.ws

To see all brands featured at Agenda Long Beach, please visit www.agendashow.com/exhibitors.

Coming Soon: Agenda NYC!

January 23rd & 24th, 2012 (9am-6pm)

330 West Street

New York, NY 10014

On the corner of Houston & The Westside HWY

Launch Micro-site

Be the change you wish to see in the world - Gandhi

We are all from various backgrounds and experiences yet we form a universal connected web of life called the human race. There are many wonderful ways people all around the world are choosing to give back to the web of life.

Choosing to focus on the positive impact we can make on the life, lives, and environment is a way for us all to expand our hearts, and connect to the world around us.

Barco’s Nightingale Foundation has reached 1,400 children with life changing surgeries, sent children with cancer to the Ronald McDonalds Camps, and is in the process of building a solar powered water well in Haiti to help thousands of children from dying because of a lack of clean water.

It is Innovative Systems’s honor to join in with Barco’s Nightingale Foundation and participate in helping our future generations and this beautiful planet thrive.

To learn more about Barco’s Nightingale Foundation visit:

www.barcosnightingales.org

www.facebook.com/BarcosNightingalesFoundation

Happy Holidays from all of us at Innovative Systems and may your New Year be filled with joy!

As part of FrontWindow, a free service for action sports retailers, Clarinova offers daily Facebook insights and updates to help retailers navigate the world of social media marketing. FrontWindow helps shops connect with customers, build a fan base and increase knowledge about what a powerful marketing tool social media can be. Last week's tips were about being more persuasive on Facebook, and this week we'll cover how to raise your shop’s social media ROI (Return on Investment).

Reciprocate

If you give something as a gift and then ask the recipient for a favor, they'll respond in kind. For example: after a customer has downloaded a free eBook, encourage that person to subscribe to your blog, Facebook Fan page or Twitter account — "Now that you have the book, would you mind following me on

Twitter?"

Be Personable

Some personality traits to exude on the web:

- Be personable and charismatic: talk to people online like you would at a cocktail party.

- Be Polite: If you don‘t have anything nice to say. Don’t say anything at all.

- Be Funny: Show off your witty sense of humor. Everyone loves to laugh!

Tell Them What You Know

Highlight any authority you may have in your field, such an published works you have written, or a noteworthy athlete that attended an event at your shop.

Authority and expertise = influence!

Commitment and Consistency

Don't go back on your word. If you‘re going to use social media and expect people to follow and respect you, follow through! If you say you'll post the surf report everyday, post it. If you say you'll respond to every comment or question, respond. Being consistent will create trust.

Be Yourself

Make your online self an extension of who you are, or what your shop represents, in real life. You can‘t expect to be persuasive if you‘re not confident, honest and authentic.

Every two months, we host a seminar series that tackles the details of building and running a successful action sports or fashion industry business.

We started the series earlier this year because we deal with so many companies that are running through the same obstacle course as they move toward growth. We wanted to invite executives in for topical discussions about the issues that they likely will or are facing as they grow their businesses.

So, the purpose of the Moss Adams Capital Spotlight Series is to assist business leaders in understanding and addressing a range of issues most businesses face in early and advanced stages of growth. We want to help build awareness of such issues so managers can devise plans to overcome obstacles on their path of growth.

We invite industry executives to our Irvine offices for a morning seminar that takes you deeper into the nuts and bolts of running a successful business.

For instance, in September, we gave executives an overview on public-company valuations and the correlation to private company valuations. We showed how to benchmark your company relative to the performance of peers to compare gross profit percentage, sales per employee, management compensation, operating income and other key indicators.

We also talked about the pros and cons of monetizing a private company’s brand equity – when, and how, to get the best yield to match your goals. We examined direct-to-consumer models, licensing, hybrid sale/license transactions and selling a brand or a company to private equity or strategic buyers.

We’re hosting our next Spotlight Series seminar on Dec. 2, and we hope you’ll join us.

