The Industry Alliance 2.5

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE
SIA MILE HIGH SUMMIT: NOVEMBER 6, 2008
Will You Be There? Register Now.
Come check out SIA as we go “mile high”.  Get an inside introduction into what makes Denver home to the mountains, the snow industry and now the SIA.10 SnowSports Trade Show. On Thursday, November, 6, 2008 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, SIA will conduct our Mile High Summit from 11:30A – 5:00P. After a grand tour of our new home in 2010, we’ll have a toast at 5:30P during our Mile High Reception. SIA has special rate hotel room blocks available for attendees.  There is NO COST to attend the Mile High Summit; travel and lodging are the responsibility of the attendee.

Please note: The Mile High Summit is for SIA members only.  If you are not a member of SIA, visit our membership section to join.

Join SIA and industry colleagues for a day of education, insight and networking. The afternoon will include:

• Exclusive pre-season research on the State of the Industry and the trade show market
• An update on the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show and events
• A forecast to the SIA.10 SnowSports Trade Show and events
• Information on Denver
• A walking tour of the Colorado Convention Center.
• An industry-wide reception hosted by SIA and the City of Denver

JOIN US THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Location: Colorado Convention Center                 Denver, CO Summit Presentation:  11:30A – 5:00 SIA Mile High Reception:  5:30P

REGISTER NOW

MEMBER SERVICES: YOUR ASSOCIATION
NEW IN 2009 – AN INTERACTIVE FLOOR PLAN AND SHOW GUIDE
Will you be at the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show to try it out?
SIA wants to make your Trade Show experience even better so you can get to more appointments in and take care of business. SIA has teamed up with Map Your Show, a software that allows scheduling appointments, locating appointments on the floor map quickly and easily, printing schedules, etc. What does Map Your Show mean for you?

Exhibitors:   Upgrade your free basic exhibitor listing with:

• Your Brand Logo
• Up to 10 photos / video and custom text
• Your press releases
• Attention getting “peeled corner” graphic on the digital floor plan
• Priority placement in category searches by retail buyers, and more….

Give yourself the most visibility within 1000 other brands in Vegas!
Download the information now.

Many other of the largest trade shows are using this interactive software for their shows and report these benefits after surveys of buyers and sellers:

“Over 30% of responding buyers said they were influenced to see an exhibitor that included graphics and text in their listing.”

“Over 72% of buyers that created a MyShow Agenda either had already purchased or intended to purchase from a company on their list.”

“Anywhere from 3 to 6% of all MyShow Agendas are created or updated AFTER the show is over.”  This means that you’ll be getting fresh sales leads from interested parties long after everyone is back to the office.

Your options as an Exhibitor:

GREEN PACKAGE - Included with your exhibitor fees
BLUE & BLACK PACKAGES – upgrade for a small fee, check it out it’s less than you think!
Download the information now.

Buyers/Attendees:

• Up-to-date and Real Time. You don’t have to worry that the floor plan you’re seeing is out of date.  The second Show management makes an update, it’s live online for you to see
• More ways to search and plan.  Before the Show, you can search the Interactive Floor Plan and Show Guide, and set up your personal agenda  Before you leave for the Show, print your agenda and bring it with you to the Show. Going paperless?  During the Show, you can use MyShow Mobile to access your agenda through your Web-enabled cell phone.
• Control. You control whether or not exhibitors can contact you before the Show. You control who you add to your agenda, and who you don’t.
•  Long-term resource. Long after the show is over, you can use your personal agenda as a resource for finding and contacting the companies you need to continue your business’s success.

SIA will launch this new Interactive Floor Plan and Show Guide by November. Check snowsports.org for updates or contact your SIA Sales & Marketing Manager for more details.

Dave Wray – Western US + Canada
DWray@snowsports.org

Reddy Kennedy – Central US + Canada
RKennedy@snowsports.org

Ed Wray – Eastern US + Canada
EWray@snowsports.org

SHOW BUSINESS
IT’S THE SIA SHOW’S LAST GOODBYE TO VEGAS; TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.
How many memories make up the last 37 years in Vegas?  Which ones can be told and which ones must remain silent?

Help SIA remember the SIA SnowSports Trade Show in Las Vegas before moving to Denver; when it was an industry of suits working the Show floor, when snowboarding dropped on the Show scene, remembering the new friends, old friends, the parties, events, the business, and the industry.

