Surf Expo Ready to Roll in January

Surf Expo announced its upcoming January 6-8, 2021 show will take place in the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center, a shift from the North/South Hall where the show has been held previously.

Roy Turner, Surf Expo Show Director and SVP, said, “Our top priority is to reunite the industry together safely. Our team is committed to creating an experience where we can safely and effectively conduct business.”

The West Concourse is expected to provide space for social distancing plus multiple entries and exit points to the show floor, a more favorable floorplan and easier move in and move out for exhibitors. At around 120,000 square feet, the reduced footprint will allow for approximately 420 exhibitors with increased aisle space for distancing.

Surf Expo said in its statement, “While attendance is expected to decrease somewhat due to travel restrictions and store closures, the overwhelming response from retailers is that they need inventory, and want an in-person show.” Retailers from all across the US and Caribbean are registered to attend including Hi Tech Surf Sports from Maui, HI, Sun Diego from Carlsbad CA, K-Coast Surf Shop, Ocean City MD, Archie’s Surf Shop in Ontario, CA, Coastal Edge from VA Beach, Red Sail Sports in Aruba and Grand Cayman.

• Allyson Catanzaro, buyer and boutique manager at La Playa Beach and Golf Resort in Naples, FL, said, “I am looking forward to attending Surf Expo to see vendors in person and to be able to touch and feel product. Zoom calls have worked, but it doesn’t replace the in-person contact.”
• Jim Archibald, owner of Archie’s Surf Shop in Ontario, Canada added, “Surf Expo has been hugely instrumental in our success. Archies wouldn’t be the same without it.? We haven’t missed a winter show in 30 years. I don’t want to break the stretch.”

The January 2021 show will be the first gathering of the industry since our January 2020 Surf Expo. Events will include the annual Florida Shape Off-board shaping competition, live seminars, fashion shows, the Surf Expo Industry Party, and happy hours.

“Our focus will be to conduct the show with safety at the forefront. A comprehensive preparedness, prevention and response plan is in place, based on guidance issued by the by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state, and local governments. This plan is our commitment to providing assurance and confidence that our events have health and safety as our number one priority,” added Turner.