Brands I Represent Start Wholesale Account Sales Support About Contact Call: (732) 778-3326

40 Years Your Wholesale Sales Rep for Premium Surf & Lifestyle Brands

Dean Schoonover is your direct wholesale sales representative for fahlo, XCEL, Channel Islands, and other leading brands in the Northeast. One call opens multiple brand accounts.

Skip the corporate runaround. Work directly with an experienced sales rep who knows your market and handles all the details.

Dean Schoonover

Brands I Represent

As your wholesale sales rep, I provide direct access to these established international brands

Interactive Conservation Products: fahlo creates bracelets and plush toys that connect customers with real wildlife through tracking technology. Each purchase includes a unique QR code linking to a specific animal being monitored by conservation partners.

Perfect for aquariums, zoos, museums, and coastal retailers. The $15-30 price point with 50%+ margins makes these ideal add-on sales. Strong appeal across all ages with proven repeat purchase patterns.

Customer Appeal

  • Educational value for children
  • Conservation-minded adults
  • Gift buyers seeking meaning
  • Tourists wanting souvenirs

Retail Benefits

  • No sizing complications
  • Excellent profit margins
  • Proven impulse purchase
  • Monthly reorder frequency
Territory: New York, New Jersey

Industry-Leading Performance: XCEL delivers award-winning wetsuits and UV protection apparel trusted by professionals worldwide. Multiple SIMA Wetsuit of the Year awards demonstrate the brand's commitment to innovation and quality.

Superior fit and durability create loyal customers who consistently return. The UV protection line extends market reach beyond core surfers to paddleboarders, swimmers, and sun-conscious consumers of all ages.

Product Excellence

  • Premium Japanese neoprene
  • Innovative seam technology
  • Performance-driven design
  • UV protection apparel line

Market Position

  • Professional athlete choice
  • Premium price justification
  • Year-round sales potential
  • 40-year brand heritage
Territory: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware

Legendary Surf Heritage: Channel Islands represents the pinnacle of surfboard craftsmanship, trusted by world champions and weekend warriors alike. The iconic hexagon logo carries instant credibility in surf culture.

Beyond custom and stock surfboards, CI's accessories and apparel featuring the hex logo provide consistent year-round revenue. Customers actively seek out authorized CI dealers, driving destination traffic to retail partners.

Brand Power

  • World championship pedigree
  • Instant shop credibility
  • Destination brand status
  • Premium price positioning

Revenue Streams

  • Custom surfboard orders
  • Stock board inventory
  • Accessories & hardware
  • Hex logo apparel line
Territory: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware

Original Surf-Skate Innovation: Carver pioneered the surf-skate category with patented truck systems that authentically replicate surfing movements on land. The brand remains the premium choice for quality and performance.

Broad demographic appeal spans from young skaters to fitness-conscious adults. Surfers use them for training, while non-surfers discover an accessible, enjoyable ride. The $200-400 complete price point delivers healthy margins.

Universal Appeal

  • Ages 8 to 80 market
  • Surf training tool
  • Fitness applications
  • Family activity option

Sales Advantages

  • Demo drives conversion
  • Premium price acceptance
  • Strong profit margins
  • Year-round demand
Territory: New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware

Proven Surf Heritage: Freestyle pioneered the surf watch category in 1981, delivering waterproof, durable timepieces that combine classic style with practical features like tide charts.

The $40-100 price range captures impulse purchases while the nostalgia factor resonates across generations. No sizing complications and proven durability make these ideal add-on sales for any retailer near water.

Market Position

  • 40+ year heritage brand
  • Multi-generational appeal
  • Fashion meets function
  • Gift-friendly pricing

Retail Benefits

  • No sizing issues
  • Easy inventory management
  • Strong add-on potential
  • Consistent demand
Territory: New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware

Elevated Surf-Inspired Fashion: AVVA creates premium streetwear clothing that authentically blends Hawaiian surf heritage with contemporary California style. High-quality construction and unique designs differentiate the brand from mass-market alternatives.

The style-conscious 18-35 demographic seeks AVVA's distinctive aesthetic. Premium materials and attention to detail justify higher price points, delivering better margins with less direct competition.

Brand Positioning

  • Premium streetwear segment
  • Authentic surf heritage
  • Quality construction focus
  • Limited distribution model

Retail Advantages

  • Higher price points
  • Better profit margins
  • Less market saturation
  • Fashion-forward appeal
Territory: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania

Start Your Wholesale Account

Work with an experienced sales rep who makes wholesale buying simple

Initial Consultation

Contact Dean Schoonover to discuss your store's unique needs and customer base. This personalized approach ensures brand recommendations align with your market and business goals.

