by Board Retailers Association | Sep 15, 2022 | Brick & Mortar, Corona Virus, HR, Retail Strategy, Safety and preparedness
Credit: Getty Images by SolStock We’ve all witnessed the pandemic’s devastating effects on retail shopping and the significant downturn in customer foot traffic in-store, but experts now point to a major shift in customer behavior. Recent figures, including the consumer stats we’re always monitoring at TrueSource, show that customers are returning to brick-and-mortar locations — some experts even forecast a record sales year for brick-and-mortar locations of certain retail segments. Whether it’s the result of extended home-bound isolation, boredom or some other cause, we can now see that there’s a clear opportunity for smart retailers willing to capitalize on the moment. It’s simple. If you provide a desirable, pleasant, convenient in-person shopping experience, more and more of your absent customers will return. Perhaps more than ever before. And while many companies are investing millions in high-tech additions to their stores (e.g., digital signage and even augmented reality experiences), there’s an incredibly basic action that far too many fail to consistently and thoroughly take. It’s actually shocking to see how many store managers neglect this part of the customer experience, especially considering its weight of importance. I’m talking about cleanliness and order. Simple as that. Imagine … everything sparkling clean, everything in working order, everything in its place. Almost makes you smile to think about, doesn’t it? Your customers have the same reaction when they walk into your space and notice the care and attention to detail you’ve devoted to this all-important aspect of their experience. Related story: 3 Pillars of a Great In-Store Experience Why Cleanliness Counts First impressions matter. We’ve all heard this refrain time and again — in all areas of life, there’s...
by Board Retailers Association | Jul 20, 2022 | Governmental Affairs, Resources, Safety and preparedness, Wake Skate, Wake Surf, Wakeboard
Last week, representatives from the recreational boating industry – including NMMA, WSIA, Heyday, Indmar Marine Engines, and MasterCraft – joined Tennessee Governor Bill Lee for an official signing ceremony of the industry-backed model wakesurfing and wakeboarding legislation. The new law entered into force on July 1, 2022, and marks the first state to adopt the industry’s model legislation. “We appreciate the leadership of Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly in passing this legislation,” said Lee Gatts, Director of Government Affairs for WSIA. “This commonsense legislation enhances safety and maintains the ability for every user group to share the states’ waterways while alleviating environmental impact concerns.” Sponsored by Senator Ken Yager and Representative Dennis Powers, the bill enhances safety requirements for those engaging in wakesurfing and wakeboarding by: Requiring operators to stay at least 200 feet away from all shorelines, docks, piers, or other structures. This means that a channel needs to be at least 400 feet in total width to be considered an appropriate area for these activities. Riders engaging in towed watersports must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Prohibits wakesurfing and wakeboarding between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Prohibits wakesurfing from a boat with an exposed (beyond boarding platform) propeller. Prohibits wakesurfing and wakeboarding on a body of water less than fifty (50) acres in size. “Working in the boating industry and being an avid boater and wakesurfer myself, I personally cannot thank the WSIA and the NMMA enough for stepping in and successfully amending a bill, that that was originally intended to ban wakesurfing in my home state, into a positive piece of...
by Board Retailers Association | Jun 24, 2022 | Community, Safety and preparedness, Wake Skate, Wake Surf, Wakeboard
Pockets in life jackets serve an important purpose. The best life jackets have pockets for a reason – Mario Vittone explains what to keep in them in case of an emergency. Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard When it comes to life jackets, there can be a big difference between what the U.S. Coast Guard requires and what you may need in an emergency. The requirement for having life vests aboard is obvious, but should you go overboard, keeping your head above water isn’t the only thing you’ll need to worry about. In many overboard scenarios, you’ll also need to be found. That’s why my favorite life jackets have something in common: pockets. Choosing a brightly colored life jacket with reflective strips is a good start, but no matter how bright the material, it gets dark at night. Rescuers searching for even the most colorful life vest will have to put a light directly on you for the color or reflective strips to matter. Pockets allow you to tie in a few modern and extremely effective active signals so that your life jacket, and you, will get found easier and faster. Bring a Light Absolutely nothing screams “Look over here!” like a waving flashlight. A small waterproof flashlight that you can point in the direction of a searching boat or aircraft can make a profound difference—and it’s handy around the boat even if you don’t end up in the drink. Search and rescue crews use night vision technology, allowing them to see even the faintest light from great distance. But be careful: night vision goggles are not very good at detecting...
by Board Retailers Association | Jun 2, 2022 | Community, DIY, Industry, Olympics, Safety and preparedness, Skateboard
According to a stat I just made up, there are about one billion cars currently in circulation across the globe. Yeah, cars are a leading cause of global warming and an insane amount of deaths, but they offer endless possibilities for the people who own them. Besides just driving them to your shitty job, you can soup them up Mad Max style, get laid in the backseat, and of course, use them to get an unforgettable clip. Skating on cars is definitely not a new trend. In fact, Natas was doing it 25 years before I could legally drive. Since then the tricks have gone to new heights, just like gas prices, and there have even been entire videos dedicated to skating cars. So in honor of the pioneers of car shredding, we sifted through tons of footage to pick out some of our favorite car clips to share with you. Before you ask, no, this post isn’t sponsored by Toyota like all the US Olympic athletes are. But if anyone from Toyota happens to be reading this, if you give me a free Tacoma, I’ll be sure to skate the bed of the truck and post it to the ‘gram. NATAS KAUPAS – STREETS ON FIRE [1989] Like most things in street skating, Natas is the true trendsetter when it comes to skating on cars. This boardslide in Streets on Fire is likely one of the reasons a ton of contests in the early ‘90s had a random car in the middle of the course. Thankfully, the whole high tops with high socks thing Natas was pushing here was a trend that was lost to time....
by Board Retailers Association | May 9, 2022 | Community, Holiday, Industry, Resources, Safety and preparedness, Wake Skate, Wake Surf, Wakeboard
With a 35% increase in new boat ownership and 415,000 new boaters taking to the waterways since 2020, boating participation will reach historic levels of participation this summer, says Water Sports Foundation Executive Director Jim Emmons. With the Memorial Day holiday traditionally serving as the kick-off to summer boating activity, Emmons says the Water Sports Foundation is taking a pro-active approach to promoting safe boating strategies prior to the busy season. “Especially with so many new boaters gearing up for a fun season of activity on our nation’s crowded waterways, we felt it was important to share these tips to keep boaters safe and alert this year,” said Emmons. #1 – Take a Boating Safety Class or Refresher The Water Sports Foundation recently reported a major surge in online education Water Sports Foundation Reports Pandemic Spike in Online Boater Education – Water Sports Foundation with many safety organizations now offering virtual training options in addition to traditional live instruction. In many states, new boaters are required to take mandated boater ed classes, but now there is a wealth of new online and hybrid classes also available on a variety of boating topics and for all skill levels, through public and private providers. “Whether a seasoned skipper or a boating newbie, everyone can benefit from a boating safety class, especially when it’s now just an easy click away,” said Emmons. For a list of educational resources, check out the National Boating Safety Media Resource Center: Boating Safety Education – Water Sports Foundation #2 – Buckle Up! According to the U.S. Coast Guard, drowning is the cause of death in 79 percent of fatal...
