About the show

Surf Expo is produced in January and September in Orlando, Florida and draws buyers from across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world. Read More ›

Note: The September 2019 show will be held in the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center.

Buyers

Since 1976 retailers from around the world have relied on Surf Expo to identify new trends, new products & brands and to get business done. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this vibrant, award winning marketplace.

Exhibitors

Surf Expo is a proven marketplace with a focus on qualified buyers and order writing. The show draws buyers from across the globe.

28,600 + Attendees, 1,000 + Exhibitors, 9,500 + Store Fronts

Surf Expo is produced in January and September in Orlando, Florida and draws buyers from specialty stores across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world. The show features more than 2,500 booths of apparel and hardgoods and a full line-up of special events, including fashion shows, annual awards ceremonies, and demos. Average buyer and exhibitor turnout exceeds 28,600 attendees including retailers, exhibitors and media per show. Surf Expo is a TRADE ONLY EVENT and is not open to the public.

Surf

It’s the category that launched Surf Expo, the surfing industry’s oldest and largest tradeshow. Features boards, sunglasses & sun protection products, boardshorts, juniors, footwear and fins. You’ll also find dive fins, masks, spearguns, dive specific wetsuits and underwater photography equipment.

Registering to Attend Surf Expo as a Buyer

Surf Expo is a Trade Only event featuring more than 2,500 booths of apparel and hardgoods and a full line-up of special events, including fashion shows, annual awards ceremonies, and demos.

Why Attend SURF EXPO?

Surf Expo is the largest and longest running watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow in the world. Since 1976, retailers from around the globe have relied on Surf Expo to identify new trends, new brands, and to get business done. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this vibrant, award winning marketplace!

A Complete Buying Experience-  With more than 1,000 exhibitors featuring products ranging from high end surf brands with hard goods and apparel, to value-price resort items, souvenirs and coastal gifts.
New Brands/New Products – The #1 reason retailers attend a tradeshow is to find new products. The Surf Expo show floor brings more than 200 new brands to the marketplace each show.
Perfectly Timed – The September show is perfectly timed for hard goods product launches, plus the post-Labor Day timing is ideal for seasonal retailers.
Meet With Key Decision Makers- Get valuable face-time with manufacturer’s senior management.
Proven Marketplace – More than half of Surf Expo buyers have attended at least 4 consecutive shows/markets, and come from all over the globe because they trust that they will find the best of beach lifestyle, resort and board sports at each show.
Easy To Shop, All Under One Roof – Surf Expo’s September show features thirteen categories of products all under one roof. The show floor is organized by product category, including Surf, Skate, SUP, Paddle, Wake, Wind, Swim, Resort, Coastal Gift, Boutique, Footwear, Bluewater and Performance to make it easy for buyers to find what they are looking for.
Learn From The Experts – Surf Expo’s highly rated Professional Learning Labs – Pick up retail knowledge that can impact your business and stay competitive in today’s marketplace. These seminars given by industry leaders and experts take place throughout the show floor each day and are free for all attendees.
Network & Interact with the industry at special events:
Surf Expo hosts the annual Wake Awards –the BIGGEST NIGHT in the Wake industry. The who’s who in the industry attends to crown the most elite riders and contributors who make the sport so awesome. Free for all registered attendees.
Multiple Happy Hours and special events held in Buyer Lounges on the show floor.
Bluewater – Surf Expo’s newest category featuring inshore/offshore apparel and accessories. Read more and see highlights of the Bluewater category.
Resort, Coastal Gift & Souvenir – Surf Expo has the largest collection of Resort and Boutique (Better Resort) lines, Coastal Gift and Branded Merchandise under one roof. And that’s just for starters! See highlights of the Resort & Coastal Gift at Surf Expo.
Try it before you buy it – Demo the latest boards, paddles and accessories right on the water at Surf Expo Demo Day on September 4.
Orlando is a cost effective destination with affordable flights, hotels and restaurants plus lots of area attractions.

Why Exhibit

The Value & Benefits of the Surf Expo Marketplace

Surf Expo is the largest and longest running watersports and beach/resort lifestyle tradeshow in the world. Surf Expo offers more opportunities to grow your business than any other trade show. Apply to Exhibit.

Qualified Retail Attendance – Buyers from 49 states including Puerto Rico and more than 92 countries attend from large multistore chains to specialty retailers buying for more than 9,500 storefronts
International Reach– Surf Expo September has the largest international retail attendance
Includes surf retailers from Japan, Australia, South Africa, South America, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, South America, Central America plus Caribbean, Puerto Rico (largest retailers like Kokomo, La Gran Via/ The Room, Toda Moda), Aruba, Bermuda, St. Johns and many more.
Perfectly Timed, after Labor Day
The September show is perfectly timed for hard goods product launches, plus the post-Labor Day timing is ideal for seasonal retailers.
Summer 2020 now launches at the September Surf Expo, attracting retailers from the Northeast and Canada who typically have attended only January Surf Expo.
Cross Over Opportunity– The September shows’ 11 watersport and beach related categories attract different buyers, creating strong cross-over growth opportunity to reach stores not already on your radar:
Wake –These buyers also shop surf apparel and accessory brands
Bluewater – Buyers from fish and tackle shops also carry surf apparel and accessories (sunglasses, watches, sunscreen, footwear) as well as resort and gifts.
Wind/Kite – attracts additional buyers from Pac Northwest and Hawaii who buy multiple categories.
Cruise lines and major hotels attend to purchase across all categories.
Demo your product on the water at Surf Expo’s Waterfest– September 4th conveniently located on the North Side of the Orange County Convention center’s North/South Concourse (across from the West Concourse)
Buyer Recruitment –Surf Expo’s Buyer Relations team partners with exhibiting brands to not only ensure the buyers they want to see at the show are in attendance but also actively identify and recruit new stores to attend with a strongly funded buyer incentive program.
Three full days of appointment-driven business, and the #1 order writing show.
Cost Effective Destination– Convenient, affordable flights to Orlando (MCO) and affordable hotels close to the convention center.

Source: Event Website