IASC Skateboarding Summit starts today

The International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) Skateboarding Summit gets underway this morning at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange, Calif.

We’ll post photos and a summary of the panels as soon as possible.

Tonight, I’ll be doing a live Q & A at the summit with keynote speaker Chris Carter, co-founder of Alien Workshop/DNA Distribution, which I’m looking forward to.

Chris will have some interesting things to say about building a skate powerhouse from Ohio, why the company sold to Burton, and his feelings about the state of the skate industry.

Here’s the Summit schedule:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

9:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

10:00 a.m. Welcome: Josh Friedberg – IASC Executive Director, Mike Duncan – BRA Executive Director

10:30 a.m. Keynote: Greg Koch – CEO & Co-Founder of Stone Brewing Co.

11:45 a.m. State of Skate: Don Brown – IASC Chairman, Overview of where the skateboarding industry is today and where it’s headed in 2011.

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:45 p.m. Retailer Panel: Retailers come together in an open discussion about current challenges facing the skate industry and share innovative solutions and ideas.

2:45 p.m. Manufacturer Panel: Innovation isn’t limited to product breakthroughs. Some of the most innovative manufacturers in the skateboard industry discuss their creative approaches to working with retailers in the modern business environment.

4:00 p.m. Consumer Behavior: From oxygen to entertainment, people are constantly consuming. Retailers and manufacturers bank on it and the way it’s done effects your business from your marketing campaigns to the bottom line. Now with millions of ways to consume, how is consumer behavior changing and do you have an effective strategy to reach your target market?

5:00 p.m. Merchandising, Planning and Innovation through Communication: How retailers and manufacturers can open the lines of communication through forecasts, merchandise planning, and customer feedback for a more successful relationship.

6:00 p.m. Happy Hour – Dinner

7:15 p.m. Keynote Address: Chris Carter, Founder of Alien Workshop / DNA Distribution

8:30 p.m. Bowling Partayyyyyy! At Lucky Strike Lanes

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

9:30 a.m. The Future of Skateparks: Skateparks are a key part of growing participation. From organizing community efforts for public parks to building successful private skateparks, learn how the people who spend their days creating new places to skate see the future of purpose-built skateboarding terrain.

10:30 a.m. Managing a Modern Career: Pro Skateboarders and their management teams discuss navigating the maze of opportunities and challenges facing pro athletes throughout a long-term career.

11:45 a.m. Growing Participation: There are multiple approaches to getting more people involved in skateboarding. This panel discussion will highlight those who are moving the needle as they share their perspective on how to grow and sustain participation.

12:45 p.m. Lunch

2:15 p.m. Workshops: Break out sessions with panelists and interactive workshops on hot-button topics as chosen by Summit attendees.

4:00 p.m. New Media: A discussion with industry experts on the challenges brands, retailers and media are facing in the online / social / mobile environment of today and the future. What’s working, what’s not and why.

5:00 p.m. The Distribution Dilemma: Group Q&A about the current state of distribution. What manufacturers and retailers want, who’s doing it right, and how to make a change.

6:00 p.m. Happy Hour – Dinner

7:00 p.m. The Takeaway: Josh Friedberg – IASC Executive Director

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE – THE INNOVATORS PANEL SCHEDULED FOR 7:15 PM ON 4/27 HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE TAKEAWAY WILL BEGIN AT 7:00 PM INSTEAD. AT 7:30 PM THERE WILL BE AN EXPLORATORY MEETING ADDRESSING THE STATE OF TRADE SHOWS FOR IASC PREMIUM MEMBERS.

We have opted to cancel the Athlete Innovators panel to address this important topic. This is open only to IASC premium member companies and manufacturers.