BLM

Seems to me that everything that could be said about the Black Lives Matter movement, has been said. Equally, I would say that everything that could be done to remedy the situation has hardly been started. I realize that “living the coastal dream” is, indeed, a bubble. I suspect most of us support the BLM efforts. I suspect that most of us feel that we are progressive in our thinking and fair-minded as well. I also suspect that many of us feel our companies are like-minded, and essentially free of the racism that seems abundantly obvious outside our ‘hood.

That's the danger of “feeling.” The facts are that our industries (surf, skate, cycle, Outdoor, swim…to name a few) have failed to attract diverse talent into our management teams. We have failed to create employment opportunities for young people of color. In most cases we have even failed to get school kids involved in our activities, thinking perhaps, that “they” will find their way to the beach of field or court like we did when we were kids. Not gonna happen unless you personally make it a measurable objective, and measure your performance.

I have heard the “what more can we do” argument many times. We are “just one company, etc.” 24 years ago, I had the chance to interview for the GM position at Nike Golf. Tom Clarke asked me if I knew much about Golf. My answer was “not much.” TC told me everyone in the Golf industry wanted the job. At the time golf was emerging from a cloudy past, of elitism, racism and sexism. I suggested to Tom, that if he wanted to import those traits into Nike, he could hire from the industry. But maybe it would be better to export Nike principles into Golf and make Golf look like Nike.

Golf looks like the world now… all inclusive. Businesses can make THE difference, specially in our space. It takes a commitment though, a real one. Enough has been said. Now its up to us to make changes happen.
-bob

Bill Walton Speaks Out on Equality
Bill has always been one to use his platform to spread good throughout the world. In light of the protests occurring all over the country, Bryce Miller at the San Diego Union Tribune reached out to Bill to get his take – which is best summarized by the Bob Dylan quote, “how many times?” Bill went on to say, “that’s how things change — and we need real change,” Walton said of peaceful marches. “I deplore racism. I deplore police brutality. I also deplore violence. We have to listen. We have to learn. We have to act. That starts on the individual level.” Read the full coverage.

SDSI Expands Mentoring Program Beyond San Diego
Our mentoring programs, have historically focused on businesses in Southern California, but we are now offering our Active Lifestyle business expertise to any company in our space. We know that the Active Lifestyle extends beyond the beaches, mountains and deserts of Southern California, and we’ve got the “been there, done that” industry expertise that’s helped close to 100 companies in our space grow and thrive. Learn more about and apply to our Masters Program - a highly confidential, executive mentoring program for established businesses looking to amplify growth, pivot or solve complex business issues. Applications will be opening soon for our flagship Accelerator Program. Stay tuned for more details.

SDSI Welcomes Back Renewing Member 100%
100%, based in San Diego, California, is an independent premium sports brand with a focus in performance eyewear, technical apparel and sports protection. 100% empowers today’s most demanding athletes with the performance technologies and gear they need to compete at the top of a wide variety of sports. We are proud to be a part of the SDSI network and the San Diego community of businesses.

YMCA Begins to Reopen
YMCA San Diego County CEO, Baron Herdelin-Doherty spoke with KUSI’s Lauren Phinney about the reopening of summer camps at 10 facilities. There are new protocols in place to minimize the impact of the public health crisis including: smaller group sizes, increased cleaning, clearly defined safety protocols, and much more. For more info on signing up, you can visit YMCASD.org. Watch Baron's KUSI video interview. Towards the end, Baron mentions the membership and wellness facilities will begin opening July 1st with 5 locations and expand to all 18 over the month of July. Read the article on the opening of the YMCA locations.

Padres Blood Drive Big Success
More than 350 units of blood were donated this month for the annual Padres Summer Blood Drive benefiting the San Diego Blood Bank. San Diego Blood Bank CEO, David Wells (not that David Wells), expressed his gratitude to the Padres and said, “With many organizations not being able to host blood drives right now, this couldn’t have come at a better time. Padres Summer Blood Drive is literally a lifesaver for local hospital patients.” Read the full press release.

Cobra Golf Partners with HP for 3D printing for Golf Applications
We are now officially one step closer to getting fitted for clubs, having custom clubs printed out, and then going to go play with them. While that dream is not a reality (yet,) we are a step closer with this new partnership to “commercialize better golf clubs in regards to weight distribution, strength, feel or sound… [and] being able to craft the perfect club for any individual or golf player.” Read the announcement from the SDBJ.

