Three familiar faces will be absent from the upcoming ASR trade show in September. Sole Technology, Podium Distribution, and C1RCA have all pulled the plug on their involvement with the September show. Group Show Director Andy Tompkins says the timing of the show and the general state of the economy are the main issues at hand.
“For these footwear brands that have larger runs, they’re really pushing to get their buys done before the end of August,” says Tompkins. “Historically, C1RCA and Sole Tech have been scaling back their presence at the show for years, so this really came as no surprise.
“The economy is definitely playing a part here,” Tompkins continues. “These are companies that have experienced layoffs, and PacSun’s announcement that they were dropping sneakers probably contributed to their decisions. It’s just harder for brands to sell through.”
Sole Technology Senior VP of Marketing Don Brown says this is a move his company has been contemplating for quite some time. “We really just wanted to be more proactive in reaching out to our retailers and really engaging them in a way that we can’t at ASR,” Brown says.
In lieu of the September show, Sole Tech will be focusing its energy—and its half-a-million-dollar budget—on smaller regional shows, as well as having retailers visit the Sole Tech campus in Lake Forest, California. “We have a more intensified focus on reaching out and getting retailers to come to us. There’s a lot here to attract people. We have the etnies skate park, the store, the warehouse, and we want the retailers to get a better feel for what we do.”
Sole Technology Pulling Out of ASR September
June 3, 2008 by boardretailers
Sole Technology, Podium Distribution and Circa will not be exhibiting at the ASR September show in San Diego this year. Instead, Sole Technology plans to use their $500,000 tradeshow budget to participate in smaller shows more in line with their buying season and to bring customers to their new state of the art green facility.
Dealers will still buy those brands, and skaters will, too. Having hot-sh*t riders and models (shoes, not skaters) will do more for sales than a trade show.
I have been going to ASR for almost 20 years - Since my shop is way up in Canada I do not get to see all the latest and greatest - as often as say the So Cal shops do.
We do have sales reps that visit - some only once a year though.
I go to ASR to be able to see everything - all in one place.
Sole Tech - and others decision to pull out seems like a little kid at the playground - saying "it's my ball - and I am going home"
I will still continue to sell Sole Tech brands - as I have been a dealer since day one - but I will be re-thinking my open to buy with them.
Everything I hear about ASR suggests that it's soul-sucking and awful; so who cares if Emerica isn't showing?
I've been once in five years. Since I don't deal in soft goods, it's pretty much a waste of time for me. Also, virtually none of my suppliers do the massive pre-book campaigns, so again, it's not imperative that I attend.
I pretty much had my fill of trade shows when I was a freelance journalist, so I really don't feel like I'm missing a whole lot by not attending ASR.
Seems like the story about Sole Technologies, Circa and Podium pulling out of ASR is pretty big news for the Industry—there is a lot of talk on the message boards, and the commenter’s are all over the place on their opinions. Some think ASR is dead, while others say that there’s no way the buyers want it to go away. A lot of people are pointing to PacSun not selling closed toe shoes as part of the culprit, while others think it’s our changing climate and this wonderful recession the country is in. On Silverfish Longboarding, a commentator says that he will no longer support those companies who pulled out. On the other hand, “Mile_High_Mark” says, “Dealers will still buy those brands, and skaters will, too. Having hot-sh*t riders and models (shoes, not skaters) will do more for sales than a trade show”.
The most varied comments, however, are found on the Transworld Business site. “Jason Bergman” complains that ASR has turned into a regional show and its dead, while “Warren” says, “I think it is very arrogant of the companies to think that they can simply do more regional shows. It may work out for the shops form SoCal - but some of us travel a great distance to see all of the products in one place. That IS the idea of a trade show - right? The companies have done it to them selves - moving deadlines earlier and earlier every season.” Another user, “Big Picture”, agrees, stating that, “Tradeshows roll like the stock market and those that pull out when the going gets a little tough usually lose the most money. In a world of vertical retailers taking larger portions of the market I think these companies are better served standing united with the industry. An Island can be a lonely place.” However, the commentator goes on to say that, “ASR needs to change with the times and spice up the shows like the old days.”
So, what I want to know is what you think. If you’re on this site, I assume you attend ASR, or are looking to attend. What’s your opinion of tradeshows in general?
Footwear Brands Pull Out Of September ASR
