Everyone loves the beauty of the coast, the ocean breezes and the sun and sand. As a seaside retailer, you love it so much, you even decided to set up shop near the shore. But with this beautiful backdrop also comes weather events that can often be catastrophic.
For retailers and wholesalers in Florida, this hurricane season was particularly difficult. Within a week in late September and early October not just one but two hurricanes made landfall, causing flooding and wind damage to residences and businesses. Other parts of the Southeast were also pummeled with rain and flooding. The loss of life, the catastrophic damage and loss of power for days or weeks took a toll on many.
Our hearts go out to every one of you who had to go through such a terrible event. I know some stores in Florida had just reopened from Hurricane Ian just two years ago and now this experience has created even more setbacks.
It is at times like this when things can seem hopeless, but I assure you things will get better. It may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you will come out on the other side, stronger and more resilient than you ever thought possible.
Seaside Retailer is donating a portion of proceeds from the November/December issue to Heart on Main Street’s Disaster Relief Fund. We are also offering a can’t-miss session, “Coming out of the Storm” at the February 2025 Coastal Connections Conference.
It is our mission at Seaside Retailer to create opportunities for coastal retailers by providing information on trends, business advice, ideas and access to relevant wholesalers. As we turn the page on 2024 and start the chapter on a new year, we hope to give you the tools to make 2025 your best year yet!
Correction: In the article “All Paws on Deck,” which appeared in the September/October 2024 issue, the photography credit was listed incorrectly. The photos should have been credited to John Eric Dove. We apologize for the error.
