Kanabeach, a French brand of surf-inspired clothing and accessories, has been placed in receivership, with the obligation to come up with a reorganization plan within six months. One main reason was apparently the roll-out of an expensive network of company-owned stores. The company already closed three stores and sold its own screenprinting workshop last year. Observers feel that Kanabeach did not quite manage a repositioning of the brand in the lifestyle segment of the surf market, a strategy that led to the resignation in 2007 of a former general manager, Jean-Marc Niwinski, who had previously worked very effectively for Columbia Sportswear.

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