Footwear Brands Pull Out Of September ASR

[sk8norcal]

Transworld Business Footwear Brands Pull Out Of September ASR | Transworld Business

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.”

more..........

[Warren]

Two comments:

1) I guess the Pac Sun deal is costing more $$ than all the manufacturers are willing to admit.

2) I guess I know who to support (hint - not those that pulled out of the show)

[sk8norcal]

warren, why not support Sole Technology ?

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.

[skategeezer]

hmm...

this raises all kinds of issues...

[Mile_High_Mark]

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.

[Warren]

warren, why not support Sole Technology ?

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.

[Wells]

Everything I hear about ASR suggests that it's soul-sucking and awful; so who cares if Emerica isn't showing?

[Alpha06]

Eh...it happens. Not as a big of a deal as what I thought it would be when I saw the thread title.

[Mile_High_Mark]

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.

[sk8norcal]

MHM, you got blogged....


from ASR Blog

June 05, 2008
The State of the Tradeshow

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?


** I noticed that blog is part of http://www.nielsenbusinessmedia.com/d.html
??

[Mile_High_Mark]

Oh lord...

[Alpha06]

MHM, even you cant hide from the intarweb.

[CL]

Everything I hear about ASR suggests that it's soul-sucking and awful; so who cares if Emerica isn't showing?

Agreed. Screw ASR. Nothing worse then a huge gathering of mostly non-skateboarding business men trying to gain more money off of something they dont even really care about. I give you props though sk8norcal, at least your consistent with caring about everything that doesnt really matter in skateboarding. Keep up the good work of shedding more light on the trivial aspects of the skateboarding word.

Really, as a skater, why would ANY of us care about a shoe company pulling out of a convention?

[Warren]

Wow - I guess my 2 seconds of fame starts now . . . whoops - over.

The 'fish' is getting bigger all the time.


As to the comments of sole sucking [pun intended] Trade shows like ASR / Surf Expo / SIA / Interbike / etc. aren't about "the bro down" even though that happens.
They are about business - and doing business.
As a shop owner / manager - I can only afford so many days off a year to go see product - if I have to go to multiple shows - vs. one show - to se all the product lines (and I do carry clothing / shoes / watches / sunglasses / back packs / snowboards / etc / etc) it makes WAY more business sense to go to a "one stop shopping" type of show.


As for the "skaters" - no it makes no difference to you at all if they pull out of the show. But to a shop owner / buyer - it matters.

[sk8norcal]

Agreed. Screw ASR. Nothing worse then a huge gathering of mostly non-skateboarding business men trying to gain more money off of something they dont even really care about. I give you props though sk8norcal, at least your consistent with caring about everything that doesnt really matter in skateboarding. Keep up the good work of shedding more light on the trivial aspects of the skateboarding word.

Really, as a skater, why would ANY of us care about a shoe company pulling out of a convention?

yeah, CL, I need to focus more on what shoe I should buy next instead of what these greedy shoes companies are up to.

Originally Posted by CL
Hell yeah, those are some badass kicks. i just saw a friend with them on the other day, and i might just have to bite his style...and yours.

[krayola]

Well said. It's a power play in an attempt to say we don't need the show. Been to many shows and when a large brand does this it's internal financial woes and they are over extended.

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.

[Warren]

Nothing worse then a huge gathering of mostly non-skateboarding business men trying to gain more money off of something they dont even really care about.

I am gonna guess that you have not been to ASR - or any other of the 'board sports' specific trade shows.

While there are some of the "suits" you speak of - the VAST majority of the people at these shows are independent retailers (ie people that own or work for single or very small chain stores).

Trade shows are one of the few times when I get to see not only all the products but I also get to see all of my friends in one place.