Insight and Black Box form new partnership

Insight USA and Black Box Distribution said today they have struck a new distribution partnership.

Carlsbad-based Black Box will be responsible for the sales and distribution of Insight in the U.S. – essentially backend operations. The Insight USA team will remain in charge of marketing and product and keep their offices in Los Angeles. The Insight sales management team will also work in Los Angeles.

Jesse Faen, president of Insight USA, said in an interview this afternoon that the agreement will help Insight manage its growth curve in the U.S. and give the brand needed local expertise as it expands in the largest market in the world. Insight was founded in Australia.

“We have a small team in the U.S., and we need the support,” he said. “Pat on the back for what we’ve done, but this will help us take it to the next level.”

Brands under the Black Box umbrella include Fallen footwear and apparel and Zero, Mystery and Slave skateboards.

The economies of scale available with Black Box’s infrastructure will allow Insight to improve profit margins as well, said Black Box CEO Frank Messman, who has been pursuing the deal for several months.

Black Box owner and President Jamie Thomas said he has admired Insight for awhile and described it as “the coolest apparel brand out there.”

“I appreciated the originality and rawness of the brand,” Jamie said. “I personally found it inspiring.”

While Black Box does produce some apparel with its brands, the arrangement with Insight moves Black Box in a big way into apparel, an area the company has been interested in expanding in, Jamie said.

Insight has garnered numerous marketing and brand awards and has been accepted in both fashion boutiques such as Fred Segal and surf and skate shops.