Outdoor Retailer expo sold out and thriving

SALT LAKE CITY — The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, which saw smaller attendance last year, has sold out all its exhibit space for this year's expo, which will run Aug. 3-6 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

"Every nook and cranny the convention center could sell us is filled," said Maura Lansford, an expo spokeswoman. "The show is healthy. Our numbers are up, and we couldn't be happier."

Lansford said pre-registration statistics indicate the show will have slightly more than 1,000 exhibitors this year, and 4,100 booths have been booked.

Lansford said show organizers expect 21,000 people will attend this year's show, which would be an increase from last year's 18,000. The figures include retailers, exhibitors and their employees, industry guests and media representatives.

Another good sign, according to Lansford, is that many exhibitors have more items to display this year.

"Exhibitors are bringing more products than ever. Anyone who had the option to up their space did so. The fact that people have these products and are not afraid to be manufacturing — these are all good signs that things are looking up for the industry," she said.

"Obviously, having the retail numbers up is a sign people are willing to leave their shops and look at new products. In the years that were more difficult, shop owners wanted to stay close to home, they were less interested in new products, they were stressed."

Among other things, one new concept that will be available for attendees is information from the Adventure Travel Trade Association, which offers a variety of cross-promotional services, including assisting retailers in setting up programs for their customers to help them plan destination outings.

"Retailers can schedule appointments with the Adventure Travel Trade Association to learn how to sell these products and services so it is a service they can offer in their store. It is really new and exciting for the show, especially for the smaller shops, which are always looking for opportunities," Lansford said.

Planning an adventure trip by yourself could turn out to be a disaster, she said, with wasted vacation time and money and family members who are miserable.

"You'd have to do a lot of research on your own, and you would not know what you're getting into until you actually arrive. There's only so much information you can find online," she said.