|
Feature Jack’s Surfboards gets “Full On” in Orange County
|
|
|
FEATURE Jack’s Surfboards gets “Full On” in Orange County By Katerina Petinos
When you think of CA, it’s no wonder that the idea of “hanging 10” would cross your mind. Apparently, most of the state’s natives, as well as its many annual tourists, feel the same way, which would explain the success of Jack’s Surfboards, the Huntington, CA-based retailer that is taking over Orange County with five stores and two more in the works during the next two years.
Jack’s Surfboards maintains a desirable board business, offering an estimated 16 brands and selling as many as 5,000 boards per year, with prices ranging from $350 to $1,200. The company also offers huge selections of body boards, wetsuits and surf apparel, featuring top name brands such as Rip Curl, O’Neill, Billabong, Volcom, Quiksilver, Hurley, Reef and many more. The company also sells snowboards, but only seasonally, with the products accounting for a small percent of the business; the apparel accounts for 80 percent of the enterprise. The company remains creative as well, working in conjunction with Vans to develop a shoe using the original Jack’s logo.
But Jack’s does more for the sporting world than just selling equipment and clothing. The company sponsors the Surfing Walk of Fame, a Hollywoodesque recognition of elite surfers, with the annual induction ceremony held in front of the Huntington Beach headquarters. Jack’s also donates money to surf teams at local schools as part of its grassroots programs and has teamed up with Vans to co-found the Vans Pro Surfing Contest, which will become an annual event.
Founded in 1957, the business was purchased by its current owners 18 years later and is now a five-man partnership. With 2006 sales projected to be about $27 million, business has doubled in the past five years. In 2001, the beachfront store in Huntington Beach, its satellite shop, Jack’s Girls, and the Newport Beach, CA store on the Balboa peninsula, rang up approximately $13 million in annual sales. The retailer opened two new locations in 2005, including the 11,000 sq.ft. Corona del Mar, CA store and a 7,500 sq.ft. Dana Point, CA store, and is in negotiations to open two more Orange County stores, one each in 2007 and 2008.
Along with the opening of the two locations last year, Jack’s has been renovating its Huntington Beach flagship shop. In fall 2004, the company expanded Jack’s Girls to 4,000 sq.ft. The company will make decisions regarding future store locations based on establishing noteworthy women’s departments. The company seeks locations with about 8,000 sq.ft. to ensure that both men’s and women’s goods can be sold within the same venue. At the Corona del Mar store, for instance, 3,500 sq.ft. caters to women’s merchandise. The company also hopes to expand its Newport Beach store by another 4,000 sq.ft.
The headquarters’ location is optimal as the U.S. Open is held in front of the Huntington Beach store. The event brings in about 500,000 spectators and increases the stores’ sales by about 30 percent during the sporting event. Overall, Jack’s revenues could reach $40 million by the end of 2008. That wouldn’t be a surprise, considering The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association has named the company as the “Retailer of the Year” for 2006. The company also enjoys a strong online presence.
For more information, contact Jamal Abdelmuti, Jack’s Surfboards, 7575 Reynolds Road Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; 714-536-6567; Web site: www.jackssurfboards.com. |