Outdoor Retailer will host merchandising tours and awards at its Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 21-24, 2009. In two different tours, each covering different sections of the show floor, merchandising expert Sharon Leicham will highlight exhibiting brands demonstrating excellence in merchandising and offer valuable advice to tour participants.

“At Outdoor Retailer, more than 800 exhibitors bring their ‘A’ game to the show floor,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “Through this new concept, retailers will be able to glean ideas from the top merchandising minds in the business and use the inspiration to fuel excellence and sales in their shops back home. Exhibitors will be recognized too, for their creativity and use of unusual techniques, among other criteria with the awards program.”

The merchandising tours will cover the entire span of the Outdoor Retailer show floor, from the performance sports categories, including footwear, apparel, accessories and nutritionals to the climbing category with an emphasis on hardgoods and gear. Though the tours originate from the Endurance and Climbing Zones, they will address examples of merchandising in a variety of areas and offer attendees across all categories new merchandising strategies to improve in-store flow, increase probability and feature 2010 spring and summer product lines.

The hour-long merchandising tours will depart from the Outdoor Retailer Endurance Zone at 11 a.m. and from the Climbing Zone at 2 p.m. on July 22 and 23, respectively. Those who miss the live tours can watch them post-show on the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market website.