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Our annual skate tradeshow will be October 1 and 2, 2018.  The location is our Roanoke, VA warehouse.  We’ll have several different vendors here showing off their newest skates, including Sure-Grip, Roller Derby, Vanilla, and Roces.  We’ll have savings on some closeout items (the lowest prices of the year, plus you can pick them up to save on shipping).  The RSA will be hosting a program at the host hotel on Monday night.  This is a great chance to see other rink operators, learn about new products, and it is all free.

Sure-Grip has several new skates coming out this fall.  They are doing a new gold version of their Stardust sparkle skates, these arrived last week, all sizes are now in stock.  They’re also working on a sparkle version of the GT50 skates, we don’t have those yet, but hopefully they’ll be available by the tradeshow.

Roller Derby will have several new colors of the Candi Girl skates coming out this fall.  They’re not in stock yet, but as soon as we have more details we’ll let everyone know.

An older rink that buys from us was sold to new owners.  The new owners wanted to update their rental skates.  They said that the older rentals they had been using literally “had patches on the patches” to cover up holes in the boots.  Don’t let your rental skates get to that point.  If you’re not comfortable handing your rental skates out to a PTA leader or a birthday party mom, then it might be time to repair or replace your skates.  We can help.  If you’re coming to our tradeshow, that would be a great opportunity to pick up some replacement rentals to save on the shipping expense.

Stardust Gold

Sure-Grip’s Stardust skate is a high-top classic looking skate with a glitter design on the boots.  The boots have been available in black, blue, or pink.  They have just added a brand new gold color, and they’re in stock now from sizes 3-9.

Our annual tradeshow is coming up on Oct 1 and 2 here at our Roanoke, VA warehouse.  If you haven’t signed up yet, now is the time to send in your RSVP paperwork.

If you’re planning on picking up a larger order at our show to save on freight, consider giving us the details ahead of time.  We will get it pulled for you before the show starts, which will save you a lot of time.

Owning a skate center or pro shop is rewarding, but it can also bring plenty of challenges! Fortunately, if you’re looking for ways to connect with other operators and industry professionals, then you’re in the right place because the 2018 Annual Southeastern Skate Supply Tradeshow is just around the corner!

Get ready for another great trade show

Mark your calendars now for the 2018 Annual Southeastern Skate Supply Tradeshow! Our annual tradeshow event will take place this year on Monday, October 1st and Tuesday, October 2nd here at our Roanoke, Virginia warehouse.

This event is an excellent chance to meet with other rink operators and to see new products. It’s also a great chance to save big on closeout offers and get great deals on new products. Plus, you can and save even more money on freight by driving products home yourself.

There is no charge to attend, and we are even hosting a free dinner on Monday night. It’s a great networking event, and a great way to catch up with old friends and make new ones in the industry.

Keep an eye on the blog for updates, as we will have more details coming soon. Go ahead and mark your calendars now to save the date for another great tradeshow!

For more information about the 2018 Annual Southeastern Skate Supply Tradeshow, contact us at Southeastern Skate Supply! You can also sign up for the Southeastern Skate Supply newsletter, to get updates and trade show information delivered right to your inbox.

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!