The OutDoor Industry Award sees its thirteenth edition in 2018. Entries are now open for outdoor manufacturers to submit their latest innovations to win one of the industry’s most coveted design awards, which are announced on June 17, 2018, the first day of OutDoor, the leading international trade show. This year there are new initiatives to strengthen the focus on start-ups.
During the two-stage process for probably the most important design award for the outdoor industry, all entries to this year’s OutDoor Industry Awards will again be tested and evaluated by an independent panel of twelve judges who are all industry experts in their own areas. Submitted products that make it through the initial digital pre-selection round are then carefully examined by six of the twelve judges during a two-day testing process. The award criteria are based on outstanding design and degree of innovation; this might include, for example, workmanship, weight and pack size, price-performance ratio and sustainability.
“Since its introduction, the OutDoor Industry Award has been an important performance benchmark for innovative new products. It offers guidance to both retailers and end users when there are so many products in the industry. In addition, the panel of judges’ decisions often provide valuable initial feedback about the commercial opportunities for new products and new technologies,” commented Klaus Wellmann, CEO Messe Friedrichshafen.
After all the stringent testing, OutDoor Industry Award winners enjoy being placed firmly in the spotlight during the four-day trade fair. This includes a special prominent display in the Messe Friedrichshafen Foyer East and also the grand award ceremony on the first night of the show, where it is announced which of the award winners have been chosen to receive a Gold Award.
The OutDoor Industry Award also offers particular support for young companies and student projects. For the first time, within the framework of the OutDoor Conferences’ “Start-Up University,” new outdoor companies will benefit from information about financing, networking, industry cooperation and sharing best practice. The Start-Up University takes place on the first day of the show. For the third year running, Messe Friedrichshafen is offering start-ups that win an OutDoor Award, a free marketing package and reduced participation fees as additional support for their entry onto the outdoor market. In addition to the advertising package, start-up category winners, have the opportunity to present their product in a short presentation directly to trade visitors and journalists before the award ceremony on the OutDoor Stage in Foyer West.
The OutDoor Industry Award is open to both exhibitors and non-exhibitors at the OutDoor show. The closing date for entries is May 7 2018. Products can be registered online at www.outdoor-industry-award.de. All manufacturers and developers of outdoor-related products are entitled to enter. For further information, visit: www.outdoor-show.de and https://www.outdoor-industry-award.de.
