Welcome to the Board Retailers Association (BRA) website. Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our BRA Retail Members three or four times per week. Be sure to scroll through the most recent articles or use the Search/Lookup feature to find topics and keywords related to recent and not-so-recent articles that may help you lower costs, increase margins, or create more remarkable customer experiences. We deliberately made this our site landing page to demonstrate our commitment to “Protecting Retailers and a Lifestyle” for over 20 years (since 2003).
Be sure to visit the About Us, Retail Member Benefits and Join pages on this site to learn more about and benefit from our resourceful nonprofit trade association committed to helping board specialty, outdoor specialty, and lifestyle specialty retailers to survive, thrive, and keep “the special in specialty” for free.
“The Athletes Who Can’t Afford Their Near-Death Experiences” by Adam Elder via The Intelligencer
Tom Lowe surfing in the 2018 Jaws Challenge in Hawaii. Photo: Richard Hallman/World Surf League via Getty Images In late April, British big-wave surfer Tom Lowe paddled for a famous slab wave off the coast of Tahiti called Teahupo’o as its 25-foot wall...
“Harnessing the Power of AI for Retail Merchandising” by Reshma Iyer via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by oatawa A retailer’s ability to create a seamless and relevant experience for their customers ultimately can be the difference between gaining loyalty or falling behind competitors. Today’s customers are looking for faster connections to the...
“Create Your Own Trending Reels Audio on Instagram” by Maddie Goode via Crystal Media Blog post
Instagram Reels has become a popular platform for businesses, but many face challenges when it comes to using audio effectively. Currently, there are two types of audio available on Instagram: "Original Audio," which refers to audio uploaded from a video selected from...
“Will Retailers Report Record Father’s Day Sales?” by George Anderson via Retail Wire
Americans are projected to spend a record $22.9 billion to celebrate Father’s Day this year, following a slightly down year in 2022, according to research from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Father’s Day revenues last year...
“Surf Shop Founders and Their Kids Discuss Passing the Torch” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Top row (left to right): Tom and Tyler Brown, Josh Hansen, and Mark Richards with sons Brandon and Blake. Bottom row (left to right): Ashlyn and Aaron Pai, LG Shaw, and Ashley Stewart Leines with father Bill Stewart. By Kari Hamanaka | Published Jun 13, 2023 From...
“Outdoor Retailer Expands The Daily with B2B Business News Site” by Press Release via Outdoor Retailer plus link to last minute registration for next week’s OR Summer Show
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California – (June 13, 2023) Outdoor Retailer is expanding its investment in the outdoor industry by adding a dedicated website and in-house staff for The Daily, the print magazine distributed at the trade show. The goal of the new...
“Congress reintroduces credit card legislation with additional bipartisan support” by Katishi Maki via Retail Brew
Francis Scialabba All right, let’s do this one last time. Congress has reintroduced legislation that could lower fees merchants pay when customers swipe their credit cards. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Ks) introduced the bill, the...
“Shoreline at Surf Expo to Debut September 7-9, 2023” via Surf Expo News Feed
Shoreline at Surf Expo Evolves the Waterman’s Lifestyle from Coastal Shoreline Activities into Camping, Hiking, Climbing and more. ORLANDO, Fla. – (June 1, 2023) – Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle tradeshow, enhances the buying...
“Great White Sharks Near Surfers 97% of the Time in CA Waters, Study Shows” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Magazine
New findings from Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab show prevalence and proximity of juvenile great white sharks in California lineups. According to a new study, surfers have company – even when they don't realize it. The report comes from Cal State Long...
“Holograms, AR technology and RFID tags: The store of the future is taking shape” by ZOFIA ZWIEGLINSKA via Glossy
Retail innovations including clothes with RFID tags, digital mannequins and seamless checkouts are removing the friction in the shopping experience — and exceeding Gen Z’s expectations. Brands including Uniqlo, Zara and H&M are introducing in-store retail...
“DOES SIZE MATTER?” by Alexis Castro and Wilson Lucas via Jenkem Mag
I’m about as average of a guy as could be. I’m 5’7, wear a size 9 shoe, size 32 pants, and medium T-shirts. Despite being as run of the mill as it gets, I still feel like taller people have an advantage over me in most things. That being said, I do have a feeling that...
