HELLO
SOURCE#111 by our industry with those
it out for sales. There’s a glut
There are too many clichés that
countries immediately involved
of skate product in the market
could be used to talk about the
including Belarusian, Russian
but with the Ukrainian war,
current situation, but one that
and Ukrainian boardsports
supply chain constraints should
businesses. However the knock-
be eased as product for those
on effects this war will have on
aforementioned nations is likely
the wider industry, consumer
not to be produced.
seems fitting is, «out of the frying pan and into the fire». Just as Covid seemed to be disappearing from the rear-view mirror, the atrocious scenes from Ukraine now make a virus seem somewhat insignificant. And indeed, boardsports pale in comparison, however it’s our job to talk boardsports biz, so I’ll try and put things into context. Good winter season sell-through for most winter sports retailers in Europe has meant healthy POs placed for brands too. However, with many brands growing their endeavours in Eastern Europe in recent years, the uncertainty presented by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has left many brands with large gaps in order forms, where sales managers have
spending habits and purchasing powers is immeasurable at present. Did I say Covid was in the rearview mirror? Well, apparently not with Shanghai heading back into lockdown and yet another huge impact excepted on global manufacturing and supply chains. We also have Covid to thank for the soaring costs of living we are seeing, of which many of us have never been exposed to before. Due to all of this unpredictability, we’re hearing many businesses are making decisions on a daily and monthly basis, due to the difficulty of making medium and long-term plans.
And filling my glass up to half full, all one needs do is examine the local line-up, speak with skate parks about booming beginner (& progression) sessions and look at the appetite in Gen Z for partying like never before at festivals such as Snowbombing to see thetr is appetite to go and live the lives they haven’t been able to for the past two years. Hoping for a continued upward curve in boardsports participation is our constant hope, but with the horrendous scenes being faced in Eastern Europe at present, our wish for a quick resolution to Putin’s madness is our true North Star.
to decide whether to take
Some good news is those OEMs
a chance on shops in these
who popped into our skate
regions taking their orders in
and surf biz to try and mop
Autumn, or the brand being
up exploding demand have
Always Sideways
left with unwanted stock. This
now retreated, leaving those
Harry Mitchell Thompson
is looking at problems faced
in it for the long run to battle
Ed-in-chief 9
