S K AT E B OA R D F O O T W E A R S U M M E R 2021
Skate hardgoods are flying off the shelves, so expect surging demand for proper shoes. For what’s happening on shoe walls, read our Skateboard Footwear Summer 2021 Retail Buyer’s Guide by SOURCE Skateboard Editor Dirk Vogel.
Photo Vans
retail buyer’s guide
RETAIL BUYER’S GUIDE
What a year! First, the pandemic shut down the entire world and postponed skateboarding’s Olympic debut. But after the initial shock, the skate industry awakened to an all-out boom in participation. “It’s obviously been a turbulent first half of the year with Covid hitting Europe. March especially was a tough month but going into April and May, business started to pick up for retailers again. The retailers with a good online presence have even been growing rapidly in May and June,” said Bas Janssen, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager EMEA at etnies, adding: “We hear a lot of good news regarding hardgoods sales and our retailers’ hopes are that more new avid skateboarders will keep skating and need shoes!” This trend is confirmed by David Atkinson, Senior Product Manager at Vans Skateboarding, Europe: “It’s more stable than expected much in part to people picking up skating in quarantine and the well-established 41
e-commerce of skate shops.” E-commerce is growing rapidly due to Covid-19. And with all major tradeshows cancelled, brands are shifting resources into digital marketing, also to support retailers:
"going into April and May, business started to pick up for retailers again. The retailers with a good online presence have even been growing rapidly in May and June". Bas Janssen, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager EMEA at Etnies “Sell-in wise we’re working on lots more digital assets to support our salesforce and retailers. Digital catalogues, video, multi-angle photography are a few examples,” said Bas at etnies. Vans has generated more than $4
