Transworld Business article of long ago

AS SEEN IN SKI PRESS MAGAZINE

Munich (Ski Press)-
A group of 13 trend-setting US board retailers arrived at ISPO Winter in Munich to explore the growing side of a market, previously dominated by US brands. The visit supports the ever-increasing image and value of the European board markets and the interest US companies show in expanding their business overseas.
In cooperation with the US Board Retailers Association and with Transworld Media in California, board ISPO has created a compelling destination program for the specialty retailers from North America. The buyers, most of them presidents and owners of their specialty sports stores or even chains, will be treated to a visit to the largest ISPO show ever.
With ISPO’s unique concept of separate specialty shows side by side, the European event offers attendees the additional benefit of exploring several market segments at a single event. North America offers no such opportunity. The US dealers look forward to discover new brands and products without present distribution in the US, a look at familiar brands in their European guise, as well as a close look at the way European retailers maximize their business.
One of the group’s destinations is the board ISPO Snow Summit, a program at the show designed to provide interaction and knowledge exchange between specialty board retailers. In addition to the halls packed with brands and product, retailers also value the unique ISPO projects highlighting new, small brands. Again, US shows offer no parallel to concept intro areas such as Brand New, Seedbed, Rider-Owned-Brands, Ski Lift etc., all of which have received highest praise from US visitors of past shows.
All Participants in this years group trip were selected by the US Board Retailers Association. The association has been a key ingredient to the lasting success of specialty board retailing in the US. The invitees were chosen based on their proven skill and success as leading board stores in the US. Members of the group headed to ISPO Winter 06, starting on 29 January in Munich, will be:
Chuck, Lee and Eric Morrow from Ambush Boarding Co. (Georgia), Scott Guntz  from Bordz (New Jersey), Scott Oreschnick and Heidi Souza from Cal Surf (Minnesota), Marc D’Emilia from Coast 2 Coast (New York), Robby Roberts from Pure Board Shop (Maryland), Chris Bachman and Jessica Larsen from Shred Shop (Illinois), Jay and Lori Moore from World Boards (Montana), as well as Leah Stassen, Board Editor for Transworld Business Magazine.
FOMO: www.ispo.com