A1 Sport is proud to announce that they are the new Canadian distributor for Aftershokz, a pioneer and an international leader in Bluetooth headphones. They have developed an innovative open-ear design and are known for their unique bone conduction technology, so you can enjoy premium audio and hear the world at the same time.
For more information, please contact:
Julien Barbeau
Sales Representative
514-726-5595
Spry launches new events for the upcoming Winter Booking Season with COVID-19 Restriction-proof formats to ensure they can go ahead.
The industry has spoken and has sent a clear message that the Spry Shows need to take place this upcoming booking season in some shape or form. As a result; the Spry Fall/Winter Booking events are confirmed to be taking place! Some format changes are necessary to ensure full compliance with anticipated COVID-19 distancing and crowd restrictions. But the usual Spry event formats will actually face very little disruption to ensure compliance due to their typical size and format.
The Ontario Season Preview format will remain virtually the same due to its existing “private, by-appointment” format except for some enhanced distancing and visitor traffic management.
The Ontario Winter Market and the Maritimes Winter Market will be replaced with new formats that will more resemble the format of the Season Preview in order to comply with any mandated health and safety requirements at the time of the events.
Introducing...
For these new events, Suppliers and Sales reps will reserve pop-up showroom space as opposed to traditional "open booth" spaces. The biggest difference between a Spry pop-up exhibitor showroom and the more usual trade show booth space is physical and will focus on the degree of distancing between participating exhibitors and the degree of isolation/privatization of the space to avoid “crowding”. Retailers will be advised that they will need to make appointments with the brands they wish to meet with but will also have some limited opportunity to meet with other brands participating whilst there.
Depending on the exhibitors space design, any changes may involve greater use of high draped walls or some modifications to their hard –wall configuration. This will be to essentially provide isolated meeting rooms or "showrooms" with which to conduct business – but all the while, retaining the general location convenience and efficiency which retailers need to do their buying effectively and in the manner that they are used to in the tight seasonal booking window.
If exhibitors have any questions about what changes will be required for their traditional exhibit structure to be compliant to participate in the Spry Pop-Up Showroom Week, they should call the Spry office.
These new format Winter Market events will essentially comprise multiple individual private meeting spaces conveniently located in venue(s) in one geographical area to provide retailers an efficient and compliant-format opportunity to meet with many suppliers by appointment whilst they are "in-town" to buy for their stores.
For the Ontario event, the Embassy Grand will serve as the initial venue for this event but additional venues may be added based on demand. The Spry Maritimes event will be held at the Casino NB, unless forced to use an alternate venue.
The Spry Pop-Up Showroom Week venues are selected for their ability to provide individual, compliant event spaces that meet the distancing, “crowd-limiting” and isolation criteria mandated by the respective local governments.
These new events will replace the traditional Spry Seasonal Markets format until further notice.
Spry Season Preview Appointment Week: November 16th – 19th 2020
Spry Maritimes Pop-Up Showroom Appointment Week: December 1st – 3rd 2020
Spry Ontario Winter Pop-Up Showroom Appointment Week: January 4th – 6th 2021
For information about which brands will be participating, go to www.spryshow.ca
In lieu of In-person shows this summer, Spry is pleased to offer retail buyers dynamic, interactive virtual shows with which to assist in buying great brands for their stores for the Spring/Summer 2021 retail season.
Beginning July 6th and running until the end of August, the shows will help buyers connect with reps, watch sales presentation videos and browse on-line reader versions of brands’ catalogues and workbooks all in one convenient, comprehensive location; www.spryshow.ca.
Just as buyers would meet with Reps at the Spry Shows in Moncton and Toronto, they can meet with them virtually on the Spry web-site. There are over 300 brands featured in the Virtual Trade Shows. These brands are Open to Buy with great collections for the S/S ‘21 season.
Due to time-sensitive booking deadlines of some brands, buyers are encouraged to visit the Virtual Shows early.
Montreal – QC, May 26th, 2020
RACER®, the 93 years old French glove and protective gear specialist is pleased to announce its expansion in Canada through its subsidiary RACER GLOVES CANADA. After having had its cycling collection distributed by Distribution Lyncée for the last three-year, RACER® is now handling its distribution, moving to a direct-to-retailer scheme in Canada to better service its partners and cover the community coast-to-coast from its main North American office in Montreal – QC and shipping from its Warehouse in Lachine, QC.
