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.
“How Livestreaming Can Help Brands and Retailers Optimize Digital Shelf Space” by Zarnaz Arlia via Total Retail
After first gaining popularity in the mid-1980s when CPG markets saw an explosion of products, slotting fees continue to be a routine cost retailers charge brands. Essentially, a slotting fee is what brands and manufacturers pay to have their products placed in prime...
“Outdoor Retailer Introduces New Format with Expanded Buyer Focus” via OR Newsletter
Courtesy of Outdoor Retailer Outdoor Retailer, the leading U.S. business events for the $862 billion outdoor industry, will introduce a fresh format beginning in 2024. The updates were developed through industry feedback and based on evolving business needs and...
“US retail sales beat estimates with a 0.7% bump in July” by Erin Cabrey via Retail Brew
Spencer Platt/Getty Images US consumers upped their spending at retailers in July, with retail sales beating expectations with a 0.7% rise month over month, according to Census Bureau data. Year over year retail sales were up 3.2%, in line with the higher...
“What Lies in Store for Brick-and-Mortar Retail as It Approaches $4.2 Trillion?” by Bryan Wassel via Retail Wire
PHOTO: CANVA Reports of brick-and-mortar’s death, dubbed the retail apocalypse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, were greatly exaggerated. Physical store sales rebounded in 2021 as the omnichannel future came into focus, with total...
“Surf Expo Summer Edition Heats Up with New Brands, Floor Category” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop eat Surf
SES file photo Expect plenty of newness come September for the Surf Expo Summer show. That includes roughly 30% of the exhibitor makeup being new, a continued uptick of buyers and brands from specialty outdoor outfitters, and the growing presence of emerging...
“AI is Bringing Conversation Back to Commerce” by Raj De Datta via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Vithun Khamsong Even in its earliest form, commerce has always been centered around conversation. The evolution to e-commerce seemed to de-center that conversational element, though. Without a person to speak with, conversation was relegated to...
“The Best Advice I Can Give Retailers Right Now” by Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys
So let’s get down to something important. In times like these, the winners are those that can become hyper-focused on the truly important things. It’s very easy to get distracted by the problems that exist in our industry, to throw up your hands and just...
“Will TikTok Evolve From Social Commerce Enabler to E-Commerce Titan?” by Brian Wassel via Retail Wire
PHOTO: CANVA TikTok is reportedly preparing to capitalize on its social commerce success with a marketplace that could launch as soon as early August, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. The store would focus on selling...
“Retail sales up despite cooling economy” by Judy Mottl via RetailCustomerExperience.com
Retail sales continued an upward trend in June despite slower job gains and a cooling economy. The U.S. Census Bureau reported retail sales in June were up 0.2% from May and up 1.5% year over year. In May, sales were up 0.5% month over month and up 2% year over year....
“WHY ARE BOARD PRICES ON THE RISE?” by Lucas Wisenthal via JENKEM MAG
The most stable part of skating used to be the price of a skateboard. Whatever the brand, whatever the graphic, in America, a pro board cost about $55. But unless you get skateboards for free, you’ve probably noticed that, lately, you’ve been paying more for them....
“Retail rents rise in Q2 as availability tightens: CBRE” by CBRE National Retail Report via Retail Dive
A busy road lined with strip centers. In Q2, demand for retail space in the suburbs outpaced demand in downtown markets, according to CBRE. “Strip Mall City” by Jacob Norlund is licensed under CC BY 2.0 As more retailers move to strip centers, space is opening up at...
“Top Questions We Get Asked As A Social Media Marketing Agency” by Steph Bechard of Crystal Media plus enter now to win a Social Media Content Strategy Power Hour Coaching Session (valued at $300)
The Crystal Media team is frequently on the road at business conferences, meets retailers at various events, and interacts with business owners on social media. As a result, we often come across a set of common questions from retailers. Today, we'd like to address...
“Unmoderated Reviews: The Secret Killer to Consumer Trust and Experience” by Joshua Buxbaum via Total Retail
Authenticity is at the forefront of every consumer buying decision, thus making reviews a barometer for a product and a company’s trustworthiness. Forty-nine percent of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations...
“Pat Tenore’s “Exit Through The Surf Shop” Offers Timely Industry Commentary Amid Boardriders Sale” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Clockwise from left: Duke Aipa and Pat Tenore during the exhibition's opening reception; A floral arrangement and show flyer at the event. Photos by SES. Guest after guest couldn’t stop greeting and taking photos with RVCA founder Pat Tenore last...
