ASR Launches Show For Jacked Up Shit

It’s nice to know that all the mixed martial arts, freestyle motocross, and tattoo clothing companies won’t be skeezing up the isles of the fall ASR show, but how jacked up is it that there are now enough 909 brands to warrant not only their own magazine, but their own ASR-powered trade show September 5-6, 2008 at the San Diego Hard Rock Hotel called Virtue?

Here are some of the brands that will be showing (try not to laugh, ’cause they’ll kick your ass): Hitman, sinister, Extreme Pain, Punishment, Hostile, Contract Killers, and more.

The inked up, bad-ass, pornstar-dating thug crowd is no doubt huge, but to see it all marketed as fashion makes it look more like some new game show on Japanese television. Then again, we’ll never really understand what motivates people who live that far inland.

Either way, ASR show director Andy Tompkins is stoked:

Virtue has been met with a resounding enthusiasm on both the buyer and exhibitor front,” he says. “Many retailers have benefited by carrying this growing category, but don’t fully understand the market. Virtue will give an all-around look at the products and lifestyle, while also featuring seminars to help retailers to better understand how to make this category work for their businesses.”

And what about a seminar given by Jenna Jameson dating ultimate fighter Tito Ortiz titled “How to Stay In The Fight! MMA in the Marketplace?” We’re almost too scared to go.

Virtue: Powered by ASR Debuts Next Week in San Diego
Events, seminars and collections tailored to the MMA, FMX, the tattoo culture, music and art shine at the Hard Rock,
September 5th and 6th

San Juan Capistrano, CA (August 27, 2008) –Virtue: Powered by ASR debuts a showcase of edgier lifestyle brands this September 5th and 6th in San Diego, CA. Virtue, located across the street from ASR at the new Hard Rock Hotel, will feature collections inspired from the cultures of mixed martial arts (MMA), freestyle motocross (FMX), and tattoo artistry.

“Virtue has been met with a resounding enthusiasm on both the buyer and exhibitor front,” says Andy Tompkins, ASR’s Group Show Director. “Many retailers have benefited by carrying this growing category, but don’t fully understand the market. Virtue will give an all-around look at the products and lifestyle, while also featuring seminars to help retailers to better understand how to make this category work for their businesses.”

The growing interest in these emerging, youth culture brands will benefit from ASR’s 18,000 + attendees to create a robust buying atmosphere. Over 30 brands will be showing at Virtue, including the biggest names in MMA, FMX and tattoo culture lifestyles. A full list of brands is below.

On the eve of Virtue’s debut, Thursday, September 4th, Punishment Athletics and Tito Ortiz will hold a VIP Cocktail Reception & Preview in The Edge & Legends Ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel. VIPs are welcome from 6PM-8PM for an industry networking event and special preview of the exhibit floor.

The next day Tito Ortiz leads a seminar themed “How to Stay In the Fight! MMA in the Marketplace” on September 5th from 12PM-1:30PM in The Edge, Hard Rock Hotel. Learn from the industry’s best as he discusses the rapid growth of the MMA industry and how to increase profits through the momentum of this growing sport and surrounding lifestyle.

Industry leaders address the opportunities and challenges facing the emerging niche markets of MMA, Freestyle Motocross, Tattoo Culture, Art and Music as they become part of mainstream culture during the keynote luncheon on Saturday, September 6th. “Mixed Culture Panel Discussion – Dissecting the Retail Impact of Emerging Brands” will be moderated by Vipe Desai of Propaganda HQ at noon in The Edge ballroom. The panel will cover the longevity, placement, enthusiasts and unification of these markets.

Come meet the Hart behind the Hart & Huntington brand, during an autograph session post seminar at the Hart & Huntington display in the Hard Rock’s Abbey Road on Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th at 2PM.

To see a full list of brands and events at Virtue, please go to VirtueByASR.com. Register once for both ASR and Virtue at ASRbiz.com. Registration is free for qualified buyers through August 29th.

Brands showing at Virtue By ASR include:
Tapout
Triumph United
Premier Fighter
Hitman
Sinister
MMA Authentics
Extreme Pain
Adell Ink
Toe to Toe
Punishment
Sullen
Hart & Huntington
Crooked Jaw
MMA Classics
Contract Killers
Valhalla
Kush Kills
Mob Star
Rev Gear
Bad Boy
5th Sun
Hostile
Kana Beach
Inked Magazine
Throwdown
Adx
Yellowman
Grudge
Stagr
Miss Emmae
Eternal United