A wide variety of outdoor brands are exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer Winter this November, with products ranging from performance apparel and technical backpacks to camping hammocks and woolen blankets.
This year’s winter show runs Nov. 14-16 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is part of Outdoor Retailer‘s efforts to put on shows that better align with seasonal buying schedules for retailers.
Exhibiting brands will be arranged with a new floor plan that’s designed to encourage exploration and improve the shopping experience, according to OR organizers.
This year the show floor is arranged by activity, so the brands will be in their own sections. Think camp, climb, hike, overland, snow, and lifestyle.
With more than 200 businesses exhibiting, including the sourcing section, the show floor will be a mix of new brands and well-established companies.
Here’s a look at a few of the brands exhibiting this year.
One of the more-established brands exhibiting at OR, German manufacturer Ortovox, has been providing mountaineers with safety equipment, including avalanche safety gear and apparel, since 1980. The brand’s products are designed specifically for ski touring, freeriding, mountaineering, alpine climbing and alpine touring.
Picture Organic will be exhibiting as well, showcasing its recycled, organic, and bio-sourced products for board sports and the outdoors. In 2022, Picture took the top spot in the fastest-growing apparel category for Circana’s annual U.S. Outdoor Sports Retail Performance Awards.
Also on the show floor will be hammock camping and camp chair specialists Grand Trunk. Based in Salt Lake City, Grand Trunk has been making hammocks and other camping accessories for the outdoor enthusiast since 2001.
Returning to the show this year is Goorin Bros, a family-run business that started making hats in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1895. The company makes fedoras, beanies, and a number of other types of hats as well as accessories and has a hipster vibe.
To round out this list, woolen blanket brand Pendleton will also be on the show floor. The privately held, sixth-generation family-owned business from Oregon will be showcasing blankets, bedding, and more with its signature, Western-inspired style.
Other brands to look out for include:
- Arctic Lynx
- Anatomie
- Autumn Headwear
- Clif Bar
- Db
- Flyn
- Holebrook Sweden
- Jack and Sage
- Jambar
- Mainers
- Moab Bag Co
- Namuk
- Nivis Gear
- Nobody’s Princess
- OOSC Clothing
- Opolis
- Pearson Ranch
- Tasty Bite
- Tipsy Elves
The show will also be offering education sessions. Retail and consumer data, marketing to younger generations, and preseason planning for buyers are just a few of the topics that will be discussed at the show.
The schedule change means this is the third OR show for the year. Starting next year, Outdoor Retailer will have two shows in Salt Lake City – the summer show in June and the winter show in November. Read our interview with OR Show Director Sean Smith to find out more about how the November show will be different than past OR shows.
With the schedule changes, this November’s show will share the Salt Palace with another event. The main entrance for Outdoor Retailer Winter 2023 will be from the West side, across from the Delta Center. A diagram of the location for this show is available on outdoorretailer.com.
