Industry News
JAMAICA’S QUASHI SURFBOARDS SPLASH IN AT FLORIDA SURF EXPO
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 January, 2008 : - - Jamaican Surfboard Brand “Quashi Surfboards” had its first showing at the 2008 Surf Expo in Florida. Jamaican Surfboard Shaper Patrick “Quashi” Mitchell and Jamaican Surfing Icon Billy Wilmot, partners in the upcoming fledgling Jamaican company, were very upbeat about the impact that the brand had at the world famous trade show.
The Booth featured Quashi’s 2008 line of high performance surfboards, pulsating reggae music including a live acoustic set by Billy Mystic, a surfboard illustration session by top Florida tattoo artist Mark Longnecker of Endless Summer Tattoos and samples of Jamaica’s world famous Baba Roots. Quashi Team Riders Icah Wilmot, Jamaica, and Tony Chavez, USA were also there signing autographs and attracting sponsors.
“The Quashi booth was definitely the belle of the ball” said Mr. Wilmot. “We had a continuous flow of people to the booth and we have created quite a few interesting and promising relationships with distributors, shop owners and many fans of our brand. But you know it is all about the follow up now and then the ability to service the demand you have created”.
Mr. Mitchell was very pleased with the response from the potential buyers. “Over the many years of working to promote Jamaica and our brand of Surfboards (Quashi) we have made a statement, but this time, at the expo, we have sealed the deal that we are here to stay and we are a force to be reckoned with. Jamaican surfing has arrived and the industry is very interested!
Our product has been tried tested and proven by team riders in Jamaican conditions as well as by team riders in Trinidad, Costa Rica, Barbados, Europe and the USA and is now ready for the world.”
Quashi has two production facilities in the USA. One in California and now one in Florida. This year the company will establish the first state of the art surfboard factory here in Jamaica bringing to an end over 40 years of local “back yard” surfboard production.
“We have been having meetings with JAM PRO and the Sports Development Foundation to initiate a strategy to take on the enormous potential benefits that exist in the surf industry which encompasses everything from surfboard manufacturing to vacation packages.” Said Mr. Wilmot.
“We need to finalize the necessary agreements to facilitate the import of a computer aided shaping machine and the many other raw materials used in the surfboard manufacturing process.” With the existence of the free trade agreement in the Caribbean, Quashi will be poised to capitalize on the existing and potential market that exists across the region
The surfing world has long had an ongoing love affair with Jamaica’s culture and music. The presence of the Quashi brand at this prestigious show has established our image in this new and vibrant industrial arena.
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