Nanocraft CBD Launches a Multi-Year Partnership with the San Diego Seals
We love to see members collaborating together and even more-so when two members work together to form something that hasn’t been done before. This partnership marks the first hemp-based brand to officially sponsor a professional lacrosse team. “We’re excited to partner with the San Diego Seals and become the first CBD partner in professional lacrosse,” said Stefan McKellar, NanoCraft CEO and co-founder. “A full-contact sport like lacrosse demands next-level recovery, and we are proud to provide that to these athletes. A team that plays as hard as the Seals deserves every advantage on and off the field.” Read the full press release.

ElliptiGO Bike for Humanity II
Speaking of members collaborating together, this one has it all! Riding the wave of success created by the first Bike for Humanity, the second iteration is scheduled for July 25th! This one has support from SDSI members Banner Bank, Events.com, ElliptiGO, 100%, CAF, Nanocraft CBD, Orucase, Sun Bum, Wonderfront, and more. Spearheaded by Bill Walton, Meb Keflezighi, Dean Karnazes and Tony Finn, this iteration will generate money for four great charities.. Read more on the website, press release, or signup today!

Surftech Collaboration Featured in Surfer
Surfer has a series called "The People’s Review," which consists of “unsponsored, relatable rippers” who test out boards in exchange for providing an unfiltered take on those boards. The series featured three separate Surftech Collaborations with other brands including: Haydenshapes, Channel Islands, and Sharpeye. If you’re in the market for a good addition to your quiver this summer, check the reviews for the Untitled, Twin Fin, and the Modern 2 to see what board suites you best.

Hookit CEO, Scott Tilton, Shares Expertise with SportsPro Podcast
Scott joined the SportsPro Podcast to discuss his thoughts on most notable uses of digital channels by brands and rights holders during the covid-19 lockdown. Hookit has done deep analysis on the topic and Scott shares the resulting trends in regard to social media impacts and maximizing brand value. Fast-forward to the 32:40 marker to get to the section with Scott.

REEF Study Shows People De-Stress Outside
A study was conducted by OnePoll for REEF to find that 44% of people go to the beach for mental clarity and 44% like to go there for vacation. “For the REEF brand, the beach is a way of life, but through this survey, we wanted to uncover just how important it is for people around the country too,” said Mike Jensen, President of REEF. “Summer will certainly look differently this year, but it’s still important to take stock not only of how being in nature affects our mood in a positive way, but also the importance of protecting this environment that we love so much, from the sand to the sea.” Read the full article on the NY Post featuring other interesting findings from the study – that July day at the beach when it is 79 degrees is just around the corner.

100% Reaffirms Commitment to MAP Policy
With the economic squeeze impacting retailers heavily, 100% has reaffirmed its commitment to support the retail community by enforcing a strict Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy. “Brick-and-mortar retailers are vital to the communities & athletes they support,” says 100% CEO Ludo Boinnard. “During a time when many are struggling to maintain their business, we want to do our part to create a fairer marketplace. If we don’t, we’ll be in jeopardy of losing a cornerstone of the outdoor sports community. Whether it’s cycling, running, triathlon, or moto, none of these communities can grow without the support and initiative of local shops.” Thank you, Ludo and 100% for stepping up! Read the full press release.

VerifiR Integration Helps Eagle Creek Win Gear of the Year
VerifiR continues to improve their product offering with this use-case focusing on the NFC chip embedded into Eagle Creek’s Caldera Carry-On to enable lost and found capabilities which helped the Caldera Carry-On receive the coveted Gear of the Year honors from Outside Magazine. VerifiR CEO, Jurgen Schmerler commented, “our partnership with Eagle Creek continues to break new ground in delivering innovative use cases for our platform. The Caldera travel line is a great example of how manufacturers can use VerifiR NFC to connect and engage with their customers after they have purchased their product.” Read the full press release.

Cooking with San Diego Seals President, Steve Govett
The San Diego Seals have done a ton of great community work from ownership, players, front office, and fan engagement. One way to further develop digital fan engagement is through quarantine cooking with Seals President, Steve Govett. Steve claims that the recipes are “idiot proof” (which microwave-chef’s like me may find offensive) and the videos are roughly 8 minutes or so. Steve is clearly having fun with this, he’s a natural - move over Emeril Legasse! Watch the full lineup of Cookin’ with the Prez and the CBS News 8 interview.

