Authentic Brands Group Announces Liberated Brands as Strategic and Core Partner for Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, Honolua and More
The Company Adds New Action and Outdoor Sports Brands to Its Growing Portfolio
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, today announces that it has entered into a new long-term agreement with its strategic partner, Liberated Brands (Liberated), to be the retail and e-commerce operator for its newly acquired brands Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, Honolua and Boardriders in the US and Canada. Additionally, Liberated will become the license partner and wholesale distributor in the US and Canada for Billabong, RVCA, and Honolua adult sportswear, activewear, swimwear, outerwear, headwear and base layer products.
“We are honored to step into the role as the key operating partner for this iconic group of brands and take on core categories for Billabong, RVCA and Honolua," said Todd Hymel, CEO of Liberated Brands. "This partnership marks an exciting chapter that taps into our company’s commitment to creating distinct brand experiences through product innovation. With a deep-rooted passion for the essence of each brand, we look forward to growing these brands in the US, Canada and beyond.”
As the core licensee and operating partner for other Authentic-owned leading action and outdoor sports brands Volcom and Spyder, Liberated brings unparalleled capabilities in brand building, technical design, specialized retail, athlete ambassador management, action and outdoor sports marketing and digital expertise.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Liberated,” said Nick Woodhouse, President and CMO at Authentic. "As evidenced by their focus on the growth of Volcom and Spyder, Liberated’s unwavering commitment to innovation and community engagement makes them the ideal partner to take on Billabong, RVCA and Honolua, as well as the retail operations for the best lifestyle brands inspired by skate, surf and snow. Together, we look forward to implementing our strategic vision for growth and expanding the brands’ presence in the US and Canada.”
Authentic will announce additional partners in the coming months and leverage its proprietary platform and expertise to expand the brands across categories and territories.
About Authentic Brands Group (Authentic)
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 50 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands generate more than $29 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 12,800-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 360,000 points of sale.
Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hunter®, Vince®, Hervé Léger®, Hickey Freeman®, Frye®, Nautica®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Rockport®, Eddie Bauer®, Boardriders®, Quiksilver®, Billabong®, Roxy®, DC Shoes®, RVCA®, Element®, VonZipper®, Honolua®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Shark®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Airwalk®, Izod®, Jones New York®, Van Heusen®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Arrow® and Thomasville®.
For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com.
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About Liberated
Liberated Brands is a global leader in the sport, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel industry, boasting a 30-year history of connecting with consumers through a relentless focus on brand cultivation, sports marketing, and immersive storytelling. Their products are sold in more than 60 countries through select department and specialty stores, in over 200 of their company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including 25 company-owned websites. Their mission is to leverage the company’s deep-rooted expertise in trend forecasting and brand development within the ever-evolving outdoor and lifestyle sectors to attract loyal customers worldwide. Based in Costa Mesa, California, they operate regional headquarters in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Their portfolio of brands includes Volcom, Billabong, Quiksilver, Spyder, RVCA, Roxy, Honolua, and Captain Fin.
For more information, please visit www.liberatedbrands.com.
