When it comes to educational seminars, lively panel discussions and expert advice, Winter Market attendees will have plenty to choose from at the January tradeshow (January 29-February 1). Once again, Outdoor Retailer is providing a full line-up of free seminars for all show attendees — conveniently held across the street at the Marriott Downtown.

  • The “MUSCLE” and the “FAT” Product Categories in Outdoor Retail
    Date/Time: Sunday, January 30th € Noon-1:00PM

    Speaker: Haysun Hahn, Futuremode
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    The outdoor retail environment can become the basics of the “modern wardrobe.” Functional clothing and accessories work in the outdoor environment as well as in our daily demanding lives. In order for the outdoor industry to entertain, educate, and profit we must create a functional merchandised selection for the customer. It is time again, to review the products and separate; the strength building “muscle-stuff’ and the often out-moded “fat-stuff” that just take up space. What’s missing? What’s beyond the basics? What’s new? What’s next? And please, ask why?

  • Session II: Town Hall Session On Sustainability
    A dialog on how we all can collaborate
    for the voice of sustainability in the outdoor industry

    Date/Time: Sunday, January 30th € Noon-1:00PM

    Facilitator: Terry Gips, Sustainability Associates
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    This session is geared toward those who are interested in collaborating and creating a foundation for the voice of sustainability. Topics include: culture, fair trade, natural fibers, retailers roll, manufacturing practices. A resource panel will be available to address questions related to these issues. Organizers will provide resources, encouragement and examples within the industry.

  • Simple Open to Buy That Works
    Date/Time: Monday, January 31 € 7:30-9:00AM

    Speaker: Jim Dion, Microsoft Business Solutions
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    A look at a simple open to buy process that can be done at the total store level and will keep the store from over buying and not being able to pay for the merchandise that was purchased. Presented in a simple, easy to understand format with both paper forms and spreadsheet formats.

  • The Power of Mutual Success and How it Worked for Harley-Davidson
    Date/Time: Monday, January 31 € 7:30-9:00AM

    Speaker: Andy Smith, Former Harley-Davidson Executive
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    Andy Smith moved through retail operations, distributor network and lastly corporate boardrooms to observe the outcome of the changes in operating philosophy for Harley-Davidson. From these experiences he has distilled seven ideals of mutual success that Harley-Davidson followed to help become who they are today.

  • Increasing Sales Through Professional Selling
    Date/Time: Monday, January 31 € Noon-1:00PM

    Speaker: Jim Dion, Microsoft Business Solutions
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    Based on the book “Retail Selling Ain’t Brain Surgery, It’s Twice As Hard,” this workshop on retail selling skills is the perfect primer and a great refresher for anyone working in sales. It expands and illuminates concepts that have been explored for many years but does it with a fresh and more convincing eye and presents a practical guide for applying them.

  • Creativity in the Retail World:
    Everyday Techniques That Really Work!
    Date/Time: Monday, January 31 € Noon-1:00PM

    Speakers: Peter Downing & Dave Claflin, Spark Communications
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    This session outlines several tried and true techniques for invigorating the creative process on a daily basis. They aren’t BIG ideas. Big ideas tend to stay in the desk drawer and never see the light of day. These are small, but useable ideas that are simple to wield and deadly to the doldrums — easy to implement and put to use in the kind of situations we all face every day.

  • How Harley-Davidson Retailers Went from Good to Great – KEYNOTE
    Date/Time: Tuesday, February 1st € 7:30-9:00AM

    Keynote Speaker: Andy Smith, former executive of Harley Davidson
    Location: SLC Marriott Downtown (across from Salt Palace)

    Join us for breakfast and listen to Andy Smith as he gives you his observations on how “Harley-Davison Retailers Went from Good to Great” and how their practices can be applied to your business.

Outdoor Retailer, a division of VNU Expositions, is a full service tradeshow company whose goal is to create, market and produce high quality tradeshows and educational conferences. Outdoor Retailer is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business trade event, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of the recreational outdoors. Currently in its 23rd successful year, OR gathers approximately 30,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for both Fall/Winter/Holiday and Spring/Summer Markets.

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2005 will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from January 29th -February 1st at the Salt Palace Convention Center, with the Backcountry Base Camp scheduled on January 28th at Brighton Resort. Registration details for Winter Market 2005 and more information on Outdoor Retailer tradeshows can be found at http://www.outdoorretailer.com. Media can contact Lori Crabtree at Stanwood & Partners Public Relations by phone 307/733-1514, or email at lcrabtree@wyoming.com.