OR Winter Market Expo Pre-Show Numbers to Match Last Year's Show

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Dec. 17, 2008 – Less than six weeks out from its Winter Market Show, Outdoor Retailer (OR) reported that close to 330,000 square-feet of exhibit space is currently sold, putting the tradeshow on par with last Winter Market. As of the release date, OR is also hosting more than 175 new exhibitors.

“Despite uncertain times for several retail categories, recent industry research shows the outdoor market remains healthy,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “This trend is holding true for the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market as nearly 800 exhibitors have purchased an average of five percent more floor space than in years past. At this point, we are on target to meet last year’s exhibitor and attendee numbers.”

In addition to healthy show numbers, Outdoor Retailer also affords its exhibitors and attendees valuable new and revamped events/venues for meeting their business and networking objectives during the show.

Backcountry Base Camp
All Outdoor Retailer attending retailers are invited to spend a day at Backcountry Base Camp (BBC), receive a discount lift ticket, view hands-on exhibitor displays and test backcountry products including Nordic skis, snowshoes and accessories. A limited amount of Telemark and Alpine Touring gear will also be available for selective testing.
Specifically, this year’s BBC features a new, more realistic testing track for Nordic skiing and will be held Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at Snowbasin Ski Resort in Ogden, Utah.

Backcountry Village
A centralized community space located on the show floor, the Backcountry Village features the most relevant product, people and technologies for the winter hardgoods marketplace. Attendees and exhibitors alike are invited to enjoy the sense of backcountry community with ongoing videos, presentations, seating and cappuccino bar.

OR “Winter Exposure” Industry Party & Fashion Show
The Winter Market Fashion Show presented by Woolrich will take center stage at the Outdoor Retailer “Winter Exposure” Industry Party on January 22, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom in the Salt Palace Convention Center.

The annual OR Winter Market Fashion Show will reveal dozens of the latest designs in the wintersports technical, casual, and endurance apparel categories, and bring products “to life” for thousands of attending buyers and media.

Project OR
New to Winter Market, Outdoor Retailer will host the second cycle of “Project OR,” a 48-hour concept-to-prototype student design competition meant to inspire innovative winter outdoor fashions. As part of the competition, up-and-coming design students from the country’s top design schools will conceive, design, and build garment prototypes using design materials and components from the supplier exhibitors of the show.

Show attendees are encouraged to track their favorite student during daily episodes (available for viewing online and in the Design Center) and participate in a live voting component of the competition.

Scandinavian Village
Outdoor Retailer attracts outdoor industry manufacturers and distributors from around the world. In the Scandinavian Village, show participants can explore the product offering and culture of Scandinavia’s 1,554 years in the wintersports business.

Outdoor Retailer, a trade-only event, will begin with Backcountry Base Camp to be held at Snowbasin Ski Resort on January 21, 2009, followed by the indoor portion of the show at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 22-25.

For more information about exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer and other events and marketing opportunities surrounding the show visit www.outdoorretailer.com/winter_market/.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Business Media of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is a full service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. OR is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Outdoor Retailer (www.outdoorretailer.com) gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Winter and Summer Market shows.

The next opportunity to preview the future of the outdoor industry will start at the sixth Annual Backcountry Base Camp at Snowbasin ski resort on January 21, 2009, followed by the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace Convention Center from January 22-25, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will bring the best of spring/summer product offerings to Salt Lake City, Utah at the Open Air Demo from July 20, 2009 and the Trade Show from July 21-25, 2009.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maura Lansford, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730, mlansford@soarcomm.com or
Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730, csmith@soarcomm.com