Kohl's Corporation and Quiksilver, Inc. on Wednesday jointly announced the signing of a license agreement, under which Quiksilver would grant exclusive rights to the Tony Hawk clothing brand to Kohl's. The license encompasses a range of apparel and related products, including outerwear and accessories, for both the boys and young men's categories and will be in all Kohl's stores and Kohls.com beginning in the spring of 2006.
Quiksilver, Inc. will be responsible for product design and Kohl's will manage sourcing, distribution, marketing and all other functions.
Tony Hawk, a boardriding icon and the most dominant athlete in skateboarding history, was the founder of Hawk Clothing, which was sold to Quiksilver, Inc. in 2000. He was ranked the number one vert ramp skateboarder in the world every year from 1984 to 1996. With a highly successful suite of licenses, including his signature video games on a number of popular console and hand-held platforms, Tony Hawk is one of the most visible links between the action sports world and the mainstream consumer market.
Tony Hawk said, “We are really excited to expand the reach of our brand and connect the culture of action sports with the Kohl's customers. We are committed to making sure that the product, the marketing, and the vibe of the line is true to our roots.”
Kevin Mansell, Kohl's president, said, “Tony Hawk has strong name-recognition among Kohl's young male shoppers and their Moms. We look forward to developing the Tony Hawk Clothing collection, offering a cool, trend-right alternative that addresses the fashion demands of today's young male shopper. This is an exciting partnership with Quiksilver that strengthens our mission to deliver exclusive national brands, but even more importantly, continues to differentiate Kohl's in the marketplace.”
Bob McKnight, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quiksilver, Inc. commented, “The continued growth of the boardriding lifestyle has strengthened both our brand and industry's position in mainstream culture while new business opportunities have been created. Our agreement with Kohl's brings together the power of one of the country's leading retailers and our product and branding expertise. This connects us with a whole new group of young people.”
Pasadena, California based Iikonn Brands Group, Inc. exclusively represented Quiksilver, Inc. in the transaction.