Dive Industry Association Teams Up With Surf Expo
Surf Expo and the Dive Industry Association have teamed up. Representing more than 1,500 retailers this trade association is working hard to increase the reach and business of its retail members through its Undersea Showcase newsletter, educational programs and seminars, and through its partnership with trade and consumer shows such as Ocean Fest, Beneath The Sea, and (of course) Surf Expo. We recently traded e-mails with President Gene Muchanski about the association and its goals:
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| Dive Industry Association President Gene Muchanski |
Can you describe your organization and how many retailers you serve?
Gene Muchanski: The Dive Industry Association is a marketing and trade association dedicated to the small business entrepreneurs who specialize in Snorkeling and Scuba Diving products and services. Our Mission is to increase public awareness to the fun and excitement of watersports activities.
Our goals are to:
1) Unite the Industry to a common purpose and foster the spirit of cooperation.
2) Provide our Members with education, tools and technologies to help them become more professional, productive and profitable in their businesses.
3) Generate maximum marketing exposure for our Members using state-of-the-art marketing vehicles.
4) Increase business opportunities in the watersports community for our Members that will bring them more customers.
We currently serve 1,541 Retailers that specialize in snorkeling, scuba diving, and other water sports.
Why did the dive industry association decide to approach Surf Expo?
The Surf Expo has a long standing reputation in the watersports community for its integrity, professionalism and pro-business approach to all of the various watersports niches. The show is fun to attend and profitable to exhibit at. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling is a fantastic watersports activity, enjoyed by men, women and families for over 60 years. The timing is right for our niche market to step out onto center stage and stop being the “best kept secret” in watersports. In a very short period of time, the Surf Expo family has welcomed the Dive Industry Association and its group to a much larger watersports market potential. We approached the Surf Expo group because of their inclusive approach to “building a better industry.”
How will the two organizations work in tandem now?
I couldn’t think of a better strategic partner for the Dive Industry Association than the Surf Expo and its supporters. The cross-marketing opportunities for both organizations are incredible.
We are inviting every single Retail Dive Center owner and their qualified retail buyers to attend the Surf Expo this September. I am confident they will enjoy the show and expand their business horizons.
At the same time, we are inviting all potential exhibitors within our niche to purchase a booth in the Dive Pavilion to meet the thousands of professional qualified retail buyers that normally attend the Surf Expos. I believe the two organizations will cooperatively work together to build a bigger and better show for everyone concerned.
What’s tops on your agenda for growing the dive industry association?
Growth in any industry segment happens when organizations and entrepreneurs are willing to work together for mutual benefit. It has to do with trust and confidence. Our number one priority is to work with as many organizations as possible to increase opportunities in the watersports community for every single entrepreneur that chooses to specialize in watersports products and services. The beneficiaries of our industry cooperation are the watersports enthusiasts that do business with us…our customers!