West 49
Encyclopedia
West 49 Inc., is a Canadian specialty retailer of fashion and apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment related to the youth action sports lifestyle. West 49 was established in 1995 by C.E.O. Sam Baio. The retailer operates more than 130 stores across the country. It is Canada's largest skateboard and snowboard chain and in 2005, it was ranked the 82nd fastest growing company in Canada. West 49 Inc. operates stores under several names: West 49, Billabong, Off The Wall
, Amnesia/Arsenic, D-Tox, and www.boardzone.com.
They carry brands such as Vans
, DC
, Hurley
, Quiksilver
, Billabong
, Element
, Blind, Roxy, Circa (C1rca), Emily Strange
, Nixon, Mystery, Burton, Emerica, to name a few, and also their own clothing line, West 49.
Starting in 2001, West 49 sponsored and hosted an annual international skate event, the West 49 Canadian Open. In 2005, Microsoft
joined as a partner with West 49 to sponsor the competition. The West 49 Canadian Open is not on the World Cup Skateboarding
event schedule for 2007.
In 2001, West 49 received criticism for an image of nude women placed in a magazine ad and on the front page of their new website. West 49 apologized, admitting that they shouldn't have run the ad, and replaced the images.
On November 2, 2009 West 49 Ambition Skatecamp premiered on Bite TV. The show follows eight young amateur skateboarders as they vie for a grand prize that includes a profile in SBC Skateboard magazine and a chance to compete in the Maloof Money Cup, a professional skateboarding competition. Along with its placement in the show’s title, West 49 is featured in product and logo shots throughout the series.
Two retaliers, U.S.-based Zumiez
and Australian-based Billabong
, engaged in a bidding war to take over the company. In July 2010, Zumiez decided to end its takeover bid, clearing the way for Billabong to acquire West 49. On August 24, 2010, it was announced that shareholders had approved the sale.
Off The Wall (clothing)
Off The Wall, founded in 1984 and closed in early 2011, is a former Canadian retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for active young women...
, Amnesia/Arsenic, D-Tox, and www.boardzone.com.
They carry brands such as Vans
Vans
Vans is an American based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.- History :On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store...
, DC
DC Shoes
DC Shoes is an American company that specializes in footwear for extreme sports, skateboarding, snowboarding as well as snowboards, shirts, jeans, hats, and jackets.The company was founded in 1993 by Ken Block and Damon Way, and is based in Vista, California...
, Hurley
Hurley International
Hurley International is a clothing company located in Costa Mesa, California founded by Bob Hurley. The company puts emphasis on skateboarding, surfing, music, and "fun"...
, Quiksilver
Quiksilver
Quiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
, Billabong
Billabong (clothing)
Billabong International is a clothing company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange since 11 August 2000. Billabong was founded in 1973 by Gordon and Rena Merchant....
, Element
Element Skateboards
Element Skateboards is a skateboard manufacturer and surfwear retailer based in Irvine, California. It is a subsidiary of Australian clothing giants Billabong International....
, Blind, Roxy, Circa (C1rca), Emily Strange
Emily Strange
Emily the Strange is an advertising mascot character by Rob Reger for his company Cosmic Debris Etc. Inc.-History:She first appeared on a sticker distributed at concerts, record stores and skate shops to promote Cosmic Debris, the clothing line founded by artist and skateboarder Rob Reger, racecar...
, Nixon, Mystery, Burton, Emerica, to name a few, and also their own clothing line, West 49.
Starting in 2001, West 49 sponsored and hosted an annual international skate event, the West 49 Canadian Open. In 2005, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
joined as a partner with West 49 to sponsor the competition. The West 49 Canadian Open is not on the World Cup Skateboarding
World Cup Skateboarding
World Cup of Skateboarding is an international skateboarding federation, organizing the official World Championships of Skateboarding series and several other skateboard contests.-Venues:...
event schedule for 2007.
In 2001, West 49 received criticism for an image of nude women placed in a magazine ad and on the front page of their new website. West 49 apologized, admitting that they shouldn't have run the ad, and replaced the images.
On November 2, 2009 West 49 Ambition Skatecamp premiered on Bite TV. The show follows eight young amateur skateboarders as they vie for a grand prize that includes a profile in SBC Skateboard magazine and a chance to compete in the Maloof Money Cup, a professional skateboarding competition. Along with its placement in the show’s title, West 49 is featured in product and logo shots throughout the series.
Two retaliers, U.S.-based Zumiez
Zumiez
Zumiez is a mall-based, specialty apparel store founded by Tom Campion and Gary Haakenson in 1978, and publicly traded since 2005. "Offering gear and clothing for the skater, snowboarder, and surfer," Zumiez sells action-sports related clothing and has created an image based around action sports...
and Australian-based Billabong
Billabong (clothing)
Billabong International is a clothing company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange since 11 August 2000. Billabong was founded in 1973 by Gordon and Rena Merchant....
, engaged in a bidding war to take over the company. In July 2010, Zumiez decided to end its takeover bid, clearing the way for Billabong to acquire West 49. On August 24, 2010, it was announced that shareholders had approved the sale.