I went to visit Dean and Dale of O’QUINN in HB. I like the brand and wanted to know more about their story. Dean Quinn has deeeeeeep roots and I’ve known him for a little while from industry and on occasion surfing a good little bar just north of NB. Let me tell you HE KILLS IT.. I’ve heard the same about Dale. He surfs LA County. Don’t know why but I won’t judge him on that. ha kidding Dale.   So their office on Gothard is cool and full of smiles which I’m down with.. We sat and started from the beginning. A few years ago the two of them were surfing down in Mex and while out in the water Dean pitched the idea of O’QUINN to Dale. Dale at the time had a great job and Dean straight up asked him “Dale, what do you think?, are you on board” That was the beginning of the brand and I have to say leaving a large steady paying deal is pretty scary. Dale, you rule sir..   Since his grom years the both of them mentioned how Dean was always so particular with his apparel. He would build his own boardies and make his own tee’s because he wanted something different. This would explain why about fifty percent of his time with O’QUINN is spent on fit. And yes they still make their own tee’s for O’QUINN. Dean mentions his 7 year old son already changing his gear to mix his steeze on occasion. It seems like both vets of apparel are very particular on the way the product lays and feels. He says they have 3 things they stand by Fit, Fabric, and Fashion. I like that>>  CLASS at ASR they will be launching their O’QUINN Classics (Premium Basics) and you’ll be able to check out their soft launch of O’QUINN’s women’s. Trust me when I say you have to touch and feel their tee’s. Really nice. Great silhouettes and nice color story.   After talking with them I was inspired and noticed the their team working together in the office. solid motivation. Their new campaign I checked out in BL!SSS reads “Change Direction”   These guys know what they are doing as they’ve both worked in the industry for over 20 years with the top companies in the industry. Look for O’QUINN at CLASS at ASR in San Diego in the convention center. HALL E, booth CL 445.   O’QUINN is sold in the better retailers. OQUINNclothing.com  Thanks for the time guys..   See you all in less than 2 weeks in San Diego. check both sites below lists of exhibitors.

Thank you,
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
CLASSatASR.com

I told you they surf. Dangling suit at their entrance..

Dean Quinn. This guy has a solid backround. SOLID folks.

Apple store on Gothard in HB / Their Art Department.

This is Dean and Dale the masterminds of O’QUINN. They are as solid as you can get.

They have a full collection you need to check out. Again at Class at ASR you will have a chance to see their launch of O’QUINN Women basics and their Classic’s program.

RANDOM PIC- this shot is from a bit back. Its from a party we did with Anthem in the desert. Everyone was in the best of spirits as you can see. good music, the right people, and best of all water can make a perfect gathering. So as we’re just about to round 3rd here in 09 lets enjoy our last weeks of summer. Call you friends this weekend and have some laughs, good eats and relax for a few days. I LOVE THIS PICTURE>> js

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..