Billabong International Limited is an Australian clothing company that also produces skateboard products under other brand names. The company was founded by Gordon and Rena Merchant in 1973, and the name “Billabong” is taken form the Wiradjuri word “bilabaŋ” that means “creek that runs only during the rainy season.”
The company was founded in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, by Gordon and Rena Merchant in 1973. The business started off with Gordon designing and creating board shorts at his home, which he then sold to the local surf shops. The shorts became an instant success and Gordon realizing he needed to expand his business and started sponsoring contests that helped market and advertise his products. By the year 1980, the company had grown, and Billabong’s board shorts were available throughout Australia.
After its success in Australia, the company decided to export its products, and during the late 1980s, Billabong products were available in other countries including South Africa, Japan, and New Zealand. Over the next 20 years Billabong went on to acquire several brands, and in 2010 the company went on to buy the American surf retailer Becker Surf & Sport who helped strengthen the company’s presence in the US.
Billabong stores in the United States can be found at the following and several other states in the United States.
