Arbor 2022 Cruiser Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Cruisers 2022 Retail Buyer‘s Guide
Brand: Arbor
Interviewee: Nate Shute, Product Manager

Is Covid still affecting your sales/supply chains?
Our Sales has seen tremendous growth throughout the year due to more people just wanting to get outside and have fun, and a skateboard is the perfect tool to take with you on all of your outdoor adventures.

How have you adapted your marketing during the pandemic?
Content Creation was difficult at first, with our Athletes, Ambassadors, Photographers, and Videographers having to change plans in-line with local restrictions. But after navigating the situation we are still able to create the amazing content we are known for.

How is the European cruiser market faring in comparison to the US?
Both the US and Europe had an incredibly strong Summer which is carrying through into the Holidays.

Do you think skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics will inspire a new surge of cruiser skaters?
The Olympics has created a buzz in skateboarding, particularly with the younger audience, you only need to look at the average age on the female podiums to see why!

Is the current surfskate boom also spanning into people taking up skating a cruiser?
We have seen the Surfskate realm continue to grow over the years, and for good reason; it’s just so fun to surf on dry land when the waves are flat or un-accessible. We wanted to do it right and tell a story, so we created the Shaper Series. This ultra-collaborate project with Carver Trucks and two of today’s most innovative Shapers, Ryan Lovelace and Tyler Warren, brings a distinct vision for shape and aesthetic.

Are your cruisers aimed more at people who already skate and want a chilled alternative, or for people to simply use for commuting and convenience?
Our Cruisers are made for anyone that wants to have fun on a skateboard; from commuting to campus, cruising on the boardwalk, or runs to the corner store.

What are your collection themes for 2022 and what stories are you most proud of?
The new Artist Collection is a collaboration with Boss Dog that reflects the mystical, high-desert energy of Joshua Tree, where these bold commentaries on universal truth came to life. The New Bamboo Collection with London-based tattoo artist, El Rose, balances detailed pen & ink design utilizing bold use of light and dark spaces to highlight the cycle of life and the power of the natural world. The Shaper Series is an ultra-collaborative project with Carver trucks, who started the surfskate movement, and three of today’s most innovative surfboard shapers, Ryan Lovelace, Jon Wegener, and Tyler Warren.

Are you focusing more on completes or do you have a demand for individual parts for modding normal boards?
We are known for offering Arbor Certified Completes, as people now know to expect a quality product built using select, high-end components that complement the performance and geometry of each of our shapes. But we also offer aftermarket wheels like our Easyrider Series for people wanting a quality cruiser wheel, and our Signature Series Wheels for those looking for performance wheels that can handle the rigors of freeride, downhill, and tricks at speed.

Are production materials staying the same, or are you venturing down a more sustainable path?
We ‘re proud to have been the originators of using sustainable building materials in all of our products, since our founding in 1995. We take that a step further with our Returning Roots Initiative, which has helped plant over 350,000 Endemic Koa Trees in Hawaii.

Best Sellers
The Ryan Lovelace is a broad, rounded pin that’s comfortable to skate, and provides the stable feel, and deep carve of a single fin. Built with a Premium Palisander Wood Topsheet and Recycled Glass Re-Grit, and proudly featuring Carver C7 Trucks, along with Arbor’s new 65mm Cannon Wheels and ABEC7 Bearings.

The Tyler Warren is based on Tyler’s Soap shape, and designed to be a fast, loose, agile down the line, tighter carving skateboard. Proudly featuring Carver C7 Trucks, Recycled Glass Re-Grit, and featuring Arbor’s new 65mm Cannon Wheels and ABEC7 Bearings.

The New Breach Foundation is built on a rockered platform, it’s wedged risers and longer wheelbase make it nimble and responsive for hard pumping and drawing fast lines. Built with a Premium Palisander Wood Topsheet and Recycled Glass Re-Grit, Paris Street Trucks, and finished off with Arbor 61mm Bogart Wheels and ABEC7 Bearings.