“Defensive Selling Isn’t Customer Service: Insights for Retail Managers” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Defensive selling is a sales approach typically driven by a sales associate's anxiety and the assumption that a customer will only make a purchase if the salesperson is proactive to perceived customer objections. Salespeople feel it is customer service, but often, it...
“Tell Congress to act on excessive credit card swipe fees.” by NRF staff via National Retail Federation Newsletter
Momentum is building in Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act to address the broken and unfair U.S. payments market. Thousands of retailers and consumers have already contacted Congress telling it to act — and Congress is listening. In fact, it’s...
“NBDs rebroadcast on ABC?” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nesOa1SxE Push play to view entire competition During last weekend’s X Games “Real Street Best Trick” event at Rincon Middle School in Escondido, CA, commentator Brandon Graham said that the production team at the long-running action...
“Uncertainty around UPS is ‘kryptonite’ to supply chains, RILA warns” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive plus link to enroll in BRA FedEx PartnerShip Discount Shipping Program
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien speaks during national contract negotiations with UPS. The Retail Industry Leaders Association urged the two sides to strike a deal in order to avoid risk to supply chains and the economy. Permission granted by...
“Retailers’ Attempts To Dissuade Returns May Impact Brand Loyalty” by Alicia Thorpe via Retail Wire
The tension between retailers and shoppers is growing, and it’s because of returns. Shippo, a leading shipping platform for growing e-commerce businesses, has come out with a 2023 Benchmarks Report that “takes a comprehensive look at how mid-market...
“An otter in Santa Cruz is hassling surfers — and stealing their boards” by Dustin Jones via NPR
A southern otter in Santa Cruz, Calif., catches a wave after stealing a surfer's board.Mark Woodward/@NativeSantaCruz An aggressive sea otter in California is hassling locals by riding boards she stole from surfers in the lineup. Steamer Lane is a legendary point...
“Teaching Could Hurt Your Retail Business” by Bob Phibbs via Retail Doctor Blog
This blog is my (Bob Phibbs) response to a question from a Facebook fan asking me, “What is the difference between training and having to repeat your instructions regularly while not seeing them followed?” The Difference Between Instruction and Training in...
“Direct Mail Strategies for Increasing Retail Sales and Customer Loyalty” by Ryan Wilder via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by TEK IMAGE Since 1872, the retail industry has witnessed the power of direct mail firsthand. Aaron Montgomery Ward's revolutionary mail-order business, Montgomery Ward and Company, kickstarted a retail revolution. A modest one-page "catalog"...
“Police clashed with skaters at ‘hill bomb’ event in San Francisco” by Dustin Jones via NPR
In this photo from 2022, hundreds of young people gather for the 'hill bomb' on Dolores Street and 20th Street in San Francisco. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Officers with the San Francisco Police Department attempted to disperse hundreds of...
“Pro Surfer Mikala Jones Has Died After a Surf Injury in Indonesia” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Mag
The surf world is mourning following news of a fatal surf injury involving Mikala Jones. Jones was surfing in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, when he suffered an injury that allegedly severed his femoral artery and led to a fatal loss of blood. He was 44 years old....
“Professor Schmitt has released a nice variety of switch plates, frames, coasters and other remarkable PS Stix ‘UpCycle’ skateboard products, which are now available at wholesale pricing to BRA Retail Members” by Doug Works, BRA Executive Director
Paul Schmitt aka Professor Schmitt has been designing and producing skateboards for nearly four decades. A skateboarder himself since he was a young boy, today his products are known world wide for their quality, performance and durability. Paul is the founder of one...
“Community Engagement To Make a Difference” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Retailers play an important role in community engagement by supporting local causes, participating in local events, and partnering with other businesses. Retailers are the glue that brings the community together and betters it through cause-related marketing and...
“Customer Effort Score: What it is and How to Use it” by Reilly Nolan via Total Retail
Broadly speaking, a customer effort score measures how easy or difficult it is for a customer to resolve a given issue with a company’s customer service team. Have you ever waited your turn to speak to a customer service representative, only to be transferred to...
“Back-to-school spending to rise 15.7% this year: JLL” by Tatiana Walk-Morris via Retail Dive
Children run to catch a school bus. Inflation continues to eat into parents’ budgets, with many planning to spend more for the same amount of items. FatCamera via Getty Images Dive Brief: With ongoing inflation woes, parents plan to spend 15.7% more this...
“As Retailers Use New Tactics to Drive Loyalty, Here’s How to Tell What’s Working (and What’s Not)” by Mike Debnar via Total Retail
Several companies are experimenting with new initiatives to improve customer loyalty, including Amazon.com paying customers to pick up purchases and retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, and Gap ramping up discounts. Others, like Jenni Kayne and...
“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...