World Industries
Encyclopedia
World Industries is a skateboarding
company that offers skateboarding products, accessories and apparel. The company was founded by Steve Rocco
in 1987. In 1988, Rocco was joined by skaters Rodney Mullen
then Mike Vallely
in 1989.
Later in 1989, Mark Gonzales
approached Steve Rocco with the desire to be involved in his own company. He liked the independence that having control of his own company offered. He was riding for Vision at the time, which then was the largest skateboard company, so they jointly decided to name the company Blind
. Jason Lee
, a then-current World Industries Team member, helped the two form Blind.
In 1991, wanting to break from H-Street, co-founder Mike Ternasky formed the company Plan B
with an exclusive production and distribution alliance with World Industries. In the deal, Plan B marketed itself from San Diego while World Industries did the rest, paying a royalty fee to Plan B.} Mike Ternasky was able to convince perennial freestyle world champion Rodney Mullen
to switch to street skating thus becoming a member of the Plan B team.
In September 1993, Rick Howard
defected with seven other riders from the fold of World Industries and started Girl
. Mike Ternasky was killed in a car accident in 1994. Plan B and World Industries parted ways in 1997, and was run by Danny Way
and Colin McKay, closing its doors shortly thereafter in 1998. In March 2005, Plan B was resurrected by team member and part owner Danny Way
.
As a direct response to Plan B's departure, Rodney Mullen created A-Team along with Marc Johnson
, Gershon Mosley, Dave Mayhew
, and Chet Thomas.
The years of 1996 to 1999 were years of significant restructuring and explosive growth for the company, led by the newly appointed executives, and subsequent shareholders, CEO Frank Messman and CFO Scott Drouillard. By the end of 1998, World Industries and Blind had achieved the status of number one and number two brands in skateboard hardgoods. This was in large part due to the re-positioning of the brands with Mark McKee's hugely popular cartoon characters of Devilman, Flame Boy and Wet Willy for World Industries, and the "Blind Reaper" for Blind..
In October 1998, Steve Rocco and his then five other shareholder partners (including Rodney Mullen, Frank Messmann, and Scott Drouillard), sold a 70% majority interest of the company to an outside private equity group, SPC, while maintaining all key management and employees. The company was valued at $29 million at the point of sale. A parent company emerged by the name of Kubic Marketing ("Kubic") which owned World Industries and Dwindle Distribution.
In 1999, the parent company Kubic, bought the then largest retailer (catalog and internet) CCS in the skateboard industry for $21 million. In 2000, due to financial issues, the company sold CCS to Alloy, a publicly listed company for approximately $50 million.
In 2002, Globe International Limited, an Australian public company, purchased all companies of Kubic, including World Industries.
On June 25, 2007, Globe International Limited sold the World Industries brand to i.e. distribution.
In 2007, Whyte House Productions released The Man Who Souled the World, a documentary about Steve Rocco
and the creation of World Industries, as well as his other skateboard related companies and ventures. The film release was accompanied by a skateboard art exhibition titled, "Censorship is Weak as F##k."
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
company that offers skateboarding products, accessories and apparel. The company was founded by Steve Rocco
Steve Rocco
Steve Rocco is an American businessperson and skateboarder. He founded World Industries with Rodney Mullen which grew into one of the largest and most influential skateboard companies in the world. He has since sold the company and is currently retired....
in 1987. In 1988, Rocco was joined by skaters Rodney Mullen
Rodney Mullen
John Rodney Mullen is a professional freestyle and street skateboarder. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential street skaters in the history of skateboarding...
then Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely , also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.-Early life:...
in 1989.
Later in 1989, Mark Gonzales
Mark Gonzales
Mark Gonzales , also known as "Gonz" and "The Gonz," is an American professional skateboarder and artist. He is known in the skateboarding world as a pioneer of modern street skateboarding, currently skateboarding's most popular form....
approached Steve Rocco with the desire to be involved in his own company. He liked the independence that having control of his own company offered. He was riding for Vision at the time, which then was the largest skateboard company, so they jointly decided to name the company Blind
Blind (company)
Blind is a skateboard company founded by Mark Gonzales, in 1989 under Steve Rocco's World Industries empire.The name "Blind" is an intentional slight to Gonzales' former sponsor, Vision Skateboards. He has since left the company and today the company continues under the ownership of Dwindle...
. Jason Lee
Jason Lee (actor)
Jason Michael Lee is an American actor and skateboarder known for his role as the title character on the NBC television series My Name is Earl, his portrayal of Syndrome in the film The Incredibles, his role as Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and his work with director Kevin...
, a then-current World Industries Team member, helped the two form Blind.
