Happy National Roller Skating Month! If you own a skating rink, it’s your time to shine. This month is the perfect time to connect with your current and potential customers to drive more foot traffic and sales.

Educate your customers on the benefits of roller skating.

If you own a skating rink, there’s no doubt that you know the many proven benefits of roller skating—physical, mental, and emotional. But do your customers know those benefits? One of the best ways to celebrate National Roller Skating Month is just to share this information with your audience.

Consider hanging posters around your facility, sharing infographics on your social media platforms, or even contacting the local news to do an interview with you about the value of roller skating. Check out the RSA (Roller Skating Association) website for some great resources, including printable posters. 

Want to reach new skaters? You could even host a free or discounted skating lesson sometime during the month.  

Reach out to local organizations.

This is also a good time to reach out to schools, sports leagues, scouting groups, and other local organizations to see how you can gain visibility in the community. Make sure you’re submitting your events to local event calendars, from the city or county Recreation Department website to the local Chamber of Commerce, or even established mom bloggers in your town! 

If you’re not already, consider offering discount admission to students who make the honor roll. You can get in front of a lot of kids and parents by doing this, especially if you can include a flyer for kids to take home to their parents. You can also capitalize on local events by offering discount admission to anyone who comes in with their ticket from last night’s football game or whichever event is the current talk of the town.  

Thank your regulars (and make others want to be regulars). 

Among the many great ideas the RSA has provided for celebrating National Roller Skating Month, these are some favorites: 

• Highlight your regulars! If you have amazing skaters who are always at your rink, put some photos or videos of them up on your monitors and projectors. 
• Run a social media contest for a prize. Skaters can tag themselves or check-in at your location to be entered, or you could have people “vote” on their favorite skater’s photos/videos by liking and commenting.  
• Start a challenge trend. Ever since the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral, challenge videos have been all the rage with kids (and even internet-savvy adults). Have one of your employees or regulars post a video of them doing a certain skating move or trick, and challenge others to put their own spin on it. 

At Southeastern Skate Supply, we love helping skating rink owners and FECs find the equipment and resources needed to maintain a thriving business. Check out our Roller Skating Business Resource Manual to learn more, as well as our Wholesale Equipment pages to shop everything from roller skates to signage. 

We just finished up with our annual tradeshow and we appreciate everyone that was able to attend and help make it so successful.  We thought it would be interesting to do some interviews with the different vendors that attended so that we can recap info for the rinks that joined us and also so that we could share with the ones that couldn’t make it this year.  We did this last year and seemed to get some good feedback.  Please feel free to share any of these with your customers.

 

Our first interview is with Steven Ball from Sure-Grip Skate. .  .

 

Q1 Tell us about the new Lo Ride plates you showed.  Who are they designed for and what kind of reaction did they receive?

Steven:  The Lo Ride plate is a very unique product and so far, everyone that saw it was really intrigued by it.  Most rinks mentioned that they had an adult night and most rinks were talking about the products they use.  Most rinks were looking at the Phenolic wheels and the Fo-Mac wheels.  I think the Adult market is growing and I think our new plate will meet a demand in this market.  Everyone seemed really excited about it and everyone was asking when it would be available.

Q2 I know you’ve made a lot of improvements over the last couple of years to your rental skates.   At the show this year you showed several different boots.   Tell us more about what you’re doing on the rental side of things.

Steven:  For rentals this year we are introducing a women’s shoe.  This is obviously smaller than the normal rental.  I think rinks want to offer something that fits better for the skater.  I think the skating experience is most important to the rinks and will help retain skaters long term.  Having people enjoy the experience skating is our number 1 goal.

 

Q3 The tariff situation is getting a lot of attention in the press.  Has that impacted roller skates much to this point?  How hard is it to predict what impact that will have on prices for skates as we move forward?

Steven:  We are lucky in that we make a lot of our own products in our facility so the tariffs have not impacted our products much as other manufactures.  We have become more vertical in the recent past making more and more of our own products.  The quality from Asia is good but it will never be as good as we can make in the country.  With the tariffs potential to impact not only our industry but others as well puts us in a better position because we have the ability to make our own products.  It is really important for us to retain the quality that everyone has come to know from Sure-Grip.  Walking through our facility you can see exactly what we do and how we do it.  We are very proud of the what we do and what we plan to do.  The new Lo Ride for instance is made entirely in our facility.

 

 

Stay tuned for (hopefully) more interviews with more great people.

 

Our tradeshow will be in just a few days (Oct 7 and 8).  We’re excited to see a lot of the new products that are coming out and also excited to see our customers in person instead of just talking over the phone.  We hope to get more info on when the new products are going to be available and also possibly learn more about the latest on the tariffs and their impact on the skates that we sell.  We’ll be sending out flyers and emails with pictures and details of what we learn, including details on all the new skates that are coming.

We’ll also have a lot of closeout items at the show.  We hope to do a flyer after the show with a list of what’s left from the closeouts to share with everyone.

The Lucy skates have been very popular and a little hard to keep in stock.  Right now we have the small and medium (both sizes) in stock.  These probably won’t last long, the next shipment is going to be November, so if you want some, please order quickly.

