Quiksilver Inc. plans to pull most of its brands out of the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) show, according to a statement from ASR. Roxy, Quiksilver, Quiksilver For Women, Quiksilver Mens and Raisins will all not be at ASR, although DC Shoes will be exhibiting.
“Today Quiksilver told organizers that the brand will miss the January event for the first time since ASR was held in Long Beach,” the statement said.
“ASR continues to look for ways to work with Quiksilver and the industry as a whole through these hard times. By providing retailers from across the globe with a premier venue to see the world's top manufacturers in a focused 3-day event, ASR makes buying possible for retailers of all sizes.”
ASR is lowering some exhibit costs and increasing incentives for buyers traveling to the show in response to the tough times.
The following is the full statement from ASR:
“As the action sports industry's leading trade event, ASR is a direct reflection of the industry it serves,” says Andy Tompkins, ASR Group Show Director. “With retail sales off 30-60%, including action sports specialty, the entire market is feeling the reverberating effects. This includes manufacturers and in turn trade shows. But even in hard times, brands know to go with what works first and for 27 years ASR's been proven itself as the place for brands and retailers to connect.”
Over 425 brands will rely on ASR January to showcase summer and fall product lines under one roof, convenient to retail buyers. The industry's largest established brands including Billabong, Volcom, DC Shoes, O'Neill, Rusty, Element, Vans, Reef, Rip Curl, Matix, DVS, Zoo York, NHS, Dwindle, Fox Head, and DaKine will join together to invest in specialty retailers with a one-stop, efficient buying opportunity. Smaller brands, many of which are able to more nimbly maneuver through the downturn, will continue to shine at ASR this year.
But with the current economic landscape continuing to negatively impact the cash flow for all brands and stock prices for public companies, some brands are being forced to miss selling opportunities that ASR has provided them for many years. Today Quiksilver told organizers that the brand will miss the January event for the first time since ASR was held in Long Beach.
ASR continues to look for ways to work with Quiksilver and the industry as a whole through these hard times. By providing retailers from across the globe with a premier venue to see the world's top manufacturers in a focused 3-day event, ASR makes buying possible for retailers of all sizes.
Beyond providing an efficient show format, ASR will look to lower exhibit costs by providing cost effective pre-packaged exhibits for future January and September events. These efforts may reduce overall exhibiting expense by as much as 30%.
To further ease the financial burden on retail, ASR is buying down hotel rates to unprecedented levels and offering free parking for retailers driving to the show. Along with the platform to work directly with key business partners to navigate the current economic downturn, ASR will also provide a seminar series with a focus on expert business advice on how to survive now and best situate your business for the future.
Some reasons that ASR is more viable then ever this January:
Retailers and reps will not be traveling as much this year, making ASR the best chance to influence and obtain purchase commitments from the lucrative west coast buying audience.
Buyers have been holding off on purchase commitments until they get through the holiday season, so come January dealers will need to re-order product and this provides a great opportunity at ASR to directly advance the sales process.
Retailers want to meet directly with industry executives. They need to hear about co-op marketing programs, in-store support and brand's plans to do to help retailers.
Dealers need to network with each other, advocacy groups and exhibitors to collectively determine how to come through this challenging economy intact.
Brands that maintain their marketing presence will have the best chance of coming through this recession with their company intact, and realize potential sale gains as other brands withdraw and disappear.
