ASR Blog

OR Winter 2010; a retrospective PLUS HAITI HELP

Well the 21st annual Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is now a wrap.  I'm afraid I will never get around to thanking all the dozens, no HUNDREDS of people who contributed to the success of the little show that could... btw there are great links below for HAITI help and to video and stories on OR Winter 2010 if you want to skip over my nostalgic storytelling...

My first visit to a Winter show was when I made store manager for Adventure 16; I had just gotten my ears wet for a few months running a little backpacking shop in the San Fernando Valley when I was whisked off to Las Vegas for the SIA show, where there was a small representation, in a back, dank ballroom, of outdoor brands we needed to see.  The ski show was a glam-fest, which wasn't that odd to me given my L.A. roots (my dad attended Hollywood High School, even).   It was clear, even then, that our little market was an afterthought to the burgeoning fur-lined high heel fashion show going on in the main hall. 

So fast forward to last week, and the Winter Market born in 1989 has grown up into an electric, thriving beehive of commerce on it's own, celebrating and gathering brands and dealers selling outdoor gear for real use in the natural environment, both on and off the resort.  At the 2010 version of OR Winter, Jeremy Jones' POW (Protect Our Winters), Transworld Business, Trew and Venture Snowboards presence on the show floor for the first time showed a new inclusive atmosphere that joins resort and backcountry focused businesses together, really for the first time.  

More images, stories and video from the show will be posted up as the show shrinks in the rear view mirror, so feel free to chime in under 'comments' to guide fellow readers of this blog to other legit content... beware spammers and flamers, got my finger on the delete button just for you. 

Check out the following links to see video spots and hear about the show from different viewpoints...

http://www.outdoorretailer.com/winter_market/show/livefromor (featuring  Timmy O'Neill MC!)

http://www.outdoorretailer.com/winter_market/events_seminars/projector

http://business.transworld.net/30522/features/outdoor-retailer-2010-photo-and-video-gallery/

http://www.apparelnews.net/news/tradeshows/012910-Mood-Upbeat-at-Outdoor-Retailer/page2

HAITI SUPPORT UPDATE - see below for several different industry initiatives to choose from to support efforts on the ground in Haiti

 

1-

 Exhibitors are invited to donate show products - logistics will be provided by Terramar, Sierra Trading Post & Eric Larsen (THANKS for your strong efforts at show to pull this together!)

Logistics will work like this:

1. At the end of the show, participating vendors will package and ship their relevant show product they are donating to:

Sierra Trading Post

5121 Campstool Road

Cheyenne,

Wyoming

82007

ALL PACKAGES MUST BE MARKED: ROBIN JAHNKE /

HAITI

RELIEF

2. Product must arrive at Sierra Trading Post's warehouse within 10 days following the show

(that would be by FEBRUARY 8, 2010)

3. All products must be labeled HAITI RELIEF.

4. Sierra Trading Post will ship to

Haiti

via the Red Cross or another reputable relief agency.

2-

Doctors United For Haiti - option for gear donations not flowing through Port-Au-Prince

Paul Fish, of Mountain Gear, has recommended this outfit to get critical gear on the ground going around the main squeeze zone of Port au Prince, using private transport delivering straight to doctors on the ground in Haiti.  There is a detailed list of gear needs evident on the following sites:

http://www.dufh.org/

http://media-newswire.com/release_1111153.html

Coordinate gear for this approach via;

Paul Fish
Mountain Gear, Inc

6021 E Mansfield Ave

Spokane Valley,

WA

99212

Phone 509.242.4545

3-

Outdoor Industry Association

Working with AmeriCares (http://www.americares.org/), the OIA is calling on members to dig deep to support those areas devastated by earthquake in Haiti.
AmeriCares has disaster workers on scene and is planning immediate relief flights and sea shipments from their headquarters in

Connecticut.