“Will Customers Shop Somewhere Else If Retailers Charge For Returns?” by George Anderson plus 40 Retail Experts Weigh In via Retail Dive
New research suggests that retailers should think twice before charging customers for returning online purchases. Eighty-seven percent of shoppers in a survey of 9,286 adults in the U.S. by PowerReviews said they “would be at least a little likely to stop...
“World Surf League Responds to Judging Controversy, Death Threats” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Magazine
An open letter penned by the WSL’s CEO, Erik Logan, addresses claims of unfair judging and threats of violence after the controversial 2023 Surf Ranch Pro. Following the World Surf League’s sixth stop on the 2023 Championship Tour, the Surf Ranch Pro, there has been...
“Securing America’s Killing Fields” by Arick Wierson via The Robin Report
It’s gotten to the point that reports about mass shootings are almost a weekly occurrence on the nightly newscasts. Seemingly, no public or even semi-public venue is off-limits nowadays when it comes to this uniquely American form of mass violence. In fact, according...
“After last year’s inventory tidal wave, where do retailers go from here?” by Ben Unglesbee via Retail Dive
Bare shelves are still a recent memory, but many are learning to live on leaner inventories after overstocking in 2022. Nothing for retail inventory planners has been easy over the past three years. After the shortages of 2020 and 2021, the industry spent the past...
“Dick’s Sporting Goods to Expand House of Sport Format” by Joe Keenan via Total Retail
After opening its first three DICK'S House of Sport stores in Rochester, New York; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Minnetonka, Minnesota, DICK'S Sporting Goods plans to add more than 12 new locations in the next two years. DICK'S House of Sport is a...
“After 3,000-mile trip by board, skateboarder’s journey ends in Virginia Beach” by Preston Steger via 13NewsNow
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Jackalope Festival is still a couple of weeks away, but one skateboarder is already here for it. He might be early, but his 3,000-mile cross-country journey was done entirely by board! Chad Caruso started his journey from California on March...
“Proto Holograms Are Leapfrogging to the Future” by Kate Newlin via The Robin Report
I have seen the near future and it is speeding toward us at warp speed. Case in point: When I worked at Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve, we began by interviewing a radical cross-section of amazing thinkers from academia, business, and entertainment, you name it. We’d ask...
“Surf Shop Day Is Coming May 20th!” by SIMA via Shop Eat Surf
Image courtesy of SIMA The SES article and the links below are shared with the express permission from SIMA. “If surfing is religion, then surf shops are the temples of stoke.” Shaun Tomson From the Jersey Shore to La Jolla, Cocoa Beach to Galveston, Nags Head to...
“Halt! 10 Ways of Mastering the Art of Getting Your Retail Employees to Listen” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Honing your listening skills can significantly impact the success of your store.As a trained conductor, I've learned the importance of attentive listening, focusing on each individual part and questioning whether what I hear aligns with what's written on the page...
“Is Livestream Shopping Ready to Shift Into High Gear?” by George Anderson plus nearly 20 retail experts weighing in on this topic via Retail Wire
TikTok appears to be pumping the brakes on its U.S. livestreaming plans while retailers and platforms, including Amazon.com, Poshmark, Qurate, Shein and Walmart, are stepping on the gas. So is livestreaming ready to roll in America or not? A Wall Street...
“The Pros and Cons of P2P Payments in Retail” by Suresh Dakshina via Total Retail
Credit: iStock.com by People Images Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms aren’t just for splitting restaurant tabs or paying for piano lessons anymore. Platforms like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle took off as a convenient way to negotiate informal electronic...
“When the mall is the target: The state of retail and mass shootings” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive
Protesters against gun violence outside a church on May 7 in Allen, Texas, a day after a mass shooting at the nearby Allen Premium Outlets mall. Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images Stores and malls are especially vulnerable to random attacks like the recent killing of...
“How To Choose the Best Life Jackets, Vests & PFDs For Your Boating Needs” by Tim West via Best Boating tips
Whether fishing or sailing, having a life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) on board can help keep you safe. There are different types of life jackets available, and finding one that fits you perfectly is key to ensuring your safety on the water. As a boat...
