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Sure-Grip’s Stardust skate has been a big hit.  The distinctive “sparkle” look on the boots really catches the customer’s eye.  They come in black, blue, or pink, which are all in stock now.  Next up is a gold version which is coming soon.  We don’t have a definite date yet, but mid-August is looking possible, it all depends on how quickly this shipment can clear customs.  As soon as we know more we’ll be sure to let everyone know.  They’re also hinting about some new skates with the glitter material that might be released this fall, including a speed skate version.  More details on all of this as soon as we have something more definite to report.

Our annual tradeshow is coming up on October 1 and 2.  We’ll have many of the skate vendors here showing off their new models as well as several other companies that help service roller skating rinks.  More details very soon, but mark your calendars now to be sure to save the date.

On August 8, ESPN will turn their ESPN2 channel into “The Ocho” or ESPN8.  They’ve done this in the past and devoted an entire day to lesser known sports.  This year, they will be airing roller derby at 4PM Eastern.  We don’t have a lot of details yet, but this is huge exposure for skating and a wonderful opportunity.

School is starting up again soon, which seems like a good opportunity to remind you that we do custom promo items, including pencils.  Consider getting some pencils made up with your rink info on them and distributing them to schools as gifts.  Or donate some to a charity that is collecting items for lower income students that might not be able to afford their own pencils.

Making sure your customer’s skates fit right is just about the most important aspect of roller skating. The difference between properly sized skates and poorly fitted ones will make or break your customer’s day.

Make sure you have the sizes your skaters need so that everyone enjoys their time on the hardwood. At Southeastern Skate Supply, we have the gear you need. Check out the sizing tips we use to ensure everyone is properly fitted and then pick up the skating gear you need.

Basic Sizing

Roller skates and roller blades will typically fit much like an everyday shoe. Your customer’s shoe size is a good starting point for their rental skates. Check to make sure the toes are just short of or barely touching the tip of the skates. If toes are curled up and crammed in, the skates are too small. You can also have your customer kick their skates down with their toes. Feel the heel area to see if there is excess space. If so, the skates are too big.

Purchasing the Right Size

Skates, just like shoes, will need to be broken in. If you’re buying a new pair of skates for you or your kids, you should expect some tightness, but using the tricks stated above should help you find the right fit. Skate will break in pretty quickly and soon that tightness will turn into a perfect fit as long as you sized them right!

The internet is full of handy sizing charts, too. Check them out and remember the tips we’ve shared here. And if you need more info, we’re happy to chat with you about finding the perfect fitting skates.

Mark your calendars now for our annual tradeshow on October 1 and 2 here at our Roanoke, VA warehouse.  This is an excellent chance to meet with other rink operators, see new products, save big with closeout offers, and save on freight by driving products home yourself.  There is no charge to attend and there is even a free dinner on Monday night.  We’ll have more details soon, but save these dates if you’re interested in joining us.

We had been out of stock of the Vanilla Junior Tuxedo in most sizes for several months, but a new shipment just arrived, and we now have all sizes in stock.

Summer is a great chance to work on rental skate maintenance and repairs.  For many rinks you’re open more hours than in the winter but the sessions aren’t quite as busy.  So use this time to make sure your skates are in great shape.  We have replacement boots and wheels as well as any other loose parts you might need.

Summer field trips can be a great source of revenue for your skate center, but how do you make them work? Here are some tips for hosting a great field trip this summer (and beyond).

• Offer fun packages with more than just skating. Other games, craft activities, arcade time, and maybe even some educational activities will break up the day for campers and staff. Of course, you’ll want to offer snack bar packages, but it may help increase bookings to allow field trips to bring their own bagged lunches.
• Be as flexible as possible while still clearing your expenses, but remember to protect your interests as well. If you offer private field trips, where you close your center to allow groups unlimited use all on their own, a non-refundable deposit will help to protect you against loss in the case of cancellations.
• Advertise! Reach out to local summer camps and day care centers, connect with parents or homeschool groups, and get the word out about what you’re offering. Nobody will book with you if they don’t know they can! Ensure your staff has the appropriate information and can answer questions when they are asked.
• Fight summer brain drain by offering educational opportunities. Roller skating lends itself well to STEM field trips, and parents and teachers alike will thank you for getting kids engaged in learning during the school break.

