Outdoor Retailer and ISPO Managers in Constant Close Communication About Show Dates

The top managers of Outdoor Retailer and ISPO continue to be in close pro-active contact to coordinate dates for their important outdoor and snow tradeshows in North America and in Europe.

Increasingly, sporting goods and outdoor retailers on both continents have very similar needs in timing for their seasonal shopping and buying. Brands selling on both continents experience very tight scheduling options for their market presentations. Consequently, the tradeshows serving each continent face tough scheduling challenges to combine their retailers’ ideal dates with the travel needs facing the bi-continental brands. A small but important portion of companies in the outdoor and snow markets have become truly international brands. For some of their staff, tight tradeshow schedules can pose problems. For winter, the two shows have an unavoidable overlap in 2020 and 2021.  For summer, there is no overlap and the dates allow ample time to travel for those with responsibilities at both shows.

“January and June are productive months for getting business done in the outdoor industry. We are a global community. Our goal is to minimize the overlap between Outdoor Retailer and ISPO to the best of our ability. We’re not trying to compete, and both shows face scheduling challenges when working to serve our communities’ needs within the same time frame,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer senior vice president and show director. “We maintain ongoing communication with ISPO, and we are working with our respective venues and cities to coordinate dates and make it possible for customers to attend both shows.”

 “Meeting retailers’ needs has always been the foundation of ISPO’s success. They want to see all the brands available in Europe’s markets. So we are in constant close contact with Marisa and her Outdoor Retailer team to avoid date conflicts as much as possible for our exhibitors which also show in the US,” says Tobias Groeber, Messe Munich’s Head of the Consumer Goods Division, which includes ISPO Munich and OutDoor by ISPO.

Following their most recent conference call in early January, Nicholson and Groeber together announced, “We welcome all input from our markets and customers to help us create the best possible options for both continents. We realize the needs of retailers, and it is always our aim to put on successful events for everyone in the entire industry.”