USA - Nielsen Expositions has shut down its biannual Action Sports Retailer trade expo (ASR).
The show was one the biggest in its sector on the West Coast, serving as a key marketing event for local producers of clothes inspired by surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. Held at the San Diego Convention Centre on 22-24 January and 10-12 September, the event drew an average audience of around 800 exhibitors.
The event faced increasing competition from LA-based Agenda LLC, organiser of the Agenda Tradeshow in Huntington Beach and broader beachwear event Surf Expo, which also caters for action sports clothing makers.
“Given the competition among key brands and the consolidation among retail shops, it appears for now to be mostly a market share battle for floor space,” said an ASR spokesman. “This dynamic, combined with tight credit markets, has been hard on the new, smaller or up-and-coming brands, as well as many independent surf, skate and boutique retailers.
“We expect this consolidated and competitive situation to continue to characterise the action sports industry in California for some time to come. Given these fundamental changes, it has proven to be increasingly difficult for the ASR shows in San Diego to serve the new needs of the action sports marketplace. Therefore, we are indefinitely suspending these events.
Jason Bates, the founder ASR partner show Class@ASR, told California Apparel News that “the surf, skate and shoe industry all wanted different (show) dates and different things from ASR. I understand why ASR could not serve all of those people. I understand why they have to call it a day”.
