WWSRA is pleased to invite you and your staff to the 2008 Regional Rep Events.
These events are designed to make the buy/sell season more efficient and convenient for you! Pre-registration materials for both indoor and on-snow events are available on-line and will be mailed as well in late October; click on the link below to see each individual event for registration materials and show information.

Presently, WWSRA sponsors over 15 regional trade events throughout five territories in the western United States. All events were developed to make the buy/sell cycle more convenient for sales reps and retail buyers. WWSRA produces three types of shows: On-Snow Demos, Winter Markets & Active Sports Markets. One of each type is generally scheduled in each of the five territories, but please refer to the show schedule for details.

 

The Board Retailers Association (BRA) is a non-profit representing over 500 independently owned board sport retailers.  Under the direction of BRA’s Chairman and Board of Directors, the association serves as the preeminent voice for independent retailers of surf, skate, snow and wake products on a grassroots level with manufacturers, trade show representatives, and other associations.  The Board Retailers Association also works to provide education programs and exclusive savings with insurance companies, freight distributors and many other day-to-day business partners. All of this for $125 per year.  Join BRA Today! www.boardretailers.org

Founded in 1987, the NSSRA is the retail voice for the ski and snowboard industries and provides information and services you need to operate more successfully.  For years following the formation of the American Society for Testing and Materials Committee (ASTM) on snow skiing, several independent shop owners worked to represent retailers interest. By 1987, it became apparent that a separate organization was needed to represent retailer interests in the ski industry on a nationwide scale. The National Ski Retailers Association was born.

NSSRA made an immediate difference. Recognized by the Snowsports Industry of America (SIA) as the retailers' voice, NSRA was invited to sit on the Ski Industry Marketing Committee. The Association's Cost of Doing Business Survey has become the benchmark for retail performance throughout the ski retail community. NSRA worked with the Professional Ski Instructors of America(PSIA), the National Ski Patrol(NSP) and ski suppliers to reform the controversy surrounding pro form distribution. To better represent the changes taking place on the slopes, the association changed its name in 1996 to the National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association(NSSRA).

Only qualified retail buyers are invited to attend WWSRA events. The public is not allowed. Direct mail advertising and pre-registration materials are mailed in early November to all retail shops in the WWSRA database.  If you are not receiving such information but have attended our shows in the past, please contact the office at info@wwsra.com so that we may be sure to include your shop on our database.

The Winter & Active Sports Markets are trade shows held inside a convention center or hotel. The format may be open booth, in rooms, or a combination of both. The Winter Markets give reps an opportunity to preview new lines with their dealers and write orders in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. The Active Sports Markets are the perfect venue for reps and retailers to finish writing orders for winter products or to get a head start on spring & summer outdoor gear or active lifestyles & back-to-school products.

The on-snow demos are held in ski areas and are designed to give retail shop buyers and staff the opportunity to test skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, poles and many other products on snow in a convenient, familiar area early in the buy/sell cycle.

• Prepare open to buy capabilities early with an eye to deliveries through early December
• Prepare to take advantage of early incentives on key categories and on opportunities available at the shows
• Clearly defining the goods needed for early buys, those for normal deadline, and those for "opportunity buys" can focus efforts at shows for more efficient time use
• The SIA show is positioned as a preview show.  Early order discounts earned at SIA can potentially more than pay for the trip, with the added benefit of the ability to preview all snow-sports products under one roof in preparation for trying products at on-snow events, and planning for regional writing shows.  Visit the SIA webpage for more information about SIA 2008!
• Early orders can benefit all by focusing production on more profitable goods and creating more production time for important products.  This efficiency has been shown to lead to more stability in market pricing.
• Prioritize your regional show appointment schedule by manufacturer and representative in respect to your time and that of the vendor.  Stick to your priorities and go to the shows with an agenda for success!
• A smooth and efficient show season will benefit all, resulting in less time spent away from your shops and a successful season for dealers, reps, and manufacturers alike!

• We verify that all attendees are representatives from a working retail shop or business by requiring a business card with name, pay stub, tax id, or other similar form of identification before we will issue credentials.
• All Retail Shops attempting to register on-site at the On-Snow Demo, that are not on the WWSRA mailing list and/or are from out of territory, must be qualified by a rep exhibiting at the On-Snow Demo before they will be allowed to enter the show.
• This policy is intended to allow only qualified Retail Shops into the On-Snow Demo and to keep potential theft to a minimum. We realize this procedure could become inconvenient at times, but it will certainly help with some very important security issues.
• If you know of a new shop or if you think a shop you are doing business with may not be on our list, call the WWSRA office and let us know.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please email or call the WWSRA office at 303-532-4002 or ask at the Rep Meeting before the On-Snow Demo begins.