Hey maams and misters. Hope all is well. Things are kicking into high gear for ASR and CLASS at ASR. A couple days ago was SIMA’s Waterman’s Weekend and I had a chance to go thanks to ASR. I was pretty slammed on Thursday but had a chance to see the golf tourney. It was at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point.  Amazing place. check it out when you get a chance. Or just sign up and play for the 21st.   Make sure you dial in a good kit for your foursome because people didn’t really hold back. I won’t even say who my favorite was but I will say that there was NO recession on the coarse that day. At least not in the team’s outfits. I will say that one gentleman tried tackling me with a Kilt on and once he ended up on my front porch I lifted his “skirt” for “someone’s” photo op. I will keep this rated PG 13. Just a solid turnout of companies and people supporting, good times, and SIMA killed it. Good Job.. More details in the Rated PG pics. I might have some t-shirt ideas though John. did I just say that out loud??  Onto Friday.. LA was kicking me straight in the balls that day and not letting me get to the Ritz in Dana Point but once there I parked my 94 piece of work and rolled in with some borrowed duds. I was floored at  how nice it was. Yes its the Ritz DP but I’ve always rolled by on the trail and surfed creek down below. Once registered and given my sheet of barcodes that I need to do the silent auction with I walked right back outside and stuck one on the front door of the Ritz and one in the men’s on the urinal. So I own both of those now.. If any of yous need to saddle up for a weekend there do so. Just say “its all good. Jim got me”.   So again I was a bit late but made it outside for a little of the silent auction. Really good stuff to bid on. Maybe 2010 - 21st Waterman’s Auction I’ll get that trip to Hawaii with all my friends and yes maybe I’ll call you John Gothard if there’s a cancellation.   Swept into the main ballroom. Dinner was sooo good. GES people we’re kind and gentle. GT killed the mic like Erasure on a comeback tour. over 400K was raised in an incredibly funky economic silly year. That shows how strong it is when we all get together and make it happen. Like the late 2009, 21st Waterman’s Ball “SIMA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mr Dick Baker always said. “Its about growing the Pond” The industry came together and did just that Friday night.. It was incredible..   Rob Machado - Waterman of the Year and Dave Rastovich took the award for Environmentalist of the Year both deservedly so. Congratulations to all three of you guys and Dick, we really miss you sir. Thank Yous came from everyone on stage that night to him (Baker) and his family who gave 3 amazing acceptance speeches that evening. With them and Dicks great friend Shaheen Sadheghi (founder of the Lab and Camp in Costa Mesa) a huge standing ovation took place with hundreds of people showing their gratitude to such a blessing of a person we all miss.   Thank you SIMA. Sean, didn’t I win you in the silent auction. See you Monday. Bring a paintbrush Holmes.   Again 400k raised. more than last year. In a crap recession. Pretty rad!   Oh and Gerry Lopez was there.. Gerry Lopez. hear me? I think he came in on the Sea Shepard.
Thanks again.
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
Classatasr.com

This was my first stop at the SIMA Waterman’s golf tourney. It was the ASR sponsored hole. I think it was # 2. the crew and a dude with a steel drum making us feel tropical. pretty neato. Leanne Milliken, Ginger Conrad, Darren Bridges, Nisa Meineke, and crew.

WOW. so Vans went all out. I sure they won a prize. If not Ima getem one. Notice the bookends. I don’t know the “politically correct” way of explaining besides just throwing out I saw dudes that looked like my son but older than me manning their fort. I love that..

Transworld Surf Pub Charlie Anderson lubing up as always.

I think its hole # 3. Surfline’s sponsored hole. You have to get one of your foursome to get a ride down to the water and get a few turns in on a Lost Surfboard and your score gets deducted from your golf score. If your foursome turns down the surf at hole three you donate $50. ha! love it!!. I got a pic of Charlie on a little one but the pic sucked. This pic is the setup on the beach. Tony Perez from Surfing / Skateboarder mag and friends set up a side charity to make things interesting. If you hit a tennis ball off the bluff and hit a surfboard you win it.. they raised some extra scrilla for SIMA.. nice!

Gerrrrrrrrrry LOPEZ. nothing funny about that. well he was in Conan the Barbarian. He’s the man.

Another cool moment I remember was Electric Sunglasses Bruce Beach’s son Max. 6 years old focusing on every moment of the evening. Hey max I’ll pay you to hang out with my son. wait. I’ll pay you to hang out with me homeslice. Rob made a smoooooth acceptance speech.

MAX BEACH saying “remember me later” !!

Standing Ovation… Dick, we’ll meet you in the clouds and be with the Lord forever.

Shop eat Surfs Liberace of the keyboard Tiffany Montgomery along with Ginger Conrad from ASR marketing team lookin zippy.

RANDOM Photo- someone just reminded me of this.. This was mid May a couple years ago at Jack’s Corona Del Mar. All I have to say is Santa and a Bear showed up for a few hours in the shop to hang with this kids. Well and the cougars came out as well.

