OR Blog

Archive for ‘Canoeing’

September 15, 2012

Just another outdoorsy picture…

ChadJukes Grand sept 11 12
Chad on the Grand by TO

This is one of those images (taken by Timmy O’Neill) worth a thousand words; something resonates about this image overlooking the Jackson ‘Hole’, taken from the summit of the Grand, Sept. 11, 2012. It’s Chad Jukes, friend of the Outdoor Industry, Paradox Sports and the world. He’s apparently hindered somehow by being a lower leg amputee, but I don’t see much evidence of that here.  Doesn’t affect his trumpeting either, I can attest. But it does deepen the meaning and resonance of the image for outdoor professionals and for Americans that he lost it serving our country in Iraq.  It’s the ultimate expression of personal freedom, blowing his trumpet triumphantly from that lofty mountaintop perch.
It’s way after the 11th anniversary of 9/11, but this shot is truly timeless. What does it mean to you?

Kenji

Posted at 7:43 pm in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Profiles, Skiing, Sports, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (19)
August 8, 2012

Summer 12 coverage

Some interesting links following the Summer Market 2012 show in SLC. The best attended and largest OR show to date. This will be updated and enlarged as more content flows from the industry…

AUG 10 UPDATE -

SNEWS take on the political tussle over public lands and the implication for OR

Gear Junkie 'Gear of the Show' awards – there was no shortage of truly innovative products at Summer OR.  http://gearjunkie.com/best-in-show-outdoor-retailer-2012

AUG 9 UPDATE – This interesting article is well written, however our current contractwith SLC is through 2014 (not 2013 as is stated twice in the article). 

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2012/08/06/outdoor-retailer-summer-markets-a-wrap

Live From OR videos front and center on the OR home page http://www.outdoorretailer.com/summer-market/

Quick video treatment from H2O Overdrive of the Open Air Demo featuring a wrap by Billy Currington (country music superstar)

The Bike Culture at #ORShow… alive and thriving!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/devakiananda/

From Abe Burmeister, design mind at Outlier

http://www.core77.com/blog/events/outdoor_retailer_summer_market_2012_recap_by_abe_burmeister_23129.asp

A somewhat off-kilter read on the politics of dancing with the show in SLC…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/outdoor-retailers-trade-show-gives-utah-governor-ultimatum-_-support-environment-or-lose-expo/2012/08/01/gJQA5Uy1PX_allComments.html#comments

we'll add more as posts from around the world show up! Check back often…

Posted at 7:07 pm in Books, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Fishing, Food and Drink, Games, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Profiles, Science, Sports, Television, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (16)
July 27, 2012

It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere

First, thanks to all for the valuable feedback on our decision to push serving time back from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the show. I just got back from Friedrichshafen (The OutDoor Europe show), in the heart of the German countryside on Lake Constanz.  In this legendary country of brewing and imbibing, where young children are practically nursed on Hefeweizen or Spaten Boch, you would never guess what their industry show serving time is… yup, 5 p.m.  Wouldn't kid you.
  Business Happy Hour

This is a topic that we have received more and more feedback on as the show has seen the expansion from a few booths serving beer in the 90s to well over 50 booths serving beer on any given day, or hour,  of the show today. The celebration atmosphere of OR is both fun and functional, serving to rejuvenate and grease the wheels of networking for thousands of hard working industry business people toward the end of their work day on the show floor. I am, as show director of OR, no stranger to the celebration scene of the show… in fact, at my very first show attending as a retailer (before there was a Winter OR, in 1988), I quickly earned the nickname 'Mr. Vegas' for the pure zeal I put into that aspect of my work.  Different story I can tell you, maybe over a beer…

Happy Happy Hour

OR has developed a reputation as a show that gets business done, but has a great 'vibe' at the same time. We know that the party scene each day of the show (and well into the evening, of course) is part of the cultural fabric of the industry, and we would not think to eliminate it or take the show into the 'dry' zone.  Perish the thought.  But as the celebration scene has, like order deadlines, crept earlier and earlier, exhibitors’ and retailers' voices have gotten louder and more frequent, telling tales of disrupted and rushed 3:30 meetings due to the change in focus brought on with tapping the keg and turning up the tunes.  A few years ago we put in place a decibel ceiling of 85dB, which we know takes time and coaching to implement since most booth designers do not include a decibel-meter.  Exhibitors understand this disruption and have started to book softer, 'unplugged' type music that is more respectful of neighbors wrapping up business meetings.  In response to continued (and widespread) feedback, this year we did make the move to push serving time to 5 p.m. from 4 p.m.