Over the next few months, we’re asking for your memories of the SIA Show, good and bad, hilarious and those being job, life and industry changing. We’ll be posting the comments on snowsports.org and sharing them at the SIA Show.

Submit your top memory of SIA and Vegas to Judy Brown at JBrown@snowsports.org. Please keep memories to under 50 words. We know some Vegas experiences may wish to remain anonymous, if so, please let us know!

Register early for the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show to make your last memory in Vegas.

THE WORD ON THE SLOPES
Is it snowing yet? Let SIA know when it begins to snow…The 2008 MasterFit University is here. The schedule is Camelback, PA, Sept. 28-29; Stratton Mountain, VT, Oct. 2-3; Breckenridge, CO, Oct. 21-22 and Reno, NV, Oct. 28-29. For more information or to register visit the MFU website at www.masterfituniversity.com or contact: 914.944.9038, info@masterfitinc.com …. Sad news in our industry – Robert W. (Bob) Miller of Big 5 Sporting Goods passed away at the age of 85. Bob served with Big 5 for over 50 years and was instrumental in growing the Big 5 chain from five stores to 370 stores with 8,000 employees in 11 states… Armada, is not just for skiing anymore.  Armada, after six years of focusing on on-snow products is venturing off snow with its first complete streetwear line… The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced Tuesday, September 23,  that Dion Agee will take the posts of equipment pool and online shop manager. In his role he will work with more than 30 brands that provide reliable equipment and technical support to athletes as well as oversee the USSA's online shop….Also at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, Finn Gundersen, who has nearly 40 years of educational experience from the club level to the national team, has been named director of sport education by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. Gundersen, who is presently director of alpine education, will continue developing programs to educate the USSA's coaches, clubs and parents, providing support for young athletes to achieve their goals…Send your photos and news to PR@snowsports.org.                      

SIA SEASON PASS
HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR YOUR SIA.09 SNOWSPORTS TRADE SHOW BADGES?
Deadline December 18, 2008
What are your Fall plans? Have you submitted your badge registration for the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show? Online registration is open and we are actively processing the 2009 requests. Before your calendar is filled with too many other “back to the grind” chores, take the time to complete your Show registration. Pre-registration closes on 12.18.08 and while this may seem far away, December will be here before you know it.

CONFIRM YOUR COMPANY LISTING IN THE ANNUAL SIA DIRECTORY (SIA MEMBERS ONLY)
Deadline: November 18, 2008
How is your company represented in our published Directory? Do we have your current address and phone numbers? Does your description line accurately reflect your company’s business? Help us keep this Directory the best resource in the snow sports industry. Take some time now to review the information we currently capture and let us know what we need to update. The SIA Directory is distributed to over 20,000 industry professionals. This is your opportunity to showcase your company and all of its offerings – don’t forget to make sure your brands are mentioned!

Contact SIA’s membership department if you have any questions or if you can’t remember your username and password.  Patricia Grenke - E. PGrenke@snowsports.org P. 703.556.9020 ext. 222 or Mary DeOrnellas - E. MDeornellas@snowsports.org P. 703.556.9020 ext. 205.

BUSINESS OF SNOW
JOIN SIA’S SOCIAL SITES AND LINK THE INDUSTRY
From Facebook to Imeem
Social media taut the more places you are, the more you’re seen, the more you’re talked about and the bigger your brand becomes.

Help us support the industry by linking to one another leading up to SIA’s last year in Vegas. Connect the circle of social media and join SIA’s social networking sites.

Friend SIA (SIA SnowSports) and Join the SIA Show Group on Facebook.

Link to SIA’s myspace and imeem pages.

SNOW SMARTS
FALL WORKSHOPS GET EXCELLENT GRADES AND SALUTE FOUR U.S. REPS OF THE YEAR
The three recently concluded SIA Fall Workshops held in Springfield, MA, Lakewood, CO and Sacramento, CA honored the work of U.S. Reps of the Year and generated positive reactions and excellent comments from participants. Nearly 100 retailers, suppliers and reps attended the sessions entitled “Women, Youth and the Internet….Are You Connecting?” Speakers included Mike Duncan of Sage Island and Tom Shay of Profits+Plus.
 
