Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, returns to the Knoxville Convention Center with the four-day Connect spring buying show, June 14-17, 2018.
In addition to strong retail sales throughout the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance member network, 5 percent year-to-year growth in the first quarter of 2018, Connect organizers are also reporting increased vibrancy in their retail community following a series of high impact actions taken by the group over the last six months.
According to show organizers, that collaborative process has both sharpened their values commitment and strengthened the organization as a whole.
“The more committed we are as a group to the long term health of independent specialty retail, the easier it is to see the challenges as well as the actions needed to correct them,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “The emerging threats to our industry health are more than just well known online-only plays. They include other entities that are in opposition to our shared values and to the long-term health and growth of a multi-faceted outdoor industry.”
The consistency and commitment of the value-based organization has also drawn positive attention from outside the retail network. The spring Connect show drew record numbers of vendor exhibitor requests for the invitation-only event, and will see a spike in senior executive attendance from vendor brands.
“There’s a growing awareness that a healthy outdoor industry is simply one that prioritizes the customer instead of a certain sales channel,” said Hill. “We’re seeing an alignment of retailers and vendors around this ‘channel agnostic’ idea, and key players from all sectors are creating and delivering creative programming to drive this home.”
Scheduled as early as possible in the buying cycle, and organized to be as simple as possible in layout and design, the upcoming Grassroots Connect show is expected to attract leading independent specialty retailers, vendor brands and outdoor industry media.
The spring Connect show will begin with a member education Day (June 13), which is scheduled to include multiple group seminars, as well as the eagerly anticipated Grassroots Dinner & Award night. Retailer and vendor appointments, which are pre-booked for all attendees by Grassroots Connect staff, will fill attendee calendars from Thursday to Sunday (June 14-17).
“From pre-booked appointments to a single venue for all events and meetings, the ease of attending Connect remains one of its greatest strengths,” added Hill. “From to the moment you arrive, your time is maximized with pre-booked appointments, all-show events and truly meaningful conversations.”
Grassroots Connect will be held in the Knoxville Convention Center, a 500,000-square-foot facility which includes a 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 30,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and 18 meeting rooms. The hall is the first convention center in Tennessee to be certified LEED Silver for Existing Buildings from the USGBC and Green Certified through the TN Green Hospitality Certification program. The show venue is located a short walk from Market Square, the heart of the city’s downtown area, which includes eclectic shopping, fine dining, outdoor concerts and hotels.
