More than ever, the numbers defined the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show. Attendance figures, purchase prices, sales forecasts and predicting the odds on how many outdoor industry brands would fail during 2009s economic slowdown were mentioned in many show floor conversations.
Preliminary show numbers at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show indicate the softening of the market did affect show numbers a bit, both in the number of attendees (approx. 16,500 attendees) and sold floor space (330,000 net-sold, square-feet). The overall attendance numbers were “down slightly,” a decrease of approximately 5% from last year's Winter Market turnout.
The show's organizers noted that the event did manage to add more than 110 new exhibitors and new areas/events to better meet the needs of its attendees and exhibitors.
“Historically, the outdoor industry has done well in economic downturns, and this trend appears to be holding true today as our overall numbers are down only slightly from last year's Winter Market,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director.
Although some manufacturers and retailers sent fewer people to this year's show, the right exhibitors and buyers were in attendance, and orders were definitely being written on the show floor.”
Commenting on the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market traffic, Mike Wallenfels, president of Mountain Hardwear, pointed out that while attendance was clearly down, the people who were present were retail store principals and experienced buyers.
“The on the floor sales people who may have earned a trip to Salt Lake in previous years stayed home,” he said.