Beer Garden

Before the pitchforks and torches come out, keep in mind this is only for free alcohol pouring from booths on the show floor.  You can get a frosty cup of beer anytime from any concession stand, and at the New Exhibitor Pavilion – there is a new beer garden for those intrepid attendees getting their thirst on.  At Open Air Demo we will also have beer gardens – yes, count them, two.  That beer will be pouring earlier for sure, matching the more informal atmosphere of OAD leading into the main event. 

Although the overwhelming feedback on this move has been positive, we know this doesn't make everyone happy; we've therefore pushed the 'hard close' of the Salt Palace to 6:45 p.m. to extend party time in the booths… the dogs won't get let loose until 7 p.m.

We are always actively looking for ways to improve the show experience for everyone involved in the business, so please keep those comments coming through all the feedback vehicles we have at our disposal: Twitter (#ORShow, @outdoorretailer); Facebook (Outdoor Retailer); comment on this blog post; put something up in the Collective Voice, email us, or send an old-school letter to show director Kenji Haroutunian at the address below.  We'll take you seriously.

Seriously.  Look forward to celebrating with you in SLC in just a few days!

Kenji

Kenji

Kenji.Haroutunian@nielsen.com                            

Outdoor Retailer
31910 Del Obispo #200
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

(er, if you send a bottle, give me a heads up… thanks)

Posted at 7:06 pm in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Food and Drink, Games, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Science, Skiing, Travel, Trends | Permalink | Comments (21)
April 17, 2012

Canoecopia & Long Term Recreational Happiness

“Long term recreational happiness…” I think this may be my favorite line from James Mills’ piece on Canoecopia. Held in Madison, Wisconsin in February, Canoecopia is a consumer show that is seen as an early indicator for the paddling market. From the activity on the show floor, 2012 will be a good year.

The outdoor industry and recreation in general has been a bright light in an otherwise dim economy with strong growth throughout. And I think James is on to something with the notion of “long term recreational happiness;” when other investment option seem to be heading down, investing in ourselves seems to be a pretty safe bet.

Thanks to James Mills and The Joy Trip Project for sharing this piece:

Canoecopia: A bountiful start to the paddling season

Canoecopia20120011-300x200The ice is only just off the lakes in Madison Wisconsin. But paddlers of canoes and kayaks are eager to get out on the water. Every year usually on the first warm weekend in March thousands from throughout the Midwest gather to celebrate the bounty of the spring paddling season. The local gear shop called Rutabaga hosts the largest paddle sports expo in North America, an event so big it can only be called Canoecopia.

Owner Darren Bush welcomes outdoor enthusiasts to Madison’s Alliant Energy Center for a full weekend of adventure slideshow presentations, wilderness skill seminars and an unparalleled display of the latest camping and paddling equipment. After an unseasonably warm winter Bush said his customers are pretty excite to get outside. And at Canoecopia they seem to have more than enough money to spend.

“There are lots of open to buy recreational dollars out there for people who didn’t buy skis this year,” Bush said. “That’s sad for skiers but it’s really good for us.”

Despite a brown Christmas with too little snow and flagging ski sales nation-wide outdoor retailers just might look forward to a bright and shiny spring. All that pent up purchasing power could be a true indication of the recovering economy.

“Yeah it’s a bellwether for sure,” Bush said. “People are interested and buying now. I’m seeing a lot of higher-end boats go out, a lot of Kevlar.”

Expensive watercraft made of pricey, lightweight materials are making their way to the registers. And Bush said his customers are buying new boats with a confidence that meets their demand.

“I walked in yesterday; the first women came in the door and said “I want to buy two canoes. What should I get?” Twenty minutes later she had two canoes.

A high-end Kevlar boat can range in price from $1,500 to $5,000 or even higher. But Mike Cichanowski owner of Wenonah Canoe & Kayak in Minnesota said business is brisk and his dealers are buying: “You know we have our winter production set and we’re shipping a lot of boats and you know all the dealers that I see here, and I have a lot of dealers stop buy and say hi just as they’re passing through and almost every one of them has said that they think that spring is starting to show now,” Cichanowski said. “And they’re getting a few more sales than normal and think it’s going to be a particularly good spring this year.”

