Virgin Megastore San Francisco Launches Surf and Skate Shop Promoting Best in Action Apparel and Accessories

Virgin Megastore San Francisco Launches Surf and Skate Shop Promoting Best in Action Apparel and Accessories

Virgin Megastore Now Offering Extreme Sport Merchandise

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 1970's, a group of teenagers from a tough neighborhood known as "Dogtown" in Venice, California pioneered a revolutionary style of skateboarding. Riding the waves at Pacific Ocean Park pier, the Z Boys, known for their aggressive style and hard street attitude, combined the death-defying moves of surfing with the art of skateboarding which created an extreme sport lifestyle that spread worldwide. This counterculture phenomenon has inspired the Virgin Megastore, San Francisco to expand its offer to include the latest in surf and skate apparel, DVDs, music, books and accessories.

"Virgin has built its reputation on its committed passion for music and entertainment and through innovative ways of reaching the consumer," Maureen Ferguson, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Apparel & Fashion Accessories, Virgin Entertainment Group, North America, said. "This expanded selection at the Virgin Megastore, San Francisco now extends that influence in support of the surf, skate and action lifestyle, by bringing leaders in extreme sport athletics and fashion to a broader audience."

The buyers at Virgin Megastores have been very selective in their product offering and work closely with all vendors to design some exclusive fashions for the Virgin customer.

Virgin Megastore, San Francisco has teamed with Quiksilver, Rainbow Sandals, Sex Wax, Peter Grimm hats, Giant, Z-boys, Strand, US Rags, and up and coming fashion designers Aaron Chang and Andrew Hanson, to offer an expanded selection of surf and skate clothing, accessories, books, music and DVDs.

Some of the highlighted products include: Aaron Chang's rashguard for the Wahine, Peter Grimm's Desperado Straw cowboy hat and Quiksilver's green Oxford satchel have all quickly become best sellers. "Step into Liquid" and "Dogtown & Z Boys" are the hottest DVD's and legendary musician Jack Johnson is the perennial favorite artist in San Francisco, his CD "In Between Dreams" is one of the top selling albums in the expanded department.

Customers who visit the Virgin Megastore, San Francisco's Surf and Skate Shop will also soon be able to purchase decks and boards designed by California artists who are also surfers and skaters.

The original members of the "Dogtown and Z Boys" 2001 award winning documentary were on hand at Virgin Megastore, San Francisco for the grand opening of the expanded department. Since then hard core surfers, skaters and those who aspire to the California outdoor lifestyle have been browsing and buying at the Virgin Megastore, San Francisco Surf and Skate Shop.

Virgin will soon be introducing items from the Surf and Skate Shop in other select Virgin Megastores, including the new West Coast flagship store, at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, after it opens its doors in October 2005.

To find out more about Virgin Megastore, San Francisco's Surf and Skate Shop contact: Krysty O'Quinn at 818.881.3889

To interview a Virgin Executive or to RSVP to the event contact: SJ Communications Krysty O'Quinn Phone: 818-881-3889 Krysty@sjcommunications.com

ABOUT VIRGIN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Virgin Entertainment Group is the world's leading multi-channel music and entertainment retailer, providing customers with a range of superior entertainment experiences through a family of integrated Virgin-branded businesses. The "category killer" Virgin Megastores and Virgin Megastore Online at www.virginmega.com are integral parts of a strategy to provide entertainment customers with what they want, how they want it, and when they want it. For more information, or to check out the location of the nearest Virgin retail, go to www.virginmega.com.

Source: Virgin Entertainment Group

CONTACT: Krysty O'Quinn of SJ Communications, +1-818-881-3889, Krysty@sjcommunications.com, for Virgin Entertainment Group

Web site: http://www.virginmega.com/

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