LEARNING LABS AT SURF EXPO

Steven ‘Fish’ Fisher, Buyer Relations Director | Action Sports

Surf Expo is a big show and can be a little intimidating, especially to a first-time attendee. Whether this is your first time, or if you just need a few pointers on handling your time and schedule. Please join us for a quick briefing on the ins and outs of the show!

Mikke Pierson, Certified FocalPoint Business Coach & Consultant 

This session will cover five key topics that will strengthen your business into the new year. Emotional Intelligence and Leadership, Employee Empowerment and Well-being, Strategic Innovation and Adaptability, Data-Driven Decision Making, Building Strong, Diverse Teams.

 Board Retailers Association

This remarkable Panel Discussion will address what to know about private label and shop-branded product opportunities plus common misconceptions and unique, high margin, and easy-to-sell shop-branded product ideas will be moderated by BRA Chairman and owner of Modern Skate & Surf, George Leichtweis, and will feature private label/shop branded product and process experts including: 

• Dave Bock – Founder & President of Earthpack

• Bennett Flicker– SVP of Sales & Merchandising at Burnside/Scope Apparel Group 

• Ryan O’Leary – CEO / Creative Director at Slant Six Private Label

• Dave Seehafer – private label resource at Global Wave Ventures 

• Dan Polgreen – founder/owner at Roll Around Workshop

Shaun Tomson

Retail stores and their suppliers across the world are struggling with unmotivated and disconnected employees. Gallup estimates that 79% of team members across the world are disengaged, uninvolved and unenthusiastic about their work and workplace. While Covid and remote working might have created awareness of the problem, political polarization, worldwide conflicts and economic uncertainty have magnified the problem. Many consultants and experts offer expensive interventions. Leadership expert, best-selling author, environmentalist and World Surfing Champion Shaun Tomson draws on his experience working with hundreds of thousands of employees and some of the world’s finest organizations and universities to offer a simple, effective and transformational method to unite and re-energize your employees. 

Rob Mochado

See a short film chronicling the shaping journey of Rob Machado, through his years as an up-and-coming grom, to World Tour competitor and Pipe Master, to free surfer and today’s eminent shaper and designer of surfboards that make fun and performance accessible to all.  The film will be followed by a Q & A with Rob Machado on the stage.

Chris Bertish– ALL IN!

What would you put on the line for what you believe in? For Chris Bertish, the answer was everything. ALL IN! A story of Courage, belief, passion & purpose, to do something the world told him was simply impossible! Hear this Mavericks Big Wave Champion, Stand-up Paddleboarding Guinness World Record Holder, International Speaker, Author, Conservationist & Ocean Pioneer share his incredible journey.

Dan Jablons, Retail Smart Guys

Inventory is a retailer’s biggest asset.  It’s also the biggest headache.  What causes inventories to go wrong?  Why aren’t they accurate?  And if they were, what would it mean to the bottom line?  After many years of working with lots of POS systems, coupled with inventory planning and optimization, Dan Jablons has unique insights into solving this complex problem for retailers.

Board Retailers Association

This BRA Retailer Roundtable Panel Discussion will be moderated by BRA Chairman and owner of Modern Skate & Surf, George Leichtweis, and will feature specialty retailers from around the country as well as smart and resourceful retail consultants. This incredible group of movers and shakers will address the following topics and more: 

• “Tis The Season” – A Look back to the positives as well as the challenges of the Holidays.

• Steps to take now to prepare your store for Spring and Summer.

• Opportunities to continue to clear out old product and get your inventory under control.

• How to reward your employees’ good work that benefits both the retailer and the employee.

• How to leverage AI and other retail technologies.

Cobian

The Salt + Light Movement is igniting a spark of change in the action aports community. Join us as we showcase uplifting stories of service and giving back, featuring Cobian ambassadors Bethany Hamilton, CJ & Damien Hobgood, Hall of Fame Skateboarder Dennis Martinez, 11x Baja 1000 Champ Johnny Campbell, and rising surf talent Jacob Turner. Discover how these incredible individuals are making a difference – and how you can too. 

Be inspired by their journeys and learn how you can be part of this movement. Plus, don’t miss your chance to win an unforgettable trip to serve alongside Cobian ambassadors at a future Salt + Light Event!

The Surfrider Foundation just launched the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program, which recognizes hotels that are committed to reducing single-use plastic and making more sustainable choices for the ocean. Inspired by the nationally-recognized Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program, this new hotels program already has 17 hotels participating across the country, saving over 600,000 single-use water bottles and 900,000 mini toiletry bottles from polluting the ocean and landfill every year. Surfrider’s goal is to add 100 hotels in the next 5 years. Are you an ocean advocate, traveler, or business owner? This session is for you! Join this session to learn how businesses can save money by reducing single-use plastic and how to get involved with Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Programs.

Board Retailers Association

Not every retailer is suffering in this economy. Many 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 possess and learn how to implement these changes into your business to generate better cash flow, better profitability, and more fun at your stores. BRA Chairman George Leichtweis will moderate this outstanding panel discussion with Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys and Stephen Baird of Trackfly.