I got a call from ASR telling me IN4MATION will be coming to ASR in San Diego in September. This fired me up. Not only because of the solid brand the boys have put on the map but the buying power Todd and Justin bring to ASR and Class At ASR.   Here is a little information on IN4MATION I want to share with you as I need a pick-me-up after seeing USA get a beat down from Brazil in the Finals. So saddle up and read on.

I’m excited to share what I know of the foursome’s passion.   Their catch phrase they’ve adopted is “I Shall Proceed…And Continue”.  IN4MATION was built on the rock of Hawaii. Started in 2001. Four key people planted the seed and grew the label and their retail business with proper TLC.  The four co-founders are Todd Shimabuku who is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, does some buying and shares the sales operations with Ryan Arakaki. Rhandy Tambio bounces back and forth from his homeland of Hawaii to NYC to direct creative and design with help of a few key people in NY.  Last but not least Jun Jo. Jun is a solid guy born in Japan. I believe he and a couple other key people helped put RVCA and Volcom on the radar in Japan. If I’m wrong about that sorry but don’t tell me.  I want to continue believing it. I might be lying my ass off but I also am pretty sure he has a hand in the Vertra Sunscreen project too.  If you don’t know what that is buy it tomorrow if you don’t want to have skin grafts of your ass on your grill in 10 years… It works well.

Anyhow, I got to spend a week on Tavarua with Jun on one of Lilard’s weeks. Jun exudes such class in and out of the water and this was about 6 years ago prior to IN4MATION’s solid growth spirt. He KILLS Cloudbreak by the way as he is a pro surfer just to rub it in. He works in Hawaii to make sure the retail run’s smoothy while directing marketing and PR efforts for the brand.   IN4MATION has done a stellar job of collaborating with key brands to gain momentum and legitimacy in our market. A few of the key labels they’ve done projects with are: LODOWN Magazine, RVCA, STUSSY, Brixton, The Skateboard Mag, DVS, Gravis, DC, Diamond Supply, most recently G-Shock Watches, and more…  I know this is a blog and I need to keep it short but there’s so much crafty info on these guys.

I just want to touch their retail business as well here before I get back to my fam. IN4MATION has a few stores.  They worked with a store in the past and decided to dial in a solid retail location on their own and I believe kind of sway from the gray market craze of the late 90’s. That was in 02 but they moved from the middle of the rock to a key spot in the hub in 2005 and that was when the momentum started.   Now they have IN4MATION Clothing / Ward Warehouse which is their spot that shares reality space their brand and just less than half of their inventory is influential brands like RVCA, Vans, DVS, Stussy and so on.

I love their store and spent some cash in their a few times. I don’t shop much either. Stussy actually opened a store in town but was smart enough to muster up special SMU’s for IN4MATION and their IN4MANTS so have a look.  -Aloha Army is their location that would cater to surf culture with a very stylish flare.  You can also find Aloha Army branded gear in there as well.  IN4MATION Boardshop you will find key hardgoods companies offering their latest and greatest from skate as well as IN4MATION goodies if you’re heading to country to Chollo or just staying in town and rolling around A’ala skatepark.   Saturday morning was their latest collab release at their stores.  It was with G-Shock. check out the salmon timepiece below in the pics.   Spend the time now and learn more about their whole deal. take a gander at these following links.

www.in4mationbrand.com
www.alohaarmy.com
www.in4mants.com
www.in4mboardshop.com

Good job guys.

Thank You,  Jim Shubin Classatasr.com ASRbiz.com

IN4MATION’s store. When on Oahu head straight there and look for the guy in the pic below.

Todd Shimabuku - retailer, sales guru, he makes sure b2b and b2c is on point. If you see him waling by your booth @ ASR take good care of him. You want to be in his shop.

If you didn’t see Todd in the shop and you are hot now and want to paddle out but forgot your Vertra front porch saver cream head to this shop. Aloha Army.

after you get out of the water and you realize you forgot your baggage @ HNL go back to pic 1 / IN4MATION and grab a tee that looks something like this. You’ll feel neat in it.

Their latest collaboration. Just was just released Sat Morn. Get it now. its a Salmon GLX IN4MATION X G-Shock and stuff. I’d grab one of those with that tee in the pic above.

RANDOM PIC!!! like I said in my last blog. The last pic will have a random pic to cap it off.. This a pic from a tour I did in Hawaii for a company I worked for. It was moments after I met Stu Graham. I had just put him on the team and this was his first time in Hawaii and probably his first time in boardshorts. He is now stuck back in Scotland his homeland because of visa craze but a I am trying my best to get him back here again to US soil. Miss you Stu..