Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) launched its “Go Outside” Retail Innovation contest today to learn how members are applying insights from the Outdoor Retail of the Future research, conducted in partnership with IDEO, to their businesses.
OIA members are encouraged to submit their experience and three member stories will be selected and featured in OR Summer Market 2014 Daily.
As part of OIA’s Outdoor Retail of the Future initiative, four opportunity areas were identified for companies to explore:
- Social + connected: Design ways for people to be social and connected when outdoors.
- Inclusive: Welcome consumers who choose to participate in the outdoors in less adventurous ways.
- Accessible: Meet people where they are in the outdoors, particularly in urban environments.
- Experiential: Orient around experiences rather than on gear and transactions.
“We hope companies will share stories of how they’re stepping outside the traditional retail practices to engage new consumers,” said Christie Hickman, OIA’s Vice President of Market Insights. “We are interested to learn how they may be tapping into consumer insights, what tactics they’re utilizing and what successes or challenges they have discovered.”
Those interested in entering the contest should stop by the OIA booth at the OR Winter Market or visit the Outdoor Retail of the Future page on the OIA website to complete an entry form Pictures or video support is encouraged. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2014.
OIA's Outdoor Retail of the Future initiative is a multi-year effort to support the industry in revolutionizing retail to meet the rapidly changing needs of consumers and address new market challenges.
