www.smh.com.au/business/companies/rip-curl-sold-to-kathmandu-in-350m-deal-20191001-p52wfg.html Read all about it

Wearing a wetsuit to a cafe sounds wierd until you go to Dongara.

Nail in the coffin for customer service I bet

West sold and all the lifetime warranties disappeared, local family business destroyed then wound up.

I really do hope Ripcurl stays in Oz, to be able to call the ladies there about a fault and have them rectify it and send back a freshly washed suit was brilliant - top notch service. But like I said, experience with big takeovers usually goes downhill

bjw said..
Rip Curl retails is undercooked. Its mostly sold at RRP, so I think Kathmandu could add some excitement to their stores.

I'm not sure who bought West suits, but when private equity buys good businesses they often die. Eg Red Rooster.

I don't think that a company that sells grossly overpriced clothing is going to do the surf wear industry and lifestyle any good at all.

Rip curl will now have a range of puffer jackets shirts and shorts will still be $50-100 each so I doubt much will change .
I think I look cooler in my $8 flanno from Kmart anyway so I doubt I was really in their demographic.
The westsuit gig when wrapped up was bought by Aussie fellas whom are really good guys and that is where volte wetsuits comes from.
The volte guys sponser every grom comp and state rounds and put a looot of money back into west oz surfing. The bronze statue at yallingup they all chipped in for, the yal mal they sponser, they sponser grommets and give wetsuits as prizes at all the state events.
For a small company they pour more money into west oz surfing than what ripaquickbong do combined.
volte also sponser the Corbett brothers to bring us home the xxl wave awards some years.
In summary faaaark ripcurl and yes I own a (westsuits) volte wetsuit.

You're never far from Rip Curl discount shops in australia. The one at DFO South wharf (Melbourne) is crazy cheap. Cheaper than k-mart cheap. When there's such good deals about, it ends up being like Kathmandu when you never want to pay "full price".

The full RRP periods with Kathmandu are the 'price setting' periods. I.e. they need to offer it for a sale at a high price for a period (a month?) in order for them to discount and make shoppers believe they're getting a great deal.

theDoctor said..


What's a rip curl. ?

After a decent sesh RIP a bong & CURL up on the couch

Oneil to the Kings of comedy genius. U guys Excel at it.