OIA Hosts “Not to Miss” Events at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

For more information contact:

Donna Martino, Outdoor Industry Association, 303.327.3520

OIA Hosts “Not to Miss” Events at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011

Boulder, CO (July 19, 2011) — Outdoor Industry Association, the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer, will host a variety of educational workshops during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (ORSM) trade show in Salt Lake City, UT August 4-6.



Just added to the OIA lineup of Outdoor University® live sessions is Cash In on the SUP Craze: Turn Your First-Time Customer Into an Evangelist for Your Store, a workshop set for Saturday, August 6 at 9 am led by Tyler Callaway, Director of Business Development at FCS/Surf Hardware International and Earl Richmond, Owner of Colorado Kayak Supply. The session will explore the successes and challenges of selling SUP, along with the importance of accessories and how they can increase sales. Retailers and sales reps will learn how to create relationships and maintain customers by outfitting them with the proper gear and using clinics and events to engage them in the continually cresting wave of SUP enthusiasm.

Professional Ocean Athlete Candice Appleby, well known for sharing her expertise to empower fellow paddlers, will join the discussion and approach the topic from a woman’s perspective, highlighting how different accessories help to improve both her performance and enjoyment of stand up paddling.

“At FCS we have found that if you can help someone improve their performance/enjoyment by educating them, then not only are they thankful, they are anxious to share that knowledge/experience with their peers,” said Tyler. “That makes them an asset to your business for all the right reasons. Personal empowerment through education and performance equipment is one of the most amazing marketing tools I’ve ever seen. It’s been the core of our business in surf for years and has translated perfectly into SUP. The market is so new that many retailers have not yet discovered how powerful and profitable a good SUP accessory program can be for their business.”

All Outdoor Industry Association events at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will be held at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown and are available at no cost to Outdoor Retailer attendees. The full schedule is below:

Wednesday, August 3

9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Salons A-D)

OIA Eco Working Group Meeting

Thursday, August 4

7:00 am – 9:00 am (Salons A-J)

OIA Industry Breakfast, presented by The North Face: Deciphering Consumer Trends and Their Impact on the Outdoor Industry

Kicking off ORSM, trendspotter Marian Salzman, CEO at ERWW PR and ER Life PR, will explore the technological, social, cultural and behavioral shifts going on with today’s consumers and the impact they will have for tomorrow’s business practices. This timely and valuable industry discussion will highlight where things are headed, why consumers are acting the way that they are, how they will behave in the age of “anti-social”, what to look out for and how to ride the wave of turbo-charged techno-change and help your business stay ahead of the curve.

11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Salon E)

The Counterfeit Explosion: Battling Rogue Websites and Online Knockoffs

This live panel discussion will explore the growing problem of Internet counterfeiting, and our panel of experts will share information you can use to battle the cyber-theft of your products.

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Salons A-C)

Barefoot or Boots? Spotting Outdoor Footwear Trends to Make Timely Sales Decisions

Explore how to match product, inventory and merchandising plans to current consumer tastes and how to tap into outdoor footwear trend information to create successful and timely sales strategies.

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Salon E)

Beyond the Eco Index: Innovation in the Wool Supply Chain

This workshops takes an in-depth look at promising work in the supply chain for wool, featuring innovative projects focused on biodiversity, regeneration and traceability.

Friday, August 5

9:30 am to 11:00 am (Salon E)

Partnering for America’s Rivers: Building Healthy People, Communities and Economies

A panel of experts will highlight the social, health and economic benefits of enhanced urban water corridors, how companies can work with municipal and state government to restore local waterways, and what AGO has in store for America’s rivers in the future.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Salons A-C)

Increase Register Sales: Effective Strategies to Sell More Apparel

Learn to effectively sell technical clothing and accessories to not only enhance your customer’s outdoor experience, but also drive higher margins, increased transaction values, higher UPTs and overall sales growth. Presented by Dan Mann, Founding Partner at The Mann Group.

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Solitude Salon)

OIA/ASTM Working Group Meeting

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Salon E)

Eco Index Update and Equipment Subgroup Status Report

Get an overview of the current state of the Eco Index project, including major happenings since Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (Salon E)

Knowledge Is Power: The Sales Experience in the Digital Age

This innovative panel discussion explores how dealers, suppliers and sales reps can all sell more and sell smarter with today’s technology.

Saturday, August 6

9:00 am to 10:00 am (Salons A-C)

Cash In on the SUP Craze: Turn First-Time Customers Into Evangelists

Explore the successes and challenges of selling SUP along with the importance of accessories and how they can increase sales. Presented by Tyler Callaway, Director of Business Development at FCS/Surf Hardware International and Earl Richmond, owner of Colorado Kayak Supply.

All OIA events will be held at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, 75 South West Temple, across from the main entrance of the Salt Palace. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org/OR.

For more information on these and other OIA Outdoor University workshops, visit outdoorindustry.org.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Outdoor Industry Association® is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services. OIA programs include representation in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, business-to-business services and youth outreach initiatives. Educational events include the annual Rendezvous®, Outdoor University®, and the Capitol Summit. OIA is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows. For more information go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.