Could the world's most popular surf brand be sold?
Long lay-offs from professional surf contest surfing do strange things to people. Just this morning you read that John John separated (maybe) from his old sponsor Monster. What’s he going to do next? Many of you feel SoBe! And wouldn’t it be wonderful if the lizard came roaring to life? (Wasn’t SoBe’s mascot a lizard? Did anyone ever drink SoBe? How did it taste?)
And now, a little bird has just told that Nike is either allegedly considering or allegedly has put Hurley on the block.
Hurley!
The current best and, I think, most successful brand in surfing!
I have many questions about this possibility, as I’m certain you do.
First, I wonder who would buy Hurley? Would Bob buy it back and return it to its roots? Would another multinational buy it?
Second, what would another multinational do? Pump lots of money in and put smiles on all of our faces with more BeachGrit x Hurley initiatives or send Phantom trunks to Walmart?
Third, what happens to Nat Young?
Fourth, how much do you think Hurley is worth?
Fifth, if you bought Hurley what would you do with Nat Young?
Sixth, I have reported, previously, that Nike is thinking about getting back into surf themselves. Would Hurley’s sale be a harbinger of Nike’s return?
Seventh, would Nike 5.0 2.0 vs Hurley be the greatest blood feud of surf industry history?
Eighth, it was Nike 5.0 right? Or was it Nike 7.0?
Ninth, what would Hurley’s sale mean for Former? (just kidding! I’m totally not wondering this!)
Tenth, Do you think Craig Anderson wishes he signed a Hurley contract no matter what happens with this alleged sale?
Eleventh, I want to buy Hurley. Would you loan me some money?
Twelfth, Craig Anderson also wants you to loan him some money too.
And what questions do you have? Don’t tell me that you don’t care. Just don’t even tell me. These surf industry rumblings stir your juices the way Monster Energy used to stir John John’s and if you deny then you can go to hell.
Thirteenth, just kidding about the going to hell part. I value your opinion even when it differs from my own. It is a hot afternoon here in Southern California and I need a drink.
Fourteenth, what should I drink? A vodka x berry la croix or a vodka x pamplemousse la croix?
Fifteenth, do you think that Dane Reynolds and Craig Anderson wish they had vodka x la croix cocktails instead of a brand called Former?
It appears yes.
Yes they do. But seriously come over to my house guys! I have enough for all of us!
Is Hurley really making money?? I don’t really see anybody wearing it. Nike has so much money they can afford to keep it as a pet toy just to have a finger in the surf market– even if it’s a negative loss…
Oh shit, you’ve got me loling for realzys. Did you have to spell check the word Twelfth? I did
Life’s A Beach is still the best surf brand out there. Currently being propped up by South London skaters at Stockwell who have infinitely more money than surfers.
Gin. Always. Or Aperol Spritz.
Fresh rumor has Amazon now eying Nike…. and why wouldn’t cha….Whole Foods didn’t cost Bezos a dime after leveraged stock.
No question, always pamplemousse.
Kolohe looks like a mongoose in that photo and it seems like Dane and Craig are trying not to sell clothes . . . haha, they both look like they hate their own clothes.
Nat will be joining Bobby on the FTW team.
Fifth – make him wear a yellow wetsuit. Like Uma.!
Maybe you should spend more of your time surfing
Maybe you should spend less time on the interwebs telling people what you think they should do on their own platform and maybe make a splash of your very own.
How long is the right-leg, dual-striped campaign gonna continue to haunt us?
I like the right-leg dual-striped campaign. The stripes clearly mark the kooks in the water who are high risk burners and/or those capable of running me over.
White wetsuits make me think of baby seals which makes me want to club them. The white wetsuits I mean.
If this does happen go back through the comment archive and repost all the times i said this was coming….
Retail is dead, I buy all my name brand trunks at Ross Dress for Less for $14.99.
Gin & tonic.
Nike didn’t become so huge and profitable throwing money at fringe sports like surfing. They aren’t that fucking stupid.
Without revealing to much (or my real identity) I can confirm it is for sale. Contracts are being drawn up for it to be bought buy Stab to prop up Surfstich.
Also, Former will be living up to its name by years end.
Let us revisit what you said about Former this time next year 🙂
I only wish them all the best. Hopefully someone buys something soon so they can both at least start smiling
I’m sure they got tired of smiling for photos while making millions from quiksilver contracts.
Why would Stab buy something to prop up surfstitch? Like, what would Stab even stand to gain from that, and why wouldn’t surfstitch just buy hurley itself?
Simple. Stab uses money acquired from take over from Surfstich to buy Hurley. Stab then does one of those god aweful ‘colabs’ with its new inhouse brand. God aweful ‘colab’ product is sold exclusively on Surfstich. SUP riders and middle aged men the world over rejoice at a new Hurley product. Surfstich ends the year higher then Apple on the stock market.
Trump set the new business model that companies don’t actually have to have any positive cash flow, they just have to constantly move money around and reinvent before giving the current plan a chance to see if it is making money. It seems like the surf brands operate this way.
That’s the mode of business that has gone public. Not new or invented by Trump. Smoke and mirrors. Confuse the share holder into feeling good about the money they have pissed into the wind. Surf brands = youth lifestyle brands = trends = failed business. Hurley has been loosing $$$ since day one and Nike is now being open about how their future is going direct to consumer. Seems like less of a rumor to me. The sooner nike leaves surfing the better for surfing but with the olympics on their way I would bet that the surfers representing the USA will head to toe Nike.
Maybe Target will buy Hurley
hmmm , so much food for thought , and so hungry that I could eat a Hurley Burger!
Seriously though, a Surf Co that still has not made a profit , and now being sold to , the WSL /Dirk Biff , so world domination with the pools can commence, just need a group of rich Hotel chains to come in , and trumpette their new found greatness , in making the USA great again by having WSL/Kelly/Wavepools/Iconic Surf brand /and now Hotels to put retail stores , wave pool / WSL contests and can buy the coolest chinese sports wear ..Team Merica is great again!
I know what Nat will do Chad…..He will increase his average bottom to top turn repititions per wave from 9 to 11.
Just looking at Dane and former make me cringe. somebody make it stop. Screams kohls sale rack.
You seem to know a lot about Kohls sales rack.
since you up voted your own comment, this spin….nah, more like barely movement in the direction of spin should be right up your alley 007:
“Just looking at Dane and former make me cringe. somebody make it stop.” Screams kohls sale rack.
You seem to know a lot about Kohls sales rack.