Sector 9 Sold to Billabong Surf

**bucksaw87** · 07-02-2008 11:06 PM

everybody talks about how billabong saved element...but element has become the laughingstock of the shortboard world (all of dwindle has, to be honest...)

oh, does billabong own all of dwindle? or just the element brand?

oh, and AJ...i'd rather have a beer than an s9

**BigDaddy@TactisSkates** · 07-02-2008 11:07 PM

Real simple... More stores... Higher margins ... made in china... fancy new graphics...
Less stoke... no new inovations...(never had one to begin with

) More comercial control over the core advertisers and retailers... More leverage to copy the true inovative products

Don't you guy's get it... It happens to every cool product

Beer, clothes, ice cream, and so on

You guy's expect too much... it is what it is

Dano

**surfinsmiley** · 07-03-2008 12:14 AM

No new innovation you say? I bet we`ll see "The Parko" pretty soon, innovation to the mamamamax........, dude.

(please note: heavy sarcasm intended)

Apart from that though, Billabong Rocks. Really, no sarcasm in that at all. Billabong as a company came from the most humble beginnings, the boys cutting boardshorts on the kitchen table.....and now they bazilonairres.

**a_d_smooth** · 07-03-2008 01:10 AM

I'd have to say that if you are a fan of any S9 boards, to get em' now! Before they'll be just a memory and the new, more streamlined, lesser quality boards come in to play. I'm not saying that this will happen, but it was my first thought when hearing the news. Other than that.. I could care less. Eat, drink, get laid, get rich and die. What else is there? Anyone? ... Anyone know????

**TheDawg992** · 07-03-2008 01:18 AM

I have to say, I'm not a big s9 fan, although I admit they make a handful of some very decent boards. Nevertheless, I don't think there will be any huge changes in the board production/price itself, but more in the way it's marketed as a mainstream product.

**monohon1** · 07-03-2008 01:57 AM

Where i live billabong is only known for their clothes and that is it.
s9 are already the only boards i really see others ride around tacoma in the first place i think s9 was doing just fine.

and i really don't want longboarding to to get to popular because it really annoys me when i someone tells me they longboard and i ask them the type of board and all they tell me is the brand name.

**longskatehawaii** · 07-03-2008 02:04 AM

I don't know if someone's already pointed this out, but I'm too lazy to read through the whole thread. A lot of people on this forum get irritated that longboarding is associated with surfer brah types riding sector 9's, and Billabong Surf buying Sector 9 might just reinforce that surfer brah stereotype even more. But in my opinion that I based on no evidence whatsoever

, I think Sector 9 will probably stay the same.

**sharcsplean** · 07-03-2008 02:31 AM

did lib-tec change when quicksilver bought them? no - they have some of the most innovative snowboards on the planet.

will alien workshop change now that Burton bought them?

and yes morrow dropped intoobsurity after k2 bought them.

so we will see.

**skategeezer** · 07-03-2008 06:23 AM

right now, Sector 9 sells mostly hardgoods.
the softgoods program is really a small part of what they do - this will change fairly soon.

This is where most of the real money is made. The interesting thing is that longboards have been taken up by a multitude of users-older guys, folks who never skated, women, college kids etc.

By leveraging this, Billabong could do extremely well with Sector 9 - they will make money IN BOTH markets.

I seriously think that will be the only significant change. The brand will grow and the name will perculate to the top. And yes, SOME folks will walk around with Sector 9 apparel not knowing what on earth it is. But the logo/image/style looked cool and they were drawn to it...or their friends said it was cool.

Sector 9 has brought their product to many markets - but compared to how many shops Billabong is in, it's a fraction. So, there will most certainly be a push to get more boards out there - but tied into this will be clothing element (pun intended!).

**fl rider** · 07-03-2008 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by monohon1

and i really don't want longboarding to to get to popular because it really annoys me when i someone tells me they longboard and i ask them the type of board and all they tell me is the brand name.

same here.

**Cruiser** · 07-03-2008 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by a_d_smooth

I'd have to say that if you are a fan of any S9 boards, to get em' now! Before they'll be just a memory and the new, more streamlined, lesser quality boards come in to play. I'm not saying that this will happen, but it was my first thought when hearing the news. Other than that.. I could care less. Eat, drink, get laid, get rich and die. What else is there? Anyone? ... Anyone know????

Yes, this is what I feel too. I am trying to figure out if Billabong will contiue to use the Sector 9 logos and even the Sector 9 name on the new line up of boards. Is Billabong gonna stick their icon on each board now to get the brand recognition which Billabong has paid for?

