(Knoxville, Tennessee) – Yesterday some big changes for our Industry, that will begin in 2018, were announced by the Outdoor Industry Association in a press release entitled, “Outdoor Retailer, Outdoor Industry Association and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Support New Buying and Selling Cycles Resulting in Collaborative Outdoor Retailer Show Date Changes and Co‑Location.”READ IT HERE.
We chatted with the new President of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, Rich Hill to get some perspective and clarity around the changes.
Best tradeshow strategy for retail + brand partners
“What’s most important to us was that we took 18 months to participate in a dialogue with Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Retailer to deliver the best tradeshow strategy that supports not only our specialty retailers but our brand partners,” said Hill.
Top 100 retailers & brands evolves right into 700 + brands, in one place
“What I’m most excited about is continuing to offer an event where we pull together the top 100 retailers and the top 100 brands to sit down in a high-utility environment to get our work done efficiently,” Hill continued. “And then to move on directly into a national industry event where we celebrate our industry and experience 700+ brands.”
Keep retailers in their stores more days
“A Grassroots, our focus is to support our independent specialty retail members, and this new calendar gets us into both shows,” said Hill. “It achieves both objectives and enables us to be in our stores an extra four days a season.”
Below, the full Press Release from the Outdoor Industry Association website:
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. — Nov 9, 2016
Summer Market Moves to June 11-14, 2018; Winter Market Changes to Nov. 12-15, 2018;
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Co-locates with Outdoor Retailer
in both June and November 2018 and beyond.
Outdoor Retailer, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance are pleased to announce a collaborative new national tradeshow calendar for the betterment of the industry reflecting the changing needs of the marketplace. Beginning June 2018:
- Outdoor Retailer Summer Market moves to June 11–14, 2018, and Winter Market moves to November 12–15, 2018.
- Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s Connect co-locates with Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Markets in Utah, and stages June 6–9, 2018, and November 7–10, 2018.
- Outdoor Retailer partners with Surf Expo to develop an expo serving market segments and product categories have later-season summer order deadlines.
- Outdoor Retailer will launch a Winter Expo in January 2019 to serve market segments and product categories that have later-season winter order deadlines.
- Outdoor Retailer will present further details and strategies regarding future Demo events in the upcoming months.
The Intelligence Gathering Process
In addition to the extensive industry wide research Outdoor Retailer conducted this past spring, we invited key specialty retailers, cornerstone brands and segment leaders to participate in newly established advisory panels to discuss show cycles and best practices. The leadership from these discussions shaped the new Outdoor Retailer strategy. In addition, Outdoor Retailer convened a historic gathering of rep event leaders and other industry show representatives to work on a common strategy to serve the industry’s ongoing needs. These advisory panels will continue to provide guidance in the future.
“Outdoor Retailer is a respected home for the outdoor industry,” said Marisa Nicholson, VP and Outdoor Retailer show director. “Thirty-five years ago, a small group of brands and retailers not only created an industry, but also, an economic powerhouse. We are proud of Outdoor Retailer’s role in that growth – as the place where the industry gathers. Now, as before, it’s our responsibility to produce a platform giving specialty retailers and exhibitors the best opportunity to achieve their business objectives. This agreement gives credence to that goal and showcases that we are all in this together.”
“It is a great time for the industry, as we strengthen our tri-parte relationships and embark on this effort to grow the vitality of the outdoor industry,” said Rich Hill, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance president. “Retailers, brands and reps will attend Grassroots Connect to review new lines fully and discuss orders, while Outdoor Retailer serves as the pre-eminent venue where the entire industry kicks off the industry’s manufacturing and order cycle.”
“Understanding the needs of the industry was paramount in our collaborative work with both Outdoor Retailer and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance to provide a valuable and productive opportunity to preview product, launch the buying process and conduct important marketing and media discussions,” said Amy Roberts, executive director of OIA. “As the industry’s trade association, we take great pride in uniting the industry and leading trade and outdoor recreation policy, sustainability best practices, youth engagement outreach and market and consumer research.”
Embracing Change to Support Changing Industry Needs
Moving Outdoor Retailer’s shows to early dates enables it to serve as the industry’s launch event – introducing the full breadth of product offerings, marketing initiatives and educational offerings at the top of the buying season. The co-located Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect focuses on integration between a curated selection of key outdoor brands and sales representatives.
The combined format featuring the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and Outdoor Retailer shows back-to-back with no overlapping dates and built-in time for a full day of specialty retailer education, is set for June 10, 2018, and November 11, 2018, between the two shows. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance leads in the production of specialty retailer education, with operational and financial support from OIA and Outdoor Retailer. The venue for the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect show, an invite only event, will be at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah, with Outdoor Retailer remaining at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and Outdoor Retailer are cooperating to ensure ease of housing and transportation.
“With the evolution of the order/buy cycles, research findings and feedback, we verified there are varying needs for exhibitors, retailers and reps,” continued Nicholson. “By moving to June and November and launching new expo events, Outdoor Retailer provides options that best cater to their business goals. Outdoor Retailer is looking forward to presenting full strategies and operational details associated with these events in the coming months.”
Outdoor Retailer, OIA and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance will continue to partner to grow the outdoor industry while being sensitive to the movements of the marketplace. Outdoor Retailer and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance will maintain autonomy to produce their own events, but will cooperate ensuring that exhibitors and specialty retailers enjoy maximum benefit from all the industry has to offer in a cost-effective manner.
Community Support and Feedback Will Continue to Shape the Future
“Even with this important agreement in place, it’s imperative to continue to listen and innovate to safeguard the strength and future of the show,” noted Nicholson. “We will continue to engage in conversations with industry thought leaders that will help to shape the Outdoor Retailer future. These thought leaders played an important role in this collaborative process and will continue to serve this vibrant community.”
Future Dates
2017
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market: January 10–12
All Mountain Demo: January 9
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market: July 26–29
Open Air Demo: July 25
2018
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market: January 9–11
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect: June 6–9
Specialty Retailer Education Day: June 10
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market: June 11–14
Outdoor Retailer Expo @ Surf Expo: September 6–8
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect: November 7–10
Specialty Retailer Education Day: November 11
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market: November 12–15
2019
Outdoor Retailer Winter Expo: January
To assist show exhibitors with any issues or needs, the Outdoor Retailer sales team will be available to provide support. Exhibitors can contact their account executives directly. Additionally, a staff of retailer relations representatives is in place to support specialty retailers. Larry Harrison, Joe Bustos and Kimberly Aguilar can be reached directly or by email at retailrelations@outdoorretailer.com, or visit the Retailer Lounge, MR254, during Winter Market 2017.