Hottest brands for spring from Baird report

The report surveys 102 independent surf, skate and snow retailers in 27 states. The report is widely-read globally and respected. One top surf executive asked me, however, to emphasize that readers should keep in mind that the report surveys a small fraction of the overall number of board sports stores in the U.S.

Here are some interesting details from the survey. The words are directly from the report. To obtain a complete copy, email Mitch at mkummez@rwbaird.com

Spring Product Category Performance

Strong categories: Hardgoods, accessories and men's apparel.

Weak categories: Women's shoes and women's apparel. Men's shoes were also weak.

Hottest Men's Apparel Brands

• Volcom - hottest in skate shops and boardriding stores and across all geographic regions

• Billabong - hottest in surf shops

• KR3W

• Quiksilver

• Matix

Biggest move up from holiday to spring: Reef

Biggest move up from spring 2007 to spring 2008: O'Neill and Hurley.

Biggest slip down from holiday to spring: DC

Biggest slip down from spring 2007 to spring 2008: KR3W

Hottest Women's Apparel Brands

Volcom - hottest among all channels and on the West and East coasts.

Billabong

Matix

Lost

Roxy

Biggest move up from holiday to spring : Element. Element was also the hottest in the Central region.

Biggest move up from spring 2007 to spring 2008: Matix

Biggest slip down from holiday to spring: no brand moved down dramatically.

Biggest slip down from spring 2007 to spring 2008: Element

Hottest Footwear Brands

Nike - hottest among skate shops and boardridingstores, and also across all regions

Reef - hottest among surf shops.

Vans

Emerica

DVS

Biggest move up from holiday to spring: Reef

Biggest move up from spring 2007 to spring 2008: DC

Biggest slip down from holiday to spring: IPath

Biggest slip down from spring 2007 to spring 2008: éS

Hottest Sunglass Brands

Spy - hottest among surf shops, boardriding stores and West Coast retailers

Electric

Oakley - hottest among East Coast and Central region retailers

VonZipper - hottest among skate shops.

Hoven

Biggest move up from holiday to spring: Oakley

Biggest move up spring 2007 to spring 2008: Oakley

Biggest slip down from holiday to spring: Arnette

Biggest slip down from spring 2007 to spring 2008: No brand slipped much.

Trends

• There doesn't seem to be many positive trends, though a few retailers highlighted t-shirts and boardshorts as performing well for spring.

• The boardshort category seems to be driven by bright colors and exciting prints.

• A few retailers also noted that walk shorts have been a poor performing category. Plaids seem to be dominant and this trend may be getting a little stale.