The turnout for Canoecopia could be an indication of purchasing trends nationwide. It seems that many consumers like Dann Hekman have been saving up their money for a new boat this year and now they’re ready to buy.

“Cash is cheap so I could either have my money sitting in a savings account or something like that making no interest,” Hekman said. “Or I can spend it while the opportunity costs are low.
Consumers are putting their extra cash into purchases that make them happy and supports their active lifestyle. Just ask this economics major and he’ll tell you that a new kayak is money well spent.

“Well it’s not going to have a great return on investment if that’s what you’re asking in terms of like financial benefit,” Hekman said. “I mean I love kayaking. It gives me a lot of tangible utility and benefits. So in that regard I think so. In terms of just mental sanity and dealing with stress at work and stuff, it’s great.”

And first-time boat buyer Alexandra Larsen said she’s making an investment in her long-term recreational happiness.

“It’s something that I think will do really well for me in the long run. You know it is a big purchase but I’m hoping to have this boat for many, many years,” Larsen said. “So I may as well get something that I’m going to be happy in for a long time. So that’s kind of my feeling. It’ll pay me back over the years, I hope.”

The Joy Trip Project is made possible with the support of sponsor Patagonia.

Posted at 7:37 pm in Canoeing, Paddlesports, Trends | Permalink | Comments (50)
January 7, 2012

UPDATED Friday 13th; Quick Links for WM12

In case the navigation on our site isn’t as intuitive for you as we’d like, this blog will serve as an FAQ link lineup for those planning their OR Winter 12 experience and those who just want to know all that is happening in SLC in the outdoor biz the week of Jan. 16 (also MLK Holiday!).  BTW for you way-ahead planners, next year (2013) MLK bumps to Jan. 21, and our show continues to stage just afterwards Jan. 23 (AMDemo) thru 27.

More future dates (and show hours)

Registration (badges/credentials to attend)

Download the Winter ’12 Mobile App

Your show planner login – (registered attendees and exhibitors only)  (password is your badge # or customer #, or auto login from prior emails  you’ve received from us)

All Mountain Demo at Solitude – (Jan. 18, Wed, before show)

Business Ed./Seminars – schedule

Exhibitor List/Floorplan - over 1000 exhibitors!  Plan well…

Entertainment/Party ‘OR ROCKS!’ Schedule -

Fashion Show info/schedule -

Student Design Competition ‘Project OR’ -

and… for good measure, a good basic short article on buying at a tradeshow… we know you already know, but basic reminders always help before entering the fray.

See you in the aisles!

KH

Posted at 12:11 pm in Books, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Food and Drink, Games, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Skiing, Sports, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (40)
November 1, 2011

Burton, Billabong and the rise of ‘action sports’ at OR

IMG00363-20110717-1258

This is a topic that could use some airing out, and the time is right with the recent announcement that Burton has joined the show with a sizeable presence.  There seems to be a prevailing impression that OR has  been the windfall recipient of dozens of brands whom, when ASR went dormant, suddenly found themselves with nothing to do in January and August and in need of a trade show to spend their lonely marketing dollars.   Absurd?  The launch of a new fashion show in L.A. (Santa Monica) that parallels the Agenda format indicates more than one person thinks there is a void to fill.

But that's L.A.  – a better place for Outdoor than most think, but that's a tale for different thread. 

There are two main points to remember when engaging in the 'actions sports at OR' discussion that is rising in the industry;

1) 'Action Sports' has been part of the fabric of OR for decades - Brands like Dakine, Reef, Patagonia, Smith and Hobie all have the AS/surf lifestyle at their core, over two decades at the show, and are staples in the industry.  Quiksilver, Surftech, Havaianas, IPath, and other core AS brands have been at OR over 5 years… in hargoods, footwear, accessories and apparel.   What I've seen over the years here is more like a "Natural Progression' than a recent trendline or explosion.  That said, the full suite of 'Action Sports' is not represented at OR, for example BMX or Moto elements.  The 'Natural' part speaks to the foundation of the activity… which brings us to the second main point when considering the topic.

2) A Shared Platform - all Action Sports happen outdoors on the natural (and public) land and waterscapes we in active outdoor use… therefore the resource at our very foundation is shared.  Whether we are talking the waves at Trestles, or the single-track trails at the Syncline, or the gazillion flatwater lakes perfect for kayakfishing and wakeboarding, we share the same access platform.  This is why BMX, Moto and even resort skiing/boarding, is somewhat less relevant to the world of OR than Surf, backcountry boarding and Mountain Biking.  It doesn't happen on a primarily open space platform; when it does, it's on modified land and is more closely tied to the real estate and development business.  Is that important?  It definitely affects the cost of access, for one thing. 

