The Board Retailers Association (BRA) will hold its board of directors meeting during the SIA Snow Show in Denver next month as part of a new formal partnership between the industry’s two largest trade groups. BRA will also have its own booth on the floor of the show as part of the partnership.
SnowSports Industries America (SIA) represents works year-round with North American snow sports suppliers, retailers, reports, reps and service providers to develop products and programs for their individual and collective business needs. It also produces the industry's largest core winter sports trade show, the SIA Snow Show, along with the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and the Sourcing Snow supplier show. SIA also helps retailers and resorts connect with snow sports participants around the country through Snowlink.com. BRA, on the other hand, represents more than 600 action sports retailers operating more than 2,500 stores in the surf, skate, snow, wake, kite, wind and stand-up paddle industries.
“Over 40 percent of our members, and about 75 percent of our board members carry snow hardgoods and/or softgoods,” said BRA Co-Chairperson Bruce Cromartie, long-time Snow Show attendee and co-owner ofBC Surf and Sport. “The annual Show is integral to our business. Our team is busy all four days and then we attend the On-Snow Demo.”
BRA has exhibited at the Show for the past two years. Making the partnership official will provide both non-profit groups the opportunity to cross-promote its services to the other through membership outreach at the show, through their respective websites and through social media channels. SIA will also assist BRA in its research efforts.
“BRA has been a great SIA partner and we are excited to make it official,” said David Ingemie, SIApresident. “Snow sports products are integral to action sport retail and the Board Retailers Association does a great job representing that mutual interest.”
BRA is recharging its efforts with several new Board members to be appointed in 2014 and events like its Retailer Town Halls held earlier this month.
Member-owned, industry-inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the 2014 SIA Snow Show is scheduled for January 30-February 2, 2014 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver followed by the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort from Feb. 3-4, 2014. For more information, updates, registration for the 2014 SIA Snow Show, visit SIAsnowshow.com.
