ASR September 2009

There was a greater number of vendors and displays kept their impressive tone, but attendance took a hit in terms of those walking the floor.

SAN DIEGO, CA (Sept. 14, 2009) – For those who aren’t quite fond of a buzzing crowd but still enjoy the displays of a trade show, the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) September 2009 was just right for you. Unlike previous years, where the parking lot is full by noon and throngs of people make it hard to walk the floor, the September 2009 trade show had plenty of vendors flaunting their goods but not the usual crowd swirling the booths.

This year’s second installment of the ASR witnessed a significant improvement in terms of vendor attendance when compared to the January show. Early this year, the action sports industry had a major setback in turnout at the convention center, to the point that a part of the floor was sectioned off by a tarp, concealing the unfilled space. By contrast, this year there was no such tarp and booths, skate ramps, and lounges sprawled across the entire pavilion.

But while the industry slowly reclaims its presence at the San Diego Convention Center, public attendance is still lagging. The throngs of people flooding the aisles were certainly not there, even though vendors continued to surprise when it came down to impressive displays – impressive either by shock or awe. Reef, which in years past has been phasing out the sex appeal, re-introduced the trademark Reef girls, who stood on a podium, flashing their scantly clad behinds.

Billabong brought a full array of surfboards, featuring watercrafts shaped by some of San Diego’s best shapers, who were then to attend the auction of their surfboards. And Volcom, a clothing company keen on setting up raucous presentations, had a full showdown, where colorful costumes and sun-screened faces highlighted a paradise theme. Even free waffles could be found at the Vans Off the Wall stand.

The gradual return of vendors to the ASR September 2009 dawns an optimistic prospect for the industry. However, the relative absence of those walking the floor, many of whom tend to be retailers, reveals a struggling market, in which small businessmen are having difficulties coping with the drop in consumer spending and a scarcity of credit lines. But now that the tarp has been removed and the space filled, the January installment of the ASR 2010, if the trend continues, is to expect a return of the retailer.

Link

Photos from ASR September 2009

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