Dec 11, 2007 9:21 am US/Central
1980s Flashback: Entrepreneurs Bring Back Zubaz
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (CBS) ―
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Stock said he still sees people wearing their Zubaz to sporting events, and believed there was appetite for a re-launch of the brand.
CBS
Zubaz are back and depending on your perspective, that may be a good or a bad thing.
T wo Minnesotans are responsible for inflicting the loud, zebra-print casual pants on the world. Dan Stock was there back in the late 1980s when he had people sewing the pants in the back of a Roseville, Minn. gym.
The business started in 1988 and one year, at its peak, it had $30 million in sales.
"And just blew up from that. Nationwide distribution, eventually ended up being sold all around the world," said Stock.
Waning interest and conflicts with business partners caused the business to collapse in 1996. Stock said he still sees people wearing their Zubaz to sporting events, and believed there was appetite for a re-launch of the brand. One year ago, he and a partner reacquired the rights to the name.
"We knew there was quite a bit of interest in this," he said.
Last month, Stock quietly launched Zubaz.com. He didn't do any publicity but word started to spread on blogs and Web sites.
"The response to that has been great. Our site today crashed because we have so many people coming to it," according to Stock. The pants are available in four colors now, with more on the way, costing $29.
"They were $35 when we started. Twenty years later the price has gone down," said Stock.
Back in the day, Zubaz had deals with every major athletic team. Before he was the Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura was a big fan.
The old slogan was "Dare to be different." The new one is simple: "We're back."
"They're just not right," said Stacy Larson, owner of Covered, a Dinkytown fashion boutique, when WCCO-TV reporter Jason DeRusha walked in, sporting a pair of black and white zebra-striped Zubaz.
Larson said she's never worn the pants and she'd never be caught wearing Zubaz, except "maybe in bed."
However, she believes there may be a kitsch factor at play that could prove successful.
"If he gets them on a celebrity, I mean, that could change things," said Larson.
As DeRusha walked around near the University of Minnesota campus he received many other opinions on the pants:
"They're hideous."
"I think they're pretty sexy. I've gotta sport a pair of those."
"I like them. I like them too, they're awesome."
Dan Stock has a full-time job now as owner of The Press Gym in Little Canada, Minn. He's hoping success will strike twice, and he can take the Zubaz brand for another ride to the top.
When it comes to being retro, he said, "Ah, it's OK. If they sell I'm fine with it."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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