Outdoor Retailer, the giant trade show that converges on downtown Salt Lake City twice a year, is looking elsewhere for future shows beyond 2014. In a press release, it was revealed that Outdoor Retailer is teaming up with the Outdoor Industry Association to poll retailers and outdoor companies about where they think the best location would be for future shows.
The reasoning behind the poll is that Outdoor Retailer has outgrown the Salt Palace Convention Center, which has been host to the show since 1996. Some cities being looked at as possible replacements include: Denver, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and Orlando. The contract with the Salt Palace expires after the 2014 Summer Market.
A page on the Outdoor Retailer website, called “Collective Voice,” will be the forum where outdoor industry stakeholders will discuss the future of Outdoor Retailer and the list of cities that are under consideration. “We’ve done surveys of the OR audience for years, and have even posted the results on our website for the whole industry to see,” said Kenji Haroutunian, vice president at Nielsen Expositions and Outdoor Retailer show director in a press release. “Though the surveys are extremely helpful, the Collective Voice project adds an important new element to the process by giving every industry stakeholder a voice. This way, a dialog can develop amongst industry leaders and a thoughtful, inclusive and open process can drive the resulting decisions that will determine the future success of the OR shows.”
“Our unwavering commitment is to maintain the health and relevance of the outdoor industry, and work with Outdoor Retailer to help determine the future vision of the show,” said Lori Herrera, the EVP and chief operating officer of the Outdoor Industry Association. “While this process is far from over, we’re learning there’s no easy answer. Now, we invite the industry to become a part of this process, to take the time to learn about the business of Outdoor Retailer and think about what it should become in order to continue serving the evolving business needs as well as a healthy outdoor industry.”
The whole process will span several months, and Outdoor Retailer hopes to make a decision very soon. In the meantime, Outdoor Retailer is working with Salt Lake City officials to determine if anything can be done to the Salt Palace to accommodate the immense growth the convention has seen. Salt Lake almost lost the show in 2004, until a massive expansion of the Salt Palace in 2006 convinced Outdoor Retailer officials to stay put. Now the city and the show are faced with the dilemna again.
Each show generates nearly $20 million for Salt Lake City and Utah, meaning that losing Outdoor Retailer would be a huge blow to the local economy. But Salt Lake is still in the running, as it’s the one city on the list that Outdoor Retailer has a history with, and is the ideal place for on-mountain demos of outdoor gear in both summer and winter.
To participate in the survey, which will be released in May, go to the Collective Voice website at www.outdoorretailer.com/collective-voice