Utah shines at retailers' '07 market

The minute you stepped through the half-circle of doors leading into the Salt Palace, you knew something big was going on ... to the right, there was a long line of registration booths. To the left, courtesy booths directing visitors to good food and comfy beds. And in the center, hordes of people waiting to show their badges and step past security and into an outdoor enthusiast's candy store.

It fogs the mind. Every nook and cranny in the Salt Palace had a display booth packed with outdoor-related products and a bunch of reps there to explain why everyone in the world would want one of these items — at full retail price.

This year, there were more than 700 companies presenting products. As you walked through the Salt Palace, however, you'd swear it was more like a thousand.

Of those presenting, scanning over the list of exhibitors with addresses and Web sites, I counted 35 companies here in Utah. Some were affiliates; some stood alone. Some I recognized; some I didn't.

Black Diamond, for example, I know well. The company has been around since 1957 and is well known for its skiing and climbing gear, which it supplies to stores around the world. Artfully displayed in its booth in the main hall was everything from climbing harnesses to chalk bags to backcountry skis.

A major competitor in the climbing business is Petzl, located in Clearfield. In its booth there were all kinds of climbing gear for mountaineering, rock and ice climbing and caving. There was also an assortment of equipment made for those companies requiring employees to work at great heights, i.e. climbing steel beams rather than rocks.

Then there's Chums/Chisco, makers of the world famous chum eyewear cords. It also makes iPod cases, watchbands, neck lanyards, key chains, wallets and fitness gear.And all were on display.

And, of course, there's Easton, makers of anything aluminum, from tent poles to snowshoe frames to baseball bats and arrows.

But then there were companies I was not so familiar with, such as Liberty Mountain. Its list of products is long ... optics, knives, stoves, camping and climbing gear and products for biking and fitness.

E.K. Ekcessories out of Logan was another company in the show. It makes things like clip-on pass holders, snowboard cords, glove retainers and carrying straps for ski boots.

Another Salt Lake company is Gator Sports, makers of outdoor accessories intended to keep people "warm." It was the creator of the neoprene face protector that covers the nose, mouth, chin and neck for cold-weather protection.

Kuhl is a popular line of clothing and comes with a Salt Lake address. The line includes men's, women's and kids jackets, vests, shirts and pants.

Spiro-Sport Foods out of Park City has come up with healthy, good-tasting snacks made specifically for those with an active lifestyle. It uses natural beef, free of antibiotics, pesticides and/or growth hormones. The cattle are vegetarian-fed from an early age. At the show, it introduced turkey bites, which are made from free-range turkey meat mixed with just the right touch of natural honey.

Then came the announcement at the show that three more companies, including online retailer Backcountry.com and Smith Optics were coming to Utah.

Utah doesn't hold as many companies as California or Colorado, but the list is growing, as seen at this year's Outdoor Retailers Winter Market.

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E-mail: grass@desnews.com