Hello from Park City.
I started Nick’s Notes a few years ago to give our members insight into what we are doing and where we are going as an association. Aside from reporting on the positive, I have often presented thoughts and concerns that keep me up at night. Issues that not only face our members but the industry as a whole.
Nick’s Notes is my attempt at keeping you in the loop on important ideas, changes, and transitions taking place throughout our industry.
So that said, by now you must be aware of the cancellation of the November Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Denver. Launched just last year, the intent of the November Winter Market was to try to align with the winter buying season, connecting buyers with soft goods and footwear brands earlier in the sales cycle.
For decades, the SIA Snow Show served as the pinnacle annual gathering where our industry has come together to do business and to forge relationships. Two years ago, after the sale of the Snow Show, we joined with the outdoor industry in one consolidated and united trade show. The energy, collaboration and amount of business conducted were beyond our expectations. It was an exciting glimpse into the coming together of two industries and the momentum that a unified trade show can create. Since then, we have launched a climate initiative called the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership with OIA and NSAA, engaged in joint educational programming and are working closer than ever before to address important issues facing our industries.
Setting aside anyone’s personal opinions about the November show, we now need to celebrate the fact that we will all be united once again. This was always the vision when selling the Snow Show. Our industry can only benefit from the collective energy and efficiency of one show so let’s seize on the momentum we started in 2018 and make the 2020 Outdoor + Snow Show the best winter show yet. Let’s maximize our time together to strengthen and grow the business while seeking out new opportunities for collaboration.
I look forward to seeing you in Denver in January and be sure not to miss
SIA’s Industry + Intelligence kicking off on Tuesday, January 28th (Day 0). Industry + Intelligence spans four days and is packed full of educational and inspiring presentations and discussions with leaders from within, and outside of our industry. And of course, the SIA/WWSRA Demo on the Monday and Tuesday immediately after the show!
See you all there.
Nick