Whether you’re replacing the wheels on your rink’s rental skates, ordering wheels for your pro shop, or just want to upgrade your personal set of wheels, we’ve got you covered. At Southeastern Skate Supply, we carry a wide variety of indoor and outdoor skate wheels, not to mention quad roller skates and skate parts. Check out our guide to skate wheels and learn how to pick the right wheels for your skates. 

Choosing the Right Wheel Hardness

What type of surface will these wheels be used on? The amount and type of texture present on the skating rink or outdoor surface will determine the hardness of skate wheel needed. For instance, skating on a cement sidewalk or driveway will require a softer wheel (under 90A) while a smooth, hard skating rink surface calls for a harder wheel. Aim for 86A and up for polished wood floors, or 90A and up for polished concrete floors. 

Other Wheel Hardness Factors 

There are some factors that may affect the wheel hardness you’ll want with your skates. For instance, beginner skaters may appreciate the added “grip” and stability of a softer wheel, even for skating indoors. The hardness you need also depends on what type of skating you plan to  do. If you’re speed skating, you’ll need a harder wheel for maximum speed. 

Skate Wheel Diameter

Roller skate wheels come in several diameters (the measurement from one side of the “circle” all the way to the other side) and each one has different properties and uses. 

• 45 mm – These skate wheels are on the smaller side and are often used for artistic skating. Due to their small size, they make it easy to accelerate quickly; but they also require more effort to keep that speed going. Being smaller also means that they weigh less, which is an important consideration when attempting jumps and spins. 
• 57 mm-62 mm – The larger diameter of these wheels means that they take longer to get up to speed; however, once you’re there, you can maintain that speed without investing as much effort. Look for something in this range if you plan to jam skate or play roller derby. 

Ready to replace those wheels and get rolling? Check out our wholesale skating equipment from top brands.

Our tradeshow is coming up on Oct 7 and 8.  There are a lot of great reasons to come to the tradeshow, but one of the best reasons is the great lineup of seminars that are scheduled.  Some of these will be Monday night at the Courtyard Hotel, some will be Tuesday morning at our warehouse.  Check out the great list. . .

 

Billy Thompson – Pro Shop Sales

Shane Locklear – Learn to Skate Classes

KC Perkins – Graphic Design/Make Your Flyers Pop

Rob Kramer – Your Profits Are Directly Correlated to Your Processes

Jim Ball (Sure-Grip Skate Co.) – Skate Rental Maintenance

 

We hope that you can join us.

Here at Southeastern Skate Supply, we’re obviously passionate about roller skating and skating rinks – so of course we also love to see our favorite pastime on the silver screen! If you love roller skating as much as we do, check out some of our favorite roller skating movies. 

Roll Bounce

This 2005 film starring a young Bow Wow revolves around a group of friends whose “home” skating rink closes, forcing them to not only relocate to a tonier skating rink, but also prove themselves to the crowd at the new rink in a high-stakes skating contest. A great soundtrack, late 1970s fashion, and heartfelt plot will make you nostalgic for the days of roller disco. 

Whip It

No list of roller skating movies is complete without Whip It, a coming of age tale about getting knocked down (in roller derby and in life) and getting back up stronger than ever. The grrrl power message and awesome roller derby action in this 2009 movie are matched only by the phenomenal cast, including Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore (who also directed and produced the film), Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, and Eve. 

ATL

2006 dramedy ATL is another coming of age story, this time set in – you guessed it – Atlanta. Loosely based on the life experiences of producers Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Dallas Austin, the film follows a group of friends growing up in Atlanta and hanging out at their neighborhood’s place to see and be seen: the skating rink. This film boasts a star-studded cast, though it was the first feature film for many of them, as well as the director! In addition to T.I., OutKast, Lauren London, and others, the film features cameos by Killer Mike and Monica.  

After watching these movies, you’re sure to feel like hitting the skating rink and sharing the fun of roller skating with everyone in your life. 

We just got in several new wheels from Bones.  These are in stock now and ready to ship!

 

Bowl Bombers – Designed for the ramp, park, and trick skaters out there.  It comes in two sizes (57mm and 62mm) and four colors (white, black, clear, and clear-red).  They’re in a 101A hardness.

Nitro – This is a smaller version of the Turbo (59mm x 38mm).  They have a slightly different hub to make the smaller size work, but it’s still aluminum.  We’ve got the 97A and 101A in stock now.  There is also a 94A version coming, hopefully we’ll get those soon.

Whether you sell skates at your roller rink pro shop or are just trying to figure out what kind of skates to buy, welcome! We’re sharing a quick guide to the main types of quad roller skates to give you an overview of the options and the differences between types of skates.

Speed Skates 

While inline speed skating is slightly more common, quad speed skates are quite popular as well. Just like a running shoe, speed skates are designed to make them ideal for speed, with a close-to-the-foot fit that more closely resembles a shoe than many other skate boots. The main goal of a speed skate is, well, speed! In order to make the skate lighter weight (and thus faster), a speed skate will have less padding and a lightweight plate, making it great for long distances and intense training sessions. The boot will usually be low-cut under the ankle bone to allow for a wider range of movement; flexibility and agility are key when maneuvering at top speed! 