. Their immediate product needs are:

Medical Supplies                       First Aid Kits             Bandages and Soaps
Face Masks – Medical     Water Purification     Headlamps
Tarps                                          Work Gloves            Hydration Containers

To donate this urgently needed product/equipment contact: Randy Weiss at AmeriCares at (203) 658-9527 or rweiss@americares.org. All donations will be delivered by air and sea directly to the region by AmeriCares.

 

If you are a gearhead and want to see the latest posts on gear reviews from the show, check these links out... more to come.

http://www.utahoutside.com/

http://gearjunkie.com/outdoor-retailer-show-products-2010

http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_14238681

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-gear25-2010jan25,0,1668279.story

 

KH

Update for Haiti and OR Winter 2010

Well like most of you we have been busy little beavers here at OR central lining up the hundreds of little details that make a great show go off.  With the end of year, planning for next, holidays and oh by the way a pretty big show approaching, it's been a whirlwind, for sure.  Sounds good, you say, but where's the beef?  What is happening this month in SLC? 

Plenty, to put it mildly.  Where do I start? 

UPDATE- Haiti needs our help.  OIA is recommending working through http://www.americares.org to funnel contributions, especially of gear that will be necessary in urban rescue and portable living arrangements.  This is the time to shine as an industry for outdoor recreation.   Other groups with people and programs on the ground or very soon will... http://www.medicinesglobal.org , or super easy text the word 'Haiti' to 90999 to put $10 to the American Red Cross. 

The All Mountain Demo would be a proper place to start.  Get to Snowbasin on Wednesday the 20th of Jan and treat yourself to an all-mountain cornucopia of latest gear to test on both lift-served, groomed nordic and off-piste terrain.  All the major brands will be there and two new events will highlight the expanded scope of OR Winter; the Transworld Business Retailer Rumble (pitting dealers against their vendors in a fun downhill run, whether sliding sideways or two-plankin'), and the Nordic Challenge, which will be more treasure hunt/orienteering fun on the x-country gear that will be available.  Fantastic prizes (including hotel rooms at next winter show!) abound... so step on up. 

At the show in town, I'll only bore you with the nitty gritty details, some of which can be plucked from the online event schedule.  so suffice to say there will be new features to partake of, new intelligence to absorb, new technology to understand and implement, new best practices to fold into your already strong business acumen.  There are some key avenues to explore as you enter the SPCC and Salt Lake in a few weeks... all at your fingertips at the show and in the weeks that follow...

The COMMUNITY - This Winter Market opens the season with not just a peek at the products and innovation that the brands bring to OR each January, but a never before seen gathering of powerful brands alongside the athletes, advocacy groups and media players that round out the entire winter outdoor rec business. New media players like Transworld, New brands like Venture Snowboards (+150 others), and senior brands like Columbia Sportswear returning to the show floor are just a few community highlights you'll see later this month in SLC. 

The EDUCATION - a timely and powerful lineup of seminars, panel discussions and presentations will manifest at OR Winter, powered by the Outdoor Industry Association as well as the OR special event team.  Social Media is a big topic these days, specifically how successful businesses are using it to fuel sales and contact with customers.  Late breaking, a panel of journalists and media experts from the industry will vet the 'death of media... long live (new)Media!' on day 3 in the morning.  The full lineup of presentations can be seen here.

The NETWORKING - Starting with the AMD Bash at Snowbasin (where the PRIZES are awarded!) and running continuously through the show are opportunities to network with peers from around the world, as well as with leaders of brands that will make your registers ring next year and beyond.  Athletes and advocacy groups can bring depth and purpose to any events you are currently hosting, and bring fresh ideas and influence to your community.  Your customers need to know who and why, not just where and what they need to recreate with!  Focus your networking intent on the ZONES at show, including the Climbing Zone, the Endurance Zone, the Design Center, the Backcountry Village... all of these areas are owned by the community of orgs and businesses who consider it their home, offering a great meetup (or tweetup) spot to kick off new relationships or solidify current partnerships... or just cool your heels or get a little stretch in on a rock wall or treadmill (while testing something cool and new).