So what are your thoughts on the situation as traditional Action Sports comes into Active Outdoor (or 'Action Outdoors' as Andy Palmer calls it)?  Is this a new opportunity for differentiation among specialty retailers, a power play by the big action sports brands to dominate the Universe, a desparate act by a sector afraid of becoming irrelevant, or the 'natural progression' mentioned above?  Would love to hear your thoughts. 

Thx

KH

 

 

 

Posted at 1:25 pm in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Paddlesports, Science, Skiing, Sports, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (23)
August 12, 2011

UPDATED Aftermath Summer OR 2011 & Review Link lineup

How about just a stream of consciousness phrase-fest of bytes I heard while in SLC this past week?  That's about all my addled brain can put forth at the moment, and I'll follow with links that can tell the story more in-depth.  Guess I'm still in 'space-efficiency' mode. 

#hyperlocal BestORShowever #notallfunandgames – O.R.D. - OutsideBestOfShow #ProjectOR Bucking the economic Trend #consolidation #rebooting Lots of Newness #allstarjam Making Things In America #novelconcept Eco-Index rising, Influencers/Thought Leaders/Top Talent #showgoeson After Hours, Sierra Nevada beer, 'Granola Disneyland', belly laughing, outdoorretailerhub.com, SLC tight fit, SLC hospitality, OPE Photo Expo, Sustainable Business, Sustainable Living Roadshow, Sustainable everything, Gear Junkie #bestinshow, Diversity initiatives (or not), OIA, OIBIZ, #outdooruniversity, See you at Rendezvous, Epic Brewery, Missed seeing you at OR, No Reported Thefts?, Reunion breakfast, Paddlesports Advisory Council, orders written, Recess is Back, #thisisntanorderwritingshow, launch successful, Guinness Book record, #SUPZilla, #actionsportsatOR, Growth strategy, #ecotone, Pavilion exhibitors – NEPV, #BSAatOR, IMBA #cyclingatOR, Uncle Archie, where's Beckey?, #fishingatOR Hey Laird, Hey Conrad, Climb Smart, TEDx-style, GearThatDoesn'tSuck Awards, New Product Preview, putthatcameradown!, Letmeshowyouthis, #justtakeasecond, Red Iguana, #Bombara, Park Cafe, Blisters On My Fingers, Curleigh-fried, No Bouldering Comp? #TimmyONeill, #Sharma, OR Daily online

SNEWS recap, with links to many OR Daily articles

http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/Outdoor_Retailer_Summer_Market_2011_recap_081011.html

Get the full social media suite experience here(still jamming like the show is still on!)

http://www.netvibes.com/outdoorretailer#Outdoor_Retailer_Social_Media

And for levity…

 http://www.trailsedge.com/blog/how-to-drop-your-outdoorsiness-into-any-conversation/

 from the bike industry http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/5801.html

from the Action Sports industry http://business.transworld.net/70332/features/outdoor-retailer-summer-market-day-1/

from the Fly Fishing viewpoint http://www.anglingtrade.com/2011/08/12/lively-discussions-follow-fly-retailers-visits-to-outdoor-retailer/

we'll keep updating as reviews, blogposts, image galleries and video keep rolling out to reveal the heart and soul of our industry today.  Keep up the energy, and spread it to our customers! 

Posted at 3:08 am in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Fishing, Food and Drink, Games, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Profiles, Science, Skiing, Sports, Television, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (26)
July 7, 2011

Community Zones at Summer OR; the ‘welcome center’ for pros in Paddle, Running, Climbing, Design and Travel

I've been camping on this video for some time now (well about 10 months), and I've managed to get over the goofiness Michael exudes (certainly NOT moi, merci!)… also, I've made an even worse one recently, so suddenly this one doesn't seem nearly as bad anymore.  It's a good expose on the various community Zones at the OR Show, what the purpose is (never mind the beer) and it's got a few tech tips too for attendees.

