Dates for Winter Sports Event Announced

Outdoor Retailer announced that dates for future Outdoor Retailer Snow Shows will move into the last week of January beginning in 2019 and will remain in the last week of January through 2022. The buying groups that compose the Winter Sports Market (WSM), the Sports Specialists Ltd. (SSL) and Snowsports Merchandising Corp. (SMC), will co-locate at the Colorado Convention Center for three days leading into each Outdoor Retailer Snow Show:

2019

WSM / Sunday, Jan. 27 – Tuesday, Jan. 29
Outdoor Retailer Snow Show / Wednesday, Jan. 30 – Friday, Feb. 1

2020

WSM / Sunday, Jan. 26 – Tuesday, Jan. 28
Outdoor Retailer Snow Show / Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Friday, Jan. 31

2021

WSM / Sunday, Jan. 24 – Tuesday, Jan. 26
Outdoor Retailer Snow Show / Wednesday, Jan. 27 – Friday, Jan. 29

2022

WSM / Sunday, Jan. 23 – Tuesday, Jan. 25
Outdoor Retailer Snow Show / Wednesday, Jan. 26 – Friday, Jan. 28

“We’re listening; we heard you loud and clear and we’ve adjusted our January dates,” said Marisa Nicholson, vice president and show director for Outdoor Retailer. “While we received very positive feedback on this past January show, especially because it combined outdoor and snowsports. We also heard the message from the majority of retailers; the early January dates would not work. We heard it in our Advisory Council Meetings, in our store visits and at the rep shows. We heard it from reps and exhibitors looking out for their customers. Thanks to SSL and SMC and their spirit of cooperation, together we were able to make this is a win-win for everyone.”

Further, with the move to late January dates, all three Outdoor Retailer shows are now in the correct time frames for when retailers want to see products and make their buying decisions, which is why Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is co-locating with Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in November and SSL and SMC are co-locating with Outdoor Retailer Snow Show in January.

“We’re extremely pleased that Outdoor Retailer listened to the needs of the specialty retail community and has scheduled their show so as to not conflict with the busy pre-Martin Luther King holiday selling season,” said SMC president Tom Gately. “The selling season for snowsports is extremely short and retailers need to be in their stores in the most critical times they have to do business.”

“SSL is excited for the specialty retail community that Outdoor Retailer was open to change and was able to facilitate a change,” said Dave Nacke, president of SSL. “For SSL, it makes it easier for buyers to attend both WSM along with OR. It’s about the retail community, the suppliers and our national industry show all supporting each other.”

“One of the great traits of these two vibrant communities is their ability to work together for a common goal,” said Amy Roberts, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association. “The co-location of important retail buying groups with Outdoor Retailer at both the November and January shows creates efficiencies in workflow for both retailers and vendors. We look forward to an exciting Outdoor Retailer Snow Show in the coming years.”

“It’s critical now more than ever that the winter and outdoor industries work together to forge the best path forward,” said Nick Sargent, president of Snowsports Industries America. “Big thanks to Outdoor Retailer for listening and responding to the concerns of our industry stakeholders: manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and the rep and buying groups. To have everyone under one roof is a huge win for everyone.”