“Street League Skateboarding airs to the right” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic
What does the right-wing online video platform Rumble want from its partnership with skateboarding's premier contest? Street League Skateboarding (SLS) kicked off its 2023 season at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena on April 29. From a competitive perspective, it was another...
“9 Best Practices for Improving Gift Card Program Performance” by Joe Keenan via Total Retail
As part of the 2023 US Merchant Gift Card Omnicommerce Evaluation, US Edition, a comprehensive report produced by Total Retail in conjunction with sponsor partner Blackhawk Network, best practices for the three channels (digital/e-commerce, in-store, mobile)...
“Loyalty Lifts Brands in a Recession” by Ken Hewes via The Robin Report
As recessionary clouds gather over the U.S. economy, retail CFOs are busy cutting capex, opex, and inventory. Facing the prospect of lower sales and higher borrowing costs, preserving cash seems the wisest option. But there is an area where we believe you should...
“‘We’ve chosen both’: How Nike aims to connect DTC and wholesale” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive
Nike Live is a localized store concept and is one of several formats Nike uses to connect with shoppers. Courtesy of Nike While the athletics giant has invested heavily in its own digital channels and physical stores, the retailer is also trying to broaden its...
“VIDEO ESSAY: THE YEAR MODERN SKATEBOARDING BROKE” by ANDREW MURRELL & ALEX COLES via Jenkem Mag
2013 might seem like a random arbitrary year to most people, but to us, it’s the year the current era of skateboarding was born. 2013 kicked off with a number of notable pros leaving their long-term sponsors, setting off a chain of events. Many of them went on to...
“History of Surfing: Houses of the Holy – Matt Warshaw explains the history of our beloved cultural watering hole, and where he thinks the future of the surf shop is headed” by Davis Jones via Surfer Mag (originally published Oct. 2017)
Hobie Alter's Dana Point compound. Dale Velzy's Manhattan Beach showroom. Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith's San Diego storefront. Jack O'Neill's San Francisco shack. In the 1950s, California's first surf shops had personalities as varied as the shapers who owned them....
“3 Things Retailers Need to Do to Capitalize on Increased Foot Traffic” by Alex Quackenbush via Total Retail
Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus by Dragon Images Consumers are back in stores at rates we haven’t seen since the pandemic started. While e-commerce continues to boom, long delivery delays and out-of-stock products have propelled shoppers back to their in-person...
“Is It Good Business to Allow Associates to Break or Bend Rules for Customers?” by Tom Ryan via Retail Dive plus 20 Retail Experts weigh in on this discussion
When retail employees go “above and beyond,” which often involves deviating from organizational rules, it has been shown to enhance customer loyalty for the store. New university research shows it can also lift engagement for the infracting employee....
“5 Ways to Keep Wallet Share With In-Store Traffic” by Tara Kelly via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Hinterhaus Productions Spring is here, lockdowns are a fading memory and the economic outlook is brighter. Although uncertainty abounds and wallets remain tight, we may be in for a softer landing than previously thought. You can celebrate...
“How eBay’s authentication process pulls in the most dedicated sneakerheads” by Katishi Maake via Retail Brew
eBay To date, eBay has authenticated more than 4 million shoes globally, and on average, there are 1.7 million listings on the site each day, the company said. Talk to any sneakerhead and they’ll tell you authenticity matters (and what they copped in the latest Jordan...
“Take This Simple Test To See How Engaging Your Store Is” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
A lot is written about customer engagement in retail. How retailers are trying to engage shoppers in their brick-and-mortar locations by making the store more like an online experience. And the more information IT departments can gather...
“SVP Spotlight – How can Earthpack help you to take action to reduce your carbon footprint beyond Earth Day with shop-branded recycled and reusable shopping bags and other sustainable packaging needs?” + request your free sample kit by Doug Works via BRA
Happy Earth Day, everyone!!! Most of you embrace and celebrate Earth Day, but what do you do to reduce your carbon footprint beyond Earth Day? Who can help you with shop-branded recycled and reusable shopping bags and other sustainable packaging needs? Founded by Dave...
