Get in your holiday break while you can.

As we head into the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll notice your email traffic slowing and out-of-office replies rising. For many, the quiet time is either finally time to relax, or finally time to get some work done.

We hope you forgo the latter for the former, because come January, the industry’s event calendar is booked solid. We count only seven days (four of which come at the start of the month) in the 31-day month when there is no industry trade show scheduled.

Here’s what’s coming up:

January 5-8 – CES – Las Vegas, NV
The rise of fitness trackers, drones and active entertainment has lifted the consumer electronics show to top billing for the active-lifestyle industry as consumers in both spaces prove willing to be early adopters of gadgets that help them stay fit, healthy and active. At center stage for the industry is the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s continued partnership with CES to deliver the Sports Tech Marketplace and Conference at the show for a third year in a row.

January 9-11 – Midwestern Representatives Association Novi Market – Novi, MI
While Outdoor Retailer and SIA Snow Show dominate the outdoor January trade-show scene, don’t forget the regional shows like this one where, while a lot quieter, a lot more business likely gets done.

January 9-12 – Outdoor Retailer Winter Market & All Mountain Demo – Salt Lake City, UT
The most significant change this year is the reduction to a three-day trade-show schedule (Tuesday-Thursday), following Monday’s demo day at Solitude Mountain Resort.

January 9-12 – New England Sports Representatives January Sports Market – Providence, RI
NESR is not-for-profit association comprised of sales representatives who are actively engaged in the wholesale distribution of winter sports products in the New England states, one of the largest markets in the country.

January 10-12 – Archery Trade Association Show – Indianapolis, IN
It’s the nation’s largest show dedicated to archery and bowhunting.

January 15-17 – NRF Retail’s BIG Show – New York, NY
It’s the National Retail Federation’s main event and a great place to get a sense of how the holiday shopping season panned out, as well as education on retail technologies and strategies for the new year and beyond. The show is in its 106th year and attracts 33,000 industry professionals.

January 17-19 – Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show – Las Vegas, NV
Get ready for the Super Bowl, March Madness and more with this event for brand owners, licensors, licensees and retailers interested in sports licensed products. More than 400 exhibiting companies attend the show, with all of the professional leagues and and collegiate teams represented.

January 17-20 – NBS Winter Market – Fort Worth, TX
Another smaller yet membership-driven show not to overlook.  It’s run by the Nation’s Best Sports buying group, comprised of more than 350 independent retail members representing more than 1,200 store fronts across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

January 17-20 – NSSF SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
The National Shooting Sports Foundation runs the event focused on the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. It attracted 64,000 professionals in 2016. Sure to be a hot topic: What the recent U.S. election results mean for an industry that many say was artificially inflated by fear of increased gun control. Still, the boom introduced many newcomers to the sport, meaning the focus largely will be on retention.

January 20-22 – Imprinted Sportswear Show – Long Beach, CA
The largest of five Imprinted Sportswear Shows with more than 350 exhibitors, the event brings together buyers, suppliers and manufacturers in screen printing, embroidery and graphic design.

January 24-27 – PGA Merchandise Show & Demo Day – Orlando, FL
It’s the industry’s largest trade event for golf-merchandise brands, retailers and professionals. The show, which attracts about 40,000 industry playmakers, includes education sessions in leadership, teaching & coaching, retail/merchandising and sales & marketing.

January 26-28 – Surf Expo – Orlando, FL
The show attracts more than 27,600 attendees, with buyers representing more than 9,500 storefronts sourcing new brands and new products from 1,000-plus exhibitors in the surf, skate, sup, wake, wind, kayak/canoe, swim, footwear, resort, boutique and coastal gift categories.

January 25-29 & 30-31 – SIA Snow Show – Denver, CO & SIA On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest & Nordic Demo – Copper Mountain Resort, CO
The nation’s largest show dedicated to the snow sports industry remains in late January, after initially toying with a move to early December. Now that the snow is finally falling across the country, spirits should be higher than they were a month ago. A highlight here is the post-trade-show, two-day on-snow demo event.

January 29-31 – Worldwide Spring Show – Reno, NV
A buying group show for independent specialty retailers with access to more than 3,000 vendors in the shooting sports, camping, fishing/tackle, hardware, lawn/garden/patio, toys/seasonal, athletics, clothing and footwear categories.

January 31-February 2 – FFANY New York Shoe Expo – New York, NY
The show officially focuses on the footwear industry of one city — New York — but its business and trends have global implications, bringing together retailers, brands, designers and sellers all dedicated to growing the market.

Lead photo courtesy Outdoor Retailer