To leverage its presence, RACER appoints new outside Canadian representatives for Ontario & Quebec.
Eric O’Brien – PSI Marketing, will represent the RACER® brand through the Winter and Heated line in the province of Ontario. Eric made his debut in the industry in the 90’s and has successfully maintained his “dream job” that we are happy to be part of. Relocated from BC, Eric has established a solid reputation in Ontario for its outstanding service, involvement, and passion for the industry, not to mention his sense of humour.
Eric quote “I am very happy to be representing this iconic brand and building its success with my dealers”
You can reach Eric at ericob@rogers.com
Mathieu Larochelle & Frank Martel – Agence Mathieu Larochelle will represent RACER® in the Eastern and Central Quebec. Mathieu has established his agency in 2009 and made his reputation through his outstanding service and involvement within the industry. Frank has joined the agency along the way, after many years working on the other side of the industry as a buyer, to keep developing the territory. They form a rare duo recognized across Quebec. They both work hard and play hard!
Mathieu quote:” Whether you want to ride like a pro, or you want to improve, be comfy and well protected, in both case - all you need is RACER®! The best protections and the best gloves you can find…that’s it!”
You can reach Mathieu at mathieularochelle@agenceml.com
“We are very proud and excited to extend our collaboration with Eric, Mathieu and Frank to grow the brand in Canada. We have a long heritage providing unique, high-quality products. Our current retailers are remarkably committed and with this team that shares the same core values, I believe we have the potential to become a great option for all Canadian riders and sliders looking for high quality gloves and protective gear. We are looking forward to offering great value to the Canadian retailers and their customers that’s are seeking a fresh new brand in the market” said Jonathan CHAPUT, VP Sales of RACER GLOVES CANADA.
RACER is also seeking for an outside sales rep in Alberta to complete its team.
For additional information, please contact RACER communication at canada@racerfrance.com
About RACER
RACER is almost a century old, Est.1927, and the French leader of the Outdoor Gloves industry in France. Present in the Ski/Board, Cycling, Motorcycling, Equestrian and Paragliding industries and distributed in 22 countries, RACER® has established a long-standing reputation in crafting premium and long-lasting products for the Outdoors. Learn more about RACER® full line and history at www.racergloves.com
May 11th 2020.
We appreciate the feedback and guidance we have received from the respective stakeholder communities, particularly from those that took the time to complete our retailer and exhibitor surveys regarding COVID-19 disruption to their operations.
The majority of survey respondents indicated an interest in having the Spry Shows be postponed rather than cancelled and that they would be comfortable with a final decision on any changes to schedules not needed until the end of May. However the on-going and extended government restrictions to the economy, as of early-May, will realistically not allow us to make final decisions by the end of May and rather than wait any longer, we are finalizing the plans immediately.
In order to let stakeholders make alternative plans to get through the S/S ’21 booking season in other ways and before having to wait until the end of May for announcements of revised plans, we have decided to cancel the Spry Spring/Summer Season Preview, the Spry Maritimes Summer Market and the Ontario Summer Market effective today.
Both the Spry Ontario and Spry Maritimes Shows will pivot to a Virtual Trade Show for the time being. The Virtual Trade Shows can be accessed by scrolling down to the Gallery sections on the respective show pages on this site.
IBDShow 2020 plans remain in place for now. Opportunity for Spry exhibitors planned.
Due to the scheduled late-August timing of the IBDShow, we are looking at marketing that event in a format that will provide value to those Spry exhibitors whose product lines fit the timing and that would like to participate. If the government economic restrictions continue to lift over the remainder of the spring and consumers “get out there” over the summer, the 2020 edition of the IBDShow may well be a great opportunity for outdoor, active lifestyle and bicycle brands and retailers to capitalize on late summer booking opportunities for the 2021 spring/summer season with exhibitors at this event.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the economy re-opening and look forward to the possibility that the IBDShow will happen as scheduled.
We apologize to all our stakeholders to have to make these changes to the planned Spry Summer event line-up.
Gillian and I continue to hope and pray that the Spry community sees a healthy and robust rebound over the Spring and Summer months as the economy re-opens and look forward to seeing everyone at the Spry Winter Markets in the fall.
