Outdoor Retailer, in concert with the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), as well as key brands and advising retailers, announced it will not produce Winter Market, scheduled for November 5-7, 2019. The show will be united with the Snow Show, creating the Outdoor + Snow Show, scheduled for January 29-31, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, bringing the entirety of the community together.
“We care deeply about our community, and alongside OIA, we’re working to support the diverse, evolving needs of the market in order to help the outdoor and snow industries thrive. It’s our goal to bring our industry together and provide the most productive platform for success,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer senior vice president and show director. “When we positioned Winter Market at the front of the buying season, it was in response to our community. Through ongoing feedback, it has become clear that one combined winter show in January will best support brands, retailers and reps, leading to greater value for all in attendance. Outdoor Retailer is where the entire industry comes together, and we’re looking forward to having outdoor and snowsports gather for one vibrant show and to collectively help our industry continue to grow. I also want to thank Visit Denver, the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver hotel community and the state of Colorado for their incredible support of Outdoor Retailer and the outdoor community.”
The Outdoor Industry Association partnered with Outdoor Retailer in the decision.
“Our job at OIA is to listen to our members, to be innovative and to support the timing of the trade shows to create the highest return-on-investment and efficiency for the outdoor marketplace,” said OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts. “We listened to our members in supporting the move of the trade show from Salt Lake City to Denver and responded to member feedback with our support of an earlier winter show in collaboration with our industry’s specialty retailers. It is clear now that the industry would like one consolidated winter show and we support Outdoor Retailer’s decision to bring the two winter shows together under one roof and in one timeframe. Outdoor Retailer is the one moment when we come together as an industry and we look forward to supporting an exceptional show in January 2020. We will be there with a strong offering of educational, sustainability and advocacy events during the show. I also want to recognize the strong partnership that has developed between OIA, SIA, Outdoor Retailer and Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and we look forward to continued collaboration in support of the industry.”
Exhibitors and sponsors already contracted for Winter Market 2019 will have space on hold and available to them for the show in January, and the annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards will shift to the Outdoor + Snow Show in January. Summer Market in June is unaffected by this decision.
Grassroots Connect will stage as planned at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, November 1-5, 2019.
Photo courtesy Outdoor Retailer
