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 several times per week. Be sure to scroll through the most recent articles or use the Search/Lookup feature in the Menu above 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.
“United States Skateboard Education Association Announces Learn to Skateboard Day – Encouraging everyone to skateboard for the first time” via PR from USSEA
April 19, 2021 – Olympia, WA, USA – The United States Skateboard Education Association (USSEA) announces its third annual Learn to Skateboard Day. USSEA is an organization dedicated to empowering everyone through life-changing skateboarding experiences, regardless of...
“How To Leave Excuses Behind, Dig In, And Grow Retail Sales” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
As the pandemic ebbs in the USA a growing number of retailers are finding excuses why they can't move forward with their business like they'd like. We're SO busy. We can't get anyone to work. Our vendors can't ship. We have too many customers. I get it. As I predicted...
“T&C Surf Celebrates 50 Years in Business” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf
Please click on the following link to view this relevant Shop Eat Surf Article containing the history behind and the future ahead of T & C Surf (BRA Distinguished Retail Member): T&C Surf Celebrates 50 Years in Business” Be sure to visit the Shop Eat Surf...
“Additional EIDL Options. Does your business qualify?” by Management One (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
Have you taken advantage of the latest round of SBA loan options? There are 2 main Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances - called the Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance. The Targeted EIDL Advance provides eligible businesses...
“MY STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION AND HOW WE CAN HELP OTHERS” by Eric Brown via Jenkem Mag
I had just woken up at 4:00 AM, and while I was waiting for my dog to finish his business, I checked my Instagram and saw a few guys posting photos of Henry Gartland. Later that morning all of his sponsors, friends, and magazine outlets followed suit. While...
“Industry celebrates Surf Shop Day on May 15, 2021” via Surf Expo and Independent Retailer articles
Orange County, CA, April 20, 2021 -Surf Shop Day (happening on May 15th) will celebrate the small mom and pop businesses that have given rise to a lifestyle and culture enjoyed by millions around the world and we invite surfers to reconnect with their roots. Join...
“Good news on vaccines, economy drives a sunnier view of retail at Moody’s” by Ben Unglesbee via Retail Dive
Dive Brief: Moody's analysts see "broad-based improvement" ahead for the retail industry in 2021 as vaccinations grow and pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic eases, according to a recent report.The ratings agency lifted its industry outlook for retail to positive from...
“Top 5 Must-Have Features for a New POS System” by RICS Software (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
A point-of-sale system must do more than process transactions. Your retail technology should enable you to collect, organize, and analyze data; maximize relationships with customers and brands; and create efficiencies. If you are in the market for a new POS, make sure...
“How To Increase Retail Sales KPIs: Ditch Being Passive (When an employee has good upselling skills, they can do more with less..)” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
A quick walk through the mall shows retailers are trying to increase revenues with some fairly dramatic sales. But sales can hide the cause of death of many stores...passive employees. Let me explain… Selling a bunch of merchandise for a loss, even if it generates...
“3 reasons retailers should adopt BOPIS” by Podium (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
Outside of serious growth for retailers, BOPIS offers incredible benefits to shoppers. Here are three reasons retailers should adopt BOPIS and a free resource to help you get started. In the wake of a global pandemic, amid social distancing guidelines and lower...
“Retail Trends That Will Outlast the Pandemic” by Christine Sullivan via Total Retail
To survive and succeed in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers quickly adapted to meet customers' priorities and needs. Convenience became a touchstone of our "new normal," defining how, when, and where we shop. This trend will continue to be a hallmark of how...
“Show me the money!” by Dave Seehafer of Global Wave Ventures (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
While 2020 started out with closures, quarantines and ever-changing regulations, many retailers were disclosing record sales by the end of the year, “best year ever” claims and similar results. ...
“16 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SKATEBOARD BEARINGS” by Christian Senrud plus special bonus Skate Mix via Jenkem Mag
Bearings are one piece of gear for us that truly are a difference-maker when it comes to getting enough speed for a trick or for getting from point A to point B. There are so many companies and designs out there, and you may have never even thought about how we got to...