“REI swings to a loss despite record sales in 2022” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive
Daphne Howland/Retail Dive Dive Brief: REI reached a record $3.9 billion in sales last year, the outdoor co-op retailer said in a financial disclosure Wednesday. The company, which aims to grow to 50 million members, added 1.3 million in 2022,...
“BC Owner on Business, Sales Trends and a Move Away from Covid Comparisons” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
A quarter of the way into the year and key industry account BC Surf & Sport’s business is chugging along. If the multi-store operator is any barometer of how the overall industry is trending, 2023 could perhaps mean a normalization – and a new chapter –...
“Ten ways to improve sales performance in your retail store” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor blog
1. Add-Ons are a Great Way to Boost SalesMany retailers find success by offering additional services or add-ons to their customers. For instance, if you own a clothing store, you can offer free alterations on purchased items, gift wrapping, or personal styling...
“89-Year-Old Man Crowned ‘World’s Oldest Surfer’” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Magazine
Meet Seiichi Sano, the "oldest person to surf (male)." Photo: Guinness World Records Japan’s Seiichi Sano wins Guinness World Record…and makes it on Saturday Night Live. What’s more impressive: A Guinness World Record or a shoutout on Saturday Night Live? Well,...
“Tony Hawk helps Navajo Nation community build skatepark” via NBC News (YouTube video)
The Diné Skate Garden, located in Navajo Nation in New Mexico, was created by local organizers with assistance from Tony Hawk’s “The Skatepark Project,” which helps bring skate opportunities to underserved communities. NBC News’ Steve Patterson spoke to young skaters,...
“VF Corp. shakes up top leadership at Dickies, Altra and Smartwool” by Natalie Schwartz via Fashion Dive
VF Corp., which owns the Vans and North Face brands, is attempting to regain footing after its former CEO abruptly resigned. Daphne Howland/Fashion Dive Dive Brief: VF Corp. tapped Todd Dalhausser as the global brand president of Dickies and made other changes...
“Retail Tech Opens a New Chapter” by Sarah Holbrook via The Robin Report
As the vernal equinox flips the calendar to Spring, festivals and innovation summits have emerged from hibernation. At the South by Southwest festival in Austin Texas, retail was downgraded from previous headliner presentations to a minor topic, but it did reinforce...
“TikTok remains top social app for teens despite drop in favorability, study finds” by Jessica Deyo via Retail Dive
TikTok is an incredibly popular social media platform with members of Gen Z, who have begun to age into the apartment rental market. Drew Angerer via Getty Images Dive Brief: TikTok remains teens’ most favored social media platform so far in 2023, though its...
“Uniqlo’s Parent Company Bets Big on Tiny RFID Chips” by WSJ Staff via Wall Street Journal
PHOTO: VICTOR J. BLUE/BLOOMBERG NEWS Next-generation self-checkout machines are part of a broader effort to improve the supply chain with radio technology, Fast Retailing CIO Takahiro Tambara says At Uniqlo’s Fifth Avenue store in New York, shoppers can checkout...
“Alexis Sablone Is Not Your Average Skateboarding Architect” by Bindu Bansinath via The Cut
For Alexis Sablone, skateboarding was never supposed to be the thing, which is not something you expect to say of a person who does their thing at the Olympic level. But Sablone is a multi-hyphenate who walks the walk, an artist and designer and architect with...
“How to Thrive in an Ever-Evolving Retail Landscape” by Lise Wilson via Total Retail plus intro to outstanding window graphics vendor who is providing a very special discount for BRA Retail Members
Credit: Getty Images by Hitoshi Yamada The retail industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in the face of factors such as Amazon.com's dominance and an uncertain post-pandemic landscape. To stay successful, retailers have had to adapt their stores rapidly —...
“Refresher on the PTE tax: What you need to know” by Marshall Varano of BRA Supporting Vendor Partner CohnReznick plus access to relevant and helpful CR / M1 collaborative on-demand webinar and special offer for BRA Retail Members
You can view this informative article in its original form by clicking on the original article. The pass-through entity (PTE) tax strategy is a work around to the limitation on the State and Local tax (SALT) deduction created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs...
