I am just back from the Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah - which is the biggest outdoor show in North America.
This week was an interesting time to be in the US…the financial system has taken a big hit with their credit rating being downgraded – and I was trying to get people to spend more money….. Even with this hanging over our heads the mood at the show was quite good! I am going to spare everyong the burden of hearing my thoughts on the US political system……but I DO think life for everyone would be easier if agendas were put aside and the phrase “for the people” was taken more seriously….
So, my thoughts on OR…..
It seems like this is the time to tighten the purse strings on some things…yet spend on others. Retailers did not have a great spring in Canada. The weather was horrible and as a result the attendance of Canadians was down. Wisely, some retailers decided the money spent at OR was better left in the till and did not attend at all or sent a smaller team to attend the show. Good thinking. While tradeshows like this are crucial I think they are sometimes seen as a paid vacation. Trade shows are made for the sold purpose of allowing retailers the chance to see many brands in one arena. Buying, business planning, marketing and building relationships are what Outdoor Retailer is all about. It was refreshing to see lots of business taking place.
It was great to see new brands as well.
I met this great lady – Sharon Blumberg – founder of Chooze Shoes. What a great brand! It was heartening to see that even though she was tucked in a corner behind a wall that people were coming to see her product.
The abundance of SUP’s (Stand Up Paddleboards) was amazing – obviously this is the new trend – it has exploded this year! (can anyone need this many SUP brands??) HMMM what about a SUP shoe. Although I guess that is where my other favourite - Zems comes into play. Great minimalist shoes for many uses.
I always feel better about my industry after spending a week at this show. The outdoor world is so close knit and supportive – it is like a family reunion every six months!
