Coastal Connections Conference announces 2026 speaker lineup

The show will feature eight expert-led educational sessions designed specifically to help coastal retailers thrive.

October 2023 Coastal Connections Conference

Aaron Lockwood

The Coastal Connections Conference is bringing a wave of top retail talent to this year’s educational lineup. The conference, taking place immediately following Surf Expo, Sept. 18-20, at Margaritaville Resort Orlando, will feature eight educational sessions designed to provide hands-on strategies and actionable insights tailored to the unique challenges of running a seaside store.

Kicking off the conference is Kathy Cruz, founder of Savvy Shopkeeper, with an energizing keynote session, A Coastal Retailer’s Profit Playbook. Designed specifically for beach and coastal retailers, the session will dive into smart strategies for riding the tides of seasonal business and turning peak traffic into steady, sustainable profit long after the crowds head home.

Two packed days of educational sessions on Sept. 19 and 20 also include insights from retail experts covering a range of revenue-boosting topics, including:

• Patricia Norins, co-founder of IndERA / Blue Butterfly LLC will share how social media is changing retail landscapes
• Ciara Stockeland, founder of The Inventory Genius, will share practical strategies for tracking, ordering and managing inventory
• Cathy Donovan Wagner, owner of RETAILMavens, will share ways to improve revenue generation and maximize sales
• Michael Hale, CEO, founder and creative director of Retail REHAB, will offer fresh, high-impact merchandising strategies for coastal retailers
• Jennifer Johnson, owner of The Confident Entrepreneur, will share ways to use strategic PR and media coverage to build retail visibility

The Coastal Connections Conference will also tackle one of the most important topics facing coastal businesses today with a powerful panel discussion focused on navigating catastrophic events and building a stronger path to recovery. Patrick Keiser of Heart on Main Street will lead the session “Coming out of the Storm” with panelists Casey Smith of One Amazing Find/Gifted, Tarpon Springs, Florida; Richard Johnson of Bailey’s General Store, Sanibel Island, Florida; and Karen Sotomura of Waikiki Christmas Stores, Waikiki, Hawaii, sharing firsthand experience managing the aftermath of devastating disasters that impacted their retail businesses and communities.

Attendees will also get the inside track from top beach, coastal and nautical wholesalers about their latest product offerings, industry trends, buying advice and more during informal sit-down interviews with the vendors who are exhibiting at Coastal Connections Conference’s Boardwalk event during the Boardwalk Chat session.

“It was a great way to learn about each brand and what they offered. It made meeting them at The Boardwalk even more efficient and personable,” said past attendee Cici Davis of Cinnamon Bay Resort in St. John, Virgin Islands.

The Coastal Connections Conference is known for its memorable education opportunities, and past attendees say this has kept them coming back to the show to learn more.

“Coastal Connections is so different from the other events I attend around the country that are purely for buying products,” says Kim Springsteen-Abbott of Lady Gryphon Shop in Swedesboro, New Jersey. “They really care about the retailer and want us to grow through education.”

Early Bird rates are still available for the Coastal Connections Conference. Register and learn more at www.coastalconnectionsconference.com.