San Diego Aviators to Play Full Season in West Virginia
The entire World TeamTennis season will be played at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Matches begin July 12 featuring 66 matches over 22 days to be played in front of crowds of up to 500 people (20% capacity.) If you're not planning on being in West Virginia in July, fear not, because the matches will be heavily televised on CBS, Tennis Channel, ESPN, and streamed on CBS Sports Network as well as Facebook Watch.  There are plenty of avenues to cheer on your home-town Aviators. Read the full press release and read the status of all San Diego pro sports in this summary.

Michael Brunker Speaks to KUSI on Race Relations
Michael Brunker, longtime executive director of the Jackie Robinson YMCA spoke with KUSI News on the progress of race relations and his life experience living through the 1967 riots in Detroit to where we stand now. Michael is optimistic about the change that is occurring now and highlights several letters that Jackie Robinson wrote to multiple presidents in the 60’s and 70’s. Watch the full segment.

Is Vuori Pandemic-Proof?
As covered in numerous articles throughout the past few newsletters, Vuori has seen strong growth across all sectors. CEO Joe Kudla said, "In a strange way, the COVID-19 crisis seems to be a tipping point for the brand. The number of inquiries from media, influencers and celebrities has skyrocketed, and Vuori has had more media impressions in Q1 than in all of 2019." Read the full story using your Shop-Eat-Surf Executive Edition account.

Orucase Featured in Giving Back San Diego
Isaac Howe, cofounder of Orucase, was featured in Giving Back Magazine by their amazingly talented philanthropy editor, Lori Walton. Isaac shares 10 things about himself that was featured on their “Feel Good Friday” section. Thanks Isaac and Lori!

CSUSM Offering Valuable Resources to Local Businesses
The Senior Experience Program matches teams of students with projects submitted by local businesses and organizations. Students gain by working as consultants on rigorous, real-world projects that require teamwork and application of classroom knowledge. Businesses gain by receiving concentrated attention from bright, energetic teams that provide a fresh, independent look at their projects. Each student team works under the supervision of a faculty member. SDSI has used this terrific resource several times - we highly recommend it. Read more about the program or contact Miguel de Jesus with any questions.
Additionally, there is a volunteer teem of business department faculty offering pro bono business development services to local businesses navigating the new economy. CSUSM College of Business Administration's Business Response, Recovery, & Resource Program can help your company focus on the four pillars of recovery as you get back to business. Apply today - this offering will only be available for 30-45 days.

TruFit Keeps Everyone Moving with Zoom Workouts
SDSI Accelerator graduate, TruFit, is seeing increased participation in its all-inclusive adaptive functional fitness programs that are held weekly. The thirty-minute classes can be modified for any person, regardless of ability-level, to get some exercise while staying at a safe distance from the instructor and the other 50+ participants in the digital classes. Trufit was recently featured in a local story in New Mexico. For more on the classes, visit the Trufit youtube channel.

Congrats to the Access Youth Academy Class of 2020
High School graduation is a bit different this year, but something that remains constant is the continued success of Access Youth Academy helping their students stay on the right path towards success and earning an education for themselves. The class of 2020 features 9 students going to several UC schools, Trinity College, and CSU San Marcos in the fall! To see the latest updates with Access Youth Academy students, take a look at the news section of their website.

SpotMyUV Shares Sun Care Guide
SDSI Accelerator Graduate, SpotMyUV, published a list of 9 things you need to know about pandemic sun safety. How will hand sanitizer affect your sunscreen? Does Vitamin D prevent Covid-19? Answers to these questions and more on the SpotMyUV blog post published earlier this month.

FlingGolf is the “Future of the Fairway”
Ed Ditusa with Golficity put FlingGolf through his test and provided a great recap of how much he enjoyed it as a veteran golfer (albeit a beginner FlingGolfer.) “To put it simply, FlingGolf is a blast. It’s a change of pace from regular golf. You don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy it. Hell, you could have never played golf a day in your life and you can still have fun. It can be done side by side with a traditional golfer with no impact to pace of play. Best of all, it’s pretty darn cheap.” View the unboxing, product testing, and his suggestions on his blog.

Versus Mountain Bike Tires Unanimously Well Reviewed.
Pinkbike gave a rundown of 7 all-new Mountain Bike Tires for 2020 and highlighted the Versus tire in both colorways. Pinkbike talks about the direct to consumer model Versus employs to “shake up things a bit in the tire world.” Thank you to all the SDSI mentors who helped Versus with a very successful product launch – the second order has already been submitted to get more inventory! The full breakdown from Pinkbike or skip to the 1:55 marker on the video. If you want to dig deeper on the phenomenal product reviews, here are some from: BikeRumor, Bike Mag, Gear Junkie, and Loam Wolf.