“Retail sales explode in March as consumers use stimulus checks to spend heavily” by Jeff Cox via CNBC
KEY POINTS Retail sales boomed 9.8% higher in March thanks to a jump in spending at bars and restaurants as well as multiple other groups.Economists already had been expecting a gain of 6.1% as consumers received their $1,400 government stimulus checks.Jobless claims...
“Texting is hot. How to use it effectively? Glad you asked – 7 Clever Ways To Use Text Messaging In Your Business” on-demand webinar by The Retail Doctor and Podium
Text is the only marketing channel with a 98% open rate. With that knowledge, how do you build an effective SMS marketing campaign?Covering everything from simple tips and tricks to compliance to building a world-class opt-in flow, this webinar will get you up to...
“Snowboard Sales Boom This Season” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf (Executive Edition)
Please click on the following link to view this Shop Eat Surf News Article: Snowboard Sales Boom This Season Please note that this article is a Shop Eat Surf Executive Edition article so you will need to sign up and pay for access before viewing. We,...
“Conversational Marketing is Key for Retailers in 2021” by Matt Ramerman via Total Retail
It has never been clearer that mobile channels are where customers are. In 2020, consumers spent an average of 4.2 hours per day on their phones. At the same time, conversion rates for e-commerce hit a record, reaching 3.5 percent on Black Friday...
“12 Female Surf Photographers You Should Be Following Right Now – THESE TALENTED WOMEN OFFER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES ON LINEUPS AROUND THE WORLD” by Gabriela Aoun via Surfer Mag
On a huge day at Waimea Bay in the early 1970s, filmmakers Jack McCoy and Dick Hoole needed an additional photographer to shoot from land as they filmed in the water. They handed Shirley Rogers, a young woman from Ewa Beach barely out of high school, a Century...
Available Now: On-Demand Relevant and Helpful Educational Webinar “Retail E-Commerce: Adapting to the New Consumer Mindset in 2021 and Beyond”
Board Retailers Association kicked off the first of many relevant and helpful quarterly webinars on a variety of topics in collaboration with BRA Supporting Vendor Partner Management One on March 30, 2021. Fortunately, many board retailers saw demand for products rise...
“DEW TOUR OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2021 SKATEBOARDING DATES & LOCATION IN DES MOINES, IOWA – 2021 Summer Dew Tour to be Held May 20-23 at the New Lauridsen Skatepark” via PR link from Transworld Skateboarding
Home of the nation’s largest skatepark, and will serve as the only U.S.-based global Olympic skateboard qualifying event in 2021. Sanctioned by world skate as pro tour level events for men’s & women’s skateboard street and park See details below about a Zoom press...
“Vaccinations Do Not Mark the End of Americans’ COVID Shopping Behaviors: What Retailers Need to Know” by David Fisch via Total Retail
We’ve entered the next stage of combating COVID-19 as vaccinations roll out across the country. While this may be the next step towards getting the pandemic under control, consumers remain wary. In fact, vaccine or not, most Americans said they would hardly change...
“Ten Ways to Keep Your Wakeboarding Fun – A list of easy ways to keep your riding fresh from our friends at Slingshot” by Garrett Cortese via Wakeboarding Mag
Dylan Miller getting surfy with it and busting his fins loose over the wake. Simple tricks like this can add a ton of fun to your day-to-day riding. -Cortese Wakeboarding is an awesome sport. Over the years it has continued to progress in mind-blowing ways. The fact...
“SMS Marketing 101: Marketing that gets a response” via BRA Supporting Vendor Partner Podium
Want to reach your potential customers in real-time? Want the edge on your competitors? It’s time to think about SMS. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to begin within minutes. Take a look and start reading! Here is the...