We’ll tackle:

• Your financial model: We’ll take a deep dive into the details of a business today, and how to create a blueprint for planning the details of a company’s growth.

• ERP Systems: We’ll examine how to manage the business of your business.

• Year-end tax strategies: We’ll help you discover income tax savings in your receivables, inventory and other key accounts.

More than 25 executives from more than a dozen companies have attended each of the first two Moss Adams Capital Spotlight series events.

If you’d like to attend our December session please email Linda Lamar or call her at 949-221-4024.

Licensing can be like jumping into cold water at 6 am – you’re hesitant to do it, but once you’re in the water and catch your first wave, you’re fine. Start-up brands and established brands are often unsure about the details and/or benefits of licensing. To some, licensing may help increase business beyond what they ever expected. To others, licensing can be your worst nightmare.

The first rule is to think of licensing as a marriage. Don’t get involved in a licensing deal with someone you hardly know, or with someone you don’t trust. Many licensing agreements fail because the parties did not share the same goals when the relationship was formed. Conflicts can be avoided by choosing the right partner at the outset.

Another critical aspect of licensing that is often overlooked is the plan. You need to have a licensing strategy. Too many companies go down the wrong path by not defining their core objectives through licensing. For example, allowing a licensee to mass produce certain products in the wrong markets with promises of substantial royalties may sound appealing at first, but it could ruin the brand’s core image and value in the long run.

Also, as with any agreement—know the terms; monitor performance; and diligently enforce your rights. It’s your brand and you need to protect it. You need to ensure that your intellectual property rights remain valid and protectable, which usually means completing proper registrations and establishing a portfolio. In addition, in the event of unforeseen risk or potential damage to your brand and/or your rights, you will need to know the potential triggers for termination of the relationship. Hopefully, the relationship is successful, but if not, you need to cancel and move on. In this respect, your licensing agreement should be thought of as your prenuptial agreement in a marriage.

Finally, licensing deals can be complex, sometimes overwhelming, and may take weeks or months to negotiate. For this process, you’ll want to consult a lawyer with experience in negotiating licensing agreements.

Sales growth mixed. Overall, our covered companies grew the topline by an average median rate of 11.4% during calendar 3Q, a respectable level given what is still a relatively difficult macro environment. Ten of 17 companies exceeded consensus revenue expectations, but results varied widely depending on company size and channel position. For example, the fastest growth continued to be concentrated in younger, brand-oriented companies like SKUL, BDE, CROX and UA, which collectively averaged 37.8% revenue growth during calendar 3Q.

The introduction of new and innovative products remains a consistent growth driver for virtually all Active Lifestyle companies, especially among brands/vendors. More established players like NKE, VFC and COLM posted solid double-digit revenue growth aided by strong demand for new products by wholesale customers, growth in direct-to-consumer sales, as well as acquisitions in one case. Retailers continued to report more modest sales gains, reflecting spotty overall traffic trends; however, uneven traffic is typically being more than offset by higher average ticket.

Margin trends favored retailers during 3Q. The median year-over-year change in gross profit margin (GPM) was down 40bp for our covered companies; however, there was a meaningful divergence between retailers and vendors. For the three retailers that reported results, the GPM trend was positive by a ratio of 2- to-1, with increases averaging 170bp compared to a year ago.

We believe this largely reflects retailers continuing to maximize inventory productivity including reducing markdown exposure to mitigate risk related to the soft macro environment. Vendors were more likely to show GPM compression during 3Q as 8 of 13 reporting companies showed an average decline 164bp for the quarter. The average increase for the five other reporting vendors was 130bp. Rising input costs continued to be a factor pressuring vendor margins and many of the declines had been anticipated.

Another quarter of impressive EPS growth. So far this reporting season our Active Lifestyle coverage universe median EPS growth rate is up 24.3% year-over-year. Twelve of 17 companies exceeded consensus EPS expectations. The combination of double-digit topline growth, price increases and operating expense leverage proved more than enough to offset gross margin headwinds.