Territory Review

Each brand maintains specific distribution strategies. Coastal Connections provides transparent information about brand availability in your location, ensuring clear expectations from the start.

Partnership Activation

Dean Schoonover personally manages all aspects of the partnership. This direct relationship approach ensures efficient communication, quick problem resolution, and ongoing support for your success.

Your Sales Rep Provides

Comprehensive support backed by decades of industry expertise

Product Knowledge & Training

Dean Schoonover brings deep product expertise to every partnership, ensuring your staff can confidently communicate features and benefits to customers.

Comprehensive training covers technical specifications, brand heritage, and proven selling techniques that convert browsers into buyers.

Marketing & Visual Support

Access professional marketing materials, product imagery, and seasonal promotional campaigns designed to amplify your retail presence.

From in-store displays to digital assets, receive the tools needed to effectively merchandise and promote your brand portfolio.

Strategic Inventory Guidance

Data-driven recommendations based on regional sales patterns and seasonal trends specific to the Northeast market.

Decades of experience inform inventory suggestions that maximize sell-through while minimizing risk.

Direct Corporate Access

Dean Schoonover serves as your liaison to brand corporate teams, facilitating special requests and ensuring efficient communication.

Whether seeking custom orders, additional marketing support, or expedited shipping, your needs receive prompt attention.

About Coastal Connections

Coastal Connections connects quality brands with retailers who understand their markets. The company specializes in straightforward wholesale partnerships built on mutual success and decades of industry relationships.

Meet Dean Schoonover

Dean Schoonover has dedicated 40 years to the surf industry, evolving from East Coast surfer to one of the most respected sales representatives in the business. His career encompasses representing major international brands, contributing to product development, and building lasting relationships with retailers ranging from core surf shops to major retail chains.

In June 2025, Dean will be inducted into the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame, recognizing not only his competitive surfing achievements—including ESA championships and the Belmar Pro—but more importantly, his decades of supporting the surf community through athlete sponsorships and retail partnerships.

Beyond surfing, Dean demonstrated community leadership through nine years of service on the Board of Education, including seven years as President. He currently serves as Secretary of the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame.

When retailers partner with Coastal Connections, they work directly with Dean Schoonover. His intimate knowledge of each brand's operations, combined with established relationships at the corporate level, ensures efficient problem-solving and responsive service. Full corporate support teams complement Dean's personal attention.

Dean has built his reputation on accessibility, product knowledge, and understanding regional market dynamics since 1985.

Notable contribution: Dean co-designed the Brave New World logo that remains in use today.

Why Coastal Connections Succeeds

  • Territory Expertise: Deep understanding of Northeast market dynamics, recognizing that coastal New Jersey differs from upstate New York.
  • Brand Access: Portfolio features established international brands with proven sell-through and strong market demand.
  • Responsive Support: Dean serves as the single point of contact, backed by full corporate resources from each brand partner.
  • Retail Understanding: Experience on both sides of the counter provides insight into margins, seasonal planning, and operational realities.

Industry Recognition

"Dean Schoonover has been integral in our success by representing and informing our board designs through the years. His surfing ability and admirable disposition have been an invaluable asset to both CI and NJ surf culture."

- Britt Merrick, Channel Islands Surfboards

"From the very start Dean impressed me with his work ethic, passion for surfing, products and his surfing skills. Over the years he continues to represent XCEL at its highest level and contributes to Xcel's success and surfing's success in N.J."

- Ed D'Ascoli, XCEL Founder

"Dean has had an accomplished career as a Competitive Surfer as well as helping to support the surfing community and industry. He managed to maximize his surfing experiences as well as managing to make a living in Surfing."

- Don Tarrant

NJ Surfing Hall of Fame

Inductee - June 2025
Secretary since 2023
Recognition for decades of community contribution

Community Leadership

9 years Board of Education service
7 years as Board President
Committed to local community development

Four Decades of Experience

Established 1985
Respected throughout the industry
Direct relationships that deliver results

Product Development

Co-designed Brave New World logo
Helped develop CI Ave Joe model
Deep understanding of regional needs

Start the Conversation

Connect with Dean Schoonover to discuss partnership opportunities

Dean Schoonover

Sales Representative | Coastal Connections Corp

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Dean maintains flexibility for retail partners who operate beyond traditional business hours.

Based in New Jersey, serving retailers throughout the Northeast and beyond.