In 1991, wanting to break from H-Street, co-founder Mike Ternasky formed the company Plan B
Plan B Skateboards
-History:The Plan B Skateboarding team was founded in 1991 by Mike Ternasky, Jackson Kontzer, and Gabriel Torres.In 1994, Mike Ternasky was killed in a car accident, leaving the ownership of the company in the hands of Danny Way and Colin McKay, and Michael Ternasky's wife who temporarily shelved...
with an exclusive production and distribution alliance with World Industries. In the deal, Plan B marketed itself from San Diego while World Industries did the rest, paying a royalty fee to Plan B.} Mike Ternasky was able to convince perennial freestyle world champion Rodney Mullen
Rodney Mullen
John Rodney Mullen is a professional freestyle and street skateboarder. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential street skaters in the history of skateboarding...
to switch to street skating thus becoming a member of the Plan B team.
In September 1993, Rick Howard
Rick Howard
Rick Howard is a Canada-born skateboarder who now resides in California. He is considered to been credited with helping to advance switch skateboarding to new levels in the 1990s....
defected with seven other riders from the fold of World Industries and started Girl
Girl Skateboards
The Girl Distribution Company is a skateboarding distribution company based in Torrance, California, which houses several companies including Girl Skateboards, Chocolate Skateboards, Royal Skateboard Trucks, and Fourstar Clothing....
. Mike Ternasky was killed in a car accident in 1994. Plan B and World Industries parted ways in 1997, and was run by Danny Way
Danny Way
Danny Way is a professional skateboarder.-Awards and achievements:* 1986: Won the first contest he entered at age 11* 1989: Won his first vert contest in Michigan...
and Colin McKay, closing its doors shortly thereafter in 1998. In March 2005, Plan B was resurrected by team member and part owner Danny Way
Danny Way
Danny Way is a professional skateboarder.-Awards and achievements:* 1986: Won the first contest he entered at age 11* 1989: Won his first vert contest in Michigan...
.
As a direct response to Plan B's departure, Rodney Mullen created A-Team along with Marc Johnson
Marc Johnson (skateboarder)
Marc Johnson is a professional skateboarder.-Biography:Marc Johnson is one of the pioneers of 1990's style "switch-stance" and "gnar-tech" street skateboarding and is known for his technical skill on a skateboard, including a "supernatural" level of ambidextrousness...
, Gershon Mosley, Dave Mayhew
Dave Mayhew (skateboarder)
David "Dave" Mayhew is a retired professional skateboarder and a member of two of the ‘super-teams’ of the late nineties , due to his fluid technical ability. He quit skateboarding professionally to run a skateshop back in his home town of Madison, Wisconsin...
, and Chet Thomas.
The years of 1996 to 1999 were years of significant restructuring and explosive growth for the company, led by the newly appointed executives, and subsequent shareholders, CEO Frank Messman and CFO Scott Drouillard. By the end of 1998, World Industries and Blind had achieved the status of number one and number two brands in skateboard hardgoods. This was in large part due to the re-positioning of the brands with Mark McKee's hugely popular cartoon characters of Devilman, Flame Boy and Wet Willy for World Industries, and the "Blind Reaper" for Blind..
In October 1998, Steve Rocco and his then five other shareholder partners (including Rodney Mullen, Frank Messmann, and Scott Drouillard), sold a 70% majority interest of the company to an outside private equity group, SPC, while maintaining all key management and employees. The company was valued at $29 million at the point of sale. A parent company emerged by the name of Kubic Marketing ("Kubic") which owned World Industries and Dwindle Distribution.
In 1999, the parent company Kubic, bought the then largest retailer (catalog and internet) CCS in the skateboard industry for $21 million. In 2000, due to financial issues, the company sold CCS to Alloy, a publicly listed company for approximately $50 million.
In 2002, Globe International Limited, an Australian public company, purchased all companies of Kubic, including World Industries.
On June 25, 2007, Globe International Limited sold the World Industries brand to i.e. distribution.
In 2007, Whyte House Productions released The Man Who Souled the World, a documentary about Steve Rocco
Steve Rocco
Steve Rocco is an American businessperson and skateboarder. He founded World Industries with Rodney Mullen which grew into one of the largest and most influential skateboard companies in the world. He has since sold the company and is currently retired....
and the creation of World Industries, as well as his other skateboard related companies and ventures. The film release was accompanied by a skateboard art exhibition titled, "Censorship is Weak as F##k."
External links
- World Industries
- The Man Who Souled the World Archive of official site of the film.
- Trashfilter.com editorial article A personal retrospective of World Industries in the early '90s, by Chris Aylen for Trashfilter.
- The Man Who Souled the World at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2011-08-17.