The CULTURE -  SEE NOTE FOR HAITI ABOVE! This industry is all about facing adversity with confidence and clear thinking... let's show the other industries what we can make happen on the ground, and do our part. 

 From the TNF Masters of Snowboarding Comp to the Transworld Shop Challenge at AMD to the Backcountry Village events and the OR All Star Industry Jam, the OR Winter show reveals the soul of the marketplace... we do business, we do it well, but we know how to bring a city to life and play as hard as we work.  That ethic rests at the center of our lives, personal and professional.  It comes to life in the creativity that is flowing all around the OR show, day and night, for nearly a full week.  This Winter show will unveil new partnerships and creative treatments on and off the show floor in the booths, in the Zones as well as in the bars, restaurants and clubs. 

UPDATE- Haiti needs our help.  OIA is recommending working through http://www.americares.org to funnel contributions, especially of gear that will be necessary in urban rescue and portable living arrangements.  This is the time to shine as an industry for outdoor recreation. 

It's a great place to feel our culture, but it's a great place to expand on that culture, and be more inclusive as we enter 2010.  Let's invite everyone to play as we do, to simply start.  No attitude to contend with, no judgement, just have fun on the snow, ice, trails that are flat or vert or watery... just get out there, and get some gear to make it even more fun. 

This should be the theme of Outdoor in 2010; Inclusivity.  And this is what you'll get an eyeful of at OR Winter. 

Tech meets Outdoor on the trail, and at the show

The OIA Rendezvous happened earlier this month in San Diego, and featured a suite of presentations that focused on the application and importance to businesses of Social Media.  The day before the 'vous, an impromptu ad-hoc event surreptitiously called the 'Un-conference' happened as a live gathering of less than two dozen who were discussing similar issues in an open source format with more than two dozen who followed on skype and streaming webcast.   These are not the days of road miles and phone tag... these are the days of many options for up-to-the-minute updates, conversations, sharing of information and decision-making.  Well except for that pesky pre-season ordering scenario that remains.  This too shall change, though, if the pundits have any wisdom at all.

The OIA Rendezvous review is here

http://www.outdoorindustry.org/pdf/SmartPhonesWN102109.pdf

So what?  Well, your profitability absolutely relies on it, that's what.  Not only if you are a specialty shop, but whether you are a big brand, small or startup brand, athlete, advocacy group or any other part of the community of outdoor professionals, it's your job to know your stuff when it comes to ordinary tools applied to outdoor adventure.  Yes, even you journalists out there!  (I politely recuse myself from this grouping for now).

One impactful session at the Rendezvous was led by Paul Kirwin of Kirwin Communications fame and now Channel Signal.  Like the Nielsen Online group I share offices with, Paul's group focuses in on the 'conversations' being had about a brand, and how that 'buzz' is moving the needle (literally) up or down to drive positive or negative brand impressions, nearly in real-time.  He used examples from Mountain Hardwear and SIGG to illustrate how paying attention to internet chatter or buzz in chat rooms, blog comments, twitter posts and the dreaded 'mommy bloggers' can take a brand to its knees or elevate it beyond any paid advertising. 

Other key factors in tech-meets-outdoor are the electronic and visual cues that cellphones and other modern handheld devices transmit to rescuers or nearby ordinary citizens   http://news.cnet.com/Turning-cell-phones-into-lifelines/2100-1039_3-6140794.html(just one of 6400 results from a google search of 'mountain rescue cellphone visibility', not even counting water rescues).  Soon the very lack of communication will be an early warning sign that someone's adventure has gone awry. 

How does tech affect the show?  I follow a few folks who consider this their sole mission in life, to report on events with cutting edge technology... interactive registration services all the way to RFID for real-time traffic analysis (ooohhh....expensive).  In a nutshell, digital technology is going to absolutely transform the events industry to match the real needs of specialty markets.  At OR, you've already seen some evidence of this with twitter feeds from the show you can follow (or post to via hashtag), modernized floorplan/exhibitor list/schedule planning tools online, and streaming live video from the gear testing demo and main event.  Like I was saying in a previous post, the show isn't over when it's over anymore. 

