ASR’s fractionalized trade show (February 3-4, 2010) had it all broken down into three zones: cool fashionista upstairs in Class (above), surf dogs and street fighters down the escalator in Access (below) and all the skateboarders in the PetCo Parking lot (way below).
The main isle of the ASR Access Show. See that’s stripped wall? That’s the end.
You don’t realize how much energy all the skate companies bring to ASR Show until they’re at their own venue across the street. We’ve never done so much walking just to see all our people. Not that we mind. We’re just saying.
More photos and commentary will be posted later. Right now, it’s time for the Grant Brittain signing in room 25B upstairs and the over to Tum Yeto HQ for the Skate Park of Tampa x The Skateboard Mag Amatuer Awards.
When the Snow Industries of America announced it was moving the SIA Trade Show to Denver after a few decades in Las Vegas we were not happy about it. In fact, every time we thought about making travel plans for SIA 2010 we remembered where it was being held and put it off to another day.
Having spent part of a late January in Denver in the past, complete with 30 below zero temps and 50 mph winds nearly blowing us off the highway, we weren’t looking forward to making the trek. No matter how many times C3 Worldwide president and SIA Board Secretary Bob Gundrum listed the reasons why the show would be better without the all-night partying and drinking that Vegas delivers, all we could think about was those $49 flights, $35 hotel rooms and nights at the Hard Rock’s Center Bar. After 20 years in Las Vegas we had it down and weren’t into everything changing.
But that was before the show. Now, at the other end of four days with friends in one of the nicest, cleanest, convention centers in the world, we’ve mostly forgotten about the rest. And there was a lot to forget. Police storming our hotel the night before we arrived, the drug dealers who said “Hey,” as we walked down the street, the pimp having words with two of his employees in the lobby of our hotel, bums fighting in McDonald’s at 8 in the morning, and Denver’s general urban-blighted-ghetto feel faded into the background. We left town with a much more positive view of the SIA venue change and it seems we’re not alone.
Seems everyone just got back from a SIMA Surf Summit, but that’s not stopping anyone from getting back on track. This year’s Surf Summit, scheduled for May 12-15, 2010, will be for both surf manufacturers and retailers (if there are any left).
This year the annual Surf Summit conference will be taken to the next level by unifying the SIMA and BRA conferences into one event that will truly encompass and showcase the entire surf industry. With a larger manufacturer and retailer presence and a stronger representation of the industry’s top leaders, Surf Summit 13 will be a more complete union of the tribe. . . “Surf Summit can only be made better by including the Board Retailers Association members and staff,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and VP of Marketing for Vans. “I’m really pleased that the BRA leadership agrees in all the mutually beneficial gains that can be generated by combining our forces for this important leadership event going forward.”
Wonder if they’re going to invite any members of the independent boardsports media? Follow the jump for more info. [click to continue…]
Core mall retailer Zumiez apparently wasn’t happy with the performance of their store at The District at Tustin Legacy mall in Southern California’s Orange County, according to a post in the OC Register.
Kim Daskas, spokeswoman for Vestar, which owns The District sent me this statement: “The Zumiez closure comes at a time when many chains are downsizing and restructuring to meet the challenges of the recent economic downturn. As always, Vestar will take the lead role in finding an appropriate replacement store selected to improve and complement our retail mix.”
You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.
Apparently, UNIV’s Tim Swart will occasionally speak when a camera is rolling. Guess Jim Shubin and the ASR Live crew are tame enough, and check that Class @ ASR plug at the end. . . that’s called synergy.
Frankfurt, Germany’s skate and sneaker show Bright goes down this weekend. It’s a little late to book tickets, but if you live down the street check it out.
Ken “Skindog” Collins had the VeeCo booth packed all day long.
Each winter sales rep organizations like the Western Winter Sales Rep Association host pre-shows where snowboard retailers can check out next year’s products without having to travel too far.
Today, we stopped by the WWSRA’s NorCal Pre-Show at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California and were lucky enough to get out with some photos of what’s coming up for winter 2011.
A bill that would “effectively ban manufacturers from dictating minimum prices to dealers” has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee according to a story on Sports One Source.
The Discount Pricing Consumer Protection Act of 2009, or H.R. 3190, was passed out of the full committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Henry Johnson, D-GA, currently has only two co-sponsors, including Rep. John Conyers Jr, D-MI. The Senate has yet to vote on a companion bill (S 148) sponsored by Sen. Herb Kohl, former head of the Kohl’s Department Store chain.
Will be interesting to see how this effects snowboard pricing next year.
Willmington, North Carolina skate and surf shop Doublewide at 24 Front St. will have to close for 60-90 days thanks to the building being ruled “unsafe” by an engineering firm, according to the Star News Online.
Jimmy Ellington, owner of Doublewide Skate & Surf Shop, said his business will remain closed until repairs are complete. . . “Hopefully we’ll only be closed or shut down for a 60 to 90 day period,” he said. . . Ellington said closing temporarily during the winter months would cost the company less than it would to move to a new building. The company also has a second location at 14921 U.S. 17 in Hampstead.
How’s that for a glitch in the 2010 revenue model. Good thing they have a great online store and are part of Berrics Unified. That ought to get them through.
The week before the skate world gathered in Huntington Beach, California for The Berrics Agenda Show another gathering of skateboarders went down in Philledelphia, Pennsylvania at The Focus Show. Here’s a little video of the event. For more info click the link.
