The Coastal Connections Conference was designed for retailers to gain meaningful connections, not only with other retailers, but also with wholesalers who offer relevant product offerings. Following the last of the educational sessions, attendees gained exclusive entrance to The Boardwalk, featuring 30 of the most sought-after beach, coastal and nautical brands. Set in a beach-themed meeting space with large windows revealing a tropical landscape, The Boardwalk captured a laid-back vibe for attendees to do their buying in a relaxed environment.
The Boardwalk exhibitor experience brought in vendors from 30 top brands to interact with and display their offerings in a tabletop exhibit area that was bright and beachy, in line with the theme of the event. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from each exhibitor during a unique session on Monday afternoon called The Boardwalk Chat.
Each exhibiting company was brought onto the Coastal Connections Conference stage individually and sat down with Seaside Retailer Publisher Karen Carr for a one-on-one discussion in front of attendees. Vendors were asked about trends, top-selling product offerings and what they like about working with seaside retailers.
Boardwalk participant Victor Armendariz of Wild Republic had this to say about the entire experience: “What I found most advantageous was The Boardwalk Chat. Having an opportunity to address a room full of current and potential buyers is fantastic.”
The Boardwalk vendors included: Bags by Bruno, Bali Queen, Bamboo Source Tropical Decor, Beachables, Beachmate, Blue Iguana, Caloosa WaterWear, Cotz, Country Home Creations, Devi & Co, Dune Jewelry, Fin Pin Shop, First & Main, Impulse Souvenirs, Jackie Gallagher Designs, Kay Hova Art, Mac Daddy,
Meadowbrook Gourds, Melissa Lew, MTO Performance Wear, Nomadic State, North Swell, Nau-T-Girl Jewelry, Ocean World Imports, Patti Biggs, The Cottonseed Marketplace, The Wellington Michael Collection, Town Pride, True Ocean and Wild Republic.
Attendees also appreciated being able to learn about companies from the comfort of their seats. “It was a great way to learn about each brand and what they offered. It made meeting them at The Boardwalk event more efficient and personable,” said attendee Cici Davis, of Cinnamon Bay Resort, St. John, Virgin Islands.
