Outdoor Retailer confirmed today that for the next two years its Summer Market and Winter Market events — as well as other related industry events — have changed.
The changes — done in conjunction with Outdoor Industry Association and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance — were enacted to reflect the changing needs of the marketplace, according to Outdoor Retailer.
Outdoor Retailer’s winter expo in 2017 will take place from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12, and its summer showcase is scheduled for July 26 to July 29. Its 2018 winter and summer events will take place on Jan. 9 to Jan. 11 and June 11 to June 14, respectively, with another Winter Market show scheduled for Nov. 12 to Nov. 15.
Also for 2018 are changes to Grassroots Outdoor Alliance events, such as Connect, which will take place June 6 to June 9 and Nov. 7 to Nov. 10.
Watch on FN
The 2018 Outdoor Retailer Expo at Surf Expo has been changed to Sept. 6 to Sept. 8.
“It’s our responsibility to produce a platform giving specialty retailers and exhibitors the best opportunity to achieve their business objectives,” Marisa Nicholson, VP and show director for Outdoor Retailer, said in a statement. “This agreement gives credence to that goal and showcases that we are all in this together.”
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance president Rich Hill added, “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. 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.”
While the move may help some in the industry, SnowSports Industries America president Nick Sargent believes the amount of Outdoor Retailer winter events in 2018 presented by its operating company Emerald Expositions will cause more harm than good.
In a statement released today, Sargent said, “As the official trade association for the winter industry, it’s SIA‘s job to look out for our membership’s best interest and the industry as a whole, including the support of any actions taken to reduce stress on the industry. SIA applauds any effort to consolidate shows, however we are concerned that, starting in November of 2018, there will be four winter-specific national trade shows within the span of one year, with three being produced by Emerald Expositions. We feel that this will result in unnecessary stress and economic duress on the suppliers and retailers — not only for SIA members, but across all winter outdoor stakeholders.”
In the statement, Sargent invited Emerald Expositions and the Outdoor Industry Association to discuss how to best serve the winter outdoor industry.
