After careful consideration the Eastern Outdoor Reps Association will be moving their Hartford, CT show servicing the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast market from August to July in 2008. The EORA is also presently investigating a site for a post Labor Day on-water paddlesports event.

Historically, the EORA show has always been after the Outdoor Retailer Trade show, and many times after Labor Day, but a combination of earlier manufacturers’ deadlines, travel schedules, delivery of samples, and sales meetings points to a shifting of timeliness in the industry. Taking into consideration national show dates, other EORA show dates and the availability of the Connecticut Convention Center it’s been decided that the EORA will be hosting the Mid-Atlantic /Northeast 2008 Regional Market July 28th, 29th, and 30th. The EORA dates are a week after the Friedrichafen show in Germany and it will be a week prior to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. EORA is also currently under negotiation with a facility with water access for September 8th, 9th, and 10th. This falls on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day 2008. These earlier dates will certainly accommodate the earlier timelines that are increasingly prevalent in the outdoor industry. The addition of a post labor day on-water event will certainly accommodate the paddlesport reps and retailers who generally don’t begin their selling cycle until after Labor Day.

“You know, with the dates in August we simply weren’t pleasing anyone,” commented Al Diamond, EORA board of director for the Mid-Atlantic, “the softgoods guys were out showing way before our show, and the boat guys were still traveling way after, so we had to make a change, and put the show where it made the most sense. With the post labor day show in place, hopefully we’ll satisfy everyone.”

The Greenville, SC show will be hosted at the Carolina First Center August 18, 19, 20, 2008 this is a post Outdoor Retailer format.

2009 show dares will be:
August 2, 3, 4, 2009 Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC
August 10, 11, 12, 2009 Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT