Outdoor Industry Brings ‘A’ Game to Outdoor Retailer Winter Market

Brands plan to ‘wow’ retailers with expanded product categories, new technology and a better brand experience.

Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. –-(Ammoland.com)- Although still six weeks away, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market’s more than 100 new exhibitors and nearly 900 returning exhibitors, are preparing for the industry’s leading business-to-business wintersports event bringing more extensive product categories, new technology and a better attendee experience.

Building on back-to-back record breaking show footprint*, the footprint for Winter Market has already eclipsed last year’s total by more than 25,000 net-sold square feet. The expanded show floor will be busy with an expected 7,000 retail attendees.
OR Winter Market

“While retailers are in the throes of early season sales and a very busy holiday season, outdoor brands are pulling together their newest technology, best products and most compelling sales programs to introduce at Outdoor Retailer,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “Kicking off the New Year at Outdoor Retailer is a great opportunity to absorb ‘big picture’ product trends, gain industry intelligence and recharge professional connections. We’re looking forward to another awesome show.”

Retailers looking to get their hands on the latest wintersports gear at the All Mountain Demo will be thrilled by the world class conditions at Solitude Mountain Resort and the latest gear from more than 40 elite wintersports brands.

Salomon will be making the most of its time with dealers, outfitting demo attendees with a new backcountry binding mounted on a updated version of its most popular all mountain ski.

“Historically OR is not an alpine hardgoods show for us, rather, for unveiling our newest innovation in backcountry skiing products. This year, however, OR is that perfect place,” said Salomon Alpine Brand Manager Jenny Naftulin. “In addition to what we will show at the on-snow demo, we’ve significantly added on to our booth indoors to include a showcase area for the new bindings, alpine boots, helmet line and a new women’s powder ski.”

Ongoing advances in eco-minded technology means retailers will see a wider range of product offerings from distributor, Liberty Mountain. Four hundred square feet of the company’s recently expanded booth will be dedicated to representing new eco-minded sleeping bags, backpacks and more from Vaude .

Additional space also proves valuable for brands interested in providing a very specific brand experience and merchandising ideas for retailers. The expanded Smartwool booth will include a new lounge area, a wall made from Colorado beetle-kill trees with green glass embedded throughout, a “tufted” fabric wall made from Merino wool and a gallery-style garment display to help colors and patterns stand out from the crowd.

“At the heart of our brand is this joyfulness that can be found when friends gather together outside and create memories. The additional space helps bring the brand personality to life and lets each of our product categories shine,” said Jennifer Wilkinson, Smartwool global visual marketing specialist.

These exhibiting brands join a long line of core outdoor manufacturers who are exhibiting at the All Mountain Demo and Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. The extensive list of exhibiting brands is available here.

For more information on how to participate as an exhibitor, contact Outdoor Retailer Sales Manager Marisa Nicholson at [email protected] or 949-226-5760. Retailers and trade members of the outdoor industry interested in registering for Winter Market can review registration requirements here.

* Net-sold square feet for Winter Market 2011 was 351,251. This number represents the highest net-sold, square feet for Winter Market since its inception in 1989.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Expositions of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is a full-service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. OR is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Outdoor Retailer gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Winter and Summer Market shows.

Preview the future of the outdoor industry at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which will bring the best of winter product offerings to Salt Lake City at the All Mountain Demo from January 18, 2012 and the trade show from January 19-22, 2012.