Best wishes,
Robert Lauder
Spry Show Manager.
Salomon, Baffin, ENDVR.io, and many more join forces on the Shop Local Project.
The effects of COVID-19 are too numerous to fully comprehend. Despite the stress and uncertainty, we are seeing extraordinary examples of generosity, kindness, and a positive outlook for the future.
It is in this spirit that Salomon, Baffin, SPY, ENDVR.io, and many more in the retail industry have come together to support independent sporting goods retailers through a not-for-profit initiative, The Shop Local Project.
This incredible collaboration aims to help local retailers weather this storm by providing an online platform to sell discounted gift cards, giving consumers a simple and direct way to support their favorite stores that may not have a well-developed online storefront.
Through the Shop Local Project, retailers receive the proceeds from the sales daily, helping to keep stores afloat now so they continue to serve you in the future.
It is a simple solution to help support vulnerable members of our industry, as Virginie Murdison, Senior Marketing Manager from Salomon Canada explains,
“At Salomon we continue to explore ways that we can support those affected by the crisis, including our local specialty retailers. TSLP is making it easy for consumers to shop local from the comfort of their home, support their local gear shop today and buy that new product to reach the mountain tops or the city streets when the time is right.”
The Shop Local Project is not one person or one company — it’s the collective effort of a whole industry.
Its members share the common belief that the resilience of retail during this time requires a coordinated effort to support all stakeholders. Our goal for the future is to see a vibrant, thriving retail network ready to serve their community.
The Shop Local Project is focused on the lifeblood of our industry— the local stores and retail staff working directly with customers.
“Board Retailers Association endorses this worthwhile initiative. It is a great way to help all specialty retailers including those who are about to reopen or have already reopened to increase much needed cash flow immediately by incentivizing customers to purchase discounted Shop Gift Cards now before they are ready to actually step foot in the store. We like the way that this program is designed and feel good about backing it.” –BRA Executive Director Doug Works
This crisis has hit the entire retail sector very hard, and the sporting goods industry was not spared. With nowhere to play, sporting goods stores are closed, employees are laid-off, and in some cases sales have dropped to zero overnight.
Specialty retailers are valuable to the communities they serve, and they need help. Currently, over 75% of core shops are still closed, and about 50% of them do not have an e-commerce site that would help them maintain sales.
The Shop Local Project provides a solution with its online platform. There is no cost for brands or retailers who participate in this initiative.
It is an opportunity for brands to support their retail partners by using their marketing muscle to draw attention to local retailers, giving consumers the opportunity to lend support through their purchasing power.
“The Shop Local Project is a shining example of how we rally together in times of crisis. When the team at ENDVR shared this idea, we didn’t think twice about jumping in to help out. It’s a refreshing opportunity, to help your community while maintaining safe-physical distance in a time when it can be challenging to do so.” Mark Hubner, VP of Brand & Strategy at Baffin Footwear.
The end of this lockdown will be a gradual emergence back to ‘a new normal’. We know it’s a long road ahead but through collaboration, support, and vision we will be able to bounce back.
If you’re a brand or retailer who wants to get involved, get in touch.
Learn more at TheShopLocalProject.com
#TheShopLocalProject
About The Shop Local Project
This is the collective effort of an industry to support independent specialty retailers, their employees and the communities they call home.
This not for profit initiative is designed to provide much needed cash-flow to these businesses today, and customers again tomorrow.
Ryan Ladner and Kim Ladner are happy to announce they are the new owners of Charlottetown Source for Sports as of April 3, 2020. Both are excited to start this new family venture and work with the excellent and knowledgeable Source for Sports team that are an integral part of delivering quality and timely service to our customers. Providing quality service, along with being a participating and supportive member of our local community, are engrained in our family values.
Ryan has been part of the Source for Sports family for a number of years. He started as a retail floor team member during his first year of high school and continued working at the store throughout his years at university. Ryan obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2015. While working in public accounting, Ryan had the opportunity to buy into the ownership of Source for Sports Charlottetown in January 2019. Since that time he has focused on floor management of the store while also helping with team and corporate sales, as well as the external promotions of the store.
