Welcome to the NSSRA Newsletter. This publication is sent to all NSSRA members via email and be posted on the NSSRA website, www.nssra.com.

We welcome your comments and ideas for articles in future issues. In addition, if there is an issue troubling you, this newsletter is the appropriate vehicle to bring that topic to the attention of your fellow retailers.

Teddy Schiavoni, Summit Ski & Snowboard
NSSRA Chairman of the Board

Larry Weindruch
NSSRA President
NSSRA Chairman:
Association Will Thrive
With Your Support
At our most recent Board of Directors meeting earlier this summer, we discussed the value of our retailers and that of our association and how those equate to relevance and strength in our industry. We realize we have a lot of power on tap, largely under-utilized. With many changes occurring throughout the industry and retailers maneuvering business operations to survive the Amazonian E-conomy, we remain optimistic, seeing potential to serve our membership and help strengthen your footings. We also realize we need a couple things from you to make it all work.

We have circled two main points: Communication and Participation. If our membership supports our initiatives and engages in dialogue with us, this association will thrive.

Our long-term goal is to have an Officer assigned to become our full-time liaison, representing NSSRA. We will be hiring someone who sees the "Big Picture," has the necessary relationships across the industry and speaks the retailer's language. It will become the mission of that person to strengthen the relevance of snow sports retailers into the future. For our budgets to meet that goal we need you, our current members, to communicate with us and to participate in our initiatives.

If you haven't on-boarded with our Point-of-Sale Data Program with SportsOneSource, you're not only missing the boat but you're holding back the launch. It's taken two years for us to get to the point where we are, including now collaborating with SIA to ensure that our information is scrubbed clean, usable and better than anything our industry has ever seen. The platform goes live in the September/October time frame. Its success and the success of your retail association are fueled by your participation. Sign up at http://www.ssidata.com/ . Please, participate!

We have been sending surveys, asking for your opinions, to become a more efficient and relevant organization for you. We value your time and understand you juggle many balls, so we ensure our surveys are brief and concise. If you haven't been spending the few minutes to respond to us, we can't help your business. If you have been responding to our questionnaires, know that we are using that information to hone in on the issues you are asking us to, and we thank you. Communication is key to every healthy relationship, and we want your feedback.

We've found many of our members like to talk about "Shows." Hopefully you understand where SIA sold the Snow Show to Emerald Expositions (operators of the Outdoor Retailer Show), it was simply the rights to the event where we all come together. Emerald is expert in producing trade shows. SIA is still SIA and their plans are to become stronger advocates for growth and advocacy initiatives of snow sports. Selling the show allows SIA to focus on the things we've been needing to sustain the industry and, hey, maybe selling the show to Emerald was the best thing to happen to the industry overall. We shall see. However, by merging the OR and SIA members into shared show spaces and dates, expect to be welcomed to more large-scale national shows in the future. More lanyards and wristbands for your collections! And don't forget to stop by the NSSRA booth at the show. We'll still be there to answer your questions and feature our newest member services.

At NSSRA, we have a lot of new projects on the radar. We are adding committees and enlisting member assistants. If you believe retailers should have a collective voice across our industry, communicate with us. If you would like to see positive changes for the NSSRA membership, participate with us. If you'd like to be a part of the changes we're making toward becoming a stronger and more relevant trade association, contact us. Email NSSRA President Larry Weindruch at lweindruch@nssra.com.

The days are getting shorter, so winter is on its way. We're excited for the changes coming up this season including the launch of our POS Data Program and a new website. Stay tuned for our correspondence. We will be calling on you for your input.
 
Much more to come.
 
All the best,

Teddy Schiavoni
NSSRA Chairman
Summit Ski & Snowboard, Framingham, MA

If You Haven't Answered our Brief Survey, Here's Your Chance
Earlier this week, we sent a survey via email to all NSSRA retailer members. The short online survey will provide information that will help us help you.

Please click on this link to complete the survey. It should take you no more than a few minutes to answer the questions, and your feedback will help guide us as we move forward with new member services.

If you already responded, we thank you. If you haven't, now is as good a time as any.
 
