Retail trends with SPoT, Hi-Tech, including good news for core skate shoes

As we head into the holiday season, we caught up with two retailers in different parts of the country to see how business is going – Skatepark of Tampa and Hi-Tech on Maui.

 

Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa, Florida – Ryan Clements and Justin Ryan

How did summer/back to school turn out?

 

For August we were down double digits in the shops (Skatepark and SPoT Ybor) and up double digits online. The number of skaters actually skating the park during the summer was slightly down, too.

 

What been overall year to date trends as far as sales?

 

SPoT’s Justin Ryan and Ryan Clements. Shop-eat-surf file photo.

Just like in 2011, trinkets and smaller item sales are up. Things like wristbands, wallets, socks, hats, etc. are doing well.

 

Any changes as far as what’s hot what’s not?

 

We’ve seen a slight increase in sales with actual skate shoe brands. More specifically, brands that started in skateboarding as opposed to starting outside of skateboarding and coming in are doing well. Brands like DC, Supra, and Emerica are three examples.

 

What’s your outlook/expectations for holiday?

 

We believe that we are geared up with proper inventory levels and have our sales staff ready to perform. Our buyer is also standing by, ready to place at-once orders with hardgoods as needed.

 

Any special promos planned?

 

Absolutely. We have a giant Black Friday sale with free skating, food, and great deals on product, as well as blowout sales. Two weeks after Black Friday is Tampa Am, and the entire skate park will be branded out with the contest artwork and ready for the excitement. The following weekend we have a BMX event where we’ll likely do a shoe sale, and possibly something else on sale, too. Then the day after Christmas, we’re doing free skating once again.

 

See Page 2 for Hi-Tech on Maui

 

 

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Hi-Tech Hawaii – Kim Ball

How did summer/back to school turn out?

 

All summer was good. Kids go back to public school at the end of July here, but we were still up in August. September was down.

 

What been overall year to date trends as far as sales?

 

Sales up until September have been strong.

 

Any changes as far as what’s hot what’s not?

 

Hardgoods is what turns our wheels. Skate has been strong across the board with two new Maui skate parks opening in the past six months. SUP continues to be a big part of our business.

Kim Ball, owner of Hi-Tech on Maui. Shop-eat-surf file photo.

 

As far as clothing, with the big companies being sold for the most part at Macy’s, Costco, and their company stores, our buyers are hunting out smaller lines that understand the Hawaii market.

 

Yesterday, at Costco, you could buy $19.95 boardshorts, $29.95 Sherpa fleece, and SUP boards with paddle and bag for $899.95. The boardshorts and fleece were from two of our key vendors.

 

What’s your outlook/expectations for holiday?

 

We expect it to be phenomenal. We all think it’s crazy that stores open at midnight on Thanksgiving.

 

Any special promos planned?

 

Our 23rd annual Hi-Tech / Lopez Surfbash is coming up and Alpine Stars has come on board to be part of that. We’re doing some Christmas promotions with Billabong, Ergo, Dakine, and Neff. We had two great summer surf events with Quiksilver and Honolua Surf Co.

 

Is it getting tougher to compete with online sales or flash sales on the

web?

 

Believe it or not, where we really noticed it is with snow hardgoods and softgoods. Obviously being in Hawaii, we’re limited with our selection, but we’ve become the try-on store for jackets, pants, boots, etc.

 

Here’s how bad things got last year: a customer could order from one of our vendor’s online store and pay less shipping than we were charged if we ordered from the same vendor for the customer. There’s something really wrong with that when you’re investing money in that brand and giving floor space representation to that brand.

 

Are you boosting your own online retail sales efforts?

 

Trying to do online retail business in Hawaii is really hampered by geography.

 

How are you approaching winter merchandise? Are you selling off extra inventory from last year?

 

We were pretty clean with clothing, but we couldn’t give away a snowboard. The airlines didn’t really help us with traveling with snow equipment.

 

Are you planning any special customer promos/events you want to share for the holiday?

 

We’re doing our annual Snowboard Night with Mike Wiegele. Mike loves Maui and he’s given away a heli board trip for the past 10 years at our shop. Burton, Dakine, and Billabong are usually involved too.