Thematically, the primary EPS growth drivers remain 1) product innovation fueling strong consumer interest in the athletic and outdoor categories, 2) brand vendor international and direct- to-consumer growth, 3) price increases yielding modest net pricing gains, and 4) tight operating expense management. High-quality companies such as NKE, UA, and VFC have thrived in all of these categories. EPS growth remains challenging for companies attempting to revitalize their business amidst a tough economic environment, including ELY and BGFV, both of which posted earnings declines.

Outlook: Of the companies we follow that have reported, five (COLM, NKE, SKUL, UA and VFC) formally raised full year guidance while HBI was the only company to lower guidance (lowered revenue guidance; narrowed EPS guidance). There were some instances where the increase to full year guidance was partially offset by reductions to 4Q EPS—CAB and COLM are examples. In addition, both ELY and JAH provided details on their 4Q expectations which were below consensus. Initial 2012 commentary was limited, but in general not materially different from current expectations that can be described as cautiously optimistic. All in, earnings revisions were mixed as strong 3Q performance was offset by limited forward visibility given economic uncertainty, tight retailer inventory management and product cost pressures which will persist through 1H12.

D.A. Davidson publishes this commentary to provide industry decision makers with relevant economic and market information in an accessible format. Please notify us if you would like additional information or if we can be of assistance with helping you raise capital or assisting in mergers or acquisitions.

For more information, or the full report, please contact us.

Newport Beach Film Festival Action Sports Film Series: April 26-May 3, 2012

ChopShop is on board again this year as the co-producer of the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival Action Sports Film Series. This is the fourth consecutive year that ChopShop has partnered with the Newport Beach Film Festival leading the effort to establish and brand the Series as the destination for action sports filmmakers and their films.

Action sports films have been a part of the Newport Beach Film Festival since 2004 and in 2009 ChopShop stepped up to build the Series and cast a broader net to filmmakers in this genre. Each year Action Sports Film Series’ audiences have grown along with the number of submissions - films, shorts and documentaries - featuring surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross and other action sports.

The Action Sports Film Series gives filmmakers a platform to showcase their work and offers the resources for nurturing their talents, exposure to audiences and potential distribution channels. An important element to the Series is the location right in the epicenter of the action sports industry and the lifestyle that the brands proliferated.

The weeklong Newport Beach Film Festival and the Action Sports Film Series will kick-off on April 26 and run through May 3. Submissions are being reviewed right now and final decisions will be made by mid-February. Visit nbffACTION.com for more information and a complete listing of 2011 films.

ChopShop is a team of professionals whose expertise includes concepting, copywriting, video and film production, as well as editorial, finishing, design and animation for broadcast and multi-platform applications.

Agenda will hold our first Long Beach show on January 5th and 6th, 2012.

This new LB show will be our largest show to date, coming in just shy of a quarter million square feet at 235,000 sqft total.

Agenda Long Beach will feature 500+ brands and we are expecting about 12,000 - 14,000 attendees over the two days.

Key new features/additions to the show:

Agenda LB will feature a new longboard skateboard/Skate Hardgoods segment

• Divine Wheel Co
• Dogtown
• Dregs
• Elephant Skateboards
• Given
• GoldCoast
• Hosoi
• Landyachtz
• Layback
• Madrid
• Palisades Longboards
• Paris Trucks Co
• Penny Skateboards
• Riviera Skateboards
• Sector 9
• SIMS
• Vision Skateboards
• Z-Flex
• and about 15+ more brands to be added before the show.

This longboard skateboard/skate hardgoods segment will not be separately branded inside the show, but mixed in with the other core action sports products. This new segment will also be completely separate from "The Berrics Agenda" show segment that focuses on only core street skate brands.

Influx of brands from the outdoor market

• HippyTree
• Patagonia
• Poler Camping Stuff
• ... and more which are all new editions to the show, and we see a huge opportunity in this show segment moving forward.