 
In case our ramblings aren't super clear, here's a short list to prep for the show;

1) download a QR reader BEFORE you hit the show floor… many products, including ALL of the featured New Products in the EZ (Endurance Sports Zone) and the PZ (Paddlesports Zone) will use the QR technology to capture key product and contact info in your smartphone.
2) Download the ORShow mobile app, once it is released from the Apple store next week (July 11, hopefully).
3) Use the online show planner at http://www.outdoorretailer.com to see the live floorplan (including the must-see NEW EXHIBITOR PAVILION)m, plan your meetings in close clusters and avoid the cross-court hiking.
4) use the planner to incorporate the business ed. seminars you want to attend into your show planner. If you are registered, you have only to click the auto-link provided to you in a number of emails from us. Even if you didn't save them, just click 'forgot password' and follow the easy prompts to get in. See suggested products, brands, build your show plan and no spam or irrelevant messages.
5) Check the http://www.outdoorretailer.com site often as showtime approaches… many late-breaking elements will be announced in the coming weeks and the last thing you want is to get there and say "I had no idea that was going on!".

KH

Posted at 2:31 am in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Film, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Music, Paddlesports, Sports, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (32)
June 10, 2011

The Floorplan… Deliberate Design or Mishmosh?

OK so this is what blogging is for… to shed light on previously taboo or complex topics and engage an audience in a group dialogue, to uncover new ideas and otherwise improve transparency, effectiveness and connectivity within a group.  No other subject is as contentious or crucial to the OR experience than the layout of the show floor.  So… let's have at it, shall we?  Chime in whenever, however, but please be respectful…

The description of how the process works was published in the last OR Daily round (day 3), at Winter Market 2011, and you can check that out here… https://www.snewsnet.com/snews/Trade-show-dailies/ORDaily/ORD_Day_3_WM_2011/index.html

Of course being ID'd as the 'chief architect' of the show's layout puts me at the crosshairs of many, on the 'thank you' list for a few, and is somewhat misleading in the end.  The floorplan is a collaborative effort that results from 5 people's work and hundreds of conversations about thousands of iterations with a million possibilities, only one of which can be final if we hope to actually stage the show and not endlessly plan it.  All the 'asks', whether size or location or configuration, must be compiled in advance (in writing, ideally) so that the process rolls smoothly.  Often exhibitors want to have one of those conversations mid-process, which is nearly impossible as each position is highly dependent on the surrounding booth, aisle, and traffic flow requirements.  So one conversation would require 10 or 20 others to reset the context. 

What about show history, doesn't that matter?  As one of the only truly objective measures that an exhibitor can hang their hat on, absolutely Yes it's important.  But it's not the only criteria, when designing a show that truly serves the needs of the retail buyers and media who attend.  We have to assess 'Is this an important new category?' and 'will this exhibitor bring new buyers to the show?' and the mundane 'does it even fit?' when it comes to a rare opening on the show floor.  We ask exhibitors applying for space to provide their dream size/configuration/location info, but also 'what constitutes a double, or a single?' to use the old baseball analogy.  We can rarely hit home runs or grand slams for any one exhibitor.

Ideally a show is organized by buyer category, although the Salt Palace is not a shape or size that gives us that flexibility anymore… so we create business community clusters, like around the PZ (Paddlesports Zone), the EZ (Endurance Sports Zone), and the CZ (Climbing Zone).  Also product category clusters, like Footwear and Supplier Resources (around the DC, Design Center), are in service to the attending buyer, where much relevant product can be touched/seen/experienced in a tight geographic area.   Also further complicating the issue are brands that play in multiple product categories… remember when there were apparel brands, and tent brands, and pack brands? 

One last thing; we feel that deliberate design of a show is critical if one hopes to shape the experience of the attendee.  We do take great care in trying to satisfy every possible request and at the same time never take our eye off of serving the end customer, in our case the Retailer. 

Have your eyes rolled back in your head yet?  Snoring uncontrollably?  OK I'll quit here, but hopefully some dialogue will ensue about the design of the OR shows, sharing of other experiences in show design and layout, and any other floorplan related tips that can help exhibitor and attendee both. 

KH 

Posted at 4:05 pm in Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Games, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Paddlesports, Profiles, Science, Skiing, Sports, Television, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (17)
November 8, 2010

Virtual Design Center – Reloaded

What is a Virtual Event?  Is it, like, a tweetup, or a meetup, a mashup or a web conference, or what?  Can it be helpful to my business or just another distraction from my core business?

UPDATE!

