Here’s some additional reaction on the Shaun White/Target news from Bill Byrne of BBPR, a marketing communications firm in San Diego for both action sports and non-endemic brands.
Here’s what Bill had to say:
“I’m so torn when people go this route. As an entrepreneur and business person, I want everyone to have the chance to support their family (and then some). There are also the families who buy their clothes at Target because of price, which I can definitely understand.
“But having grown up on the East Coast, where action sports were not very popular in the 80’s and 90’s, skate/surf/snowboard shops were our hangouts. It’s where we found out about news, saw videos, checked out gear and begged our folks to drive us to on weekends.
“I shop at Target regularly for things like paper towels and plastic boxes to store my gear. But I dread the day when I grab some Brawny and then impulse buy my girlfriend some snowboard bindings because they’re on sale.
“In the end though, Target at least supports Shaun and action sports through their event sponsorship. I don’t think brands such as Hollister give back at all.”
