The European Outdoor Conservation Association recruited six new members during or immediately after it relaunched at the ispo show, bringing the number of members to 67, a 10% increase in just one week. The Association welcomes Original Buff, Eagle Creek, Cober, Klättermusen, International Sports Marketing Ltd, and new company Roc Noir Skiwear Ltd.


Two members have also added new ideas to the fundraising spectrum for the Association. Original Buff is set to choose and entirely sponsor several of the projects that have applied for funding for 2011, meaning that the total number of projects the Association is able to support this year will increase. Another member, also in a bold move, has pledged to ‘top up’ its membership fee with 1% of its total turnover each year.


“We are absolutely delighted to see companies participating in this way”, said Holger Bismann, EOCA president and general manager of Patagonia Europe. “This type of member involvement is really going to raise the bar as to what the Association can achieve in the future”.

Fundraising events were held at existing members’ booths. For instance, Berghaus presented a lecture and a film in conjunction with top climber, Leo Houlding. DVDs of Leo’s latest conquest were sold at the show, raising over €300. Keen also sold bags and an ingenious USB stick in the shape of a miniature Keen sandal, raising a €1,000. All monies raised at the show will go straight into conservation projects in 2012.


Following meetings with over 50 non-members at the show, general mangers Tanya Bascombe and Catherine Savidge are confident that, as awareness of the Association grows, so too will membership and the funds raised.


“We have seen a really positive reaction to our new name and identity at ispo,” said Bascombe, “and the reactions we got from companies not yet involved was very enthusiastic.”

 

Savidge added that, “The more companies join in, the more money the whole outdoor industry can put back into the environment, through conservation and the customer really cares about that!”