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LV at Burton: Inventories are clearing out

Ron Abdel, co-owner of Jack’s Surfboards places an order with Laurent Vrignaud, Burton’s lead sales representative in four states.

By TIFFANY MONTGOMERY
January 27, 2008 06:04 AM

While I was at the Analog booth, I ran into Laurent Vrignaud, who leads a team that sells Burton products in four states.

He said since December, consumers are buying a ton of snow product, clearing space for spring good from other action sports brands, which is headed to stores now.

"The last thing you want when you are shipping spring is Burton in the way," he said.

While product is moving, the margins for store owners are tougher because the snow started falling pretty late, he said.

Overall, Laurent said, "It will turn out to be a good winter - way better than most people think," he said. "That will make for good '09 orders."

Last season hurt manufacturers and retailers deeply because it hardly snowed. Some said it was the worst winter season ever.

When I saw Laurent, he was just finishing a meeting with Ron Abdel, a co-owner of Jack's Surfboards. Ron said business was great and he had just placed a $400,000 Burton order for next season. The order was for the Ski Dazzle and other consumer shows, Laurent said.