“BLIND: 14 Things You Didn’t Know About Blind Skateboards” by Shredz Shop
If you are not yet a BRA Retail Member, you can easily opt in to either Regular (no cost) or Distinguished ($99/yr.) Membership via this super simple join form
“Strategically Grow Your Private Label With Science-Based Pricing And Promotions” by Cheryl Sullivan via Independent Retailer
Independent retailers have struggled against proliferating online and brick-and-mortar competition for years. The pandemic only heightened the unpredictability of the fast-changing customer, competitor and shopper behaviors, as well as supply chain disruptions. The...
“Stimulus checks in hand, consumers are ready to shop. But are retailers ready for the influx?” by Martha C. White via NBC News
Shoppers wearing protective masks carry bags inside a shopping mall in San Francisco on March 9, 2021.David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images Shortages and supply chain bottlenecks may throw cold water on the upcoming consumer spending surge. Economists and...
“MAJOR GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR OMNICHANNEL GIFT CARD PROGRAMS AS DIGITAL PAYMENT ADOPTION CONTINUES RAPID RISE” via Industry Resource
2020 Merchant Gift Card Omnichannel Evaluation identifies best practices, progress and opportunities for growth in omnichannel gift card programs As consumers increasingly look for digital payment and gifting options, a new study by leading retail research...
“A HOMAGE TO SKATERS WHO ARE AGING LIKE FINE WINE” by MAX OLIJNYK via Jenkem Mag
In December last year, Josh Kalis posted four minutes of him skating a DIY spot that, at age 44, sits alongside any part he’s ever released. A couple of months ago, Ray Barbee made a surprise announcement and got on Krooked. And just before my knee...
“How Resilience of Retailers Shines Through on The Covid Anniversary” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
I still remember the day President John Kennedy was assassinated. I was home with my mom and the door-to-door Fuller brush man rang the bell as usual. My mom actually opened the door and invited him to come in and watch on our black and white console Sears...
“Surf Parks and the Experience Economy with Endless Surf” by Endless Surf via Shop Eat Surf
Please click on the following link to view this interesting Shop Eat Surf Article: Surf Parks and the Experience Economy with Endless Surf Be sure to visit the Shop Eat Surf website to view valuable Industry News and Resourceful Articles regularly via this...
“Take A Look at America’s Coolest Surf Shops – CELEBRATING SURFING’S MOST ICONIC WATERING HOLES” via Surfer Mag
There’s always been something special about surf shops. From the amalgamated scent of wax, new wetsuits and fresh boards to the intel on which local break is currently working best, where to get the best post-surf burrito in town and so much more, surf culture resides...
“Five Keys to Unlocking Omnichannel Success” by Heartland Retail (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
87% of consumers are interested in apersonalized and consistent experienceacross all channels. Coupled with the fact that 71% of retailers planto offer their customers the ability to “start thesale anywhere, finish the sale anywhere,” andit’s obvious that no brand can...
“Surfrider Foundation Business Sign-On Letter: Federal Action to Protect our Coasts” via our friends at SIMA and Surf Expo
Surfrider Foundation is asking for businesses in the surf and outdoor industry to join together to urge federal leadership to protect our nation’s coasts and ocean. Surfrider has launched a national sign-on letter for businesses to urge the Biden Administration and...
“How To Avoid Hearing A Customer’s “No, I’m Just Looking” Ever Again” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
Were you ever picked by a teacher to come up in front of class when you weren’t prepared to speak? It felt like hell, I bet. There’s an area of your retail store shoppers will avoid; it is the first eight feet after your doors. Some call it the decompression...
“New PPP Loans For Businesses With 20 Employees Or Less” by Krystina Morgan via Independent Retailer
The Biden administration announced five major changes in the Payroll Protection Program this week to make access to PPP loans more equitable, which could make a big difference for small businesses. Starting February 24, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration...
“Did you miss the live M1 webinar session this week? Not to worry, we recorded it for you!” via BRA Supporting Vendor Partner Management One
In this free educational webinar we sat down with industry experts to discuss changes to round 2 of the PPP geared towards helping small businesses. What does this mean for YOUR retail business? We cover everything you need to know on our live webinar session. In...
