Committed to an Equitable Future

As we built Outdoor Retailer Online, our virtual event platform, we knew we would learn things that would change and enlighten our perspective on our business. We assumed these lessons would be about the nature of business in a digital world. But what we learned is much more profound.

In developing our digital environment, we thought carefully about incorporating moments that could evoke the emotion and nostalgia the industry feels at Outdoor Retailer. We wanted the platform to be dynamic and an experience reminiscent of our live event.

So, we created a virtual lobby – a 360-degree experience where our guests could discover education and find brands. We populated this space with familiar sights and faces, complete with avatars of some of our team members. When you clicked their badge, each team member gave you all of their information, in case you needed to get in contact. Thinking back to our goal – what would make people smile and remember Denver – we decided to include one more avatar – Harold. Harold Curry has been the greeter at the Colorado Convention Center for many years. He’s been called the “Preacher of Personality,” and his smile and positivity has been one of our team’s favorite parts of being in Denver. You can see more about him here.

We did not fully realize the impact of incorporating Harold into this experience, especially without identifying him and his vital role at the convention center within the virtual lobby. Going forward, we are committed to demonstrating our vision of a more diverse and inclusive community, with appropriate references to everyone connected to our shows and venues in the most favorable light. This was always our intention. We are dedicated to fostering an equitable future for Outdoor Retailer and our industry.

Marisa Nicholson
Outdoor Retailer