BoardsportSource Issue #121 August 2024
The Regularity of the Irregularity
When I wrote in my last editorial that the weather was becoming a multi-seasonal problem, I had little idea of the cold wet spring that was to come, so I had not expected it to become such a hot topic in such a short period of time. No pun intended. We have all got used to winter’s irregularities and winter brands have adapted their business models to suit. But the lack of any kind of sustained sunny spell this spring, has meant that across most of Europe, consumers were not even thinking of the great outdoors, let alone actually going out and visiting outdoor sports shops. So it’s not just the summer hardgoods brands, still struggling to work through last year’s overstocking, who have been caught out, but any brand with a summer product will have found this season extremely tough. Just read our ‘national market insights’ to get an idea of the general levels of turbulence. To put it in perspective: this is not just a BoardSports problem but one that is currently affecting all outdoor sports activities.
However, as I write this, the sun has finally come out to play.
Here’s to hoping crowded summer resorts in August will provide just the injection the market needed; the good weather lasts for longer than usual and brands and shops can recover some of their sales slack. Fingers crossed as ever.
Our Big Wig interview in this issue features Steve Douglas. He has seen it all and done it all, after a career of over 25 years from rider through to charity promoter, brand founder and event organiser, there’s not much he has not turned his hand to.
As always at this time of the year, Source is full to bursting with next spring/summer retail buyer’s guides and we hope the new products create an reinvigorating boost. Meanwhile things don’t stand still in BoardSports with brands continuing to come to market with exciting ideas and products, just look at our diverse brand profiles.
So to finish with some positive news. A welcome addition to the events calendar is The European Foil and Windsports Expo from the 9-11th October in Lagos in Portugal, launched by Foiling magazine. Great this BoardSport of the moment has its own show… Meanwhile Globe industries in their latest financial accounts reported that the skate hardgoods market is now working its way though its excess stock and order levels are rising. So some light at the end of the tunnel.
Sideways, but bumpy.
Clive Ripley
Publisher