“The London Bridge Skateboard Hero” via Transworld Skateboarding
In 2017, three terrorists driving a van ploughed into people in central London before taking to the streets to randomly attack anyone they came across. At the same time, Ignacio Echeverría was having a typical Saturday Night out skateboarding with his friends. Hear...
“Top 11 Causes of Boating Accidents – These 11 mundane events cause the most critical boating accidents.” by Steve Griffin via BoatingSafetyMag.com
Most critical boating accidents stem from these 11 events. Zach Stovall Boating accidents make news. Maybe it’s a throwback to the great tales of misadventure at sea. Maybe it’s their novelty; many mundane activities are statistically riskier. But beyond the...
“Skateboarding eyes brighter future with USOPC support on mental issues” by Rory Carroll via Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The skateboarding community, rocked by several prominent deaths related to mental health issues, is hoping the benefits that go with the sport’s inclusion in this year’s Tokyo Olympics will help its athletes tackle the underlying...
“Shopify adds Shop Pay to Facebook, Instagram” by Tatiana Walk-Morris via Retail Dive
Dive Brief: As social commerce accelerates, Shopify is integrating Shop Pay into Instagram and Facebook, the e-commerce platform announced on Tuesday. The move allows consumers to pay Shopify merchants using Shop Pay on those platforms. Shop Pay automatically fills in...
“Love Letters To Small Businesses” by Lora Kelley via The New York Times
Illustrated by Broobs Small businesses make communities — whether densely populated urban areas or small towns — feel like home. It’s no secret that many businesses have been struggling over the past year. In New York City alone, almost 3,000...
“Mark McMorris, Zoi Sadowski-Synott Win Natural Selection in Jackson Hole” by Ben Osborne via The Inertia
Mark McMorris has been here before. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool If you’re tuned into the core snowboard community, you know the value of a proper switch method — and from the moment Mikkel Bang took the win over Pat Moore in the Quarterfinals with a switch...
“Why you need to make Online Reviews a focus in 2021” by Shannon Blake of Podium
Reviews can be make-or-break for any business, and that’s never been more true than it is in 2021. But what do customers care about most? Is it simply just a good star rating? Is it worth your time to respond to reviews? And what makes customers more likely to leave...
“LET’S TALK WITH CHRIS NIERATKO ABOUT SKATE SHOP DAY, THE EVOLUTION OF SKATE SHOPS, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, THE OLYMPICS AND MORE” by Jordy via Good Day To Skateboards
Chris Nieratko has been a big voice in skateboarding for more than twenty-five years. More recently, him and his friends started Skate Shop Day, which will be held on February 19th this year, for its second edition. We had the chance to talk with him to learn...
“The Winter Show Continues” by Lisa Ramsperger via OR Magazine
Outdoor Retailer Winter Online is just getting started. While Summit Days have passed, the digital marketplace remains active and education is ongoing through March 19. There’s a lot of time to schedule meetings, find new products for your store, and make new...
“BEHIND THE BLACK LIST: A Growing Guide of Black-owned Brands, Retailers, and Organizations in Skateboarding Complied” by Patrick Kigongo via Artless Industria
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF P. KIGONGO A few days ago Patrick Kigongo set out to compile what he calls a “non-comprehensive list of Black-owned skate industry brands.” The Black List quickly expanded to include media and organizations. I wanted the Artless Industria®...
“All 2020 quarterly Action Watch Reports are now accessible to BRA Distinguished Retail Members” by Doug Works, Executive Director of Board Retailers Association
Action Watch (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner) works with specialty retailers, brands and industry partners in the surf and skate industries to share in-depth insights and actionable data on buying patterns so that we can all make better, more informed decisions to...
“11 Ways Skateboarding Thrived in 2020” by Zane Foley via Skatism.com
If we didn’t have skateboarding during this pandemic and 2020, where would we all be? Mentally, physically, spiritually, it’s safe to say none of us want to even think about what life would have been like this past year without skateboarding. Still, regardless...
