Weekly Tips for
"Power Managing" Your Paddlesports Businesses from Tom Shay and the Paddlesports Industry
Association. This is the second in Tom's series of
Power books.
October 31, 2008 Tip #37. Work with
Your Fellow Merchants. Make a point to be an
active member of your local merchants association.
Tip #38.
Create a Special Relationship. Seek out, and
create a friendship with the managers of your local chain
stores (Darren Bush speaks about this all the time!).
They will send many customers to your store.
PIA
to Move Forward to Build Strong Industry Association
October
31, 2008
The
Paddlesports Industry Association (PIA) announces that it will move forward
under its long-standing strategy to be the
paddlesports industry's premier trade association by providing excellent
programs for outfitters, retailers, and manufacturers of paddlesports
equipment. The announcement
comes after the Trade Association of Paddlesports halted efforts to create a
unified industry association.
"We're
moving forward.PIA has a great
base from which to expand our relevance to the paddlesports community. The
outfitters in our association have a deep, abiding sense of community and
solidarity that we would love to see expand to the rest of the industry. This
is an amazing association, and speaking as a retailer, there is much to learn
from the outfitting sector," said Darren Bush, PIA board member and owner
of Rutabaga Paddlesports."We
have developed some great programs at PIA that will be expanded to grow
paddlesports participation. For instance, the
National
School
for Paddlesports Business provides retailers and outfitters the necessary
knowledge base to improve their businesses."
"PIA
has experience developing excellent programs that benefit our businesses.We have a certification program for industry professionals, and we
spearheaded the development of new voluntary manufacturing standards,"
said Holly Anderson, PIA board member and owner of Vanguard Inflatables, a raft
manufacturer based in
Colorado
."We have great member
benefits and excellent communications tools like Paddle
Dealer magazine.Building on
that experience, we'll continue to build a strong trade association for the
industry."
The
PIA board has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to bringing the three
sectors of the industry together to increase participation in paddlesports."It's important to have outfitters, retailers, and manufacturers
working to grow paddlesports," said Robert "Bear" Bass, PIA
Chairman and owner of Ozark Outdoors, a paddlesports resort in Missouri."I've been especially happy about what we've done over 30-years for
outfitters," continued Bass."I
started with a bunch of aluminum canoes, and now I run a large, diverse, and
successful resort.I couldn't have
done this without PIA and I want to make sure our association gives other
paddlesports businesses the same opportunities I've had."
In
the next few weeks, PIA will look to replace outgoing President/CEO Matt
Menashes, who leaves the organization in mid-November.PIA will hold its annual membership meeting during Paddlesports Pro
2008, at the Marriott Bay Point Resort in
Panama City Beach
,
Florida
on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.
Front
Royal Canoe Co. Offering Used Rafts
October
17, 2008
Front
Royal Canoe Company is offering 9 used Momentum rafts for
sale. All rafts were used in their river outfitting
operation and are in good condition. Sizes range from 11 to
13 feet. Some have 2 thwarts and some have 3. All boats are
standard floor "bucket boats". Prices range from
$600.00 to $700.00 for individual boats, depending on size
and condition. Buy two, take $50.00 off each boat. Buy all,
take $100.00 off each boat. Boat details and photos
available upon request. Willing to deliver to Paddlesports
Pro 2008 in Florida this November. Call Front Royal Canoe
at 540-635-5440 or e-mail Don Roberts at frcanoe@lynxconnect.com.
"I hope everyone's season went well and I hope to see
everyone in Florida in November," said Roberts.
