jeff | Jeff Harbaugh

Nike’s 8/31/09 Quarter, Their Impact on the Industry and Quips on Conference Calls

Nike put out a press release on its quarterly earnings two days ago and held a conference call on their results yesterday. This has all happened before the actual 10Q with all the detailed information and footnotes is available. So on the one hand, I’d like to be timely and have this done before everybody loses interest, […]

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Trade Shows. There Can Be Only One?

Trade Shows

So let me see if I understand this. At a time when economic conditions are leading us to fewer brands and fewer shops and consumers spending fewer bucks, and those brands and retailers that are left want to spend less money and send fewer people to trade shows, we have more trade shows. Will somebody please

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Quiksilver’s Quarter and Nine Months Ended July 31, 2009

Quiksilver

I’ve read the press release and listened to the conference call, and here’s what I found out. Quik’s total revenue for the quarter fell 11.2% to $501.4 million from $569.9 million for the same quarter the previous year. Their gross profit margin fell from 50.4% to 46.7%. Selling, general and administrative expense was down 9.1% to $211.8

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The Post Recession Role of Company Stores

Retail

When a brand said, “We’re just going to open a few flag ship stores to build the brand image and collect some good consumer information,” I was okay with that. Made sense. When it said, “We’re just going to open a few outlet stores to keep stuff that didn’t sell well out of the wrong

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A Tale of Two Surf Shops. Kind Of.

Surfing

I grew up spending all my summers on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. That’s where I learned to surf. And just before anybody makes the comment yes, the surf is generally lousy and for anything really good we have to pray for hurricanes and a change in the prevailing south winds. We still have a family beach

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Billabong’s Annual Report for Year Ended June 30, 2008

Billabong

I’m supposed to crunch a bunch of numbers when I do these things, but first I’d like to highlight Billabong’s Operating Principles from its Corporate Governance Statement. There are eight of them and they are: 1. Lay solid foundations for management and oversight. 2. Structure the board to add value. 3. Promote ethical and responsible decision

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Volcom’s Quarter Ended June 30, 2009

Kering (Volcom)

Volcom filed their 10Q in the last couple of days. There’s some good news here, though of course Volcom’s income statement for the quarter and six months reflects the impact of the recession. And the issue of how to manage their PacSun business is an interesting one. Let’s start with the balance sheet. The filing includes balance sheets

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Boardshorts from a Vending Machine

Quiksilver

If you read this http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/the-thread/Swimsuit-Vending-Machines-to-be-Stocked-in-Hotel-52089002.html you’ll see that Quik has partnered with Standard Hotels to sell cobranded swim suits at boutiques and poolside vending machines for $75 a pair. I’m not writing this to express an opinion (though I’m usually not loathe to do that) but just to let you know it’s happening and to

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The New Management Environment- A Few Ideas

General Management

In 1995 I wrote a Market Watch column called “Getting in Deep Trouble.” For those of you who might have accidentally misplaced your copies it talked, as the snowboard industry was starting its (first) consolidation, about what led companies to face survival issues and how they could save themselves. I started with the following: “All businesses

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Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment A Tool for Our Times

Financial Management

Since last fall, as our new economic reality has evolved, I’ve had a few things to say about what to do. They’ve included building your balance sheet, controlling your inventory and other expenses, focusing on the gross profit line, looking at gross margin dollars as well as percentages, and making good use of your management accounting

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