Retailers of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding-related products worldwide have been flocking to the ASR (Action Sport Retailer) trade show for almost 30 years. It is the industry one-stop shop for the season’s new boards, trucks, wheels, shoes, apparel, eyewear, accessories, and everything in between.
Although the show has made cameos in other cities and venues throughout its history, the San Diego Convention Center has been the site of choice for the event, where manufacturers of all kinds of merchandise load their booths with products and welcome merchants to fill out sales orders.
This frontside 5-0 on the Volcom Stone made Shawn Gutierrez $1,500 richer.
(Photo by Luiz Calado).
While the show is a type of gauge of business within the industry, it is not all work and no play – on the contrary. There is always some skate competition on the program and, as early as 4PM, numerous exhibitors begin serving drinks and cocktails to select guests in their own booth. Others have bands playing, or girls in bikinis – whatever it takes to draw attention.
2010 was no different… Well, maybe a little.
Another retail show, the skateboarding-only Crossroads, joined forces with ASR and gathered an extra cluster of brands right across the street, on the parking lot of the Petco Park stadium.
Crossroads is the growth result of professional skater Jamie Thomas’ Black Box Distribution open houses, which were held in its headquarters in Carlsbad, CA. With a relaxed atmosphere and outdoors vibe, the show proved popular with many skate brands that had felt marginalized at the other larger, multi-sport trade show.
In 2009, Crossroads began to overlap the ASR show calendar dates and this year, both teamed up with goal of creating the best possible retail show for the skateboarding industry. The partnership deal is good for both 2010 shows (the next show is scheduled for August 13-15)...
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