The second annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards will now take place during Outdoor + Snow Show in January, recognizing achievements in outdoor products, materials and retail services. Winners will be unveiled during a live ceremony on the second night of Outdoor + Snow Show, Thursday, January 30, 2020, in Denver.
With the new date, the entry deadline has been extended through November 6, 2019. The submission period is now open, and 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.
“We’re excited to have the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards return and to bring the celebration to Outdoor + Snow Show in January,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer senior vice president and show director. “The awards highlight the gear, brands, and shops that are making an impact and showcasing what the outdoor and snowsports industries are always doing – transforming how we experience the outdoors through innovation.”
A panel of judges will determine finalists and winners. After the finalist products and services are announced in December, winners will be unveiled live at the awards ceremony, held in the Four Seasons Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center following Day 2 of Outdoor + Snow Show on January 30. 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 Outdoor + Snow Show. 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 November 6, 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.
Outdoor + Snow Show runs January 29-31, 2020, at the Colorado Convention Center. The show is followed by the SIA/WWSRA On-Snow Demo at Copper Mountain, Colo., from Feb. 3-4, 2020, and is co-located with Winter Sports Market (January 26-28, 2020) the annual trade show for specialty retailers and invited suppliers co-hosted by Snowsports Merchandising Corp. (SMC) and Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL).
