Action Sports Retailer Magazine

Back-to-Back Action: For 12 years, Action Sports Retailer magazine has held an October trade show in Atlantic City, N.J., for beach lifestyle apparel and accessories companies. East Coast buyers used that show to preview upcoming spring fashions. Now the Laguna Beach-based magazine/trade show promoter is gearing up for its initial three-day "Back to School" show. The new exposition will be staged March 11 through 13 in Philadelphia.

The location is identical, but any similarity between this convention and the Republican one a few weeks ago ends on that note. Instead of delegates clothed in red, white and blue finery, there are humans sporting tattooed craniums, gas masks and 87-pound suits made from pennies. In place of helium balloons, there are silicone-inflated babes in bikinis. And instead of CNN and the Washington Post, there are journalists from WIG, Hot Lava and Tongue magazines.

Publisher on the Move: Paul Holmes, most recently associate publisher and editorial director of Action Sports Retailer magazine, has moved to San Diego, where he is now vice president of marketing for Hang 10. "It's a brand that's enjoying a comeback," Holmes said. "It's benefiting from the whole 'retro revival.' "

Action Sports Retailer held its trade exposition last week at San Diego's convention center, and show officials described the 14th annual gathering as a success. More than 7,200 exhibitors preregistered for space at the show, up from 6,000 last year. The show included 200 manufacturers who were first-time exhibitors or who had returned to the show after a hiatus. "We're seeing a definite resurgence in the marketplace," said David Loechner, the director of the trade exhibition.

Action Sports Retailer has canceled what would have been its first back-to-school show, scheduled for next month. The magazine had invited surf-wear makers and other companies that sell their lines to department store and specialty shop buyers. But the show, which was to have opened April 21 in Palm Springs, failed to attract enough exhibitors, said Sada Valov, the magazine's managing editor. "I don't think they had time to work it into their '93 budget," she said.

Magazine Has New Editor: Action Sports Retailer, a monthly trade magazine based in Laguna Beach, has a new editor. Pat Cochran was most recently editorial director for CME Inc., a health care and medical communications company in Santa Ana. She has worked in publishing in Southern California for more than 15 years, holding positions with Advertising Age magazine and Powder, a magazine for skiers.

Paul Holmes, whose push to broaden the scope of Action Sports Retailer turned him into a controversial figure in the surf wear industry that the trade magazine covers, resigned Friday as associate publisher and editorial director of the monthly publication. Holmes, who had held the dual jobs for a year, could not be reached for comment.

The location is identical, but any similarity between this convention and the Republican one a few weeks ago ends on that note. Instead of delegates clothed in red, white and blue finery, there are humans sporting tattooed craniums, gas masks and 87-pound suits made from pennies. In place of helium balloons, there are silicone-inflated babes in bikinis. And instead of CNN and the Washington Post, there are journalists from WIG, Hot Lava and Tongue magazines.

National Sales Chief: Former U.S. pro surfing champion Mike Lambresi has been chosen as national sales manager of Action Sports Retailer Magazine in South Laguna. Lambresi most recently had been with Surfer Publishing Group, which owns Surfer Magazine. Action Sports Retailer's next three-day trade exposition will be in San Diego on Aug. 30.

Active-Sports Expo: Action Sports Retailer, a lifestyle and active-sports magazine based in Laguna Beach, will hold a trade exposition in Philadelphia in early March to serve "back to school" buyers at East Coast department and retail stores. The new show fills a void and enables retailers to order closer to delivery schedules, said ASR Publisher Darrell Denny. The Philadelphia show will be held in conjunction with the Imprinted Sportswear Show, an established expo.

Magazine Has New Editor: Action Sports Retailer, a monthly trade magazine based in Laguna Beach, has a new editor. Pat Cochran was most recently editorial director for CME Inc., a health care and medical communications company in Santa Ana. She has worked in publishing in Southern California for more than 15 years, holding positions with Advertising Age magazine and Powder, a magazine for skiers.

Action Sports Retailer has canceled what would have been its first back-to-school show, scheduled for next month. The magazine had invited surf-wear makers and other companies that sell their lines to department store and specialty shop buyers. But the show, which was to have opened April 21 in Palm Springs, failed to attract enough exhibitors, said Sada Valov, the magazine's managing editor. "I don't think they had time to work it into their '93 budget," she said.