Billabong International Limited today announced it has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the United States-based online boardsports retailer Swell.com (Swell).

Swell, founded in 1999, is a leading online retailer in the US boardsport sector and sells many of the industry’s leading brands.

Financial details of the purchase remain confidential, but the transaction is not material to the Billabong Group.

Paul Naude, President of Billabong USA, said the acquisition would allow Billabong to manage its brands in the growing online market.

“We look forward to growing the Swell business and further developing it as a showcase online platform for the US boardsports industry,” he said.

“The internet plays a significant role in the recreational habits of the youth market so it is important for our Group to ensure we provide them with a premium brand experience when shopping online.”

There is a new buzz in the landscaping world — residential gardens that incorporate beautiful plants that thrive in our local climate and limit the necessity for irrigation and maintenance. The Surfrider Foundation and landscaping expert Douglas Kent have taken this concept a step further to include simple design ideas that will dramatically reduce runoff from properties that pollute creeks and beaches in a new manual available now for novice and expert gardeners: Ocean Friendly Gardens: A How-To Gardening Guide to Help Restore a Healthy Coast and Ocean.

Taking cues from the Surfrider Foundation’s “Ocean Friendly Gardens” program, the book describes how green-thumbs can help restore our precious oceans by applying simple practices to their gardening and landscaping routines including CPR – conserving the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, increasing permeability so the landscape or garden holds more water, and developing water retention areas.

“With a growing trend of creating beautiful gardens that used native plants and other ‘climate-adapted’ vegetation, we wanted to show people how they could also help reduce water pollution,” said Chad Nelsen, Surfrider Foundation’s Environmental Director. “The result is a fantastic program

The Surfrider Foundation’s “Ocean Friendly Gardens” program developed from members’ personal contributions to their gardens and landscapes in an effort to restore and protect our oceans, waves and beaches. The results were unique and beautiful residential gardens that attracted the admiration and curiosity of the community.

Ocean Friendly Gardens: A How-To Gardening Guide to Help Restore a Healthy Coast and Ocean is available now at Amazon.com

Ron Jon Surf Shop is launching “50 Days of Ron Jon” – a Twitter based contest designed to promote the world famous surf shop while giving fans 50 daily chances at winning Ron Jon gift cards.

Beginning November 12 through December 31, the 50 Days of Ron Jon contest invites fans to follow Ron Jon Surf Shop on Twitter (twitter.com/ronjons) and win prizes by including the #RonJons hashtag in their tweets. For each day of the contest, of those tweeting #RonJons that day, one winner will be randomly selected to receive a $25 Ron Jon gift card to use at any Ron Jon store location or the ronjons.com online store. On December 31, one grand prize winner will be chosen from all entries received throughout the 50 day contest to receive a $1,000 Ron Jon gift card.

“50 Days of Ron Jon is another fun and interactive way of engaging our fans and surf enthusiasts during this, our company’s 50th anniversary,” commented Heather Lewis, director of marketing at Ron Jon Surf Shop. “Like many businesses, social media has become an integral part of our marketing efforts to keep our brand in front of our target audiences and to engage them through the sources they themselves are utilizing every day.”

All you surfers, skaters, beachgoers, bodyboarders, skimboarders and Ron Jon fans have 50 days to try your luck! Tweet #RonJons on Twitter daily to enter for a chance to win. Full details and contest rules are posted at ronjons.com.

check out more info at ronjohn.com