Blog

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!

The new catalogs and price lists are back from the printers. We are working on a big mailing.  Most of them left here yesterday, the remainder should be very soon.  If you’d like extra copies of the catalogs to hand out to your customers, just let us know with your next order.

We also have some new posters from Bones.  If you use posters to decorate and promote your skate shop, ask for a new batch with your next order and we’ll get them out for you.

We will be exhibiting at the RSA Convention in Las Vegas on May 15 and 16.  If you’re attending the show, please stop by our booth.  Also consider attending the Sure-Grip / Pacer Annual Party on the 15th at 8PM.  We help sponsor that event, there is usually some good food and music, and it is free.

We have two different designs for birthday party table settings.  The skates with mirror ball design has been around for some time and remains incredibly popular.  But we also now have a newer design that shows skates, balloons, and says “party time” in big letters.  Either of these designs look great in a skating rink and they’re a very affordable way to help make your birthday parties stand out.

Skate Mate Trainers are a great way to help younger customers learn to skate and build up their confidence.  They have been backordered for a few weeks as the manufacturer ran out of a couple of the parts.  They’ve just sent us an update and it sounds like the backorders should start shipping out very soon.  We thank you for your patience as he replenishes his inventory.

The 2018 Catalogs are finally here.  They just unloaded them.

We’ll mail copies out to all customers starting on Monday.  If you would like extras to hand out to customers, not a problem, we’ve got plenty.  Just ask for a pack when you place your next order.

If you would like to view the catalogs online, or download a pdf copy, just go to https://seskate.com/wholesale-equipment/skates/catalog/

We also have a new poster from Powell-Bones, so if you use posters, and you haven’t updated recently, now is a great time.

A good concession stand can be a great boon to your skating rink’s bottom line–but a bad one can be a huge turnoff for your customers and actually drive business away. Make the most of the concession stand at your family entertainment center with these tips from Southeastern Skate:

• Advertise! Your customers and potential customers have to know that you serve food before they can make plans to enjoy it. Advertise inside your center as well as in your outside advertising.
• Select foods with care and consideration. You may want to focus on items that can be cooked quickly to avoid long lines and hungry patrons waiting for food. You can’t go wrong providing food options that are healthy as well as fresh and tasty (no sad, wilted salads please!) to appeal to more people. Consider soliciting customer feedback to learn what options your patrons are looking for.
• Continue asking for customer feedback! You always want to know what your customers like and where you and your staff can make improvements.
• Don’t neglect to train your staff to take care of your concession stand. Not only do they need to understand how to cook, clean, and operate all of your equipment safely, but they’ll need to understand how to present food in an attractive way. The tastiest fries in the world won’t look appetizing on a sad little plate. And of course, train your staff to offer service with a smile.

A concession stand can make or break your family entertainment center. Your business plan should definitely not neglect this vital part of your income!

As a small business owner, you’re always looking for ways to get involved in your community–or at least you should be. At Southeastern Skate Supply we know that members of your community are also your customers and potential customers. National Volunteer Week is right around the corner, from April 15th to April 21st, so use this time to further your community involvement.

Does your business offer fundraisers? If not, consider adding that option to your party packages! If you already do offer them, take a hard look at how and where they are or aren’t working. Do the organizers find them easy and pleasant? Do they actually raise money for the organization? How do they fit in with your business plan and impact your bottom line? With a little effort and time spent asking the right questions, you can improve the fundraising experience for everyone.

Sponsor a volunteer day for your staff. Find a local nonprofit that everyone can agree on (skip religious or political organizations to be safe), and schedule a time. Of course, you can’t force your employees to participate, but offering pay or equivalent PTO will go a long way towards encouraging participation. Paying people to volunteer may seem like an oxymoron, but think of it as your company donating time.

And don’t forget to get involved yourself! Ultimately the face of your family entertainment center should be you. Lead your team to do right by their community and the members of your community will be encouraged to do right by your business.

We will be at two different upcoming meetings.  If you’re able to attend either of these, please stop by and visit with us.

RSA Chapter Meeting – Indian Trail NC – April 9-10
RSA Tradeshow and Convention – Las Vegas NV – Southpoint Hotel – May 15-16

At the Las Vegas meeting, we will also be helping to sponsor the Sure-Grip / Roller Derby Customer Appreciation Party May 15 at 8PM.  This is always one of the highlights of the annual convention so please mark that time down on your calendar so you don’t miss it.

The digital version of our new catalog is now available.  You can view it or download a copy at https://seskate.com/wholesale-equipment/skates/catalog/.  The paper version is getting close and as soon as they are ready we’ll be sure to let everyone know.

The Dominion Skate company went out of business a few years back.  But we still have most sizes of the D278 Esprit skate available.  This is a great entry-level quad art skate.  We have these sizes in stock:

White – sizes 8J through 10 adult (all sizes)
Black – sizes 8J through 4 and also 7 through 11