Amuse Society hits the floor...

Mandy Fry and Summer Rapp have officially dropped their line into our world! Amuse Society hit a local account here in the Mid Atlantic and was given its own small t-stand. Time will tell if the brad will make it in the world of Women's Surf. Amuse Society is meant to be combination of pretty and tough. The brand is coining the term "beach vida bling" to express the lifestyle of the Amuse girl. 

Something new for sweatpants?

Urban brand Trukfit is now offering a kangaroo pouch pocket, usually found on sweatshirts, on their sweatpants.  This offers the customer something different from the standard side pockets, that are seen everywhere these days. The printed one shown here retails for $78. 

Casual Drawstring Pants Trending

I have noticed in North Florida that casual drawstring pants seem to be trending.  They were either in the window with marketing POP support or on front aisle table.  Stores from Pac Sun, Tillys, American Eagle Outfitters, and Express Men.  Prices range from $30-$60.

Instagram Sale

While doing my usual IG feed check I came across a post from a local Hawaii based store.  The Butik will be having their first IG sale.  Customer simply register at the store website, then look for the "buy now" symbol, #SOLD, and a invoice will be sent to.  Retailers are using almost every avenue possible to make shopping a cinch!

Activewear: growth and opportunity at Macy's

It's no secret that active wear has taken on speed and popularity as heathly living becomes a greater priority among Americans. 

Macy's will be chasing this ever growing market hard as we finish out the back end of the year and look into 2015. 

The greatest impacts perhaps will be to millennial, activewear itself, and men's departments surrounding a newly leased brand corner. 

Locker Room by Lids. 

Following suit with Sunglass Hut, Starbucks, and Finishline; Locker Room by Lids has opened branded corners across Macy's nationwide. 

The corners feature clean hard ware and wall units that have a a light hint of gum Locker in their design. 

Product is a range of sporting goods apparel targeting major league sport teams across the NBA, NFL, and MLB. 

These new additions are gaining space on already tight retail floors and hold promise of high product turn over.   

Smaller ctivewear brands and juniors millennial are feeling the squeeze too.  As Macy's makes way for large Nike brand corners and are bringing in newer lines like Roxy fitness. 

With Activewear trending with a growth rate of +20% nationwide Macy's is putting their dollars in a once less competitive arena. Now - sportswear brands who wish to grow will have to compete on an even more premium level gain ground. 

Photos to come. 

Juicy Couture and Kohls

Juicy Couture known for their pricey velour warm up suits is now exclusively carried in Kohls. The collection consists of the velour pieces that are synonymous with their label but also offers some fashion denim, sweaters and tees with a price range of $25-$75 and like most of the product that Kohls offers is often on sale with  POS of 25% or more.

Cova

These lovely lads were at Expo as well!

This entire blog was taken from shop eat surf and was wrote by Tiffany Montgomery. I just wanted another avenue for people to see it.

The former leaders of Quiksilver’s Waterman Collection are launching a new brand at Outdoor Retailer and have assembled an experienced team of veteran sales reps and investors.

Founders Guy Stagman, the former Waterman design leader, and Kent Stevens, who led sales and more, describe their new brand, COVA, as a “premium men’s sportswear line embracing traditional craftsmanship and authentic flavor from the seven seas.”

The target customer is a 25-plus male looking for quality construction, and sophisticated fabrication and fit, Guy and Kent said.

It is the niche where many larger brands have seen opportunity over the years but have abandoned offshoot brands, either because of cost cutting initiatives, or because they are so focused on their primary younger customer that other efforts get lost and are not a priority. 

“Our experience shows us that this customer is underserved as several established brands have moved away from this segment and all of the new brands being announced are pursuing a younger, more fashion-oriented customer,” Kent said. “COVA is a lifestyle brand.”

Many Quiksilver veterans with deep retailer relationships have joined COVA.

Tom Holbrook and Steve Tully are investors and will sit on the board of directors. COVA has also assembled additional investors that are part of the lifestyle the brand is promoting.

Rounding out the executive team are Shayne McIntyre, who will lead marketing and was the face of Quiksilver Waterman for many years; Briana Gigliotti, the former Waterman designer who will work in design and merchandising; Randy Noborikawa who is the art director; and Linda Stegeman, who will manage key accounts and Orange County and San Diego sales. Linda was a Waterman rep for nine years in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.

COVA will launch for Spring ’15 with wovens, knits, T-shirts, walkshorts, hybrid "Surf ‘n Turf" shorts, boardshorts and volleys. For summer and fall, COVA will add fleece, lightweight jackets, sweaters, and pants.

The rep force includes many ex-Quiksilver, Quiksilver Waterman and Roxy reps, and an ex-Billabong rep. Willy Morris in North Los Angeles, Janner Asuncion in Hawaii/Guam, Andy White in the Southwest, Piper Brown in the Midwest, Dan Hopkins in the Northeast, Jon Kleintop in the Southeast, Bob Rohmann in North Florida and Dimitri Kjos in South Florida/Caribbean are all part of the team.

COVA is pursuing a wide range of distribution because they believe this customer shops in many different places, and they know that wives buy a lot of the clothes. Types of accounts COVA will pursue include specialty, sporting goods, resort and outdoor retailers.

On the international front, COVA has aligned with Softwear Apparel Group in Canada, and is in discussions with potential partners is Mexico and South America. Representation in other regions has not yet been solidified.

In addition to Outdoor Retailer, COVA will show Spring ’15 at Surf Expo in September.