Outdoor Retailer extends one-day date shift of event through 2014

Time to set your Outdoor Retailer clock a day back.

After announcing earlier this year that Winter Market 2013 (Jan. 22-26) would start and finish a day earlier in the week, Outdoor Retailer officials have decided to make the shift effective through Summer Market 2014.

Under the new schedule, each Winter and Summer show’s demo day will fall on Tuesday, instead of Wednesday. And the trade show itself will run Wednesday through Saturday, instead of Thursday through Sunday.

“The change in day pattern for the show is in response to feedback and data showing a growing preference for midweek travel and tradeshow business,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Nielsen Expo Outdoor Group vice president and Outdoor Retailer show director.

Outdoor Retailer officials said the shift also will help it improve allocation of hotel rooms through Travel Planners, its new official housing partner. “Hotel contracts for Summer Market 2013 through 2014 are being reworked, and as a result, reservation details for show housing are not yet available,” officials said. Summer Market 2013 housing will open sometime in late November.

“We realize that this delay can be frustrating as it’s a new process, but we are working closely with Travel Planners to ensure a smoother, better system for the future,” Haroutunian said.

The changes come amidst officials considering a possible move of Outdoor Retailer Summer and/or Winter Markets, after its contract in Salt Lake City expires in 2014. A decision on that topic is expected by end of this year.

Here are the new Outdoor Retailer dates:

Winter Market 2013

All Mountain Demo: Tuesday, Jan. 22

Winter Market trade show: Wednesday, Jan. 23 – Saturday, Jan. 26

Summer Market 2013

Open Air Demo: Tuesday, July 30

Summer Market trade show: Wednesday, July 31 – Saturday, Aug. 3

Winter Market 2014

All Mountain Demo: Tuesday, Jan. 21

Winter Market trade show: Wednesday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, Jan. 25

Summer Market 2014

Open Air Demo: Tuesday, Aug. 5

Summer Market trade show: Wednesday Aug. 6 – Saturday, Aug. 9



–David Clucas