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BRA Summit: Day 2

Dina Cipollaro, co-owner of Fundamental Training Solutions, explains how to coach your employees to excellence during the first seminar of day two.


ASR's Andy Tompkins (Left) and Surf Expo's Roy Turner talk about the changes made to trade shows in the last six months.





Board-Trac's Angelo Ponzi talks about industry research as a way to maximize each customer's spending potential at your store.


Ed Wray of SIA gives an overview of the state of the snowboarding market and explains why SIA decided to move its trade show from Las Vegas to Denver.





SIMA Executive Director Sean Smith does a great job outlining SIMA's growth and reach in the surf market.





BRA Chairman Todd Roberts introduces the Surf Manufacturers Panel Discussion.


"You can't comp against last year," says Tom Ruiz of Volcom. "Last year might as well be 10 years ago."


The ever-colorful and extremely knowledgeable Dave Nash of Sun Diego asked some pretty good questions, keeping moderators and panelists alike on their toes.


We're focused on solutions and not the death spiral," says Reef President John Wilson: "In last 18 months we've learned so much about our business -- you never get that when you're cruising on EZ street."


D. Nachnani of Coastal Edge.


Marc D'Emila of Coast2Coast, Mike Duncan of BRA, Dave Rosenberger of Quiksilver, and Bobbie Abdulfattah of Jack's during the retail tour Thursday afternoon -- a highlight of this year's summit.


Nachnani takes a look at how things are done at Jack's while Surf Expo's Steven Fisher, ASR's Andy Tompkins, and Coast2Coast's Marc D'Emilia look on.


Zexsport's Palm Sirichanya and Espree Devora, ASR's Leanne Milliken, and BRA's Melissa Clary.


D., Duke Edukas, Mikke Pierson, and Tom Holbrook kick it around at Surfside Sports, one of the many shops visited on Thursday, and one of the nicest.


Bobbie and Duke. This was the first time Bobbie had ever been in to Surfside Sports, choosing to stay out of his competitor's stores as a sign of respect.


Rip Curl's Rick Petri, Ron Jon's Emma White and the one and only Paul Harvey of Rip Curl take a moment to pose at Surfside Sports.


The 2009 BRA Retail Summit takes a moment for a picture in front of the world famous Frog House.


With the right lighting, Huntington Beach is beautiful.


Sushi in H.B. on Thursday night.


Todd Roberts and his lovely wife Alison have a bun in the oven. Big congratulations to a cool couple.


The crew celebrates Todd and Alison's big news.


Too bad BRA President Mike Duncan is such a sour puss.


Pacific Beach Surf Shop's Randy Strunk, D. Nachnani of Coastal Edge, and Michael Paul of Hot Wax.

BRA Summit 2009: Day One

The first day of the sixth-annual Board Retailers association featured a solid keynote address from Tommy Knapp, industry analysis from Cary Allington, a detailed overview of the skate market from IASC, capped off by a Create-A-Skate presentation by Paul Schmitt. But of course, the real value of events like these are the offline conversations and networking opportunities among the retailers.



BRA Chairman and Co-Owner of ZJ Boarding House Todd Roberts (left) and BRA President Mike Duncan welcome the attendees to the sixth annual Board Retailers Association Retail Summit.


Roberts outlines the progress the trade association has made since its 2001 genesis.


Tommy Knapp, how is now an adjunct professor at USC, explains how he transitioned from entrepreneurial apparel manufacturer to retailer during his keynote address.


Knapp took the plunge when he bought the Hobie stores on Maui in 1993, the same year his Club Sportswear brand lost $500,000. But within four years, after changing the names of the stores to Honolua Surf Co., he was ready to sell the successful retail chain to Billabong,


GSI's Mark Kelly, Shop-Eat-Surf's Tiffany Montgomery, and Tommy Knapp.


Surf Aid International's Javier Guerrero with Mikke Pierson of ZJ Boarding House.


Surf Expo Roy Turner, Blitz's Per Welinder, Quiksilver's Tom Holbrook, and Surf Expo's Steven Fisher at the BRA lunch.


Quiksilver Trio Dave Rosenberger, Greg Macias, and Eddie Anaya.


TransWorld Business' Joshua Hunter with Mark Kelly.


IASC Execuive Director John Bernards, Hunter, and George Leichtweis of Modern Skate & Surf.


Mark Richards of Val Surf and Paul Harvey of Rip Curl get chummy.


Turner, Marc D'Emilia of Coast To Coast, Ronnie Abdulfattah of Jack's, andRichards at the BRA luncheon.


TumYeto's Glenn Brummage outlines the current state of the skate industry.


The Skateboarding panel spent some time discussing MSRP and minimum advertised pricing for skateboard decks.


George Orton from Random X Boardshop talks about customer service.


The incredible passionate and knowledgeable "Professor" Paul Schmitt leads the retailers through the Create-A-Skate program and how shops can get involved with this unique educational program.