Surf Expo Shifts Dates to August
Atlanta-based action-sports trade show Surf Expo, a production of DMG World Media, has announced a major shift in its show dates. Typically held in January and late September, Surf Expo will move its fall show for this coming year to Aug. 20–22. Its venue, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will remain the same.
A release from show organizers points to manufacturers’ earlier line breaks and retailers finishing their buying by the second week of September as motivations for the shift. Competing show Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo, which usually precedes Surf Expo’s September edition, will take place Sept. 10–12 in San Diego.
“During our 33-year history, we have always responded to emerging trends and shifts in the way business is conducted,” said Lori Kisner, senior vice president of DMG, in a statement. “Retailers must now juggle far more in-store rep visits and dealer meetings in August than they’d like.”
With its new earlier August dates, Surf Expo has the potential of finding itself competing with the behemoth MAGIC Marketplace, Project Global Trade Show and Pooltradeshow trinity, which lands in Las Vegas in August. Owned by Woodland Hills, Calif.–based Advanstar Communications, the three shows have not yet released their August dates, but they are typically held during the fourth week of August and run concurrently with many other apparel trade shows in Las Vegas.
In recent years, the MAGIC Marketplace and its cool counterpart, Project, have become targets for action sports–related brands such as RVCA, WeSC, Insight, Altamont and others. In August 2008, the MAGIC Marketplace debuted S.L.A.T.E., a show-within-a-show targeting up-and-coming streetwear, surf and skate brands. During its first edition, S.L.A.T.E. attracted brands such as Hurley, Ezekiel, Ambission, Alpinestars, Element, Quiksilver Limited, Atwater and Stuuml;ssy. —Erin Barajas
