Outdoor Retailer Summer & ODI kicks off June 17 to 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and this year’s programming at the Salt Palace Convention Center is jam-packed with brands, retailers, and business opportunities, as well as tons of education sessions, happy hours, and parties to round out each day.
”All of us are really excited about the Summer show,” said Sean Smith, Outdoor Retailer’s show director. “It’s an incredible opportunity to find a wide range of new products and meet new brands.”
More than 280 brands are exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer and 12 brands will showcase at Sunday’s media preview for working media, Smith said.
There are a few changes to note this year, such as the new Outdoor Design + Innovation (ODI) show, which is solely focused on sourcing and will run adjacent to Outdoor Retailer and through the same dates for a seamless experience.
Also new this year is the hosted buyer program, which subsidizes travel and hotel for qualified buyers and is designed to boost buyer numbers at this year’s show.
On both Days 1 and 2, dedicated buyer hours on the show floor run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with access reserved for retail buyer badge holders, importers/distributors, and working media.
All attendees are welcome on the show floor from 11 a.m. onward on those days, and don’t miss programming starting at 9 a.m. at three key locations: The Camp, The Ranger Station, and the Trend + Design Center.
Below, we pulled our picks for the new and can’t-miss events and sessions to help you navigate this jam-packed program.
Monday’s Must-Dos
We’re kicking off this week’s events the best way we know how – with a scenic hike offering a view of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Mountains.
Back at the Salt Palace Convention Center, education sessions will be running all day at The Ranger Station, The Camp, and the Trend + Design Center. We’re eager to learn about retail sales trends with OIA and Circana, the ins and outs of TikTok Shop, what 2025’s active color of the year will be and Pit Viper’s e-commerce session – just to name a few! Here’s the full list of sessions.
Take your pick of several happy hours later on in the afternoon, such as Elastic Suite’s first-ever Pickleball Palooza, or play whack-a-mole and ping pong with Sun Bum and Sand Cloud.
Then keep the good vibes flowing poolside at the Shopify Industry Party at the Hyatt from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Play games, enjoy appetizers and drinks or just kick back and watch the sunset alongside great company.
Tuesday’s To-Do List
The fun continues on Tuesday, with education sessions about the future of the outdoor industry, where overland consumers spend money, circularity in textiles, and so much more.
At 11 a.m., ODI hosts its summer buyer tour for anyone new to sourcing. Join Nancy Yamuda, OR/ODI’s international business development director, on the show floor to learn about the supply chain, private label, product categories, and more.
Smokey Bear is celebrating his 80th birthday, and you’re invited to meet the beloved wildfire prevention advocate at 2 p.m. at the M&W Design booth.
The happy hours continue from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. with networking opportunities at The Camp, sponsored by TikTok. Over at The Ranger Station, toast the nominees and winners of the Sixth Annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, which will be announced at an event that starts at 4:30 p.m. Congratulations to all of the nominees!
