Since 1976 manufacturers and retailers in the surf, skate, water sports, swim and resort industries have come together in a business-first buying and selling environment at Surf Expo. Surf Expo is produced in January and September in Orlando, Florida and draws buyers from specialty stores across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world. Surf Expo features approximately 2,000 booths of apparel and hardgoods and a full line-up of special events, including fashion shows, annual awards ceremonies, and demos. Average buyer and exhibitor turnout exceeds 12,000 attendees including retailers, exhibitors and media per show. Surf Expo is endorsed by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA); the Board Retailers Association (BRA), the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) the Association of Wind & Water Sports Industries (AWSI) and the Dive Industry Association (DIA). All shows are open to trade only.
Surf – It’s the category that launched Surf Expo, the surfing industry’s oldest and largest trade show. Features boards, sunglasses and sun protection products, boardshorts, juniors, footwear and fins. Skate – Surrounding the show’s street course and vert ramp, it’s got a vibe all its own. Includes boards, trucks, rails, footwear, protective gear and accessories, and apparel for the youth culture. Wakeboard & Waterski – THE marketplace for boards, bindings, gear including clothing, helmets and wetsuits, fat sacs and pumps, plus other related accessories. Plus boats and jetskis, towers, pylons, racks, speakers, lights, and biminis. Kiteboard & Windsurf – Surf Expo is the retailers’ resource for all wind-related boarding. Features kites, boards, sails, booms, masts, harnesses, bindings and related accessories. Stand Up Paddle – Features the boards, paddles and fins, plus accessories, racks and training videos. Freedive – Surf Expo's newest addition, featuring fins, masks, underwater photography equipment, dive-specific wetsuits and the technical expertise to expand into the quickly growing sport.
Resort – From the local beach shop to the upscale resort in the islands, the cruise ship and the mountains, these are the lines your customers will want. It’s the most comprehensive collection in the resort industry including tees and shorts, casual shirts, dresses, sarongs and batiks, jewelry, towels, plus premiums and souvenirs.
Boutique – Offering high fashion and contemporary boutiques their own specialized collections, Boutique features accessories, casual weekend wear, denim, footwear, sleepwear/loungewear, urban/street as well as high-end resortwear and swim, and spa and body products. Swim – With the largest collection of swimwear exhibits in the country, you’ll find the latest juniors, missy, children's and contemporary styles.
Watch the day by day videos from the January 2012 Surf Expo
5/11/2012
4/30/2012
4/27/2012
4/25/2012
4/24/2012
4/23/2012
4/18/2012
Surf, skate and beach lifestyle brands note busy days and renewed energy in the market as Surf Expo hosts more than 20,000 buyers, exhibitors and media.
Avid freediver and spearfisher Sheri Daye has joined the Surf Expo Team as a sales account executive to expand and enhance the Dive section of the January 2012 show.
Surf Expo honored two exhibitors for their products debuting on the show floor at the September 2011 show. Safe Skies Luggage Locks earned Best New Product award while Dressed n’Case secured the Best New Design award.
More than 35 exhibitors and 300 retailers in town for Surf Expo gathered on the shores of the Orlando Watersports Complex to scrutinize the latest products from the SUP and wakeboarding industries.
This September Surf Expo will introduce the Best New Product and Best New Design awards for the Resort and Souvenir category. Best New Product will be given to the manufacturer of a new and unique product that demonstrates innovation and clever application. The Best New Design winner will highlight artistic designs, style and cut.
With two months remaining before the September 8-10 Surf Expo, 90% of the trade show floor is already booked solid.
Surf Expo’s January and September events were awarded two spots in Trade Show Executive magazine’s Gold 100 list. The distinction honors the biggest and best trade shows in the industry they serve. The list also recognizes ideas that were implemented to maintain a strong marketplace in a challenging economy.
TransWorld Business, the leading trade journal for the surf, skate, snowboarding and action sports markets, has partnered with Surf Expo to present three special fashion shows during Surf Expo.