Update on Quiksilver's European business, photos from NY French party

I had a brief talk with Quiksilver European President Pierre Agnes during the Quiksilver Pro New York, and he gave me an update on some developments in Europe.

I also went to a party Tuesday night in New York that Quiksilver's French team threw to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Quiksilver Pro France. See photos from the party above in our slide show.

Store developments

Quiksilver has remodeled about 75% of its stores there, and plans to eventually remodel 100%. The company operates approximately 250 stores in Europe.

It is also building a new generation of Boardriders flagship stores that carry all the clothing and technical gear, and have bars and a cafe in addition to space for bands to play.

The stores will be named Boardriders, and then have the logos for all the Quiksilver owned brands underneath the Boardriders sign.

The first of these stores opened in Capbreton in France, followed by one in Ericeira in Portugal and another in Paris. The fourth store with the new flagship model opens in Chamonix in the Alps on Nov. 15, followed by a store in Barcelona next spring.

The goal is to open these flagship stores in key cities on the Atlantic side of the coast in the UK, France, Portugal and Spain, and also have this new generation of flagships in key cities in the Alps.

Economic climate

I asked Pierre if he is seeing the impact of the uncertainty surrounding financial markets in Europe. He said Europe is so large and so diverse, the situation varies from country to country.

Countries like Germany and Austria are doing fine, some of the southern countries and the UK are shakier and France is stable.

He does expect Quiksilver Europe to show revenue growth next year, he said.