We followed up with SIA President Dave Ingemie about SIA’s plan to move its show dates earlier starting in 2013 and asked him how retailers and suppliers are responding.
In 2013, the SIA Snow Show will begin on Saturday, January 12th and run through Tuesday, January 15th at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado as opposed to being held at the end of January. The on-snow demo will follow the show at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch on January 16th and 17th.
Dave said it was not an easy decision, but a necessary one to help out the most people involved. He said there were several reasons for moving the dates.
Originally, when SIA moved its dates from March to January in 2002, its goal was to be the primary trade show of the season. This past year, there were 14 sanctioned trade shows that took place prior to SIA. Dave said they wanted to go back to being the first major show for the season.
Additionally, the ISPO show in Germany in 2012 and beyond was overlapping with SIA’s dates.
Also, if they moved the show up only one day, the show would have been too close to Outdoor Retailer. OR and SIA share 135 common exhibitors between them.
Lastly, there was a regional buying show in Denver that also conflicted with their dates.
“It was not a perfect scenario, but it was the best decision to help the most people,” he said.
Dave said he has heard from all sides and while some retailers and suppliers are happy with the change, most of the reaction has been negative.
“A lot of people don’t like change and this change affects a lot of people from all aspects of the industry,” he said.
The National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA) appears to be one group that is unhappy with the new dates, according to a story on Sports One Source.
The publication quotes NSSRA Chairman Brad Nelson as saying, “We are disappointed once again that show dates are being chosen based on the needs of manufacturers rather than retailers. Our office has received feedback from our members that indicates that for many reasons these dates do not work for specialty snow sports retailers.”
As far as its new home in Denver, SIA will continue to hold the show in the city for the next nine years.
SIA’s 2012 dates will remain January 26-29, 2012, at the Colorado Convention Center followed by the On-Snow Demo at Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb Ranch on January 30-31.
Dave said he expects the show to be even bigger as they have already seen an increase in contracts.