Increase in new lifestyle footwear brands

• Asics Onitsuka Tiger
• LRG Footwear
• The People's Movement
• Psyberia Dry Goods
• Volley Shoes
• ... and more which will add to our already robust selection in this category. Agenda believes that we have the most comprehensive offering of Lifestyle and ActionSports footwear brands out of any show in North America.

The return of Primer at Agenda

Primer is our independent brand section that we put on hiatus for the last show to reformat and relaunch it at this Long Beach show in January. Primer will showcase over 50 start-up brands on the main floor of Agenda, rather than in a side room as we have done in the past.

New Food Truck Area

Agenda Long Beach will feature a new food truck area with 7 of the best food trucks from LA each day. We know that everyone hates convention center food, so we wanted to mix it up a bit and give people something fun and different.

New BMX Segment

Agenda Long Beach will feature a few hand selected BMX brands. This January show will start small with BMX, maybe 4-5 brands tops to kick off a much larger show segment for the future. Each BMX brand invited will be working on an exciting collaboration with Agenda to be released at the show.

Come learn how SDSI can help your company grow

What absolutely attracted me to join SDSI as Executive Director last month was the networking. Our mission is about connecting people and companies and creating opportunities, all with the goal of growing the Southern California sports economy.

We believe that the more we grow, the more we can give back and the better off we will all be in the long run.

There is also the part of our mission that includes mentoring start-up companies to position themselves for access to capital. And we implemented our Springboard Program to do that by bringing experts that help guide your business plan through assistance with branding, marketing, financials, operation plans and ultimately help to prepare for funding opportunities.

SDSI provides education for sports companies, especially small companies that are great at creating their products, but might not always know how or who to ask for help to solve business challenges. We are successful in that, but what we offer is much broader.

We are creating opportunities for mature companies as implement programs and events that encourage collaboration on best practices and provide access to new technologies. We also provide unbiased public policy advocacy in both Sacramento and Washington DC.

We are here to help companies resolve issues, internal or external, find resources and find qualified people and service providers. If you have a problem, we want you to come to us and let us help you solve it. We want to share the knowledge and experiences of our experts with even more sports companies.

That’s why we’re reaching out again to So Cal sports companies on Nov. 15 with a networking and panel discussion event we’re calling “SDSI Presents: Why SDSI?”

I’ll join SDSI Executive Chairman Bill Walton to discuss why we chose to be a part of an organization that has become the front-runner for collaboration, innovation, business mentoring and business development across Southern California’s sports industry.

We’ll join a panel discussion with John Sarkisian, CEO of SKLZ and SDSI advisory board member since its inception in 2008; John Vance, SDSI’s most recent board member and former president of Sanuk; and Lisel Ferguson, partner of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP and longtime member of SDSI’s parent organization CONNECT.

The event’s a great way to learn how you and your company can get involved with our growing organization and how our programs can help accelerate your business growth – and it will be an opportunity to network with an eclectic group of sports industry movers and shakers on the back patio of Yogi’s Bar and Grill in San Diego.

You can register for our November 15 event here. I hope to see you there.

Chances are you or your company has already jumped on the social media bandwagon. Brands have seen an opportunity to directly engage with their target customers and have grasped it with much success. Promotions abound on Twitter an Facebook, as does constant dialogue with consumers and brand reps. The ease and immediacy of interaction and access have made social media platforms the next frontier for brands to use, not just for marketing strategies, but for real-time customer service.

The following is a social media checklist for companies. When devising your social media strategy, we recommend you talk with attorneys experienced in this area.

Ø Stake your claim: Claim your brand/business name on the relevant sites. Even if you don’t plan on using them immediately, it will prevent others from tying them up and potentially using them for anti-competitive means.

Ø Ask first: Be careful about misusing other’s trademarks in your social media content. Be sure whatever agreement you have with a promotional partner applies to the virtual world as well as the brick-and-mortar world.

Ø Changing terms: Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of each platform. The terms and conditions are usually prominently posted on the homepage and tend to change. Nobody wants to get banned from Facebook.

