Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our B.R.A. Retail Members almost every day. Be sure to scroll through the most recent article or use the Search/Lookup feature to find topics and keywords related to articles that may help you to lower costs, increase margins or create more remarkable customer experiences.

“REI swings to a loss despite record sales in 2022” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive

by admin | Apr 21, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Loyalty, Industry, Outdoor, Retail History

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

by admin | Apr 19, 2023 | Community, Corona Virus, Industry, Merchandising, News, Retail Economy, Retail History, Retail Strategy, 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 –...

“89-Year-Old Man Crowned ‘World’s Oldest Surfer’” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Magazine

by admin | Apr 15, 2023 | Community, Industry, Legends, News, Surf

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...

“VF Corp. shakes up top leadership at Dickies, Altra and Smartwool” by Natalie Schwartz via Fashion Dive

by admin | Apr 12, 2023 | Apparel /Fashion, Industry, News, Outdoor, Retail Economy, Shoe Market, Skateboard

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...

“Spring Break Specialty Retail Report from Florida” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf

by admin | Apr 3, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Holiday, Industry, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Skateboard, 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...

“Ocean Pacific Apparel Founder Jim Jenks Dies, Helped Birth Modern Surf Industry” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf

by admin | Mar 21, 2023 | Community, Industry, Legends, News, Rest In Peace, Retail History, 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...