This fall, OIA has invited hundreds of outdoor executives to Chattanooga to meet and discuss the state of the industry, strategies to keep outdoor retailers and manufacturers healthy, and look at best practices in other industries. For the past ten years, OIA has hosted its annual Rendezvous in Colorado or Arizona, and for the first time, it will now offer attendees the opportunity to experience “southern hospitality” and sample some of the finest climbing, fly fishing, or whitewater in the country.
“We strive to make the Rendezvous an inclusive event by appealing to all segments of the outdoor industry in all parts of the country,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, OIA president. Hugelmeyer continued, “Just as we aim to create a diverse palette of programs to support a broad range of industry leaders, we hope the location of the Rendezvous highlights the variety of strong outdoor industry regions across the country.”
Another attraction to Chattanooga is the region and citys unique history, outdoor recreation opportunities, and continued commitment to incorporating outdoor recreation into the planning and development strategies. “Chattanooga has placed a strong emphasis on greenways, waterways, and preserving outdoor recreation opportunities for the community. It not only offers a positive experience for Rendezvous attendees, but creates an exemplary example for outdoor industry leaders,” comments Cathy Howland Rongey, OIA event coordinator.
In addition to the recreational and cultural attractions, OIA consistently invites high quality speakers who address meaningful business issues.
One of the over-riding themes at Outdoor Retailer for the past several years has been sustainability. Companies are looking for new, creative methods to create more eco-friendly products that perform better than their traditional, more harmful counterparts. This year, OIA has invited three speakers to address different aspects of this issue.
Menaka Mohan is the Greenway Coordinator for Sustainable South Bronx. She will address creating sustainable development programs that respond to the needs of the community.
Billy Connelly, with Native Energy, will be exploring renewable energy and how to create an energy conservation program for your business. Brian Nattrass, an Environmental Sustainability Specialist will answer questions about how your business can integrate environmental practices to save money and reduce its impact.
More often than not, issues that are out of the control of business owners are the ones that have the most impact. These macroeconomic and political trends usually cant be changed, but they can be better understood and assessed for their impact on the industry.
Ken Rudin is a Political Analyst for National Public Radio and he will be offering political predictions and forecasting in the coming elections and answering the question, “Whats next in American politics?”
Bill Brock is a former Tennessee State Senator and Trade Specialist and he will be addressing trade issues in the current global environment and how they affect outdoor industry businesses.
Marketing is an art that is often misunderstood, especially in the rapidly changing environment of international expansion, e-commerce, and new media in todays market.
Roger Zeng, president of China Outdoor Retailers Association will be giving a presentation on understanding culture, behavior, and expectations in order to reach the 1.3 billion consumers of the Chinese marketplace.
Kathleen Gasperini is co-founder and SVP of Label Networks, a youth marketing research firm. The youth market is an important influencer in trends, and a strong buying force, Gasperini will explore forecasts and trends of this market segment.
The Rendezvous will also address a pair of key retailer-specific topics. Leon Nichols, head of Consumer Goods and Retail at Global Insights will show retailers how to be tactical about business strategies in order to capture current economic drivers in the marketplace. And there will also be a panel discussion on start-up, buyout, and acquisitions for smaller retail business owners.
Timberland will be hosting their annual service project in conjunction with the event so attendees can give back to the community surrounding Chattanooga.
Not registered yet? You still have time to join the industry in Chattanooga. Just go to the OIA website at www.outdoorindustry.org or contact OIA at 888.487.6722 with any questions.