More on this topic will be coming at you as we reach into 2010 (!) and beyond, so stay tuned. 

The show, is it really over?

The thought has been running through my head for the past 3 weeks, going on 4... why haven't I done my own show synopsis?  Why haven't I blogged the living daylights out of the incredible experiences of people, product and politics that whirled incessantly for 5 days (including the Open Air Demo) in SLC last month?  What is my problem?

Only here, on my last day of vacation, do I realize the hard truth.  Just because my team has done it's post-con meeting, videos finalized/posted, and thank you's have been sent, and the marketing and finance teams have moved on to FFR and Winter Market '10 (2010!  Say what?), doesn't mean the show is actually over.  The show, you see, is more than just an event gathering thousands of business people together for a few days of hand-shaking and baby kissing.  It is different things for different people, but it serves a 'process purpose' for nearly everyone.  Launching, Re-inventing, Culminating, Revealing, Hiring, Downsizing, Strategizing, Co-operating, Finalizing, Initiating, Streamlining, Resource directing, Inspiration-taking, Supporting, Solidifying, .... these are all processes that are understood as landmark moments in time, defining characteristics of some action that a company, or an individual, or an association of individuals, is taking.  Those actions keeps interest high in the brand, offering a glimpse into the inner workings and most of all affirming that there ARE inner workings churning out innovation; change agent companies throughout the industry emanate this at the show.  Those are the brands I want to be affiliated with...as a consumer, one-time retailer and full-time enthusiast.  I bet you do too.

It's why we're collectively becoming known as a 'Vibrant' or 'Energetic' (I'm stopping short of 'hip') industry.  It's visible at the show, but it's like a Humpback Whale surfacing for air... the whale doesn't cease to exist when it dives deep for some Krill taking... it simply goes under the surface for a few minutes.  This is how I see the show... surfacing twice a year, but rising and diving and being fully realized only months after the actual event takes place.  For stuff still unfolding into our awareness, check out the live bits still feeding into our facebook page and other 'Live From' treatments at the show.  

So really, in my life anyway, the show is still going on.  The news bits, the conversations, the product reviews, the post-show commentary in the blogosphere and in print, is all still rolling.  Orders are being placed from buyers who saw whom and what they needed for Holiday and spring shipments, adjustments to prior orders written in June after seeing the entire market play out in real time at the show.  Technology introduced at the show (in communications, marketing, POP, advertising, and training) is being implemented daily.  Sponsorship agreements for events and athletes are now coming to fruition and those devilish details are getting hammered out... details whose seeds took root at OR Summer 09. 

So not only must the show go on, it must be seen more organically... over time, and changing, crystallizing, becoming more clear as that time passes.  This may help to explain the post show 'daze' most of us experience the week after.... 

KH

Tribality rules supreme at OR

OK, I think I'm getting a reputation for making up words, but 'Tribality' just jumped out at me in my mental haze after six days of OR Summer Market, minimal sleep, and lots of conversations across tribal lines, inside the core councils, and at 'metatribe' events (oops there I go again).  I will post some cool links to photo pages, videos, reviews and blog posts soon, promise.  Oh, I just did.  Cool.

I could blather on about all the new and amazing events, meetings and chance encounters that will shape my future view of the industry and the shows up ahead.  I could reminisce about the old days, when it was simpler.  I could get serious for a minute (or an  hour) and dig into the challenges that the industry faces, the difficulties in combining so many divergent business needs into one 'house'.  

Thankfully, I have a lot of brilliant friends and colleagues in the outdoor industry, and they occassionally write their brilliance down.  And so I submit to you, the OR blog reader, one such missive from a senior leader at ARP, the owner of Sierra Designs, Kelty, Slumberjack, Wenger NA, and Royal Robbins, among other brands in the biz.  I think this piece says more about my experience of the show and the industry when we gather than I can muster, in or out of my post-show fog.  Michael at SNEWS also posted this up a few days ago when Geoff penned it, probably on a napkin between appointments or something.   KH

I looked around this morning at the Industry Breakfast and I saw you, and I smiled and felt at home. Despite the fact you are an unruly bunch of lunatics, dreamers, eccentrics, artists, adventurers and renegades, I felt a surge of pride and protectiveness, honored to be one of you, happy to be among you, my tribe. 

