Despite applying stricter qualifications for drive-in and non-exhibitor attendees, preliminary numbers show attendance at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market matched 2012 levels, show producers said.
Summer Market kicked off at the Open Air Demo with ideal weather and water conditions at Pineview Reservoir, near Ogden, Utah. Retailers, media and brand representatives gathered for demos with 140 brands ranging from premier outdoor apparel, camping, fly fishing, GPS/geocaching, hiking, hydration, paddlesports, travel to trail running-focused brands.
“Attending Open Air Demo gives us a competitive advance over shops in our area that do not,” said Arnetta Hanzel with CJ Ventures LLC in Killdeer, N.D. “Beyond the value of testing and trying products for ourselves, the event exposes us to brands and products that might take several more months to enter our radar through other channels.”
The show kicked off a day after the demo in the Salt Palace Convention Center for four full days of product launches, seminars, marketing meetings, buying, parties, music, fillms and competitions.
“From where we travel, attending OR is a significant investment for our shop,” said Denis Lavoie with FGL Sports in Laval, Quebec. “That being said, it is necessary for us to help us make the decisions we need to be successful in our buying for next season. It's more than evaluating what was successful and what needs to be replaced, it is about seeing and trying products in a side-by-side environment so we can purchase correctly and then inform our customer more completely.”
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will return to Utah with the Open Air Demo on Tuesday, August 5 and the Summer Market Expo running Wednesday August 6 through Saturday, August 9, 2014.