Morgan Stanley Invests in Encinitas Brand
Morgan Stanley, alongside Peakspan, invested $42M into Encinitas e-commerce platform, Ecwid. Ecwid currently employees about 200 people and is seeking to double that number in the next few years. Competitors include companies like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. Transaction volume has increased by 50% from March to April as they’ve seen increased demand of online shopping. Read the full article using your SDBJ subscription.

Active Skin Repair on Fast-Track for EPA Approval
BLDG Active has confirmed proven effectiveness against coronavirus with their active ingredient of HOCl. "We have been working tirelessly to address this unprecedented situation and this is a critical step for BLDG Active to be able to provide a natural solution to help combat the coronavirus on hard surfaces," said Justin Gardner, Founder & CMO, BLDG Active." These successful results have allowed for an expedited amendment submission to the U.S. EPA under the Viral Emerging Pathogen Program and also to add a human coronavirus claim." Read the full press release.

Scott Kaplan and San Diego Loyal Host Conversation on Race and Equality
SDSI friend and sports radio personality, Scott Kaplan, partnered with the San Diego Loyal to host a panel on race and equality featuring: James Blake, Landon Donovan, Shelly Zimmerman, and Howard Wright. This was an hour and a half long conversation that had some very powerful thoughts and everyone participated with an open mind. It resonated deeply with us, and we hope that you’ll take the time to take in the dialogue. As Warren Smith commented, “This is a great start but there is so much work to do.”

Outdoor Retailer Online
Since we can’t meet in-person this summer, OR has reimagined a vital space for the industry to gather. Outdoor Retailer Online, an online, three-day outdoor business, networking, and educational event, is the place for the outdoor community to connect and collaborate this summer on July 21-23, 2020. You’ll be able to view product lines, have face-to-face meetings with brands, access show specials, learn, and discover new brands and products across all seasons – current inventory, upcoming for fall/winter, and new for spring/summer 2021. Learn more on their website.

San Diego Legion Sign Chris Robshaw
The Legion have announced the signing of Chris Robshaw, 2 time player of the year in England, to their squad entering the team's fourth season with Major League Rugby. Robshaw was a standout player in England, where international matches can draw 80,000 spectators. The 34 year old star will be a welcome addition to the Legion who start up next season in February. Read the full article from the SD Union Tribune.

SKLZ was founded here in San Diego by SDSI Chairman, John Sarkisian. It all began when John came across a product called the Hit-A-Way that was essentially a baseball tied to a rope – flash forward and the Hit-A-Way is the most successful baseball swing trainer of all time.

After John’s initial meeting with the inventor, he took the product home, tied it to a tree in his front yard and gathered product validation by seeing how long his children would be entertained by it. After several hours of continuous use and countless swings, he knew the product had serious potential and came to an agreement to bring the product to market. From there, SKLZ worked to sign on Reggie Jackson as a product ambassador, elevating the brand and the product to new heights. Due to the massive success of the Hit-A-Way, SKLZ expanded into other sports and now offers a full range of training products for baseball, soccer, football, basketball, golf and more. Today SKLZ is the standard for programming and training equipment to enhance athletic performance for all athletes, from novice to professional.

For a look at other SD Lifestyle Originals visit our website

Good news! Things aren't all doom and gloom. While unemployment is up, it's not as high as anticipated, and hiring is on the rise! This means employers have a large pool of exceptional talent available and eager to connect. To make your organization stand out among the crowd, you need to embrace the new hiring market. Employee priorities and demands have shifted so check out our latest article, Compensation- What Employees Really Want - to get the inside track on attracting the top talent you want!

Challenged Athletes Foundation – Jr. Graphic Designer click for info

Digital Operative – Amazon Marketing Specialist click for info

Electra – Marketing Manager click for info

Red Door Interactive – Digital Marketing Producer click for info

San Diego Seals – Group Sales Account Executive click for info

TaylorMade Golf – Multiple Positions Available click for info

Jun. 25 4:00 PM – SDSI Member Workshop Featuring Treasure and Amazon

Jun. 27 – Switchfoot Bro Am, Live Stream click for info

Jul. 21-23 – Outdoor Retailer, Online click for info

Jul. 25 – ElliptiGO Bike for Humanity II, Virtual click for info

Sep. 13 – San Diego Design Week, Online click for info