Years ago, we created the foundation for this $9 billion industry that has sustained us, helped us give back to our communities and our natural world, taught us about ourselves, our businesses and our responsibilities, and it has been more fun than should ever be possible with your clothes on.

When we began, we were amateurs. But that never stopped us. As we all do in the wilderness, we relied on our wits, our guts and our native intelligence to create an industry, a livelihood and a network of ethical and responsible corporate citizens.

Human-to-human connection is the real “value add,” Carr Hagerman said this morning, July 21, at the OIA Industry Breakfast. When my customers and I are face-to-face, that’s when human energy is exchanged and the world becomes a different, better place. And, Carr suggested, this is also when we stand a better chance of being successful.

We’ve had to bring more science to our work in recent years, but the art and the heart are still there, still the soul of our business. Our business has always turned on passion, energy and creativity. We were never “in the box.” The science of business has surely helped us grow, but it has not and never should replace our wild side.

During every industry event, on the show floor, in the hotel lobbies and restaurants, and in those times after midnight when we hope no one has a camera, I see you. I see my tribe. I belong and you belong and we belong together. While we are here to do business, I cannot resist this warmth and swelling in my heart, for you and our shared history and the wonderful business we created together.

We’ve been together, in some cases, for over 30 years. We grew up (and out) together, have seen each other in the all too rare flashes of brilliance and during those occasional moments of notoriety. Like a tribe, we have a strong level of trust and familiarity with one another, seen each other weak and strong, wise and foolish, successful and groveling in failure. 

What we have together cannot be captured in a deck of slides or in a business plan. And it cannot be replaced.

When we meet, we hug and we tell each other our stories. Story-telling is how we stay a tribe, how we remember and how we pass along our wisdom. “Remember that time in Reno when you forgot to close the doors on your U-Haul and your booth fell out onto I-80?”

It isn’t a cliché that people are the real enterprise value within our companies. But it can get over-looked and be under-valued. Don’t let that happen.

For some time now, others have wanted a piece of us, have wanted to tap or capitalize on or leverage what we have. It’s not that easy. Tribes take time, patience, an open mind and a warm heart.

As we walk through these intense days of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market I will look for you and remember who you are and why I so love what I do.
-Geoff O’Keeffe

Vice President, Operations

American Recreation Products

Camping scholarships for newbies in ME

This is a pretty fresh idea.  As kids and families across the country retrench into their homes and neighborhoods (and gas prices are doing the usual pre-summer rise), the progressive state of Maine has hit on a program partnership that is a great example of tough times bringing creative solutions.  Are there other programs like this out there?  My state (CA) seems to be blinded by a massive budget disaster and is likely to close or further limit access to our public open spaces. 

This summer we happen to be starting a pilot program at OR to scholarship twenty Eastern Paddlesports dealers into the show who have never been (at least in this millenium).  We think that by hosting them, and matching them up for a few hours over dinner with dealers who attend OR regularly, they will see how the show can improve their bottom line as well as their retailing acumen going into the crucial holiday and spring of 2010.  We're building networking events within the big event for each of several market groups during the show; climbing, endurance sports, design and sourcing, and the aforementioned paddle group. 

What new partnerships or outreach programs are you considering that is 'out of the box'?  Any successes to share?  One of the most critical roles the show plays is to set the stage for the flowing of new ideas and new ways to use new tools in the market. 

