Since OIA acquired Outdoor University in January, the organization has been working with retailers, manufacturers, and sales reps to see how best to shape this program to meet the needs of the industry. Previously the program was designed exclusively to help retail floor staff learn about gear and retail floor sales strategies. Now the program will be re-focused to fill a vital gap in the talent pipeline between floor staff and management. The 2007 Outdoor University programming will focus on management and higher level specialty retail staff, where training resources will improve business infrastructure.
“Outdoor University was developed to improve the growth and prosperity of specialty outdoor retailers. Whereas the original Outdoor University provided this through floor staff training, it did not address the outstanding long term training needs of specialty retailers, including access to financial, management, and best practices training,” OIA President Frank Hugelmeyer said in a prepared statement. “This new training model addresses these needs with stronger and more accessible retail management training.”
The new Outdoor University structure offers some clear advantages; the program will be more cost effective, concentrated, and tactical for both the administrators and the attendees. The new Outdoor University training model will provide training workshops in conjunction with regional buying shows, national tradeshows, and national OIA conferences. This structure will allow Outdoor University to access the diverse regional distribution of specialty retailers during convenient times alongside established shows. Outdoor University training camps geared at retailer floor staff will no longer be offered in 2007.
Going forward, Outdoor University will take place on August 19 at the EORA Mid Atlantic Show, August 25 at the EORA Southeast Show, October 3 at the OIA Rendezvous Conference, and on a to be determined date at the ORA Midwest Rep Show.
