Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization for the specialty outdoor retail, this week announced the cancellation of its fall Connect buying show originally scheduled for November 9-12, 2020.
The November event would have marked the first Connect show held in Kansas City but was called off due to ongoing COVID-19-related challenges for attendees, exhibitors and organizers.
“In the same way that it takes months for a full team to plan an event like Connect, it also takes a coordinated group effort to unravel one,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “Kansas City has been an exceptional partner throughout this unusual season, and continues to validate our excitement about them as a new home for future fall Connect shows. We are incredibly grateful to the teams at the Kansas City Convention Center, Loews and Hotel Phillps for being amazing partners as we push back our plans for a gathering there until November 2021.”
It’s spring Connect show (June 12-15, 2020; Knoxville, TN) was also cancel due to COVID-19 and replaced with a free online resource center — Grassroots ConnectHub. Grassroots will continue growing ConnectHub as a resource for retailers looking to manage a remote buying process.
“As the needs of retailers and vendors for a collaborative digital buying process continue to grow, we are navigating this current remote buying season to the best of our abilities, and have made significant progress in ConnectHub and other digital tools,” said Hill. “That said, our individual members and our collective whole miss the efficiency, effectiveness and personal connections created at Connect and are eager for a season where it is both safe and smart for us to hold another gathering.”
Photo courtesy Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
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