Collective Shows Show Director Devon Ranger and Head of Sales and Buyer Relations Rachel Nobles. Photo courtesy of Collective Shows.
Collective Shows returned this week to Huntington Beach, California, with a notable increase in brands, retailers, and energy on the show floor.
“It’s our biggest show since the pandemic in terms of the number of exhibitors and retailers,” said Show Director Devon Ranger.
There was a waiting list for exhibitors because the show ran out of space, and took up every possible nook and cranny at the Paséa Hotel and Spa including a ballroom, meeting rooms, breezeways, a tent on the patio and other spaces.
Exhibitors and retailers we talked to were pleased with the increased size and energy of the show.
“It’s the best show they have had in a while,” said Amy Morrison, a buyer with the 14-studio Power Life Yoga in the Midwest. “There are more vendors, more cute stuff.”
Emily Dahmer and Amy Morrison of Power Life Yoga studios in the Midwest. Photo by SES.
The exhibitor list included brands such as Rhone, Birkenstock, Varley, Free People Movement, Beyond Yoga, TravisMathew, Z Supply, OneOne, Becca, Frankies Bikinis, Kulani Kinis, Malai, Sea Folly, Stone Fox, and many other brands in footwear, accessories, and jewelry.
The robust list of brands attracted a strong roster of retailers including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Equinox, Revolve, KSL Resorts, Miraval Resorts, Food Pantry / Sullivan Family (HI), Detail Deluxe, Discovery Land Co, Backcountry, Carbon 38, Bloomingdale’s, Miraval Resorts, Curl Surf, evo, Tyler’s, REI, Surfside, Las Olas, Stitchfix, MGM Resorts, and more.
Billabong and RVCA were both at the show with both their women’s and men’s lines.
“The show has been really good, we got some great new leads,” said Chad Mitchell, who sells Billabong Men’s in several states. “We’ve seen a mix of big box stores, small specialty stores, and resorts.”
Mandy Gates and Yvonne Campbell Billabong of Billabong. Photo by SES.
It was the first time showing Billabong Men’s at the Collective Shows, and Chad thinks it makes sense because a lot of resorts sell men’s products, too.
Industry account Tyler’s, which operates eight brick-and-mortar stores in Texas in addition to an airport location and e-commerce site, was also at the show.
Head buyer Cara Williams said one of the big reasons Tyler’s came to the show was to see swim brand Kulani Kinis, which has really taken off this year. She and the team also saw Beach Riot, Rhone, Becca, Beyond Yoga, Glyder, and a brand called Varley, which Cara was especially excited about.
“Their fabrics are so beautiful – it’s like wearing air,” she said. “We’re getting our first shipment in August – we’re starting with lifestyle product – and want to look at active, too.”
The Collective Shows will have a new twist this fall – in November, Collective will host a marketplace as part of Outdoor Retailer Winter November 6-8 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Then the shows will return to the seaside setting of Paséa in the summer of 2025, Devon said.
Tizi Adams, Cara Williams, and Kristi Bearden of important industry account Tyler’s in Texas. Photo by SES.
See more photos from the show below in our slide show.