Each location took on a life of its own. The Springfield venue attracted a mix of retailers, suppliers, resort personnel and the SMC buying group staff who packed the meeting room.  “This is a wicked session” said Andy Ferguson of Ski Market. “Just the basics of search engine optimization that I didn’t know have been extremely helpful. I’ve learned things I can take with me and implement today.”  

The Colorado event attracted a significant group of resort communications personnel, suppliers and retailers. Rob Linde of Eldora Resort near Boulder said “This is great and the timing is good. This topic is right on the mark for what I need now.” Supplier Rob Beardsley of Core Action Sports commented “this is absolutely wonderful. I know we are missing the boat on SEO so this workshop is going to help us a lot.”

The California workshop attracted a number of reps including Craig Wingard, one of the Rep of the Year honorees. “In all honesty, I am incredibly impressed with the content that the SIA workshop delivered. I absolutely recommend this to every one of my retailers that I work with because there was nothing but upside information that was presented.”

Three other reps recognized for their service were: Rob Howland in the Rocky Mountain region, Rob Haggerty (Atlantic) and Brad Sellew (East) who commented that “the SIA workshop was a great training camp for retail.”

SIA soon will announce its workshops schedule for the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show (January 27-30, 2009).

POWDER TO THE PEOPLE
LEARN-A-SNOW SPORT MONTH SET FOR JANUARY 2009
Perfect Time to Try Another Snow Sport
January, 2009 is national Learn-A-Snow Sport Month according to resorts, retailers, suppliers and education associations involved with the snow sports industry. During January, resorts, Nordic centers, and national and state parks participating in the outreach initiative will offer special free or discounted learning packages for children and adults who want to learn an outdoor winter activity. 
 
Most Learn-A-Snow Sport packages for alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing will include rentals, lifts and lessons provided by trained instructors. Winter Trails, an annual learn to snowshoe and cross country ski day held on January 10, 2009, is free at participating venues.

Learning programs will be posted according to states on WinterFeelsGood.com and will include links for details about programs offered by resorts, Nordic centers, retail shops and parks. Offers and fees, where they apply, will vary according to the location.

Associations participating in Learn-A-Snow Sport month include: Colorado Ski Country, USA, Ski Utah ,  Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, the Midwest Ski Areas Association, Ski Maine, Ski New Hampshire,  Michigan Ski Industries Association, the Inland Ski Areas Association, the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association, Ski Areas of New York, Vermont Ski Areas Association, Ski New Mexico,  with support from  the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), SnowSports Industries America (SIA), National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) and media that supports the snow sports industry including SKI magazine, Skiing magazine, Ski Press, Freeskier, Snowboarder, Powder and Snowboard.

THE RESULTS ARE IN
THE SIA INTELLIGENCE REPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
Do you want to know how many skis and snowboards were sold last season; what are the hottest trends in snow sports apparel for women; how many people snowboard in the U.S.; or what’s the ratio of new to used snowboards sold on eBay? SIA sent the answers to these questions and many more to all SIA members recently. Now, the 2008 SIA Intelligence Report, a 290 page comprehensive report on the snow sports industry, is available for purchase.

All versions of the 2008 SIA Intelligence Report are available to SIA members for FREE.  If you are not an SIA member, join now. The price for non-members is $425 each for Industry, Women's and Youth versions.  To order the SIA Intelligence Report or learn more about SIA's extensive research, click here for information.

AND THE ENVELOPE SAYS
SIA ANNOUNCES THE PAUL ROBBINS AWARD
The vibrant, exciting snow sports industry recently lost a dedicated and talented journalist – Paul Robbins. SnowSports Industries America (SIA) wants to recognize achievement in writing that tells the story of how innovation of equipment, apparel and accessories enhance the participants experience on the hill and trail. This new award – Paul Robbins Award – joins other esteemed SIA awards such as U.S. and Canadian Retailer of the Year Awards and US and Canadian Reps of the Year Awards.

In partnership with NASJA (North American Snow Journalists Association), SIA launches the Paul Robbins Award for 2008.09 with the winners announced at the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show (January 27-30, 2009, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV).  Journalists utilizing the breadth and depth of SIA’s research (Model for Success, Intelligence Report, etc.) and information from suppliers and/or retailers to highlight equipment, apparel and accessories in the activity of snow sports should apply for this Award.

Applications and additional information will be released soon.