One Day – December 7, 2010 for Live Cast

15 key brands supporting from OIA Eco-Index and Polartec to Bluesign Technologies and AAPN

90 days online and available in archive form

The OR Virtual Design Center focuses on education and latest material developments behind the branded products that are the focus of Outdoor Retailer shows.  This is a fast-moving and changing landscape (seen the price of cotton today?), and staying on top of the myriad technological, logistical and societal developments will help brands cement their leadership status, grow awareness and profits and 'do the right thing' to lessen environmental impact all at the same time.  

The VDC is anchored by a cluster of webinars (see finalized topics HERE) that last one hour each and are spaced out throughout a day.  The topics, panels and experts who are speaking on the issues are leaders in our industry and are full-time focused on creating sustainable options for designs of the future… OIA, AAPN, prAna, Zero-Waste-Alliance, Bluesign Technologies, Textile Exchange, Promostyl, etc… are all, in their own way, pushing the envelope on green design.   There are interactive brand displays ('booths') that feature sponsoring brand presentations with live interaction (on the Live day) and downloadable or viewable collateral available for interested attendees.  There are several ways for a supporting brand to configure their 'booth', including private room sessions, special timed events, and interactive engagement of visiting attendees. 

This interactive education event requires ZERO travel, ZERO housing, ZERO shipping or drayage and ZERO wasted time for both supporting suppliers/sponsors and for attending designer/developers.  Ideally, this online interactive environment will help tee up important business meetings at the OR Shows, and fuel even more value from our live, face-to-face events. 

Who is Attending?  This VDC version will focus on sustainability in the supply chain, and the target audience is the product design/development professional working for brands in outdoor, cycling, health & fitness, action sports and general sporting goods.  Through the reach of Nielsen (who owns over 40 pubs and shows that attract design professionals), this event will be able to draw thousands of working pros from other materials-intensive industries like hospitality, military, industrial, fixturing, general merchandise, etc… so the message of suppliers (and programs like eco-index, bluesign) can reach far beyond the wide world of sports. 

How Much $$?  The technology is expensive, but the platform is very reasonable for sponsors, and free to attendees.  For $2500 (about one 10'x 10' booth space at OR) a supplier/sponsor can easily upload collateral to an interactive brand display, which will then be visited by invited, interested attendees of both the live and archived event (3-month flight).   This interactive environment is flexible and can accomodate image galleries, video spots, quick time movies, pdf downloads, white paper research and messaging (instant and email style).  Higher level sponsors can get extra value from the event too… of course. 

How Do I Get Involved? – If you are a designer or product developer, save the date, register online when the time comes (about 3 wks out from live date), and plan to attend the same way you'd attend a webinar, or several in one day.  If you can't make Dec. 7, then visit the archived show online.  If you are a brand leader, consider supporting and showing off your latest fabric or solution in a cutting edge, dynamic two-way experience online.  Register here for FREE if you are interested.

How Much Work?  For sponsors, The Virtual Design Center is easy to use, much like uploading photos to flickr or having a facebook site for your brand… since design/developer types will be looking for sustainability options in their material choices, best to focus options there.  For attendees it's as easy as registering to attend a Webinar, except you'll get 4 and access to tons of relevant information around sustainability in the supply chain.  This information is helpful not just to designers but to retailers, media, marketers as well as consuming public who want to stay on top of latest trends in product development and sustainable business models.

What will the attendee walk away with? Lots of new concepts, tips, ideas, ways to measure, fabrics and solutions to incorporate in designs immediately.  Materials to tee up business and future design componentry.  Also a sense of who they need to know better come showtime in January. 

Like many live events, attendees have a virtual brief case or show bag that they can drop materials into for review later… paperless of course.  If I were an attending designer, I might take away a link to a keynote presentation, a few intro papers from new suppliers I didn't know about, some special programs from suppliers I did know about, and a coupon for taking advantage of a special offer on business services for my firm.   Oh, and a serious bump in my knowledge about cutting edge 'green' technologies and materials available for products of the future that I will have a hand in designing.

Virtual events can set up and enhance live face to face business, and empower your future customers with information relevant to their work in building more sustainable products that consumers want and that will be the hallmark of the active outdoor industry.   Doing events online in itself advances business without the cost of travel, or the environmental impact. 

What do you think?

Kenji

 

 

 

 

Posted at 10:02 am in Books, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Hiking, Mountain Sports, Science, Skiing, Sports, Travel, Trends, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (3)