Outdoor Retailer Announces Virtual Design Center LIVE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Outdoor Retailer Announces Virtual Design Center LIVE

Online interactive conference to bring suppliers and soft goods designers together

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – October 26, 2010 – Outdoor Retailer announced today the creation of its Virtual Design Center LIVE (VDC), a one-day online, interactive seminar for soft goods designers and developers to find and learn about the latest products from suppliers. VDC LIVE will be held December 7.

“The decision by Nielsen to introduce the Virtual Design Center concept is truly visionary,” said Mike Todaro, managing director of the American Apparel Producers’ Network. “In one fell swoop, the VDC will bring together two critical masses — designers with ideas and suppliers with experience. If anything, this increases the power of the actual Outdoor Retailer show, where face-to-face meetings will now be prequalified and the value of each pre-established.”

VDC LIVE will be a series of virtual trade shows produced by Outdoor Retailer. The theme of the first edition is “Sustainabilty through Design” and will feature a virtual exhibit hall, virtual auditorium and virtual lounge. Live interactive panel discussions and keynote addresses anchor the content, while the interactive supplier displays will further educate and inform design pros on what elements need to be included in 2011 products and beyond. The Virtual Lounge will facilitate networking and job prospecting.

VDC LIVE will cover the latest developments in supply chain and materials management.

“A major component of the OR shows is what innovation happens upstream from the finished products story. The Virtual Design Center will focus on that innovation and offer cutting-edge education and information in an unprecedented model of efficiency for designer, developer and supplier,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “It is exactly what the market needs and Nielsen has the reach and technology to bring this to life in Outdoor Retailer and beyond.”

The American Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) is one of five content partners with the Virtual Design Center, joining Ecologic Design, Fabriclink, Outdoor Industry Association Eco-Index, Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), Patagonia and Promostyl.

Sponsors AAPN, American Cotton Growers, Bluesign Technologies, Buhler Yarns, Hyperbola Textile, Malakye and Polartec are also on board to help make the VDC LIVE a success in bringing thousands of designers and developers together.

Promoting suppliers product lines in a cost-effective format will help participants connect with design professionals from the action sports, cycling, outdoor, sporting goods, fitness, Industrial, military and hospitality groups via Nielsen connectivity.

For more information about the Virtual Design Center LIVE, go to www.outdoorretailer.com/info/virtual-design-center. To participate as an exhibitor, contact Outdoor Retailer Sales Manager Marisa Nicholson at marisa.nicholson@nielsen.com or 949-226-5760.

About Outdoor Retailer

Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Expositions 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 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which will bring the best of winter product offerings to Salt Lake City, Utah at the All Mountain Demo from January 19, 2011 and the Trade Show from January 20-23, 2011.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jared Eborn, SOAR Communications, 801.656.0472 x3(wk); 801.599.9268(cell), jeborn@soarcomm.com

Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801.656.0472 x1(wk); 801.597.7515(cell), csmith@soarcomm.com

###