Outdoor Retailer announced plans for a new Source and Design Center, at Summer Market 2008, to serve the growing supplier/designer community at the show.
“The market has evolved to a place where exhibitors are bringing their key designers to Outdoor Retailer each year to investigate new fabrics, fibers, componentry and trends,” said Kenji Haroutunian, show director for Outdoor Retailer. “The addition of this venue will provide an official destination for this emergent segment and also allow the show to expand outside of the Salt Palace.”
The new Center will be located across the street from the Salt Palace in the Energy Solutions Arena (ESA), formerly known as the Delta Center. Key supplier exhibitors at Outdoor Retailer such as Schoeller, Concept III and Rogers Corporation have expressed initial support for creating the Source and Design Center, and a Supplier Advisory Board meeting at this years show will further detail the framework for Summer 2008.
“The benefit of the Source and Design Center is that it will provide one venue where industry members can come together, gather intelligence, explore innovative materials, and even find new resources,” said Elizabeth Simon, national accounts manager for Rogers Corporation, manufacturer of PORON® High Performance Foams. “Today's expansive global market makes sourcing more challenging and time consuming, but this event will help trim time off of the development cycle and challenge all participants to make better products.”
Outdoor Retailer is also planning to host a series of educational seminars and panel discussions at the new Source and Design Center at the ESA with content specific to the needs of suppliers and design personnel.
Outdoor Retailer will have a baseline initial ESA floorplan for exhibitors to review on-site at Summer 2007 (Meeting Room 255 on the second level of the Salt Palace). All Summer Market 2007 attendees are invited to preview the new venue at the Outdoor Retailer Industry Party from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evening; the party venue is across the street from the West Entrance of the Salt Palace.
