Outdoor Retailer will host the second annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards this November at Winter Market.
The awards recognize achievements in the outdoor industry, showcasing the products and brands that are pioneering new technology in outdoor gear, materials, and retail services. Winners will be revealed during a live ceremony on the first night of Winter Market, Tuesday, November 5, 2019, in Denver.
The submission period for products and services eligible for entry is now open and runs through September 25, 2019. Entry categories cover the full gamut of outdoor products and include outdoor specialty retail operations and support services: Accessories, Apparel, Backpacks / Bags / Luggage, Cycling, Books / Electronic Applications / Electronics, Camping, Climbing, Consumables, Footwear, Materials, Retail, Support Services, Sleeping, Water Sports, and Winter Sports. Complete rules and the entry form are available online at outdoorretailer.com/innovationawards.
“The inaugural Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards were a huge success last year and we’re looking forward to another great event at Winter Market,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer senior vice president and show director. “The awards are a chance to celebrate those pushing the limits in outdoor product technology across the breadth of the industry and helping set new standards for how we do business. Innovation has always been a focus for our industry, and we’ll have a chance to see it first-hand both at the awards and throughout Winter Market.”
A panel of judges will determine the finalists and winners. After the finalist products and services are announced in October, the winners will be unveiled live at the awards ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center following the first day of Winter Market on November 5. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to registered attendees and media.
Entries will be evaluated by the judging panel based on the themes of Spark, Desire, Function, and Impact, and these include a variety of factors, such as concept, design, functionality, originality, and sustainability. Judges select winners from the pool of finalists, which will be on display on the show floor in the Innovation Gallery throughout Winter Market. In addition to a foundation of judges named by Outdoor Retailer, individuals interested in serving as a judge for the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards are invited to submit an online application, available at outdoorretailer.com/innovationawards. The judge application period is open now through October 2, 2019.
Outdoor industry and event veteran Liz Ferrin is working with Outdoor Retailer once again to produce the awards. Ferrin has also facilitated the production of Outdoor Retailer’s Inspiration Awards and Sundance Film Festival activation, among other programs.
For information on sponsorship opportunities around the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards and Innovation Gallery, as well as to exhibit at the show, contact Krista Dill, director of sales, at krista.dill@outdoorretailer.com or an Outdoor Retailer account executive.
Winter Market runs November 5-7, 2019, at the Colorado Convention Center and marks the launch the winter buying season. Registration and housing are open, and new to the show is the bike category. The show is also co-located with the Grassroots Connect show.