KH

Lessons from the Fishing market and the 'Jim Range effect'

I just spent the past week in D.C. on an interesting mission; to advocate for the trade at OIA's Capitol Summit, and then a few days later to do the same for AFFTA, the Fly Fishing industry's trade association; their lobbying event was called the 'Jim Range National Casting Call'.  The OIA event was clearly organized at a high level, and put the industry agenda in front of some of the most important lawmakers in the Obama administration, including a face-to-face with former Colorado senator Ken Salazar, the new Dept. Of Interior Secretary and a key friend of the Outdoor industry in Washington.  A friend of the industry award was given to both Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) for their work on behalf of enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities for citizens in their respeective states and for advocating on the national stage.  The Casting Call was a different approach... a softer, closer to the ground affair that brought kids and lawmakers together to learn about fishing and the interface between recreation and environment.  Jim Range was the spearhead for this event 10 years ago,  and was a political dynamo who applied his passion for fishing to his work as a senior policy advisor to Senate Majority leader Howard Baker, chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.  Sadly this was the first event after his passing in January, and the mood was both somber and reflective of his powerful spirit.  Read here to learn more about this amazing man's legacy of conservation advocacy.

The two approaches were markedly different, and both had great value for me personally as well as for the respective industry's I serve in my work here at Nielsen.  While my suit was donned (one of it's rare appearances) for my presence on Capitol Hill, I was wearing a volunteer shirt and running shoes for the AFFTA event, which took place very near D.C. on a historic section of the Potomac River (Fletcher's Boathouse).  For OIA it was clearly an adult affair, with little discussion about the actual activities involved in human powered recreation.  For AFFTA, day one was a participation-fest with nearly 500 kids from in and around DC learning how to catch fish for the first time, with parents in tow and at least 50 logo-shirted volunteers from teenager to elder statesman.  Day two of the Casting Call brought congressional players to partake of the Potomac's revived Shad population, as well as bear witness to 'shad planking', roll-casting, fly-tying and a host of other related hands-on displays related to resource protection and the art of catch and release.

 

Youngster's first catch!  Can you remember that time for yourself? 

 

former Senator John Warner (co-author of Gore's Repower America initiative just testified to in Congress last week) and the good folks at Living Classroom/

Below, one of the Potomac's famous Hickory Shad, caught and released by Alan Gnann, Board Chairman of  AFFTA

 

Ken Burns interview from WM09 about 'The National Parks; America's Best Idea'

If you came to the Industry Breakfast (hosted by OIA) at the winter show,  then you heard Ken Burns speak eloquently about his latest film project, 6 years in the making: 'The National Parks; America's Best Idea'.  This national PBS special will run for nearly two months starting this September 2009, and will inspire millions of viewers to take advantage of a uniquely American resource that their taxpayer money already pays for; access to wild lands and protected natural treasures.  OIA has even made available to retailers a resource called a 'Retail Tool Kit' that shows you how to capitalize on the PBS special airing this Fall. 

OR Exclusive!  Listen to a post-presentation interview with James Mills and Ken Burns here

Be sure your salespeople watch it and talk about it, and wrap your local programs and advertising around it... especially if you are reaching out to new audiences in your region this summer.  As we say on the Left coast, 'gotta surf when the waves are up'. 

This is a wave you can see coming a mile (and a few seasons) away.  Take full advantage of it!

KH

Retailers succeeding in the midst of economic turmoil

The news these days has more exclamation points per page than at any time I can remember... I used to consider it annoying, but realize that in critical times, all business-minded people are paying closer attention to the daily ebb and flow of the market than before; the press knows it, and therefore play to that increased attention by putting more 'pop' into headlines.  Yesterday the stock market surged on an internal comment that Citi CEO Pandit made about being in the black.... are we a reactive bunch or what? Like watching a good horror flick, our collective hands are clasped over our eyes, but peeking through to bear witness to the latest corporate thrashing of share value and employee head count.  

It's important not to panic in these times, or buy into the 'sky is falling' sentiment.  Most of us in Outdoor know how to face adversity, in the market just like on the mountain.  There is a lot of information out there, and resources to utilize in reacting appropriately to the forces at work in the outdoor market.

