Maybe it's because SLAP isn't the normal crowd, but I don't quite understand how these collabs between * random intellectual property * and * board company * are such cash cows. I don't think I've ever been at a shop and seen a superhero/ninja turtles/hot sauce x board company board and been like "damn, lemme see THAT one!"
They are generally pretty wack lol. Santa Cruz is probably the worst offender, but Habitat has also done embarrassing collabs with Bob's Burgers and NASA among others. Do they really help keep the lights on that much?
Palace does it and it's cool though. IDK.
The Twin Peaks X Habitat collab gets a pass from me haha.
*disclaimer asm of a zumiez*
definitely sell more Primitive clothing than we do their hard goods. the appeal for these collabs are mostly people who relate to the collab. what i get told by buyers of these is that usually that the designs are a lot better than what's out there for that specific *insert anime or company here*. so i guess more aesthetically pleasing than what you could find at Hot Topic, FYE, Amazon. as for boards, people usually buy these boards as wall decorations, which can probably explain why these specific Primitive boards are made in China rather than BBS or USA. keep in mind, it's mostly not skaters buying these items. some of them don't even know what Primitive is, they just know the collab, it's hot, and it's what people want.
for sure these collabs aren't for skaters, but it helps for brand recognition for Primitive so
maybe and it helps both parties make $$$ in the end. i know a couple people who've come back just to buy Primitive the clothing after buying their collab pieces.