Black Box Distribution Explained

Black Box Distribution
Industry:Skateboarding
Fate:Dissolved
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded:2000
Founder:Jamie Thomas
Defunct:2014
Hq Location City:Carlsbad, California
Hq Location Country:United States
Areas Served:-->
Products:Skateboards
Owner:Jamie Thomas

Black Box Distribution was a skateboard distributor owned by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas. Prior to October 2014, it served seven brands, three of which were owned by Thomas: Fallen Footwear, Mystery Skateboards, and Zero Skateboards. After the company was dissolved, Zero and Fallen moved to Dwindle Distribution.[1]

History

The company was founded in 2000 as a way for Jamie Thomas to distribute his Zero Skateboards brand, which had been founded as the Zero Division apparel brand in 1996. The brand was initially supported by American distributor Tum Yeto (responsible for distributing Thomas' previous skateboard deck sponsor Toy Machine).[2] The company's headquarters was in Carlsbad, California.[3] Prior to its closure in 2014, it distributed Zero Skateboards, Fallen Footwear, Slave, Threat, Destroyer, Mystery, and New Balance Numeric brands.[4]

In 2006, Thomas won an Ernst & Young regional Entrepreneur of the Year Award as founder/president of Black Box.[5] The company eventually spun off Cinco Maderas, a Mexico-based woodshop that manufactures the skateboard decks for Mystery, Slave, and Zero.

Black Box announced a partnership with surf and skate clothing label Insight in mid-2009. At the time of the announcement, Thomas explained: "My personal opinion is that Insight is a rad brand, and I think that's what matters most ... it's the raw elements and passion behind what it is more so than what category it supports most, whether it be surf, skate, or fashion. It's so original and raw that I find it inspiring."[6]

Transition to Dwindle

In a June 2014 interview with the Jenkem online publication, Thomas explained that the Dwindle Distribution skateboard company—responsible for the Enjoi, Blind Skateboards, Almost Skateboards, Darkstar, and Cliché Skateboards brands—would take over "the sales, finance, production and distribution aspects" of the Zero and Fallen brands. Thomas further explained that Zero employees would remain independent and focus on "the team, marketing and creative aspects" of the brand.[7] However, in an October 2014 interview, former Zero rider Chris Cole stated that the entirety of Black Box had moved to Dwindle, so the exact terms of the transition are unclear.[8]

Zero Skateboards

See main article: Zero Skateboards.

Team (as of July 12, 2018)

Professional

Fallen Footwear

See main article: Fallen Footwear.

Fallen Footwear is a skate shoe company that was founded as a partnership between Thomas and DC Shoes in 2003.[10]

Team (as of June 7, 2015)

Slave Skateboards

Slave Skateboards (styled as $lave Skateboards), owned by former Black Box artist Ben Horton, was launched under the distribution company in 2007. The brand's debut full-length video, Radio-Television, premiered in September 2009.[12]

Team (as of June 7, 2015)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home. Dwindle Distribution. Dwindle Distribution. June 7, 2014. June 7, 2014.
  2. Web site: Zero Skateboards. Skately. Skately LLC. November 3, 2014. November 3, 2014.
  3. Web site: Black Box Distribution. Yellow Pages. Intellectual Property LLC. November 3, 2014. 2014.
  4. Web site: About. Black Box Distribution . November 3, 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110100358/http://blackboxdist.com/?page_id=6506. November 10, 2014.
  5. Web site: JT—Entrepreneur Of The Year. TransWorld SKATEboarding. TEN. November 3, 2014. June 17, 2006 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180521070609/http://skateboarding.transworld.net/news/jt-entrepreneur-of-the-year/ . May 21, 2018.
  6. Web site: Black Box Distribution Partners with Insight on Sales and Distribution in U.S. . TransWorld Business. GrindMedia. April 18, 2014. Josh Hunter. July 16, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044312/http://business.transworld.net/17444/features/black-box-distribution-partners-with-insight-on-sales-and-distribution-in-us/ . April 19, 2014.
  7. Web site: Ian Michna. The Future of Zero & Fallen with Jamie Thomas . Jenkem . July 9, 2014. June 2014.
  8. Web site: Ian Michna. Breaking Up with Zero and Chris Cole's Next Move . Jenkem . October 30, 2014. October 28, 2014.
  9. Web site: Team. Zero Skateboards. Dwindle Distribution. November 3, 2014. November 3, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103094712/http://www.zeroskateboards.com/?page_id=13501. November 3, 2014.
  10. Web site: Fallen Footwear Is Born. TransWorld SKATEboarding. TEN. November 3, 2014. September 24, 2003.
  11. Web site: Team. Fallen Footwear. Dwindle Distribution. November 3, 2014. November 3, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103094725/http://www.fallenfootwear.com/?page_id=13501. November 3, 2014.
  12. Web site: SLAVE VIDEO PREMIERES THIS FRIDAY. https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020058/http://xgames.espn.go.com/skateboarding/article/4453969/slave-video-premieres-friday. dead. April 19, 2014. ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. April 18, 2014. Josh Brooks. September 8, 2009.
  13. Web site: Team. https://archive.today/20141103080119/http://www.worldwideslave.com/team/. dead. November 3, 2014. Slave Skateboards. Slave Skateboards. November 3, 2014. November 3, 2014.