The Winter Show Is Here
By Lisa Ramsperger
Outdoor Retailer Winter Online will keep the outdoor and snowsports industries connected this winter. Since the community can’t meet in person at the trade show, the new digital market-place and experience is the place to gather online, discover new brands and products, learn from experts, and network.
Everything typically squeezed into a three-day show is now available throughout the winter buy-ing season. Open until March 19, Winter Online kicks off with the Industry Breakfast Jan. 6.Register and you can schedule meetings and connect via live video with other attendees. Watch education sessions live or on demand. Discover new products and visit the Innovation Gallery. Join conversations in the forums or simply chat with other showgoers directly on Winter Online. It’s all in one place. To take advantage of everything offered, the first step is to register for free in advance here. Next, mark a few key dates on your calendar:
- Jan.6 – Winter Online opens and education sessions get underway with the Industry Breakfast.
- Jan. 19 – SIA’s Industry + Intelligence day
- Jan. 20–23 – Summit Days for key education and events
- Jan. 21 – Third annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards ceremony
- March 9 – Winter Online closing day
Once logged on to Winter Online, build out your personal profile: Add a photo, contact information, job title, location, and social media links. This helps you find the people and products for whom you’re searching and helps others find you.
From the home button, access Winter Online and begin exploring:
- Education & Events: See the daily education and event schedules. The sessions are listed in your time zone. Click the calendar icon next to those you want to add to your schedule. New sessions will be added through-out Winter Online, and all remain available to watch on demand.
- Forums: Join a discussion, share inspiration, or ask questions. This is where you find the Job Board.
- Community + Networking: Connect with other attendees. Search and filter by name, role, com-pany, interests, and more. Drop a note to send a connection request. A green dot next to a name lets you know they’re online. The AI functionality suggests people with whom you may want to connect based on your needs and likes.
For retail buyers, media, independent reps, importers/distributors, and designers, click on:
- Exhibitors: Visit the brand booths. Search and filter by name, product category, location, etc. Keep an eye out for events exhibitors are hosting in their booths.
- Product Gallery: Discover new products. Advanced filtering allows you to find specific products, and the AI recommends matches based on your searches. Sort by price point, de-partment, season, or show specials.
A few FAQs:
- Ready to schedule a meeting? It’s easy. Click on the attendee’s profile or visit the exhibitor booth to see available time slots.
- Just want to say hi? The chat features are available any time between attendees and with exhibitors. View messages from the bubble icon on the top bar, and don’t worry if you’re not online; you’ll receive an email notification when a message is received.
- Need assistance? Visit the Winter Online Help Desk in Forums at any time with questions.
Winter Online provides endless opportunities for stores and brands, and for the industry itself to grow and for its members to support each other.
