By James Wells
SYDNEY: After two years of negotiations, Shriro Australia has become the exclusive distributor of Skullcandy music headphones aimed at consumers aged 13-19 years of age.
Shriro has signed a number of retailers to stock the Skull Candy products which will be available by the end of May – JB Hi Fi, David Jones, Camera House and Myer.
Shriro Australia general manager – electronics, Brian Humphris, will launch the brand at an exclusive launch party on 4th May in Melbourne and 6 May in Sydney which will feature the internationally-recognised No1 freestyling rapper, SuperNat.
Attending the launch of the brand in Australia is owner and inventor of Skullcandy, Rick Alden.
The two hero products in the range of 25 products which retails from $39.95 to $299.95, are two large ear muff-style
headphones.
The Link Headset (RRP $59.95) features patented technology which allows the headphones to connect simultaneously to a mobile phone and mp3 player.
The SkullCrusher headphones, with patented Bass Boost technology will retail for $129.95.
“Although this technology is featured in other products such as the Snow Board Helmets and jackets from Smith and Jura, this is the first time that this technology has been on the Australian market,” Humphris said.
“The ear muff headphones are an awesome concept which is wickedly cool. and sourced straight from the mountains of Utah. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, Skull Candy was voted the third best new product at the event for Ipod.
“The next wave of mp3 purchasers will be 13 to 18 year-olds and at the moment no one covers this market in headphones. This product is marketed to both boys and girls – they love it as soon as they put it on their heads. It looks completely different to the Double Income No Kinds (DINK) who is walking around wearing neutral-coloured ear buds.
"Created by a group of snowboarders the Skullcandy brand and product is built on the alternative lifestyle desired by today’s youth. Apart from up-to-the-minute fashion designs including camouflage, hot pink and names like ‘Smokin buds’ – the flagship in the range has a built-in sub-woofer. This is a patented technology unique to Skullcandy and has to be heard and felt to be believed.
“One of the buyers from Best Buy in United States said they have been buying headphones for the last 20 years and this is the first time they have seen something new come along in that time,” Humphris said.
Shriro Australia is currently the distributor of Casio, Everdure, Gaggia, Binatone telecommunications products as well as Creative Labs Mp3 players and speakers.