OIA Outdoor University April 14 Successful Local Events

Media contact

Donna Martino, Marketing Manager

Outdoor Industry Association

303.327.3520

Email: dmartino@outdoorindustry.org

Outdoor University 2010: Implementing Successful Local Events

Outdoor Industry Association Webinar Set for April 14, 2010

Wednesday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. (MDT) Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) will present Implementing Successful Local Events, a live Webinar workshop offering suggestions on how to successfully host your own event or make the most of company sponsored events.

BOULDER, CO (March 30, 2010) – On Wednesday, April 14, from 2:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. (MDT) Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) will present Implementing Successful Local Events, a live Webinar workshop offering suggestions on how to successfully host your own event or make the most of company sponsored events.

Sponsoring community events plugs retailers into their core market. It is also good for the community and for the company bottom line, but the volume of requests from potential community-based organizers and athletes can be overwhelming and there are lots of unknowns along the way.

Presented by Coral Darby, Owner/Founder, Darby Communications, this Webinar offers winning strategies for choosing events in line with company goals and objectives as well as budgets, ensuring sponsorship is a value-added endeavor. Darby will present tips on how to set objectives and expectations for the event, how to market the event, and how to engage staff and vendors before, during and after the event. Audit tools will be mapped out for assessment of the investment and future planning.

Coral Darby is the driving force and founder of Darby Communications, based in Asheville, NC. Coral and her team at Darby Communications provide customized PR and promotional plans for companies such as Vasque, PROBAR, Headsweats, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Goodhew, Guyot Designs and Alite.

Implementing Successful Local Eventsis the second of eleven online retail workshops in the 2010 OIA Outdoor University® program. Outdoor University Webinars are offered free to OIA members and SNEWS® subscribers and for $99 per Webinar for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For complete information on the Outdoor University program, speakers or to register, visit www.outdoorindustry.org/webinars.

Outdoor University 2010 Schedule

• Wednesday, April 14, Implementing Successful Local Events
• Wednesday, May 12, Growing Outdoor Participation … and Your Customer Base
• Wednesday, June 9, Branching Out Without Losing Your Roots
• Wednesday, July 14, Converting to a New Point of Sale System
• Wednesday, August 18, The Evolving Role of the Independent Rep
• Wednesday, September 8, The Art of Feng Shui in Specialty Retail
• Wednesday, October 13, Marketing Your Locally Owned Business
• Wednesday, November 10, How to Form a Key Vendor Marketing Alliance
• Wednesday, December 8, Working With, Not Against Big Boxes
• Wednesday, January 12, 201, Sustainability as a Business Initiative

Outdoor University® is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors: Adventure 16, Alpine Shop, Backwoods, Darby Communications, Midwest Mountaineering, Mountain Gear, outdoor DIVAS, Outdoor Retailer, Rock Creek Outfitters, Rutabaga, SNEWS®, What’s Up Public Relations and Woolrich. OIA Outdoor University® is an affiliate of SNEWS® Retail College.

###

About Outdoor Industry Association

Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. 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. Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows. For more information go to www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.