SALT LAKE CITY -- Beyond all the happy hours, games, friendly competitions and other events, there was an actual outdoor product show in the city last month, bringing with it some indication that the industry is pulling itself out of an economic slump.
Attendance and participation were up at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show from last year, with more than 800 brands represented and nearly 170 new exhibitors at the Salt Palace Convention Center, said Kenji Haroutunian, director of the biennial show.
"Retailers came ready to place orders because they have righted the inventory problems of early 2009 and feel a strong sense of optimism," Haroutunian said. "That optimism is not hollow hopefulness; it's based on hundreds of brands maintaining real growth in 2009 and strong innovation fueling better products for consumers in 2010-11."
Once again, this year's Winter Market show kicked off with an open-air mountain demo at Snowbasin, where manufacturers, retailers and suppliers met to show off their latest gear and give people a chance to try it out for themselves on the slopes before the actual trade show, held Jan. 21-24.
The main event, which drew more than 16,000 attendees from around the nation and world, generated more than $14 million in estimated economic impact to the state, according to the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
"Trade shows are still an important marketing tool for companies that rely on face-to-face contact with their clients and their peers," said Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. "When you combine the incredible natural surroundings of Salt Lake to this mix, our destination is the perfect place for this business gathering."
Some attendees this year were new companies looking to break onto the outdoor scene, such as Dew Active Gear, which makes a shoulder strap that allows the wearer to control music devices such as iPods without having to fumble in their pockets.
"We needed to be at Outdoor Retailer to identify distribution channels and buyers," said Fred Bloudin, president of the fledgling company. "This has been our debut event."
Others were more well-known names like Columbia Sportswear, which returned to the show this year after sitting out last winter.
Like others, Columbia was there to promote it latest development, a technology dubbed Omni-Heat that uses reflective and insulating materials as well as electric-fabric properties to keep the wearer warmer.
"We have great meetings here that we wouldn't anywhere else," said Alan Kissell, national sales manager for Columbia. "Our technology is being received very well. It's nice being back in the fold."
As its name implies, Outdoor Retailer is also for the people who sell the newest gear, and retailers were well represented.
Spokane, Wash.-based retailer Mountain Gear brought 11 buyers to the show, company founder Paul Fish said.
"There is a high level of excitement here that is even stronger than a year ago," Fish said. "Shops missing this are missing a great opportunity to change their business for the better."
The show dovetails nicely with Ogden's self-reinvention as a center for the outdoor recreation industry, and several local brands had a strong presence, including Goode Ski Technologies and Amer Sports, which encompasses several well-known brands, including Atomic and Salomon.
A common theme at this year's show was "going green", with suppliers repeatedly touting the eco-friendly aspects of their businesses. That includes everything from socks made from recycled bottles to a "green travel guide" that lets travelers know about things like driving tips to reduce vehicle emissions and ski shuttle services that fuel their buses with biodiesel.
"Global warming is the most significant threat facing winter sports," said Ricardo Balazs, sports marketing experience manager for Clif Bar & Co., which produced the travel guide. "We want to help skiers and riders rethink how they reach the summit."
The Winter Market is just half of the Outdoor Retailer experience in Utah. The Summer Market show, also held at the Salt Palace, is scheduled for Aug. 2-6 this year.
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