“Spring Break Specialty Retail Report from Florida” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Quiet Storm in downtown Fort Lauderdale (top left), inside Island Water Sports (bottom left), and the board room at Nomad Surf Shop (right). Photo by SES. Florida specialty surf and skate shops will see one more big push of traffic flowing through their doors in the...
“Management One Retail Assessment and Audit exclusively available to BRA members during the month of March 2023, at no charge!” by Nico Cabral and Paul Erickson via Management One (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
Who is Management One? Management One is the leading provider of merchandise intelligence, planning, business insights, and education to thousands of independent retailers around the world. For nearly 35 years, M1 has leveraged its ability to collect, process, and...
“Snowboarding Could Be Banned at Another Resort” by Andrew McLemore via The Inertia
Mayflower would be missing out on an important part of snow culture. Photo: Jack Dawe How is this still a thing? At the moment, just a few major American ski resorts prohibit snowboarders: Mad River Glen in Vermont, and Deer Valley and Alta, both in Utah....
“How Will Price Increases Impact Consumer Purchase Behavior?” by Greg Carlucci via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by primeimages Over the last year, unprecedented inflation has caused dramatic shifts in consumer purchase behavior. According to Gartner research, 45 percent of consumers were extremely concerned about price increases heading into 2023....
“Would you like to get a better paycheck!” plus access to free webinar to show you how to pay yourself consistently and avoid burnout by Dan Jablons via Retail Smart Guys blog
How do you feel about your current paycheck? When I ask store owners about this topic, a common answer is: “I've never taken a paycheck. Never.” Others said they ARE paying themselves, but not consistently and not enough. And that’s just fine if this is just a hobby...
“How To Improve Your Retail Sales With Role Play” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Nine powerful tips to improve this essential part of your sales training and grow your retail sales Are you looking for how to improve sales for your store? If you’re trying to grow your retail sales, role play is essential to your daily practice. Retailers who are...
“2024 Olympic Surfing at Teahupo’o: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” by Sam George via The Inertia
Just imagine putting an inexperienced young WSL or ISA Olympic hopeful into the kind of position that almost killed heavy water veteran Rodrigo Reinoso. Photo credit = Ted Grambeau Recent headlines concerning Kelly Slater’s Olympic aspirations has me...
“Retailers expect more tasks to be done by robots by 2025: report” by Tatiana Walk-Morris via Retail Dive
Courtesy of Simbe Robotics Dive Brief: Retailers foresee up to 70% of routine tasks to be wholly or partially automated by 2025, according to a 2023 Connected Retail Experience Study conducted by Incisiv in collaboration with Verizon Business. The use of...
“Ocean Pacific Apparel Founder Jim Jenks Dies, Helped Birth Modern Surf Industry” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Clockwise from top left: Jim Jenks in the Op days; Jim with his last truck; the famous Op corduroy shorts. Photos courtesy of Junior Jenks and the Surfing Walk of Fame. Jim Jenks, the former surf shop worker who turned Ocean Pacific into an industry-defining...
“Is Sporting Goods a Clear Pandemic Winner?” by Tom Ryan & 22 retail experts weigh in on the discussion via Retail Wire
Photo: Dick's Sporting Goods Sporting goods is increasingly solidifying its position among the “pandemic winners,” with sales for the three major publicly held chains, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy Sports and Hibbett Sports, remaining well-above pre-pandemic levels....
“Balancing Inventory: Making Friends With Retail Pricing and Clearance Sales” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
What is the difference between a clearance and a sale? A sale is often a specific brand promotion or even a storewide discount. Why do stores have clearance sales? To help get some of their money back when an item doesn't sell in a profitable timeframe. Clearance or...
“Why Retailers Must Embrace the ‘Phygital’ Experience” by Lisa Schneider and Ashley McMillin via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by ipopba The whirlwind of the pandemic and the fluctuating economy over the last few years has left retailers quickly adapting to the new demands of today’s consumers. Now that the dust has settled a bit, retailers continue to look for new ways...