Here, then, is one of several balancing reports that show how retailers have made successful progress even during tough times.  Our recent survey of retailers (over 1500 respondents) and even the online poll we are tracking now (bottom right, run of site on outdoorretailer.com) shows a confident yet cautious approach to running the business that betrays the 'cataclysm' portrayed in the mainstream business media. From Retail Info Systems Newsletter.

The OIA recently produced several very interesting articles and webinars, and are continuing their quest to serve up more meaningful business education at the show, but also directly via their website.  A renewed spirit of cooperation was evident in last week's string of meetings to come up with new ideas for the show and association to raise the ROI of attendees and vendors at the OR shows.  As the pace of change in business quickens, communication within and throughout the various stakeholders in Outdoor will be the key to outperforming the economy and our own expectations.

KH

Return to Beijing for ISPO China

My second time to Beijing in so many years felt more familiar than was reasonable... I was in a new role this time (presenter), spent an unplanned night in SF, and had an unusually rough patch getting into country this time.  In customs check, they actually took out my books, asked me about them, and gave them quite the gander before letting me through ('Sex, Time and Power and The Kite Runner, if you must know).  By far the most 'communist' treatment I've personally had, but it was subtle, even friendly, like he really just wanted to know what a guy like me was reading. 
Then again, there was that lady at the Forbidden City last year... hm, better come to Beijing (and ISPO China) and have your own communism moment!  Beijing is a beautiful city, in a very bustling upheaval change center kind of way.  That mix of ancient dust and construction cranes and emergency mobile tech vehicles alongside people cycling on faded, wobbly bikes.  And it just got ranked by some high-profile magazine as the 6th Laziest city in China!  That bodes well for the outdoor specialty scene...

The Chinese Outdoor Retailing Conference took place on the last day of ISPO China, Saturday Feb. 21, 2009, and was sponsored by Gore  and ISPO China.  It started with some (what seemed to be) pretty ho-hum growth figures from the industry group doing the market research.  The jyst I got was that sales were up and margins, profitability were up but not much growth in the number of independent retailers.  Department Stores, in the north at least, have the lions share of the business at this stage.  Nevertheless, a spirited presentation by Jiang, President of Sanfo Outdoor (one of the top specialty retailers in China), fired up the crowd (160 or so) and is rumored to be opening 3 stores in 2009, making the total 17 in China for Sanfo.  I, on the other hand, bored them slightly in English (thankfully Isabel Yu was translating) about e-commerce and how some specialty retailers use the internet here in the US. 

They seemed appreciative, anyway. 

How was the ISPO China show, you ask?  Well it was very well attended (well above last year), but the exhibitor count was not in step with the dealers.  The Chinese companies like Black Yak and Ozark were showing STRONG, and Vasque, Teva, and Marmot were there with new or stronger presentations, with traffic in lockstep. 
Patagonia had a little pop at the CORA booth, where a few other US brands dipped their toe in.  Seems the economy does affect Outdoor after all.  It's too bad, because when it really goes off there, I suspect it's going to be the 'next coming' for our industry.  Those of you familiar with the Korean and Japanese outdoor industry history, know what I'm talking about?  Everyone seems to be guessing the right timing.

The show drew very well from the north and I met many from Shanghai and Hong Kong too.  Hopefully next year more domestic brands (which were represented in the aisles) will be there to support the show and their business relationships in the East.  We'll try to make it easier too, if and however we can help.

The presence of many good ski brands, as well as machinery for tuning and even Doppelmayr, the ski lift maker, made sense in the northern  half of China (where Beijing is), where there are now 200 ski areas in all of China.  There was an entirely separate education track riffing on a myriad of topics related to operation of ski areas/resorts.  Early days, and it'll be fun to watch that go off.  Rip Curl apparently sponsored a rail jam event the day before the show, which I missed with my rain-delayed flights here in the US.  Too bad, last year's was fun.

Given the world economic upheaval, ISPO China 2009 felt very much reflective of the state of the industry here; cautiously optimistic that the people will return to the basics of life (as in past recessions), and understand once again that keeping one foot on the trail and one paddle in the water is a fun, healthy and prudent way to spend (one's limited) time and money.