Sector 9 Share European Distribution Strategy & Marketing Plan

Sector 9 are one of the industry’s most iconic longboard skate brands and we caught up with the team to see what’s new. As well as product development they are laser focusing their European distribution strategy and they fill us in on their current marketing pushes.

Please tell us about the brand from when it was founded to today.
The Sector 9’ers, Nineballs or Niners as they’ve been referred to over the years, got their start in a suburb north of San Diego. With some popular surf spots out front, hills to their backs and a house full of fun, a skate ramp, pool table, ping pong table and a board shaper, it should be no surprise that a legendary longboard and cruiser brand was born. The young group of surfer/ college students quickly turned their passion for flowing lines in the water or on the pavement into a thriving business through the local shops up and down the California coast.

With thirty years of rich heritage of not only building some of the best products this industry has seen, they continue to build a culture and vibe that people love and gravitate to. From the collaborative art projects to their involvement in building the community with events and their continual push on innovating products to create the next best skateboard for this riding style. Sector 9 is synonymous with longboard skateboarding.

What is currently the best market for the brand in Europe and why?
We’ve been very strong in France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany with our single distributor model. While that has does well for us, we think it’s time to grow our distribution by opening it up to individual countries across Europe and get more people out enjoying our great products and spreading the good vibes.

Meridian Rips

How are you planning to make the brand more environmentally friendly?
Being part of Highline Industries give us access to the technologies that our sister brands like Almost, enjoi and Madness skateboards have. One of which is a waste stream resin glue called Super Sap. We are looking to utilize it more in our line as well as reduce the overall use of single use poly bags. Hoping to eliminate or reduce micro plastics ending up in our environment.

Please give us a resumé of your current line.
The current line is built on our 30 years of history in the category. Over the years we identified what does well for us. We have a great collection of maple and bamboo cruisers in 31-42 inches in length and various widths and constructions. Our roots of Southern California surf lifestyle vibes that we’re known for continue to ring through in our graphics. Add in Pro boards from notable personalities like Ben Gravy, Downhill ripper, Jimmy Riha and surf legend Mason Ho.

Bambino Bivy

What is your most popular style of board for Sector 9 right now?
Our 36 inch Bamboo drop through, “Fractal Floral” is one of our top sellers. It comes with our Gullwing Sidewinder 2 trucks that has an amazing turning radius. Giving you the surf style vibes for carving the hills or cruising to the store. The “Bambino Bivy” is another great bamboo board. Cruising in at 26 x 7.5 inches with our Gullwing Mission trucks and some soft 78a, 61mm Nineball wheels. This is a great short cruiser.

Our Pintails continue to do well. One stand-out, the “Ledger Fiesta” 7 play Maple 40 inch by 9.25 inches wide with our Super Sap environmentally friendly resin. Gullwing Charger trucks and some 65mm soft 78a Nineball wheels. Great colour scheme with raised inks.

Can you tell us more about Sector 9’s daily mantra ‘smash it’?
‘Smash it’ is a motto we’ve been using to represent the Sector 9 lifestyle. Living life to its fullest. Whether it’s bombing a hill, rolling to the skate park, cruising a wave, or dealing with whatever life throws at you. Smash it! Do it to the best of your ability and find the fun in doing it.

Fractal Flora

You guys sponsor a lot of riders – what do you look for in a rider when choosing them to represent Sector 9?
We look for riders that fit the overall Sector 9 lifestyle and culture. Someone that is open for fun, happy lifestyle that’s similar to how we started in that house in La Jolla as a group of college students searching for adventures with their buddies.

What are your hopes for the brand in the European market in the coming years?
We’ve already started working with a couple of new distributors and we’re looking to add more to the mix. We’ve had a great distribution partner over the years, but are looking to add individual partners in each country to have more of a laser focus in each territory. It’s our hope to spread the Sector 9 vibe to more people and we think this is the best way