Ø Interacting Fans: For brands who invite customer interaction, we advise compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you meet these requirements, you can be immune from liability for infringing content posted by others on your sites (i.e. a video posted by a fan that is owned by someone else). Compliance is pretty simple and well worth it as it protects you from potentially hefty damages (especially in that litigious scenario).

Ø Contest Rules: Make sure all promos, sweepstakes and contests comply with the relevant federal and state laws. Linking to a static page with the contest rules is a productive way to comply.

Ø Earn the rights: Be aware of ownership issues when posting content. Yes, your YouTube video may capture more viewers if you sync it with the latest Black Lips hit, but you are essentially using the video for commercial purposes and thus must obtain the rights to use them.

Ø Protect and enforce: Monitor social media networks for offensive or infringing content and enforce your rights. If someone sets up an unauthorized Twitter account report it to Twitter and send a cease-and-desist letter. If your trademark is misused, make sure it’s corrected or removed. Proactive action can lessen the likelihood of infringement. But choose your battles wisely. You may walk into a public relations nightmare if you decide to make strong legal threats against an innocent fan who was unaware of any legal ramifications.

Ø Employee power: Set parameters. Companies can embrace the marketing power of their employees by encouraging them to Tweet something positive about the brand. As long as you’re actively monitoring the content generated, it could be a winning strategy. Be sure to address protection of your company’s confidential information in your employee social media guidelines.

Ø Communicate: Involve multiple business teams in your social media strategy. It not only helps with consistency in messaging, it also prevents a potential PR nightmare that could occur when marketing and legal don’t talk.

Ø Legal: This wouldn’t be a true article prepared by lawyers if we didn’t advise you to seek competent legal counsel to discuss these issues further.

Goodman Mooney is a full service law firm with a specialization in intellectual property and business law. The Orange County, Calif.-based firm has an international clientele, including professional snowboarders Torstein Horgmo and John Jackson, Voluspa, Too Faced Cosmetics and bathing suit designers American Honey. For more information, please visit www.goodmanmooney.com.

Mooney Goodman co-founders, Amanda Mooney and Eric Goodman can be followed on Twitter (@GoodmanMooney), Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoodmanMooney) and on their blog (brandadvocates.wordpress.com).

September Quarter Earnings Previews Expect Resilient 3Q Results; Cautious 4Q Outlook

Our September quarter earnings season officially begins Monday, October 24th with VF Corp. This earnings preview covers seven companies (ATX, BDE, ELY, HBI, JAH, SKUL, VFC) reporting September quarter results in the coming weeks. Overall we expect 3Q results will be relatively unharmed by the recent torrent of negative news flow on the global economy. However, we expect this negative sentiment will seep into 4Q guidance and potentially mute 4Q earnings upside potential.

In this report, we outline our view on five industry topics which will influence sector performance including the U.S. consumer, international exposure, currency, cotton and inventories. Overall, data points remained mixed, but not indicative of any material weakness in our space. On the contrary, reports from high-quality companies such as Nike and Wolverine World Wide support our view that well positioned companies can still deliver impressive results.

As evidenced by solid September sales trends, consumer spending remains on track in the U.S. supporting healthy sell-through for many of our brand vendors. Active lifestyle inventories continue to be a source of concern, having materially outpaced revenue growth in 2Q (up 35% versus revenue up 16%). Cotton prices have held around $1.00/lb since July, meaning we should begin to see product cost pressures abate by 2H12. Dollar appreciation in September due to European debt fears means that currency will be a headwind in 4Q (based on current rates).

The Active Lifestyle universe continues to outperform the S&P 500 year-to-date; however, the difference between the haves and have-nots continues to widen. Our thesis remains stick with high-quality names that have company specific growth drivers, defensible margin structures and a track record of creating shareholder value. Out top picks remain HBI, VFC and ZUMZ.

