VAST 2023 SUP Preview
Retail Buyers Guide: SUP 2023 Retail Buyer‘s Guide
Brand: VAST
Interviewee: N/A
2022 has been marked by overstocks for many players in the SUP industry. Was it the case for your company?
No, we bought and stocked well and with plenty of sell through in store, our retailers are not over stocked. The general sell through from last year was that prebooks were already sold through in store before the season started and our stock holdings in the UK kept our customers fed throughout the season.
Inflation is in everyone’s mouth, so how do you keep up with the costs rise (production/shipment)? How much of an increase of price points are we talking for 2023?
No increase for us at this stage, we work incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure we are always utilizing the most efficient manufacturing and shipping processes.
Spring is on the corner: can you guaranty an early delivery of goods in Europe?
Our goods are already in the UK and ready to ship to stores. It’s a very nice position to be in where we are now waiting on our retailers go ahead to ship in to them.
Which inflatable models are you pushing in 2023? Please list the technologies/materials which make those iSUPs outstanding?
Our Aurora is the outstanding model of 2023. The Aurora offers the ultimate, high-end technologies expected at the premium end of the market, including Thermo-fused lamination, through the mid-tier price range. We want to ensure that all the newcomers to the SUP lifestyle are utilizing the best available boards, but more importantly the safest boards possible.
What do you offer when it comes to foiling/wing in the SUP category? Is the foil still boosting SUP sales?
This is not actually a market we are looking at currently. From discussions with other brands and retailers at Paddle Show, Lyon, and across the UK, it seems that the Foil marketplace is going to become incredibly saturated through 2023, where every brand who are remotely linked to watersports will be producing foils. For us it will be more important to ensure we are producing the best possible iSUPs and new inflatable Kayaks.
Any piece of advice to give to brick & mortar retailers concerning their order sorting?
Ensure that you are not only considering the Margins of brands, all brands will be similar, I would ask that you consider the safety of the board you are selling. Should we really be pushing single skins in to the market in this day and age, as an example, with the reports from the RNLI that iSUP rescues are at an all-time high. Another key USP for VAST is that all boards are stocked in our UK warehouse. There will be no VATs/Duties being passed on to you or massive shipping fees in from Europe.
Best Sellers
AURORA 10’6- The Aurora is super stable, rail to rail, with a Thermo-fused laminated construction. In the traditional VAST colour schemes, the Aurora looks classy and elegantly restrained next to some of its more garish cousins on the water.
VAST 2023 SUP Preview
NOVA 10’2- The VAST Nova package offers the market optimum for smaller boards for smaller riders. Ideally designed at 10’2″ x 30″ x 4.75″, the Nova will carve through the water with ease but still maintains the integrity demanded of a VAST product. Utilising the thermo-fused construction system, this board remains lightweight to make the carry to the water comfortable, but leaves nothing in the shed in regards to performance.
VAST 2023 SUP Preview
ASTRO 8’6- At VAST, we want to make sure that iSUP and the Paddleboarding lifestyle is open and safe for all. Which is why we have developed a lighter, kids size package that has all the technology and accessories of the more expensive adult sets. For us, there is zero room for compromise on the safety of anyone on the water, so the VAST Astro is designed to be the ultimate in junior iSUP packages.
VAST 2023 SUP Preview
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