San Juan Capistrano–based Nielsen Expositions has shut down its biannual Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo, which served as a major marketing event for local makers of clothes inspired by surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding.
ASR counted many Orange County apparel companies as mainstays in its exhibitor lineup, including Irvine-based Billabong USA, Costa Mesa-based Volcom Inc., Cypress-based Vans Inc. and Irvine-based La Jolla Group Inc.’s O’Neill.
The show was the biggest of its kind on the West Coast and typically drew upward of 800 exhibitors, thousands of retailer buyers and significant media attention, particularly from enthusiast publications.
Nielsen Expositions, part of New York-based Nielsen Co., held two annual editions of ASR in San Diego.
Executives from Nielsen Exposition couldn’t be reached for comment.
Jason Bates, founder of the Class@ASR show held in partnership with ASR, told California Apparel News that all events under the trade show’s umbrella have been canceled.
“I feel sad for the surf and skate industry,” Bates said. “But the surf, skate and shoe industry all wanted different (show) dates and different things from ASR. I understand why ASR could not serve all of those people. I understand why they have to call it a day.”
ASR has faced stepped up competition from Los Angeles-based Agenda LLC, which puts on the Agenda Tradeshow in Huntington Beach, and Surf Expo, a broader beachwear show in Florida that includes action sports clothing makers.