Jam Skates

Like speed skates (which have also become popular with some jam skaters), jam skates are designed to be lightweight and are cut low around the ankle for maximum range of movement. This allows the skater to perform the fancy footwork that sets jam skating apart! The only real difference between skates marketed as “jam skates” vs. “speed skates” is the toe. Speed skates have a toe stop, which can get in the way if you’re trying to pull off certain jam skating moves. Instead, jam skates will have a toe plug, which can be replaced in many different colors to fit your style. 

Roller Derby Skates

Roller derby is a pretty intense contact sport (on wheels!) so not only is it action-packed and fun to watch, but it’s also a bit rough on skates and skaters. Derby skates may look a lot like speed skates or jam skates, but they typically have much more padding to protect the foot from impact with other skaters and the track. Roller derby skates often have a velcro strap in addition to the traditional laces to ensure a locked-down, secure fit. 

Artistic Skates

If you’ve ever seen roller skating that looks more like ice skating or figure skating, you’ve seen artistic skating in action. Artistic skates have the “old fashioned” silhouette that you probably think of when you think of a classic roller skate. The higher cut of the boot provides more ankle support than low-cut skate styles, which is important when performing spins and jumps. 

Artistic skates generally have a higher heel than other types of skates, distributing more weight to the front of the plate and thereby increasing both control and agility – important factors when attempting the intricate moves of artistic skating. 

Rhythm Skates

Rhythm skates are generally more like artistic skates than jam skates, even though both of these types of skates are used for dancing. However, unlike jam skating which is much more break-dancing-inspired, rhythm skates are used for old school styles of dancing on roller skates, namely shuffle skating or rhythm (short for rhythm and blues or R&B) skating. This style generally keeps all 8 wheels on the ground most of the time, and the focus is on rolling and bouncing to the beat of the music. 

Outdoor Skates

The only difference between an outdoor skate and an indoor skate is the type of wheel you use. Indoor skating on hard, even, clean surfaces requires a harder wheel for a smooth roll. However, if you were to take your skates outside with the same wheels on, you’d quickly find that the rough, uneven, and unpredictable surfaces are not conducive to roller skating. The simple solution to make your skates ready for the great outdoors is to trade the wheels for a softer version. Outdoor skate wheels have more “give,” allowing them to absorb the shock of hitting cracks, bumps, twigs, etc. as you roll along. 

Take a look at our skate catalogs, and get in touch to place an order for your skating rink! 

Our annual tradeshow is coming up on Oct 7 and 8, here at our Roanoke warehouse.  This is a great chance to see other rink operators, preview the new skates, and learn more about our business.  We’ll have presentations from the local RSA Chapter (more details soon, but they’re working on more seminars than in the past) and we’ll have a presentation from Sure-Grip Skate about rental skate maintenance.  Invites are going out in the mail soon, so be sure to save the date.

We will also be mailing out a “customer update form” to help us make sure the contact info we have for everyone is up to date.  Area codes change, land lines get cancelled, email addresses switch, so we’d like to make sure everything we have on file is still correct.  When you see this form, we would appreciate it if you could please take a minute to fill it out and send it back to us.  Thank you.

Roller skating is a fantastic summer activity for kids, but surprisingly, some skating rinks are not making the most of this perfect pairing. Check out these marketing tips for skating rink owners to help you get more customers through the door this summer, from our team at Southeastern Skate Supply. 

Summer Marketing Ideas for Skating Rinks

Start early

Plant the seeds for summer attendance while school is still in session. Roller skating is a healthy activity for kids that improves strength, endurance, and balance, making it a great field trip option. Make sure the schools in your community know that you offer skating field trips, and consider teaming up with local schools to reward students for good report cards. This will raise awareness with kids and parents so your rink will be top of mind when they’re thinking about things to do once school’s out. 

Get the word out 

There are lots of ways to market your skating rink, including: 

• Submit your events to the local community calendar websites or print media in your town or county. Depending on your area, there may be several newspapers, local interest or parenting magazines, tourism/chamber of commerce publications, parenting blogs, etc. that would be willing to add you to their event calendars for free. 
• See if you can get the local news station or radio station to do a remote broadcast from your skating rink during an event. 
• Cross promote with another business. Consider teaming up with a local business like an ice cream parlor or car wash; when someone brings in their receipt from your partner business they get 10% off admission and vice-versa. 

Give them an extra incentive 

Obviously roller skating is a draw all on its own, but when competing for summer crowds, it doesn’t hurt to up the ante. Consider running limited time summer specials that families will want to take advantage of before school starts back. Offer package deals that make your rink an attractive place to spend the day, like an admission, lunch, and arcade token combo. 

When marketing your skating rink for summer, remember to focus on the benefits of roller skating for kids – it’s active, it’s social, and best of all, it’s INDOORS! No sunscreen or bug spray required. 

Make sure you’re stocked up for summer crowds with rink equipment and signage, food items for the snack bar, and prize counter novelties. You can find it all at Southeastern Skate Supply!