Editorial Platform
“Australian Surf Business (ASB) Magazine objectively reports on all aspects of the surf industry and is committed to editorial excellence by providing its readers with the only one-stop forum for the entire industry.”
About the Magazine
Few could have predicted the rapid transformation our ‘cottage’ industry has undergone since ASB launched in August 2004. As the market continues to evolve, Australian Surf Business is at the cutting edge, providing insightful, factual accounts of the changing surf industry landscape. ASB’s focus is on the information needs of surf retailers by reporting on new products, emerging trends, acquisitions, supplier relationships and services – all geared to helping retailers identify the products and means to increase turnover, margins and profits. Australian Surf Business has delivered industry first sales and market research products such as the ASB Media Meter© and ActionWatch Oz Pty Ltd providing our industry with a deeper understanding, backed by reliable data and methodology. ASB is committed to editorial excellence, drawing on a talent pool of some of the country’s finest writers.
About the Name
There are so many acronyms in this business it gets confusing. ASB stands for Australian Surf Business Magazine and our premium print edition is distributed six times a year to every surf shop in Australia, to industry professionals and to select stores and subscribers in New Zealand and Indonesia. ASB’s targeted surf retail demographic, free press model and store-based distribution separates it from other surf magazine alternatives.
The Aim of this Site
The aim is to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for everything happening right now through ASBMAG.com whilst providing expanded coverage and thought provoking insights in ASB Magazine. In this sense ASBMAG.com is truly a multi-media convergence rather than an extension of the magazine. It’s rare a website launches with over a million archived words but that’s precisely what we’ve done on ASBMAG.com. Basically everything that’s happened in our industry can be searched on this site. In addition, live news posts are backed by expert industry commentary, as well as the latest job listings, events and current market research. We’ll always go ‘beyond the press release’.
About the Publisher
Prior to launching ASB, its publisher Keith Curtain spent six years at Reef (Australia) as National Marketing Manager. Before that he was National Development Officer for Surfing Australia for a further six years, and Executive Assistant to (then) CEO Alan Atkins. In 1995 the national office relocated from Torquay (Victoria) to Burleigh Heads (Queensland) where he joined national coaching director Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew and Media Director Mandy McKinnon at the new headquarters in Burleigh Heads (QLD). Keith worked alongside Bushy Mitchell and Peter Whittaker during the formative years of ASP Australasia. Highlights include acting as team manager for multiple successful Australian representative teams, campaigning for AOC member status and the establishment of the professional framework for surf schools. From 1992-1997 Keith ran the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Awards and in 2008 he received the Pioneer Award at the Surfing Hall of Fame. Keith holds a BA in Management Communications, majoring in journalism, market research and communications.
Beyond the Press Release
Lots of sites run press releases. Here we aim to dig a layer beneath and provide insightful, intelligent comment and add as much value as possible. Usually, that means asking more questions or striving for additional business insight drawing on a talent pool of some the best surf journalists in the business.
Reader Posts
We are always open to reader feedback. We’ll listen to anybody’s ideas, suggestions and vents. The overall tone on ASBMAG.com will remain professional, factual and non-biased. We will not publish anonymous postings. All posts must be accompanied by your name and a real email address. False or misleading hotmail addresses (or similar) will not be posted.
Advertising
No supplier has a big enough sales force to call on all stores, all the time. That’s where ASBMAG.com is so cost effective. Regular advertising on ASBMAG.com is the most effective way of ensuring that information about your company reaches the right people, wherever they are in the buying cycle. For more information email sales@australiansurf.biz.
Independence
Independent reporting is crucial to our success. We will attempt to evaluate every story on its merits and listen to all story ideas. Products featured in the magazine are returned to sender in a timely manner once they have been photographed at our studio.
E-mail lists
We do not share or rent our industry database.
Story ideas
This is a business news web site, so stories will always reflect a business angle. All submissions are welcome.