Kim, a long-time Island CPA whose career focused in the health care and non-profit fields with her last position being Chief Financial Officer of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, enters into the sporting goods business after years of being on the other side – the customer.
Sports have been an integral part of the Ladner family for several generations and so the purchase of the store is a natural fit with the family interests. Ryan, his brothers, Ben and Zach, and his father, Kevin, have all participated in sports throughout the years. Kim also came from a sport-oriented family and spent many years dedicated to the sport of figure skating. The Ladner’s could be found at a hockey rink, a baseball or soccer field, a lacrosse game, or a golf course over the years and sports continue to remain an important part of the family‘s life.
Though the store is closed to the public during this period of COVID-19, Ryan, Kim and all the team look forward to the time when the store will reopen to the public and is able to meet your sporting and leisure needs. In the mean time, if we can be of any assistance please contact Ryan at 902-566-9898 or 902-940-7991.
Stay healthy and see you soon!!
We received some very sad news today…
Sadly passed away on Thursday March 26th, 2020. Loving husband of Marilyn. Devoted father of Samantha and Hannah. Dear son and son-in-law of Rina Melnick and the late Dave Melnick, Rifka Lewenberg and the late Moishe Lewenberg. Caring brother and brother-in-law of Coby Melnick and Pam Bokser, Robin Melnick and Jeremy Attwood, Marvin Lewenberg, David and Risa Lewenberg. Loved by his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and all those who knew his determined nature and positive spirit. Thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses at Sunnybrook Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital.
Memorial donations may be made to Sunnybrook Cancer Foundation (416) 480-4483 and Sunnybrook Foundation.
Due to the concerns with the respect to the COVID-19 virus, the funeral and Shiva will be private.
An update from Spry Show organizer, Robert Lauder.
We are actively monitoring the developments of the COVID-19 virus. We have already had conference calls with our venue manager-partners to discuss best practice for protecting Spry guests. We are assured we will have safe, low-risk environments with which to conduct our business come the Summer.
We are well into planning the summer season events now. The Exhibitor and Brands lists for the Maritimes and Ontario Summer Markets will be posted to the web-site March 13th. As will be demonstrated with the initial list of Exhibitors and Brands that will be participating, the Spry Summer Markets will again be robust and tremendous opportunities to book great products for the 2021 Spring/Summer retail season.
The overwhelming perception from our exhibitors, many of whom, as is usual, have just recently committed to participate in the Summer Season events, along with other people we have spoken to in the industry is, fortunately, “our little events” are considered low risk in regard to the current concern that “large public” events can be opportunities for the virus to be passed on. Historically at the Summer Market in June in Moncton and in July in Toronto, there is never more than around 100 retailer staff in the building at any given time each day.
As has been disseminated through the media, there are things we can all do to optimize the low risk environment, such as washing hands regularly, not touching our faces and adopting the new standard of “social distancing”. Our venues have already implemented enhanced hygienic environments to host and protect their clients that will contribute to this new standard of hygiene.
It is our primary focus to ensure the Spry Shows be the safe and productive events they need to be to allow the industry to get its important work done at the events taking place this summer.
MHG Sales agency principal, Rob Madill is excited about the addition of RUMPL to the agency - and for a number of reasons. “The product is so versatile and the technical aspects make it the perfect companion for travel, cottage, bonfires, apres, camping, chalet life, the beach, etc while the design aesthetic also lends itself to urban living.“
"Its a great fit with our current mix of technical and lifestyle driven brands" says Rob “and probably, most importantly, my family's looking forward to having these around the cottage, campsite and at the beach!"
About RUMPL
Rumple utilizes new material technologies that have been developed for activewear and outdoor gear to modernize the everyday blanket. Our goal is to create products that blur the line between indoor and outdoor performance, offering "home comforts", wherever home may be. Visit www.rumpl.com for more info
About Mhg Sales
Founded in 2009 by Rob Madill, Mhg Sales is a full service sales and marketing agency representing industry leading brands in the hardgoods, footwear, lifestyle, technical outerwear and fashion categories. Our goal is to offer retailers a diverse brand mix to succeed and profit in a competitive marketplace as well as rely on our proven track record at retail and our ability to seek out the next up and coming brands.
Rob Madill
mhg sales
rob@mhgsales.ca
905-424-8013
