RVCA to boost European effort

To accomplish this, RVCA has formed a strategic partnership with Medinvest and Tradegroup, who have successfully launched brands such as Volcom in the European market, according to the RVCA release.

Based out of Marseille, France, Medinvest (controlled by Michel Gamet) will be accountable for the backend logistical operations of RVCA in Europe, while Tradegroup, headed by Marcus Prosch in Stuttgart, Germany will handle all sales and marketing.

RVCA already sells to many countries and territories in Europe, including the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and Greece via distribution companies.

RVCA will maintain those working relationships with the distribution companies but will also have a European operation that will oversee those relationships and control the sales and marketing along with logistics for the overall European market, according to a RVCA spokeswoman.

All design and the marketing vision will continue to come from RVCA headquarters in Costa Mesa, she said.

The new arrangement will be up and running for Summer 2009.

"The potential for RVCA in Europe is huge. RVCA's clothing and accessories collections fit in line with European standards and trends, and its brand concept of mixing art and action sports through its development of the ANP - Artist Network Program - is revolutionary. We are confident the European market will fully embrace RVCA as has already been done in the USA," Marcus Prosch said in the release.

RVCA Founder and Creative Director Pat "PM" Tenore said in the release he is excited for RVCA to seriously enter the European market.

"While we have experience and history that RVCA can succeed within the European market, we understand that Medinvest and Tradegroup are the experts at brand development in Europe, and we are thrilled about the potential of developing further for local European needs," he said.