| Type | Wholly owned subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Genre | Clothing |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Burlington, ON, Canada |
| Key people | Sam Baio |
| Revenue | $195.3 million (2006)[1] |
| Employees | > 1,000 employees (2005)[2] |
| Parent | Billabong International |
| Website | www.west49.com |
West 49 Inc., is a Canadian specialty retailer of fashion and apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment related to the youth action sports lifestyle. West 49 was established in 1995 by C.E.O. Sam Baio. The retailer operates more than 130 stores across the country.[1] It is Canada's largest skateboard and snowboard chain and in 2005, it was ranked the 82nd fastest growing company in Canada.[3][4] West 49 Inc. operates stores under several names: West 49, Billabong, Off The Wall, Amnesia/Arsenic, D-Tox, and www.boardzone.com.[1]
They carry brands such as Vans, DC, Hurley, Quiksilver, Billabong, Element, Blind, Roxy, Circa (C1rca), Emily Strange, Nixon, Mystery, Burton, Emerica, to name a few, and also their own clothing line, West 49.
Starting in 2001, West 49 sponsored and hosted an annual international skate event, the West 49 Canadian Open. In 2005, Microsoft joined as a partner with West 49 to sponsor the competition.[5] The West 49 Canadian Open is not on the World Cup Skateboarding event schedule for 2007.[6]
In 2001, West 49 received criticism for an image of nude women placed in a magazine ad and on the front page of their new website.[7] West 49 apologized, admitting that they shouldn't have run the ad, and replaced the images.[7]
On November 2, 2009 West 49 Ambition Skatecamp premiered on Bite TV.[8] The show follows eight young amateur skateboarders as they vie for a grand prize that includes a profile in SBC Skateboard magazine and a chance to compete in the Maloof Money Cup, a professional skateboarding competition. Along with its placement in the show’s title, West 49 is featured in product and logo shots throughout the series.[8]
Two retaliers, U.S.-based Zumiez and Australian-based Billabong, engaged in a bidding war to take over the company. In July 2010, Zumiez decided to end its takeover bid, clearing the way for Billabong to acquire West 49.[9] On August 24, 2010, it was announced that shareholders had approved the sale.[10]