I remember the first day Karen Carr and I arrived at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for the Fort Lauderdale Souvenir & Resort Show. It was nervous anticipation as she, the publisher, and I, the editor, walked into the exhibit hall wearing our matching khakis and teal shirts bearing the Seaside Retailer logo.
How would the industry receive us? Would they want to subscribe to our new publication? Would they be interested in being interviewed for articles? Would they support our efforts with advertising?
Our fears were quickly assuaged by the very first exhibitor we encountered. Not only was she friendly but she believed in what we were doing: creating a new magazine for beach, coastal and nautical retailers. It was a way for her to get the word out about her products to potential customers in the retail sector she was targeting.
Not only that, but the pages would be filled with articles geared toward retailers who specialize in this type of merchandise. There are so many of these stores in coastal communities across the United States, and yet there was no magazine that tailored content to them. Until now.
For the rest of the show and from that day forward, we knew that we were on the right track and that there was a need for what we were planning. The buzz for our new magazine just spiraled with every show we attended, every store owner we met and every Instagram post we added. It is with that same enthusiasm that I share our premiere issue with you. I hope it exceeds your expectations.
"The goal of the magazine is to build on the already amazing community that exists between buyers, sellers and events."
A special thank-you goes out to the advertisers in this issue who have put their trust in what we are doing. Without your support, this magazine would not be possible. I also want to thank those who have signed up to receive the magazine. The articles and information that appear in Seaside Retailer are designed with you in mind to provide valuable advice, important news and, of course, inspiration for your store.
The goal of the magazine is to build on the already amazing community that exists between buyers, sellers and events. We are just one more cog in the wheel of this amazing industry, and we are so thrilled to be a part of it.
As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” I look forward to working with all of you and seeing what we can accomplish.
