Episode #38

http://traffic.libsyn.com/thenotsnowboardingpodcast/Parts_and_Labor_.mp3

This episode was unique in that, for the first time, we had four people on – all in different locations (with almost no issues from Skype). Nate and AJ talked with Joe Suta (Nightmare Snowboards) and Steven Kimura (Owner Operator and United Shapes) about the brand new, snowboarding only trade show that they are launching in January:

Parts & Labor

Topics include:

• Stephen’s and Joe’s breakfast(s)
• PowderJet Snowboards
• Maple syrup coffee
• Bulletproof coffee
• Eating habits
• Trump
• Handsome Cory Schmidt
• Owner Operator 
• United Shapes 
• Nightmare Snowboards 
• Craig Kelly
• Parts and Labor
• IPP 
• Skype drop
• Fair sale pricing
• Product development timelines
• Snowboarding participation
• Olympics (skateboarding)
• Logistics of building a booth at SIA 
• On-snow demo
• Does the snowboarding industry even need a trade show?
• Fleshlight snowboard
• Nostalgia

Quotes: Steven:I don’t bring snowboarding up with someone that does not know snowboarding.…(Craig Kelly) taking freestyle to the backcountry & riding powder, not being the coolest guy, with the coolest board sponsor…his path is the right path for every snowboarder to follow. Do I need to observe every internet sales holiday every week, or can I just mark everything down 20% and if it sells, it sells. If you want to increase participation in snowboarding – you just have to make snowboarding cooler. If you need the Navy to build a jump, just skip it. If you want to plug a light into the floor of the convention center, you’ll have to pay around $130…It’s like you wore the most beautiful dress to the worst party. If you want to make money, snowboarding is probably the worst corner of the world to business in. As participants in the show, we have a different perspective….If you look at the best thirty snowboard shops in the country – probably ten of them will be gone in a couple years…We need to find the fastest way to weaponize the teen snowboarders. I never do anything on skateboard that’s awesome…Joe: Doing Nightmare was a direct result of being confused at a shop and seeing all these brands look identical. Being part of SIA was a milestone moment for us. We can do this ourselves and be in control of the market for our own companies instead of trying to attach ourselves to this much bigger market…People are just over producing snowboards – the market is just flooded. The whole industry needs an enema.  Snowboarding is not as big as everybody thinks it is. It’s so uninspiring for the snowboarder world – they didn’t want us there in the first place. We somehow got attached to a ski trade show. Thank you SIA – we paid thousands of dollars to hang out. It’s about transparency.It’s the same dates because we’re not asking people to take extra time out…. Just take a day and see what snowboarding is all about.We don’t need a rollerblade brand being there or tennis rackets – it’s about people that are contributing to snowboarding 100%. This show is not booth oriented at all – its a gallery show… Everyone’s on the same playing field. The on-hill will be rad, it will be like no other snow demo – there will be convenience and luxury provided! We will not be having any porno hopping at Parts and Labor. Parts and Labor is going to address the real state of where our industry is – it is a tiny market. Let’s do something where snowboarders invented it. 

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