About CARV Expo
Finally, the show we’ve all been waiting for brings our community of brands together to inspire, educate, and support authentic growth while keeping the fun alive.
CARV Expo
When:
May 14-15, 2026 from 9am to 6 pm
Where:
The San Diego Convention Center, Hall H in San Diego, California
What:
CARV Expo | California Action Retailer + Venture
CARV Expo brings together surf, skate, bike, outdoor, adventure, and coastal lifestyle brands with retailers in San Diego—where action sports culture made its home. In Southern California, where skateboarding was born and surf culture first flourished, it’s where retailers connect with brands and discover what’s next, relationships are built or strengthened, and the community that drives this industry is celebrated.
At their inaugural event in May 2025, CARV proved the demand for a true West Coast gathering. The show floor was filled with heritage names and emerging innovators — and now the momentum continues.
BRA is pleased to continue our trade show partnership and to exhibit at CARV Expo in 2026.
CARV Sessions Schedule
Thursday, May 14 BRA-curated Learning Session Schedule
2 PM BRA Retailer Panel Discussion
3 PM Track Fly
4 PM Dan Jablons
BRA Retailer Panel Discussion – 2 pm
This helpful and relevant BRA Retailer Panel Discussion will be moderated by BRA Chairman and owner of Modern Skate & Surf (Detroit, MI), George Leichtweis. It will feature incredible independent specialty retailers Coco Tihanyi of Surf Diva Surf Boutique & School (La Jolla Shores, CA) and Laura Martin of Cowtown Skateboards (Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, & Tempe, AZ), plus tremendously resourceful retail consultant and BRA Advisor Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys.
- A look back at the positives as well as the challenges of Holiday and Spring.
- Steps to take now to prepare your stores for Summer and Holiday.
- Opportunities to continue to clear out old product and get your inventory under control.
- How to find/hire the right employees and reward their good work that benefits both the retailer and the employee.
- The big and little tasks necessary to make community-wide events absolutely remarkable including tips on working with nonprofit organizations.
- How to keep the “special” in “specialty retail” and the “experience” in “experiential retail.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge that will help you improve as a specialty retailer.
Turning Brand Partners into Inventory Allies presented by Brad Staples of Trackfly – 3 pm
Supplier friction happens when there’s a gap between local demand and supplier assumptions. We’ll show you five ways to bridge that gap through better data visibility, turning your suppliers into a strategic extension of your buying team. The result? Proven case studies that show increased revenue and protected margins, without any additional cost to your business.
Trade Secrets! What Are Other Retailers Doing To Be Successful? – presented by Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys – 4 pm
Not every retailer is suffering in this economy. There are many that are actually very profitable and have great cash flow. In this economy, now is the time to get a competitive edge and increase market share. Discover the industry secrets that successful retailers know, and learn how to implement these changes into your business to find better cash flow, better profitability, and more fun at your stores.
CARV Expo kicks off on May 14, 2026
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