Flying Wheels S/S 2022 Longboard Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Longboards S/S 2022 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Flying Wheels
Interviewee: Benoit BRECQ, Brand & Marketing Manager

Is Covid still affecting your sales/supply chains?
Covid has caused a lot of disruption in the skateboarding world. On the one hand it has given a huge boost to outdoor sports and skateboarding in particular. On the one hand, it has considerably boosted outdoor sports and skateboarding in particular, and on the other hand, it has increased the demand for skateboards. However, in terms of production and supply, there were major difficulties and delays throughout 2021. However, things seem to be improving for the spring of 2022.

How have you adapted your marketing during the pandemic?
We continued to communicate throughout the pandemic. Despite the disruption to some of our ranges, we have continued to keep in touch with our consumers by providing quality content and helping them find our products in shops as much as possible.
We have also taken advantage of this moment to work on our ranges by making them evolve and adapting them to the needs and evolutions of the market.

How is the European Longboard market faring in comparison to the US?
We are not very present on the American market, but in Europe the Longboard market is dominated by the SURFSKATE and the CRUISER at the moment. There is also a renewed interest in DANCING, but this remains more of a niche. The market of the technical Longboard of Descent or Slide is rather restricted and gathers only passionate people.

Flying Wheels S/S 2022- MYSTCOVE39-BLUE

How do you think skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics for the first time, will impact on Longboarding?
It is still early to really measure the impact of the presence of Skateboarding at the Olympic Games on the development of the discipline and other associated disciplines such as Longboarding. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the media coverage of this sport thanks to the Olympic Games, which is exploding with the Covid, is an additional asset for the discipline.
We will be able to really measure this in the coming months/years, but we are confident that it will have a positive impact.

Is the current surfskate boom also inspiring people to take up longboarding?
As with the Skateboarding Olympics, the SurfSkate Boom can only be positive for Longboarding. It allows people to discover the world of skateboarding. People discover skateboarding or SurfSkate but some of them try other practices like Longboarding which also gains followers. The global market is therefore on the rise.

What are your collection themes for S/S2022 and what stories are you most proud of?
For Spring/summer22 we worked closely with artists to create 4 limited edition boards. A cruiser in 31 the SAMURISE model designed by DOBERMAN TATOO – Fabien Landry from Nantes. A CHILL board in 32 the DEERGOD model designed by BURNCLAN DESIGNS – Alex Patrocino from Barcelona. Another CHILL board in 35 designed by the illustrator Jean MOSAMBI in Tarbes. And a GUN board in 39 created by the graphic designer YANN LE GALL from the Reunion Island.

Flying Wheels S/S 2022 – SAMURISE31-BLACK

What shapes and board sizes are currently trending?
The Trend is on Short & Wide LONGBOARDS. Most of our range is on Cruising & Surf Skates boards. With boards between 29’’ to 32” sizes. We keep in our range longers boards from 34” to 43” but the sales are more in the first segment at the moment

Are production materials staying the same, or are you venturing down a more sustainable path?
Most of our range is made with CANADIAN Mapple wool we also work with Bamboo in some models. We work hard with our factories to the impact of our production on the planet selecting our materials in accord with this goal

What are the Longboard must-haves for retailers to get in the coming year?
To meet the demand, it is necessary to propose a wide range of longboards by integrating in its rack, cruisers, Chill boards, guns and why not a Dancing board. This allows us to give the final consumer a choice and to advise him in his desires.

Best Sellers

SAMURISE 31: Cruiser model designed by DOBERMAN TATOO – Fabien Landry from Nantes.

DEERGOD 32: CHILL model designed by BURNCLAN DESIGNS – Alex Patrocino from Barcelona.

MYSTCOVE 39: GUN Model created by the graphic designer YANN LE GALL from the Reunion Island.