Coastal Connections offered a surge of educational opportunities during Surf Expo, Sept. 16-18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Six expert-led sessions throughout the three-day event were packed with practical takeaways retailers could put to work in their businesses.
Sessions covered timely retail topics ranging from inventory planning and AI applications to high-impact merchandising strategies. The speaker lineup included Dane Cohen, head of business development at Management One; Kathy Cruz, owner of Savvy Shopkeeper; Michael Hale, CEO, founder and creative director of Retail Rehab; Jennifer Johnson, owner of The Confident Entrepreneur; Melissa Steadman, owner of Moonbridge Consulting; and Ciara Stockeland, founder of Inventory Genius.
With one morning and one afternoon session each day of the show, attendees could conveniently attend the educational programming while still having ample time to explore the many coastal brands on the expo floor.
Forrest King, owner of Calabash Art & Curios in Calabash, North Carolina, says he and his wife, Suzy King, attended all six Coastal Connections sessions at Surf Expo and left with fresh ideas and actionable strategies they’re excited to put to work in their retail business.
“Every session that I sat in on, there was something that stood out. I appreciated all of them,” he says. “I think each topic gave us a couple of pointers that we are going to try to pull into our business. I’m already resetting one part of our store using the system from the merchandising session with Michael Hale.”
Coastal Connections also helped to connect attendees with relevant vendors through sponsor giveaways during each session. The first 100 attendees also received a complimentary welcome bag, filled with products from leading coastal brands.
“The sponsor giveaways were a nice addition,” said Billie Jo Shultz, visitor services director with the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau in Hesston, Pennsylvania. “I was able to find some items that fit well with our area, especially our lake, hiking and biking merchandise.”
“We truly appreciate the sponsors who helped make Coastal Connections at Surf Expo possible,” says Karen Carr, publisher of Breakwall Publishing which produces Coastal Connections. “Their sponsorships and generous contributions to our welcome bags and giveaways added another layer of excitement to the experience and gave retailers a chance to discover some great products and brands along the way.”
Roy Turner, Surf Expo senior vice president and show director, says he received positive feedback from retailers on incorporating the Coastal Connections educational sessions with Surf Expo for its September edition.
“Bringing Coastal Connections to Surf Expo meant retailers could get quality education without taking additional time away from their stores,” Turner says. “The smartest retailers know that staying informed is essential to staying competitive. The Surf Expo team has always seen Seaside Retailer as a true industry partner, and we look forward to growing this program at future events.”
More information about Coastal Connections is available at www.coastalconnectionsconference.com. Seaside Retailer and Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties will also provide coverage of the sessions in its upcoming print issues and online at www.seasideretailer.com and www.sgnmag.com.