INDUSTRY HEADWINDS/TAILWINDS

U.S. Consumer is Holding Up

Stock market tumbles, European concerns grow, but U.S. retail sales trends appear unfazed for now. Over the last three months stagnate job market news, weak housing and stock markets, and Europe’s debt woes have plagued the news. While there have been pockets of weakness, same store sales trends have largely demonstrated that consumer spending patterns are relatively unchanged. September same store sales were up 5.8%, as measured by Retail Metrics, with 63% of companies beating estimates, suggesting that consumers are willing to spend on compelling product. We continue to believe this choppy economic picture will drive sharp differences between the winners and losers as we move into 3Q earnings season and the holiday outlook.

International Exposure: Risk or Opportunity?

With growing concerns around a European recession and a Chinese slowdown, revenue exposure by region will prove important to 2012 growth prospects. For most active lifestyle companies, Asia is a small percent of total sales, but an outsized portion of future growth prospects. Europe is, on average, the second largest market for our coverage universe (behind the U.S.) in terms of revenues and in many cases carries higher margins than domestic sales. With both of these regions at risk of slowing, we believe regional sales exposure will be an important factor to consider as companies begin to outline initial 2012 expectations.

Dollar Appreciation is a Headwind in 4Q

Steep dollar appreciation in September shifts currency to a year-over-year headwind in 4Q. Driven by European debt fears, the dollar materially appreciated versus most currencies in September, quickly erasing the currency tailwind most companies in our coverage universe have been experiencing. 

Current guidance likely has aggressive currency assumptions relative to current exchange rates. The U.S. dollar has strengthened against key currencies with the exception of the Japanese Yen. Given the appreciation in the dollar occurred after the 2Q earnings conference call season, many currency assumptions baked into existing guidance could prove slightly aggressive. For example, VFC’s guidance assumes a USD/EUR exchange of $1.35 versus the current $1.34 rate.

Cotton Stabilizing Around $1.00/lb.

Global cotton production appears in balance with demand, despite Southwest drought conditions. Since peaking above $2.15/lb. in March 2011, cotton prices have fallen over 50% with the December 2011 futures trading around $1.00/lb. Improving supply coupled with weakening demand appear to be the primary contributors to this rapid price correction. According to the most recent USDA cotton report, global cotton inventories are expected to rise for the first time in two years, helping to restore supply/demand equilibrium to the cotton market.

While current cotton prices will bring product cost relief in the 2H12, it is important to remember that cotton costs will continue to be a headwind for the next four quarters (3Q11 to 2Q12). The early response from consumers to modestly higher price points has been encouraging, with minimal impact to unit volumes. However, it remains to be seen how consumers will react to steeper price increases currently being implemented in the context of an anemic economic environment.

Inventory Levels Remain Elevated

For this section, we define the Active Lifestyle apparel and footwear universe as 14 companies including: Quiksilver, Columbia Sportswear, V.F. Corporation, Under Armour, Wolverine World Wide, Deckers Outdoor, Crocs, Nike, Rocky Brands, Skechers USA, K-Swiss, LaCrosse Footwear, adidas AG, and Puma AG.

Active lifestyle inventory continues to look bloated, especially in light of a slowing economy. Exiting 2Q, Active lifestyle inventories were up 35% year-over-year, compared to 16% revenue growth in the quarter. Inventory growth has outpaced revenue growth since 4Q10.

Reasons for higher inventory levels include: 1) unusually light inventory levels in 2Q10 affecting comparisons, 2) higher product costs, 3) early receipt of products given manufacturing capacity constraints earlier in the year, and 4) order books suggesting continued positive momentum. While many of these reasons are legitimate, we believe current inventory levels could prove problematic if consumer spending materially slows from current levels. This problem would be exacerbated by the fact that it would coincide with peak cotton cost inventory flowing through the P&L (excess inventory of high cost product). If U.S. consumer spending slows, we believe excess inventory would drive increased promotional activity and pressure 4Q margins.

D.A. Davidson publishes this commentary to provide industry decision makers with relevant economic and market information in an accessible format. Please notify us if you would like additional information or if we can be of assistance with helping you raise capital or assisting in mergers or acquisitions.

For more information, or for the full report, please contact us.