An upbeat start

January’s Surf Expo set the tone for a positive start for retail in 2020.

When Surf Expo opened its doors to thousands of exhibitors and attendees at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 8-10, little did the world know what the second quarter of the year was going to bring.

A tough hurricane season last fall which wreaked havoc on some of Surf Expo’s Caribbean buyers also led to the September 2019 show being canceled. But optimism appeared to return for the January show with 1,200 exhibitors covering 220,000 square feet of exhibit space for the 6,000 to 7,000 buyers daily in attendance.

Surf Expo kicked off the year full of enthusiasm for the coastal resort and water sports industries.

Daily Fashion shows with models featuring the latest beachwear, resortwear and accessories were packed to the hilt and orders for new merchandise for spring were aplenty.

“Things seem upbeat,” Roy Turner, senior vice president of show organizer, Emerald Exhibition said during the show. “Weather back east and in the Caribbean since hurricane season has been really solid, so I think [retailers] saw some late season growth.”

Turner was optimistic then that retail would continue to see growth through the first and second quarters of 2020, but that positive outlook has proven to be short-lived due to the unforeseen impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, attendance at the show, was up about 5% over the previous January show. And certain product categories were all the rage.

Gaining interest

Health and wellness products were gaining momentum at the show, according to Turner. This included a greater interest in cannaboid oil (CBD) products.

Panel discussions drew large crowds at January 2020 Surf Expo.

A session titled “How to Successfully Incorporate CBD into your Retail Environment” was well attended. The session’s speaker, Ayrn Sieber, founder and CEO CannaCauses Foundation and Cannaiseur Brands advised attendees to make sure their local and state laws allow for the sale of CBD products, and he discussed the importance of staff training.

Sieber suggested retailers give demonstrations to allow customers a chance to sample and better understand the products.

Sustainable products were another area exploding at the January show with several apparel companies showcasing products made from recycled plastic resins or recycled cotton. Items ranged from T-shirts and swim trunks to kids’ hats.

Lots of opportunity

Famous sea life artist Guy Harvey, center, autographs artwork during Surf Expo.

It was evident at Surf Expo that technology, including of radio frequency identification (RFID), social media direct to retail, and other online tools are being embraced by brick-and-mortar retailers.

“I think there is an opportunity right now if you are a retailer or even a manufacturer,” Turner said of the new tech options available.

Though he did not foresee the impact the coronavirus was going to have on the economy, Turner’s words could not ring truer in today’s environment. Embracing technology today is an even wiser decision than it was during Surf Expo. ■

The shows will go on

As many of the spring shows and markets have screeched to a halt to help contain the coronavirus, many in the industry are unsure of what is ahead for the remainder of the year.

On the show website (March 18) and in an email to past participants (March 24), show organizer Emerald Exhibitions states, “We are actively planning the show for Sept. 10 to 12, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.”