Surf Expo was booming on Friday, with crowded aisles and busy booths.
Several brand executives I spoke with said they were very happy with the number and quality of retailers that attended.
Hurley’s Mark Simpson and Evan Slater.
“From a business standpoint, it’s been extremely consistent,” said Mark Simpson, Vice President of National Sales Specialty for Hurley. “We’ve been busy non-stop. It’s been great.”
Some said they were happy that although Agenda was happening at the same time in Anaheim, it didn’t appear to hurt business in Orlando.
“With two competing trade shows at the same time, there was a chance that Surf Expo would not be as busy,” said John Sherwood Vice President of Sales at Dwindle Distribution. “I’m very happy with the turnout.
John Sherwood at the busy Dwindle booth
“As you can tell,” he said, gesturing to his booth, “we’re busy. And I saw a lot of West Coast retailers here, too.”
Like many companies, Dwindle also had a presence at Agenda, and divided up its team to handle both shows. John said his team at that show had told him Agenda was “really busy” too.
Snowy Lonsway, National Sales Manager at O’Neill Clothing, said while Thursday at Surf Expo was a bit slow, day two had been a nice surprise.
“It’s been a busy show,” he said. “We will support Surf Expo in the future. It’s definitely worth it.”
The only downside was having the show in the first week of January, he said.
Snowy Lonsway of O’Neill Clothing
Surf Expo Show Director Roy Turner said the trade show calendar this year in January was challenging, and Surf Expo had to live with those days because large shows from other industries are also using the convention center in January.
However, next year the January show will be in the second week of the month.
Roy said buyer attendance rose 9.2% vs. the previous January show. Buyers came from many states, including a nice contingent from the Mid-Atlantic north – New York, New Jersey, Maryland. And of course, the Carolinas and Florida, and other states, he said.
“We also picked up some international business that may have previously gone to competitors,” Roy said.
See Page 2 for more about Surf Expo
The floor space side of the business rose about 15%, and space was sold out, he said.
The Quiksilver All 80’s All Day Vert Challenge with Tony Hawk was well attended, and generated excitement at the show.
Roy was also very happy with the Bangers for Bucks contest, where teams from different skate shops in different regions competed. It’s a good way to involve stores in the show and connect different pieces of the industry, Roy said.
With its booming SUP area, and even a parasailing area, Surf Expo is trying to connect businesses focused on water and hopefully open up new business opportunities, Roy said.
“If you are a core surf business there is a marketplace out there that is attached to water, that nobody’s really looked at before,” he said.
He noted how SUP is taking off with resorts, and in areas with no ocean but lots of lakes and rivers.
Firewire CEO Mark Price said Surf Expo was going very well for the surfboard brand when I saw him on Friday.
“Over 90% of our accounts on the East Coast are attending the show,” he said. “The way shows are being done these days, it’s cost effective, and we absolutely want to be here.”
