Laguna Beach-based trade show operator Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo, part of VNU Expositions Inc. of Virginia, is ramping up for its next gig in January.
The ASR Trade Expo show, set for Jan. 20 to 22 at the San Diego Convention Center, draws thousands of buyers looking for the latest garb from a slew of Orange County’s apparel designers, including Costa Mesa-based Hurley International, O’Neill Clothing in Irvine and Costa Mesa-based Paul Frank Industries Inc.
ASR, which marks its 25th anniversary this year, has made some changes to its other shows.
The company scrapped its ASR Fall Back-to-School show in March and launched a show called ASR Holiday, which is slated for May 31 and June 1 at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in Newport Beach.
The switch was a matter of timing. A lot of apparel makers are releasing their lines earlier, according to ASR. The January show already covers the back-to-school and fall seasons, the company said.
“Retailers asked for an ASR Holiday show,” said Kevin Flanagan, ASR show director, in a press release. “Manufacturers are excited about the show because their products are prime holiday gifts, especially accessories.”
In the past, retailers had to preview holiday lines in their stores at the start of summer, which can get hectic with vacation traffic, according to ASR.
The holiday show is set to have more than 100 clothing brands, including Huntington Beach-based Quiksilver Inc., Irvine-based Billabong USA and its Element skateboard clothing line.
Stores in Store for Volcom
Costa Mesa-based Volcom Inc. has plans to open more stores.
The apparel maker, which makes surf, skate and other clothes, has a store in Los Angeles.
In an October conference call with analysts, Chief Executive Richard Woolcott said Volcom plans to open two to three more stores.
The company doesn’t have stores slotted with specific dates, but is “out there looking around,” Woolcott said.
“We’re trying to find the right place that fits with Volcom,” he said.
Volcom is taking a page from a number of OC’s apparel companies, which have opened their own stores in the past few years.
Among them: Foothill Ranch-based Oakley Inc., Quiksilver and Billabong.
Stores help market a company’s brands, particularly in prime spots such as New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii.
Lages Logs a Win
Irvine-based Lages & Associates Inc. landed a client.
Lages was tapped by Los Angeles-based Hosted Support Inc. to be its public relations agency of record.
Hosted Support sells customer service support systems to online and small businesses, allowing them to automate responses to customer questions, provide answers and track inquiries.
Lages expects to help the company push its services, including two systems customized for eBay Inc. called ezSupport and ezSupport Lite. Both help sellers answer questions from potential buyers.
Mexican in Michigan
Lake Forest-based Del Taco Inc. has plans to expand in Michigan.
The Mexican fast-food chain signed a franchise pact with Carl Chandler and Bob Middleton to open four Del Tacos in Oakland County.
Plans call for 14 restaurants in Michigan, according to Del Taco. It already has one in Detroit, which opened in June.
Chandler and Middleton are in the restaurant business. They operate 16 Little Caesar’s pizza stores.
Del Taco said it’s also interviewing others who want to become franchisees in Michigan.
Ducks Download
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, which have seen light attendance after last season’s strike, are going for more face time.
The hockey team recently launched Ducks TV, an online show available for download after the team’s home games at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.
The show, hosted by Kent French, is set to be posted on the team’s Web site within two hours after each game.
The show, which is five to seven minutes long, features game highlights, behind-the-scene footage and locker room interviews with players and coaches.
“This show gives viewers a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and hear directly from the players and coaches,” said Bob Wagner, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Ducks and Arrowhead Pond, in a statement.
Ducks TV is produced and edited in the Pond’s video facility.
Bits and pieces:
Newport Beach-based Fishbone Marketing Inc. is helping client Discount Tire Centers of Huntington Beach push the opening of its store and showroom in Lake Forest. Discount Tire moved to the bigger shop from a smaller space in Lake Forest and added wireless Internet access for customers, more parking and service bays Oakley is pushing its newest sunglasses, Fives 3.0. The company originally launched the sunglasses in 1997. This is an updated version.
