Action Sports Industry Communication
With current market changes, it is important to independent board sport retailers that we have a say in the direction that our industry is headed. BRA communicates and negotiates regularly with manufacturers and trade shows, improving business conditions and profitability for retailers, while working for the betterment of the industry as a whole. Times are challenging and specialty retailers are seeing their market share decrease with manufacturers selling direct to consumer, big box stores and discount chains carrying core brands and the economic recession. It is imperative that retailers have a means to communicate with each other and the industry as a cohesive organization of like-minded action sport shops.
EVENT CALENDAR
BRA compiles a calendar of surf, skate, snow, wake, kite and wind events happening around the country and throughout the world. See what is going on in your hometown. Use the schedule to build retail sales by aligning in-store activities with already existing efforts like Go Skateboarding Day, International Surfing Day or Roll Anything Day!
RETAIL PLANNER
The 4-5-4 Action Sport Retail Calendar is especially suited for use in preparing sales forecasts and operating budgets for specialty retail shops. Utilize the Retail Planner to manage the business and buying cycles, retail holidays, and marketing initiatives.
BLOG/FORUM
Having a central location where you can openly talk business in a controlled and private environment with like-minded retailers from across the country is invaluable. Use the blog to build relationships, maintain contact with colleagues between events and tradeshows, ask advice, seek counsel and exchange ideas, current business stats or information on new product lines. BRA is not liable or responsible for the content of materials posted by individual members, nor does the Association necessarily endorse the opinions as posted on the blog.
MEDIA
The Association puts out a monthly newsletter filled with industry information and events, retail specific tips and cost saving measures, industry analysis and advertisements.
Access all the articles written by BRA and our retail members for publications such as Transworld Business and other industry-related magazines, blogs, forums and websites. These invaluable articles contain information on everything from consumer outreach, renovation, cost-saving tips, keeping it fresh, tricks of the trade and management. Read a motivating and educational article a day and transform your retail world.
To be a successful retailer, you must know your business, how it fits into the industry and everything that is happening with the economy, your vendors and the world at large. Rather than trying to manage the impossible, utilize BRA’s one-stop-shop collection of industry links and news sources for all the action sport industry highlights. BRA has also compiled an industry fact sheet and an archive of all the association press releases available at the click of a button.
In conjunction with ASEC (Action Sports Environmental Coalition), BRA has created a marketing kit on effectively merchandising and advertising green, sustainable products. Action Sports Retailers should be at the forefront of the “green” movement. The marketing kit contains POP, signage and downloadable graphics and royalty-free photos that can be used on any marketing initiatives.
ADVOCACY CENTER
The board sport industry as a whole is comprised of environmentally conscious consumers, athletes, retailers and manufacturers. Between Saving Trestles and opposing development of the toll road, petitioning airline baggage fees for surfboards and snowboards, and supporting SurfAid and Surfrider, there are a number of causes that individuals can get actively involved in. The Advocacy Center is a collection of industry initiatives that need your support.