From the IASC site
How big is the industry?
Board-Trac tracks annual sales volume for 2004 at $5.2 billion. Board-Trac surveys the consumer (skateboarders). For more information and methodology visit www.board-trac.com.
The recently released Leisure Trends Group report shows the core skate retail industry at about $2.41 billion (surf is $2.46 billion). A “Core” retailer, as defined in the report, excludes sporting goods stores, department stores such Macy's and chains such as Pac Sun. But no matter how you look at it, the skate segment is on the rise. Now, they consider the numbers from
www.board-trac.com to be a good estimate on board sales, a site where you can "pay" for statistics. Personally, I would never "pay" for statistics unless they showed me where I was losing, and how I could succeed.
Now go here.
http://www.board-trac.com/pages/industry.htmlLook at how they compare "Sales". IASC looks to have paid a kid who won the local Science Fair, seeing as Office 95 graphs totally soared through the Attention Roof.
The RIAA does this similar kind of thing when they send law suits to single moms. They hire firms to create log files as "evidence" for courts, since they technically can't go "into" someone's computer. Unfortunately, you can't just make up your evidence like this. But unfortunately, single moms can't afford to go to court, so they lose.
Same shit, different battle.
Companies can bitch about the customers, but still sell to malls.
Jamie Thomas can try to blame us, but will never accuse Pharrell for trying to cash in.
We can rant all day, or we can let them know what we think.
IASC
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