I headed south for a little visit with Dave Boehne at Infinity Surfboards in Dana Point. My mission was to pick up a board I ordered and talk about a little gift they will be giving us for Class At ASR coming up in September. Have a look at what a certain picked retailer will be leaving with from San Diego. Check their link infinitysurf.com check out the 5F board. pretty neato. It will be customized for someone at the show that will walk home with it on the 12th of September.   Anyhow, Dave’s family owns Infinity Surfboards and Dave is the buyer / marketing / TM / one of the shapers / e-commerce / you get the picture guy at the shop.. He has a solid backround as well. If you don’t believe me just ask him. ha. They have a solid collection of shortboards to SUPs. His apparel backround comes out in his buying. Nice solid softgoods upstairs. Make sure you tackle him at the show and make him buy from your booth in September.   Thanks Dave and fam ahead of time for the board. Oh ya. Also Dave and his wife Mary (lost designer) will be having a little one in a few weeks.. the little one will be a looker..   Pay them a visit today.. the shop is really good.
24382 Del Prado
Dana Point, California 92629
United States of America
thank you,
Jim Shubin
Classatasr.com
ASRbiz.com

Boehne and his precision leash rope design skills. MacGyver of 09. 

Check out Dave selling these groms the dream. “hey buy a bar of wax for $400 and you get a surfboard thrown in for free.!” 

This is what one of you lucky people will be shredding after the shows in San Diego. people meet the “5F” … 5F meet the people that want you for free. check out the Russ Pope wall in Infinity. 

RANDOM PIC - I was up in Oregon on a ZUMIEZ / Ezekiel Surf Trip a few years back with Jimbob, Yasmin, Andy, Mike (now from Elwood)  and a group of others . I was pretty fired up when we rolled up to this rock.. Its the rock from Goonies!!!!!! I was pretty fired up..

Just got to the Ocean Institute in South Orange County. We were there for SIMA’s “Sales & Marketing”Boot Camp.  It was a pretty day out, so parking my pirate ship was tough but I squeezed into a spot. Hope I don’t get a ticket.   Anyhow Doug Palladini from Vans and now pres. of SIMA delivered the opening address.

Next up, Michael Wood from TRU. TRU is a market research and consulting firm for the youth. He did a great job and reading the little bio on him I saw he has been quoted in NY Times, Business Week, CNN, Wall Street Journal and much more.. Now he made this busted blog… Nice one Michael and thank you for the solid info… Check them out at tru-insight.com.

Then Transworld Biz boss, Rob Campbell came up to moderate our four panelists. Tom Holbrook from Quiksilver, Jeff Moore from Vans, Greg “GO” Osthus of Atwater, and some handsome youngbuck from Hurley by the name of Mark Weber. All to talk about navigating our current changing climate. I would say this was a very inspiring panel. These guys have a wide array of industry knowledge. A couple tidbits I’ll share are as follows:

• You’re reps are feeling isolated out there so provide them with support and motivation to keep momentum.
• Build and or focus on product that best represents the DNA of the brand and sell items to retailers that will properly follow suit.
• Retailers are focusing on margin more than ever.

Mark mentioned the consumer’s mindset is to look for a deal out there right now. So true.  We can all agree we are in the same game. I have never looked at the price of eggs and milk until end of last year. EL Prez Palladini came back up for a bit to share the 2008 SIMA Retail Distribution Study Results. If you are not yet a SIMA member sign up. Then email http://www.jennifer@SIMA.com for some solid info.

Some good news from this though. There are 4900 Surf / Skate shops. Of the shops surveyed footwear is up from 06 to 08 and softgoods are just about flat. Not bad!! Another thing that stuck out for me was the importance of Skateboards within these shops. food for thought…

One thing I want to get off my chest. The new dates are locked for SIMA in Cabo. Send/ fax or drive your registrations to SIMA like today. I want us all to come off the tradeshow craze and just shy of the holidays, we go down and celebrate the good life of Baker and just posse up for a good end of the year goodbye to a silly 09. DO IT!! Lets surf…  See you at ASR then Cabo.  Thank you ASR for getting me there.  Thank you SIMA for a great job and solid insight to chew on for a bit.  Thank you Flanny for your duck-tail.

-Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
ClassAtASR.com

Check out live tweets from boot camp via ASR’s Leanne Milliken aka @HurricaneLeezy

The Posse. Love, live, learning.

During the break. Is this where they filmed night at the museum?

Flanny’s new thong ishh. love it.

The Panelists killing it..

SIMA’s Executive Director Sean Smith (wow what a year he’s had) and Leanne Milliken, Nielsen Group / ASR’s retail group marketing manager post Boot Camp. Hey guys this girl is rad. FYI.

Shit.. i got a parking ticket! sticking out from the curb again..

random pic- This is a pic from 5 or 6 years ago at the ooolllld SIMA offices. I was at Ezekiel at the time and for Cinco De Mayo I paid for a 6 person Mariachi Band to roll with me around town. A few mags, and few companies , etc. Well, this is when we blasted through the doors of SIMA. I was never reimbursed for these expenses.. ha.