Outdoor Retailer Summer Market update: New Exhibitor Pavilion doubles in size; show badges won't be mailed

With two months to go before Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Aug. 1-5, in Salt Lake City, trade show officials said attendees can expect a greater number of new exhibitors in one place along with new events, food trucks and a beer garden.

More than 850 booths will return to the show, in addition to 300 new exhibitors, officials said. To make room for the growing number of new companies at the show, Outdoor Retailer organizers are doubling the size of the New Exhibitor Pavilion, across West South Temple from the Salt Palace.

The area also will be a hub for activity, hosting the show’s opening night industry party and exhibiting a giant SUP tank where show-goers can test water products. Other highlights will include a beer garden, food trucks, casting ponds and more in an area Outdoor Retailer is calling the “Street Scene.”

The north entrance of the Salt Palace, closest to this location, will lead attendees past another new exhibitor area in the mezzanine above the show floor.



Badges not being mailed

Officials also announced that they would not mail show badges to attendees this year to help tighten security.

“We have had numerous complaints from key suppliers and exhibitors who are concerned about the number of unqualified attendees being present at the show as well as counterfeit badges showing up onsite,” officials said.

The new process will require attendees to print their show confirmation email with a barcode before they arrive at the Salt Place, then proceed to one of multiple will call areas at the north, south and west entrances or the New Exhibitor Pavilion. (Officials hope the additional entrances set up for registration should cut down on lines.) At those entrances, aids will scan the barcode, check a photo ID and provide attendees with badges.

“We want a good experience for both qualified retailers and exhibitors, and this is an easy way to keep the audience tight to our core constituents,” Show Director Kenji Haroutunian told SNEWS. “It requires many more stations on site and more staffing, but in the end serves the industry better.”

As part of the new process, officials also are requesting individual email addresses for all attendees. Previously, it only required one email address for all attendees out of a single storefront. The change not only will aid security at the show, but also will help each attendee plan his or her individual schedule online, officials said. They added that the individual information will lead to more accurate demographic information on who attends the show.

“We know this is a little inconvenient, but we are doing these things to improve the value of the show to retailers, attendees and exhibitors,” officials said.



OR Daily deadlines approaching

It’s time to start submitting your products, news and events for coverage in the official newspaper covering Outdoor Retailer Summer Market — O.R. Daily, powered by SNEWS. Here’s how you can participate:

>> O.R.D. New Product Gallery gives your brand the opportunity to showcase NEW products debuting at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012. Participation is free, but you must follow the guidelines and fill out the form completely by Friday, June 15, 2012 to qualify for consideration. Click here to access the New Product Gallery web form. Submit ONE product and ONE photo per submission. You are welcome to submit more than one product, each in a separate submission, but keep in mind that each brand likely will receive only one product placement in the New Product Gallery to ensure fair and balanced coverage.

>> O.R.D. Events allows you to advertise any events, happy hours, seminars, donations, free stuff and after hours being conducted at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012. Participation is free, but you must follow the guidelines and fill out the form completely by Wednesday, July 11, 2012 to qualify for consideration. Click here to access the Events web form.

>> O.R.D. New Exhibitors gives your FIRST-TIME company to the show a free spotlight article. Send an email to ordnewexhibit@snewsnet.com by Friday, June 22, 2012 requesting a submission form that you’ll need to fill out completely to be considered for coverage.

>> Got more O.R.D. News and products to share? Send us a press release at ordailynews@snewsnet.com. We’ve already started our reporting on new product trends, so the sooner you send us information, the better. Any news we consider for O.R. Daily must be specifically relevant to the show — something that’s unveiled, announced or conducted at the show.

>> Want to advertise in the O.R. Daily? Guarantee your brand and product presence and promote your trade show campaign in the most widely-read resource on the show floor. Packed with gear reviews, product picks, events and photos, the O.R. Daily delivers the hottest trends to thousands of trade show attendees. Contact Elizabeth Averbeck at eaverbeck@aimmedia.com to reserve your space.