 
Thank you.
Learn To Ski/Bring-A-Friend Creates Triple Play
January 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the Learn To Ski And Snowboard (Month)/Bring-A-Friend initiative. Organizers are introducing something NEW this year called "The Triple Play." It's a strategy to celebrate learning how to ski or snowboard throughout the month of January (Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month) and beyond. Partners can participate in all or part of the effort.  Read More
Featured Member Benefit
One of the most useful member services available to NSSRA retailer members comes by way of the master membership in the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). Any retailer who communicates regularly with customers is sure to find Constant Contact a valuable service. Click here to see the details of how the Constant Contact service can help your store's direct marketing program maintain and enhance your relationship with customers.
Private Equity Firm Purchases Newell's Winter Sports Brands
Eleven winter sports brands, including Völkl, K2 and Marker, that make up the Winter Sports segment of Newell Brands are being sold to Kohlberg & Company at a cost of $240 million. Last year, the divested brands, which also include Dalbello, Madshus, Line, Full Tilt, Atlas, Tubbs, Ride and BC, generated aggregate sales of $330 million and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $25 million.
Boa Technology Hires 
Shawn Neville as CEO
Boa Technology Inc.  announced the appointment of Shawn Neville to the position of chief executive officer. Neville joins Boa following his most recent tenure as CEO and chairman of Aerosoles Group, a leading global footwear company, and remains an active board member of Zildjian Percussion. His career path turned to the footwear industry when Neville joined Reebok International in the early 90's, where he served as vice president of USA marketing, general manager of Reebok France & European Operations, and senior vice president & general manager of Reebok North America during his tenure. Shawn joined Footaction USA as CEO and president in 1998 and led Keds Corp as president from 2004-2008.
News Digest
Fischer Sports:  Fischer Sports announced a partnership with Teton Gravity Research (TGR) to sponsor TGR's Grom Contest, a competition that seeks to find the best of the best among youth skiers. The grand prize includes one-year sponsorships from Fischer Skis and the chance to film with TGR.
 
Vail Resorts:  Vail Resorts, Inc. closed on its acquisition of Stowe Mountain Resort. Vail Resorts acquired the resort from Mount Mansfield Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). As part of the transaction, Vail Resorts acquired all assets related to the mountain operations of the resort, including base area skier services (food and beverage, retail and rental, lift ticket offices and ski and snowboard school facilities) at Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. The company also announced that Stowe Mountain Resort is now included on the Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass for the 2017-2018 winter season.
 
Utah Ski Areas:  Ski Utah announced 4.58 million skier days, up 2.85 percent from the previous record of 4,457,575 during the 2015-16 season. This year's number represents an 8.35 percent increase vs. Utah's five-year average of 4,23 million. Nationally, skier days were up from 52.8 million to 54.7 million, a 3.7 percent increase from last season. According to the RRC survey, visits were variable by region with a strong rebound in visits from the Northeast, Southeast and Pacific Northwest. Declines were seen in the Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Midwest.

LTL Freight Rate Increases: Freight carriers are catching shippers off guard this year by taking their general rate increases earlier than before. Last year, the LTL rate increases came in the fall, but this year many of the major carriers increased their rates in May and June. ABF increased an average of 4.9% on May 22; YRC Freight increased an average of 4.9% on May 29; XPO Logistics increased an average of 4.9% on June 5; Estes increased an average of 4.9% on June 26; and UPS Freight increased an average of 4.9% on June 26. If you're trying to determine what kind of effect this increase will have on your freight costs, you will need to look at the specific increases in your typical lanes. PartnerShip, NSSRA's provider of express and freight shipping services, works to negotiate competitive rates on your behalf with the most reputable LTL carriers in the industry. Call 800-599-2902 or email sales@PartnerShip.com and identify yourself as an NSSRA member to receive exclusive member pricing.
August 2017 Issue
Quick Links
SIA

NSSRA Thanks These Supporting Members
 
Apex Sports Group, LLC

Boa Technology, Inc.

Fischer Skis US

Head, USA

Horizon Agency, Inc.

Hotronic

Marker-Dalbello-Volkl USA

National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)

Nils, Inc.

Nordica USA

Polarmax

Rossignol

Ship Skis

Shopatron/Kibo

Snowsports Industries America (SIA)

SportsOneSource

Sports, Inc.

Tecnica Group USA

Turtle Fur Group