Columbia Sportswear Company and Outdoor Retailer announced that Columbia plans to return to the main floor exhibition area at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show with a new 4,000 square foot exhibit. Columbia's booth, organized around the three primary Spring and Summer end-use categories of Trail, Water and Travel, will include interactive exhibits showcasing the innovative technologies.

“Columbia's commitment to the outdoor market has been an industry-driving force for more than 50 years,” said Mick McCormick, executive vice president of global sales and marketing. “Building on that rich history, our plans for this year's OR Summer Market represent the beginning of a new era in our relationship with specialty retailers. We've spent the past two years infusing our entire product line with meaningful technologies for outdoor consumers, creating innovative tools and services for specialty retailers, and deploying a new brand marketing campaign that is connecting with consumers and motivating them to explore what Columbia has to offer.

“Outdoor Retailer Summer Market provides the perfect venue for us to elevate the Columbia brand by unveiling our expanded portfolio of product innovations for Spring 2010, together with tools and services that specialty outdoor retailers can deploy immediately to improve their business results. We are excited to show outdoor retailers our commitment to partnering with them for long-term growth.”

Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director, added, “Columbia Sportswear is one of the bedrock brands of the outdoor industry. The Outdoor Retailer team is proud that Columbia has chosen OR to be one of a select few events it will concentrate its design and marketing energies on. We are thrilled to have them back on the main floor at this year's Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Markets and beyond.”