Part 4

What Do Surf Shops Think?

The NuWave Journey

Core Stores: Our Retailers’ Reactions to NuWave 

Where would surfing be without the humble surf shop? For the last seventy-plus years surf shops have been the primary source not only of specialist equipment such as surfboards and wetsuits, but of specialist knowledge and advice that they dispense for free alongside their physical wares. The core surf stores, founded and staffed by surfers in service to surfers and surfers-to-be, are cornerstones of our sport and culture. If you want to get a wetsuit that fits and functions well, by trying a few on, you head to a surf shop. Need a block of Sex Wax on the way to the waves? Surf shop. After some advice on a new surfboard or how the local breaks works on this wind? Surf shop. 

At C-Skins we are proud of our long-standing relationships with surf shops around the world. Having developed the NuWave range of natural rubber wetsuits and tested them with our team riders we knew that we had a great product, but the next moment of truth was sharing the news and the sample wetsuits with our network of retailers. As the point-of-purchase connection to our customers, did they share our belief that the move towards natural rubber is not only necessary, but what surfers are calling for? After all, need and desires do not always go hand in hand when it comes to people’s purchasing decisions. 

Last autumn, we took our range of natural rubber wetsuits on the road to show them to the surf shops that we supply around the UK and Ireland. Their reaction was better than we could have hoped for and NuWave natural rubber wetsuits will be available to try on and buy in most of our retailers. We caught up with the owners and buyers from the retailers who will be stocking the full range of NuWave wetsuits this spring, to find out why they’re onboard. 

“I thought it was a bold move to release a natural rubber wetsuit range covering all styles and price points. Customers are showing an increased awareness of the environmental impact of their purchases of the benefits of natural rubber. Hopefully it will create a talking point, and allow customers to see that natural rubber is now as good as neoprene in terms of performance. We are definitely keen to promote it to all customers.”

Andrew, Ann’s Cottage Surf Shops, Cornwall

 

“We are really interested and highly invested in the direction that the wetsuit market goes with regards to sustainability. We have a huge responsibility to ensure that our suppliers, the materials they use, and their own sustainability programme / ethos is both transparent and authentic. We believe C-Skins and their NuWave Wetsuits fit into that category.”

Luke, Ann’s Cottage Surf Shops, Cornwall

". . . natural rubber is now as good as neoprene in terms of performance"

“The NuWave suits looked and felt great! I was really impressed with the flexibility and feel of the suits, and I’m sure that as with everything C-Skins produce the quality and durability will also be top drawer. Environmental consciousness is something that we see growing more and more and it’s great to see consumers and companies taking more of an active approach in reducing our impact on the environment.”

Aaron, Down The Line, Hayle, Cornwall

"really impressed with the flexibility and feel of the suits."

“When C-Skins announced the launch of a natural rubber range, it took us all of a minute to commit to stocking the products. The watersports retail industry helps people enjoy the outdoors and access their chosen sport all year round, however, we have to be conscious of our impact on the environment we use. The natural rubber range from C-Skins will be a huge step in the right direction.”

Mike, Escape Watersports, South Wales

"we have to be conscious of our impact on the environment we use"

“With so much in the media recently about the climate crisis and the impact our individual behaviors have on the environment, customers are becoming more conscious of their buying decisions. They are certainly more informed than previously, which means they understand and are more receptive to products that are kinder to our environment. To be able to offer natural rubber products is huge and also to be able to offer our customers the option to recycle end of life wetsuits is also a fantastic service. Already the feedback on this is super positive. To assist in avoiding all that used neoprene going to land fill is bound to give a feel good factor.”

Nollaig, Jellyfish Surf Co. County Cork, Republic of Ireland

". . . customers are becoming more conscious of their buying decisions"

“The key for us is that NuWave is a full range of wetsuits. So far, natural rubber wetsuits have been priced only at the top end with no viable option for your entry or mid-tier customer to make the choice. Other brands have used natural rubber as well to sell their top-end wetsuits, but C-Skins doing what they have with the NuWave range is super inclusive and gives all customers at all price points the choice.”

Henry, Shore Watersports, East Wittering, West Sussex

"The key for us is that NuWave is a full range of wetsuits"

"We are absolutely keen to promote an eco friendly natural rubber option of suits to our customers at all levels of surfing and price budgets! It is great that we will have a climate conscious option for customers as it widens our already broad range whilst offering something for people that want to care for the environment at a better price than other brands. 

A lot of people in Cornwall are slightly more ‘environmentally aware’ than the rest of the UK, especially the local surf scene here in Newquay. We think that by providing a natural rubber solution to all surf levels in store, we can educate visitors and other customers on the innovation of natural alternatives that may not realise the impact of the original neoprene to the environment."

The Crew, Surfing Life, Newquay, Cornwall

"...we can educate visitors and other customers on the innovation of natural alternatives..."

“We decided to offer our customers the NuWave range because we believe it is the future and direction the wetsuit industry needs to go. It also gives us a larger range (different from what we now have on offer) of wetsuits to offer those who are environmentally conscious about what they buy and believe that we need to do more to preserve our surfing playgrounds.

The decision was a simple one for us. Combined with the fact that we have been selling C-Skins wetsuits from day one, that we know the quality you produce and that the price is still very, very, competitive, it was a no brainer. We can offer our customers a great quality wetsuit which is leading the future of wetsuit production and at a great price works for us.”

Gareth. Troggs Surf Shop, Portrush, Northern Ireland 

". . . the price is still very, very, competitive."

“Our customers are increasingly approaching us for natural rubber options and our job is to give them what they are asking for. It’s no secret that most wetsuit brands are trying to move the dial towards a more sustainable offering and in our opinion NuWave is one of the earliest, best and most complete propositions so far. As ever, the recent acceleration in natural wetsuit development is being driven by consumer demand and NuWave responds to that well. Getting natural rubber into the hands of more diverse customers than before with a wider range and competitive prices will hopefully really help to drive interest and trust in the technology which will keep things moving in the direction that we all want and which our environment needs.”

Jemma, Wetsuit Outlet

". . . NuWave is one of the earliest, best and most complete propositions so far"

“Bude as a town and community has, for a long time, been striving to take a more responsible route regarding its environmental impact and sustainable tourism. Zuma Jay for years has also been trying to find the balance of working with sustainable suppliers and products whilst remaining current. Finding a way to bring sustainability into our wetsuit collection is paramount. For us as a business, we want to continue our commitment to selling quality products that have a lower impact. Consumers are definitely more aware of these issues and they are much happier to consider a more environmentally responsible product. This range of natural rubber wetsuits will be our main focus going forward and we will be putting a lot into promoting it and selling it on its credentials. This will be focused at both surfers and holidaymakers, as they are both key customers for our business.”

Paul, Zuma Jay, Bude, Cornwall

"Finding a way to bring sustainability into our wetsuit collection is paramount"

The full range of NuWave wetsuits is available to try on and buy in-stores now.