Press release:
(January 21, 2014) – Coming off two record-breaking shows, Surf Expo again drew strong attendance from 47 U.S. States and 49 Countries at the January 9-11 show in Orlando, Florida.
“With more exhibitor booths, and more first-time buyers and stores in attendance, the result was a vibrant marketplace. We always strive to bring together a quality mix of exhibitors and buyers—and the feedback confirms that we achieved this goal. We are pleased that we continue to be a show known for generating business, ” said Surf Expo Show Director, Roy Turner.
“We wrote paper for SUPs, surfboards, fins, bodyboards, skimboards, plus all kinds of accessories,” said Kim Ball, Owner of Hi-Tech Surf Sports in Maui. “Our girls were booked with clothing, footwear, sunglass and swimwear appointments all 3 days, picking up some new lines. We even picked 4-5 new lines on the resort side.”
Among the more than 2,500 booths, there were more than 230 first time exhibitors at Surf Expo, an increase of 6% from the January 2013 show. Clayton Pequignot, owner of Waveflo and first time exhibitor at Surf Expo commented, “We accomplished all objectives and then some, so the show was a smashing success from our perspective.”
“The show was great and I found quite a few new gift and juniors clothing lines and left paper with them all. I’m excited to get some lines that are not the usual things one would see in Santa Barbara,” said Kim Lipp, Buyer, for Surf N Wear’s Beach House in Santa Barbara, CA.
“We indeed had a productive show. We got to choose and see new lines of products as well as known and new suppliers,” said Flavia da Silva, General Manager of Shipwreck Shops, St. Martin.
Eli Marmar, Founding Partner of Freewaters Footwear said, “As a startup, Surf Expo is a great place to be to do business with people you already do business with and to get exposure to a whole new segment.”
The show featured over a quarter million square feet of exhibit space as well as a packed SUP Demo Pool, SUP Yoga Mat, Skate Park and runway fashion shows.
Shawn Swanson, Wellen’s Director of Sales added, “I think one of the biggest benefits of Surf Expo is that everyone is here to do business.”
Highlights from Surf Expo:
– The Endless Summer’s 50th Anniversary celebration kicked off on Thursday night with over 1,000 people attending an exclusive screening and commentary with director Bruce Brown, and stars Robert August and Mike Hynson hosted by The Endless Summer II star, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver.
– The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame recognized nine men and women who have contributed to the development, growth, culture and lifestyle of surfing on the East Coast and saw a record turn out event on Friday night.
– Jim Dunlop of Mystic Surfboards won the 7th Annual Florida Shape Off.
– Volcom’s Wild In The Parks kicked off at Surf Expo. Hundreds of contestants competed in three divisions to win cash and prizes. Team Pain Skate Parks constructed the park.
– Surf Expo exhibitors teamed up with Make-A-Wish Foundation to make a local Florida boy’s dream of becoming a surfer a reality. The boy and his family spent a memorable day at Surf Expo including meeting with Rusty’s founder, Rusty Preisendorfer to be fitted for a custom surfboard. Many exhibitor made donations as well, including beachTuff, Salt Life, Body Glove, Dakine, Globe, Smith Optics and Surf Bandz.
Surf Expo’s summer show will kick off with Board Demo Day on September 3rd and Surf Expo on Thursday September 4 through Saturday, September 6, 2014 in Orlando Florida.
About Surf Expo
Surf Expo is the longest running and largest boardsports and beach/resort lifestyle tradeshow in the world. Produced in January and September, the show features more than 2,300 booths of apparel and hard goods and draw buyers from specialty stores, major resorts, cruise lines and beach rental companies from across the U.S., and more than 69 countries. Voted The Fastest Growing Show in the US by TSNN, Surf Expo hosts a full lineup of special events, demos, fashion shows, and annual award ceremonies. For more information visit www.surfexpo.com. All shows are open to trade only.