Summer should be a big money-making time for your skate center. Don’t leave any potential areas of revenue unexplored. Refresh your novelties for summer and get ready for those field trips!

We recently attended the annual RSA tradeshow.  This was a great chance to meet with customers and also with our suppliers.  We took some notes on early previews of several different skates that we’d like to share.  None of these are available yet, we don’t even really have any guarantees that all of them will eventually become real.  We certainly don’t have prices or firm dates yet.  But, with those disclaimers, here are some of the highlights on items we saw. . .

Pacer / Roller Derby
Several new versions of the Candi Girl skates.  One of the more interesting ones was a smaller skate, with adjustable sizes, for the younger skaters. It had a white boot, with pineapple designs printed on them.

They also showed a couple of new colors of the U772 and U774 versions of the Candi Girl, and hinted that some of the current colors might be phased out to make room for the new versions.

Roller Derby also showed several new designs for the Heart Throb skates.  Instead of a graffiti design, these will have geometric pattern designs on the boots.

 

Sure-Grip

For the GT-50 skates, a version with a bolder look, with a glitter pattern similar to what’s on the Stardust skates.

A clear tinted quad speed wheel called The Ice (this one is almost certainly happening, coming in the fall).

They had two different quad speed skates with boots that were heavily influenced by skateboard shoes that should appeal especially well to the younger teen market.

They’re thinking about offering the poms in different sizes.  A lot of rinks don’t use poms anymore, but the ones that do seem to do very well with them.

Again, we don’t have prices, dates, or any firmer details on any of these items.  But as soon as we do we’ll be sure to let everyone know.

Roller skating has a long history. Most people think of the 1950s or the 1970s as the heyday of skating, but it goes back even earlier than that!

The first skates were patented in 1760, which makes them older than the United States. These early skates were a lot like ice skates, except with wheels instead of a blade. They were a little like inline skates, except they had no brakes and were very difficult to steer and stop! Roller skaters wanted more maneuverability, leading to lots of advances over the next hundred years. In 1863, James Plimpton invented the “rocking” skate. This used a four-wheel configuration, much like standard skates do nowadays. It also had independent axles, which made better stability as well as maneuverability.

The first public skating rinks opened in 1857. By the 1860s and 1870s, “rinkomania” had swept through the US and parts of Europe. This popularity continues! The sport of roller hockey even made an appearance in the 1992 Olympic Games. Nowadays there are almost 5,000 roller derby clubs in the US alone, in major cities all over the country.

As summer rolls around and parents start looking for ways to keep kids learning over the break, incorporate the history of roller skates into your summer offerings. Why not host trivia games with novelties and gift certificates to your pro shop as a prize? Whether you’re hosting a summer camp or just inviting parents to drop off their kids for safe, clean, supervised fun this summer, a little extra learning never hurt anyone.

Summer should be the biggest time of the year at your family entertainment center, and it’s right around the corner. Most schools are letting out for vacation in the next few weeks. Check out these ideas to improve your summer marketing game from SE Skate:

First of all, adjust your hours. Now that schools are closed, your skate center should open earlier and have more daytime sessions to cater to the kids who have a bunch of free time. Offering discounted passes good for a number of admissions is a great way to drum up repeat business. You can also consider offering a weekday summer camp for younger kids who need supervision while their parents are at work. Flexibility is key here–if parents can choose how many days per week to bring their kids, they’ll be more likely to choose your camp over all the other options.

Don’t forget to stock your concession stand and sales/prize redemption areas with summer gear. Slushies, popsicles, ice cream, freeze pops, and other cool treats will keep guests comfortable in the heat. Festive novelty items for sale or redemption that keep with the summer theme: sunglasses, puzzles and games, patriotic items for July 4th, etc. Check out our Super Cool Stuff store for supplies. It goes without saying, but make sure that your air conditioner and other equipment is up to the challenge of the summer weather!

Summer is the perfect time to make up for lackluster attendance during the rest of the year. Crank up the A/C, freshen up your music selection, and make sure parents know your skate center is a safe, clean place to bring their kids for some active, screen-free fun this summer!