Vans Star Wars collaboration

Vans has a new collaboration with the original Star Wars trilogy giving Jedi masters and sneaker heads alike great options for chill summer wardrobes. The collection will include different styles already known to the brand, Classic and Vault and there will be other items like shirts, backpacks and hats for both men and women. While some shoes look like they came from a galactic empire there are some that stay true to Vans California Vine. Prices range from $30 for a hat to $60 for sneakers.

Macys celebrates america

From the beginning of May through the 4th of July Macys celebrates American icons, showcasing American brands throughout the store using red white and blue product. This came about after much criticism from their customers when they celebrated Brazil on the same scale 2 years ago. Many customers complained that the store should celebrate America and so Macys listened. The plan was originally to celebrate a different country each year but that changed once customers expressed their disdain.

Hurley rolls out 2nd round of premium fixtures at Macy's

Macy's Newport Beach, CA

Macy's has turned its focus to the Millennial consumer for the fiscal year 2014.  With that, a laser focus on action sports brands.

Hurley is leading the pack with a nationwide roll out of premium fixture packages to  a range of tier 1 and 2 Macy's doors.  

The new fixture package is the second generation from Hurley in the last 5 years to land at Macy's.  This time more dynamic than any surf brand has presented at the key account retail level.  The packages are reminiscent of their parent company, Nike's, vertical retail fixture and POP components including fixture suites, mannequins, and high level product driven table top signage.

These fixture packages are already being seen in young men's sections.  For doors where fixtures already exist the 1st generation are being re flowed to Hurley juniors pads.  This either increases existing fixtures, expanding footprints in juniors millennial or helps cover doors that previously did not have the suite. 

Snapchat stories: a brand marketing platform

When I opened EDC our story, on Snapchat over the weekend my curiosity was peaked. Watching the story of the Electric Daisy Carnival unfold as Snap Chat launched a new idea within a trending feature on their popular mobile app.   This feature allows the approximately 400,000 music enthusiasts who will attend EDC to create a public photo and video stream that collectively tells the EDC story to the world; who's there, and most importantly perhaps - what it feels like to be there.  The story was shot from performer and attendee vantage points.

Snapchat: Our Story feature

With over 1 billion views per day which is double the 500 million views just two months ago, Snachat's story telling feature is now viewed more frequently than individual snaps.  Since its launch just over a year ago the My story feature would only allow users who were friends within the app to share a curated story that could be viewed for a period of 24 hours.  Our Story allows users to collaboratively upload and stream one central story without the limitations of being friends within the app.

Snapchat hasn't released much information of how they monitor and curate the Our Story feature, filtering out inappropriate content as the story is curated; if this feature maintains a premium streaming quality the opportunity for large brands to tell a global and intimate story of their own could redefine marketing through social media. 

The Electric Daisy Carnival: First to market 

EDC, put on by Los Angeles based production company Insomniac Events, is a ever growing music festival held seasonally around the US and now Purto Rico.  By telling their story through snap chat's global social media platform EDC broadens its demographic exposure and opens up further growth opportunities for not just the Electric Daisy Carnival but also the wide roster of festivals Insomniac Events hosts annually.

What this could mean for surf and action sports brands: 

It's mid January, the break is pumping and the 20th annual In Memory of Eddie Aikau is about to go.  At the same time, on the opposite side of the globe, Iouri Podladtchikov is training on a desolate powder covered mountain.  Dane Reynolds is working on a new video collaboration with Craig Anderson and all of this is being shown on the same stream, practically in real time  - for only 24 hours.   Then the content changes.  

Any brand within ZQK could tell intimate behind the scenes or on the front lines of the action stories to its consumers and share the felling that "only a surfer knows".  

Mike Randal, former Facebook PMD director new Snapchat powerhouse:

Mike Randal recently signed with Snapchat to be their VP of Business and Marketing partnerships.  Early commentary about this news is that Snapchat will look to monetize through building partnerships with other brands and events. 

Sources:
Snap Chat
http://www.insomniac.com/festival/edc-las-vegas-2014/#main
http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/21/snapchat-our-story/
http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/24/facebook-steals-features-snapchat-steals-talent/?utm_campaign=fb&ncid=fb

The OP/Wal-Mart version of the Amphibian

Ocean Pacific was an authentic surf company made in 1972.  They joined forces with Wal-Mart exclusively in 2007. Recently Op has started selling their version of Quiksilver's Amphibian short.

Op shows the benefits and features on its hang tags and product stickers.  They carry both plaid and solid versions pricing around $19.