“How Retailers Will Thrive in 2021, According to 11 Experts” courtesy of Heartland Retail (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
As retailers reflect on the last 12 months of the rollercoaster the industry rode—er, might still be riding—you can’t help but chuckle at some of the predictions made for 2020. Curiously enough, while few forecasted the actual impact of COVID-19, many themes still...
“How to Conquer Your Selling Fears” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
I was talking to a pool builder who had just put in a new pool. His client lived in a very expensive neighborhood, drove a Bentley; you get the picture. A few months later the client’s neighbor installed a pool … from a different pool builder. The Bentley guy went to...
“Remembering Skate Industry Vet Mark Waters” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf
We were sad to hear the news this week that skateboard industry veteran Mark Waters passed away after a battle with COVID-19. Mark had a long career in skateboarding, including working at companies such as Tum Yeto and Sole Technology, in addition to working for USA...
“Retail 2021 E commerce in the New Normal” Webinar (on-demand) via Management One Retail
Click on the video below for a free, on-demand discussion with Josh Orr of Streamline Retail as we talk through the ways retailers are successfully using e-commerce to reach more of their "perfect customers" and how they keep them coming back again and again. The...
“A LOOK AT THE SKATEBOARD DROUGHT OF 2020” by Ian Browning via Jenkem Mag
If you’ve walked into a skate shop over the last couple of months, you may have had some difficulty getting your hands on the product you came in for. Sadly, these days it’s not unheard of for a shop to be fully out of boards, trucks, wheels, or bearings. Since the...
“Put Your “Retail Puzzle” Together” by Tom Schrepferman
Have you ever worked a 10,000 piece puzzle? Imagine all of those pieces spread out on your table. Where do you start? How do you start? You probably have these questions about how to thrive coming out of the COVID-19 retail challenges. Here’s how we recommend you...
“Did Pete Mel Just Catch the Wave of the Decade at Maverick’s? Many in the channel say, “hell yeah!”” by Marcus Sanders via Surfline.com
Photo: Audrey Lambidakis Earlier today, Peter Mel, who already snagged one of the best waves of the year at Maverick’s on December 8th — and was towed into a bomb and then rescued by his son last Saturday — just upped the ante. Again. See...
“An Evolutionary Reinvention of Retail” by Paco Underhill via The Robin Report
PrePan…Pan…Not-Yet-PostPan. What does the world of retail look like now? What did we learn? What did we let go of …and what changed us? Here’s a retrospective look forward. 1. Shopping Safely You’d have to living in a cave not to know that digital sales have exploded...
“BRA Retailer Roundtable Panel Discussion (from Surf Expo Connect), other relevant videos from the BRA YouTube Channel and more”
Board Retailers Association organizes and expresses the views and concerns of independent board specialty retailers to industry associations, major trade show organizations and others in an effort to help promote our industry, support the board sports specialty...
“How to Generate More Location Reviews for Your Stores” by Podium (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
If you’re lacking location-specific reviews, you’re losing sales and referrals. You’re sending more customers to your competition. Discover how you can beat the competition with 5 simples steps. 97% of consumers read online reviews when searching for retail...
“Ron Jon Leaders on What Worked in 2020 and Plans for 2021” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf
Ron Jon Surf Shop at Disney Springs in Orlando - SES file photo Please click on the following link to view this relevant Shop Eat Surf Article containing comment from Debbie Harvey (BRA Board Member) of Ron Jon Surf Shops (BRA Distinguished Retail Member): "Ron Jon...
“7 Ways How To Grow Your Retail Sales The Week After Christmas” by Bob Phibbs (The Retail Doctor)
After-Christmas retail can be fun - even with a pandemic - as long as you stay focused on making money instead of just giving it away through aggressive promotions and discounts. After Christmas Day has come and gone retailers of all sizes, from boutiques to...