Newbee here - solid thoughts and opinions "makes you want-to-go-huh?!

**C4NDYSP4NKS** · 07-03-2008 07:35 AM

Longboarding has just become VERY mainstream!

And not to be a jerk to anyone who likes Sector 9 I think the boards will get a whole lot worse. You will probably start to see a bunch of preps start riding.

**Stubbs** · 07-03-2008 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Cruiser

Yes, this is what I feel too. I am trying to figure out if Billabong will contiue to use the Sector 9 logos and even the Sector 9 name on the new line up of boards. Is Billabong gonna stick their icon on each board now to get the brand recognition which Billabong has paid for?

Newbee here - solid thoughts and opinions "makes you want-to-go-huh?!

I seriously doubt you will see the name Billabong on anything Sector 9. All Billabong wants from Sector 9 is what it has been doing: expanding it's market. And using Billabong's current crop of clients worldwide, that is exactly what Billabong will get. Every single surf shop that sells Billabong will now sell Sector 9 (if not doing so already). Also, yes, you are most likely going to see a lot more Sector 9 softgoods at your local mall or urban outfitter type retailer. This might also work the other way around, too. Those accounts that currently stock Sector 9 may soon also be stocking Billabong.

**skategeezer** · 07-03-2008 07:58 AM

Agreed, Mr. Stubbs...

However, I sense that most shops that carry Sector 9 probably have Billabong gear....

**Stubbs** · 07-03-2008 08:07 AM

I agree with that too, Michael. What I'm referring to are say... skateshops that now carry S-9 hard and soft goods but don't have a lick of Billabong hard or soft goods. I don't know of any skateshops that carry Billabong anything unless it's near a coastal area and that shop is also into surf. But I could see a shop that stocks S-9 hard and soft goods now picking up some Billabong soft goods as well.

**Warren** · 07-03-2008 08:43 AM

You will NOT see every store that carries Billabong now selling S9 and S9 stores selling Billabong.

Stores that sold Billabong did not automatically become Nixon dealers. (or Von Zipper)
Stores that sold Burton did not automatically become Channel Islands dealers. (or Alien Workshop)
Stores that sold K2 did not automatically become Ride dealers.
Stores that sold Quiksilver did not automatically become Lib Tech / Gnu dealers (or DC)
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Sector 9 will continue on doing what it is doing. PERIOD.

Larger (publicly traded) corporations that buy smaller companies do so for a reason - because the smaller company is doing well and is on a growth curve. The larger companies do so because it is a smart investment for their stockholders. If they start messing with what they just bought - and it tanks - the stockholders are not happy - then everyone loses!

**skategeezer** · 07-03-2008 09:52 AM

greg...how goes life?
warren...excellent points

**Firefox777** · 07-03-2008 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by C4NDYSP4NKS

Longboarding has just become VERY mainstream!

And not to be a jerk to anyone who likes Sector 9 I think the boards will get a whole lot worse. You will probably start to see a bunch of preps start riding.

ohmy god i havent heard the term "prep" in about 8 years . core will stay core posers will stay posers . and stupid kids tht wanna argue and fight about the brand of the skate board they ride will continue to do so. moral of the story? dont be a douche to people because of what board they ride.

**Mile_High_Mark** · 07-03-2008 10:01 AM

Arby's recently bought Wendy's. Unless the folks at Arby's want to throw away a shirt-load of money, they'll let Wendy's keep doing what they were doing to make them attractive enough for a buy-out.

Now substitute Billabong for Arby's, and S9 for Wendy's.

**Stubbs** · 07-03-2008 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Mile_High_Mark

Arby's recently bought Wendy's. Unless the folks at Arby's want to throw away a shirt-load of money, they'll let Wendy's keep doing what they were doing to make them attractive enough for a buy-out.

Now substitute Billabong for Arby's, and S9 for Wendy's.

Exactly.

@Brooke - Things are going well. My business is just a little over two years old and we are starting to kick some serious ass.... Legal Elements
The wife and kiddo are great. Daughter starts 7th grade this fall, she's a buzzsaw. Other than that, skating all the time of course. Some of us here in Dallas are involved in a private, members only skate warehouse just south of downtown. We did a benefit auction for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and the St. Phillip Community School a few weeks back. We had skaters, skater/artists and artists from around the globe send in pieces and we ended up raising nearly $55,000.00! Not bad for a couple months planning.