The Big Gear Show releases partial exhibitor list
The open-air, invite-only trade show running in Utah this August has pulled back the curtain on who's attending.
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Organizers of The Big Gear Show today released a partial list of exhibitors who have signed on for the event—the most complete glimpse industry members have gotten so far into which brands will participate in the August 3-5 show happening in Park City, Utah.
“Black Diamond, Camelbak, Diamondback, Giro, Johnson Outdoors, La Sportiva, Liberty Mountain, Osprey, Petzl, Pinarello, Tahe Outdoors, and Yakima have signed on to exhibit at the show,” BGS leaderships said in a release.
The show also confirmed that the following brands will be in attendance: Camp Chef, Eureka, Goal Zero, Jetboil, Kleen Kanteen, La Sportiva, Miir, Princeton Tec, SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, Scarpa, Sterling Rope, POC Sports, Stan’s NoTubes, Tern Bicycles, Troy Lee Designs, Wahoo Fitness, AIRE, Astral, AquaGlide, Eddyline Kayaks, Esquif Canoe, Ocean Kayak, Old Town Canoe, Oru Kayak, Seattle Sports, Suspenz, SIC, Wenonah Canoe, and Current Designs.
Read more: Founders of The Big Gear Show talk about why their show is different
In addition to these named brands, the show listed several independent retailers registered to attend—Appomattox, Bill Jackson’s, Sunlight Sports, and The Trail Head—as well as larger retail players like Scheels, Moosejaw, Backcountry, and Outdoorplay. Independent bike shops that have signed on include Global Bikes, Landry’s, Motion Makers, and Wheel & Sprocket.
“We’re looking forward to taking part in the first Big Gear Show and like that this event is taking a curated focus on more technical gear, along with an intimate and accessible format that allows for quality interaction with dealers,” said Kim Miller, CEO of SCARPA North America. “Following a year-plus of not being able to gather as an industry, we’re looking forward to being able to get back to that. And, as we continue to navigate the end of the pandemic, an outdoor venue like this one offers a safer way to gather for now.”
Safety precautions at The Big Gear Show
Show founder Kenji Haroutunian also addressed this week questions about the show’s safety protocols. With regard to safety concerns, he said that comparing The Big Gear Show to other industry trade shows happening in the coming months is misguided.
“Comparing a conventional trade show and our event isn’t apples to apples in any way,” Haroutunian told Outside Business Journal. “We are all outdoors, at 7,000 feet in the Wasatch [Mountains]. Between the sun, wind, natural spacing, and active movement, the risks are at a completely different level than at indoor gatherings.”
Haroutunian also stressed that BGS is an invite-only event. The attendance numbers at BGS, he said, will be lower than at other shows.
“We know who’s coming, and we are managing the invite list very carefully,” Haroutunian said. “We’ve already told no to dozens of people. We have regional guidelines to adhere to, and we’re curating a specific audience and exhibitor base.”
Read more: Outdoor Retailer has released a handful of brands attending this year’s Summer Market
The show’s safety protocols have been public for months, and according to leadership, “nothing has changed since we posted [the protocols] several months ago. We are in close touch with Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Summit County, and state officials on changes to mandates, group size allowances, and other important aspects of gathering people safely.”
Added Haroutunian, “there is more research than ever pointing to the minuscule, near-zero risk of outdoor transmission, and that needs to be covered better in our industry media, in my opinion.”
You can read the safety guidelines for the show HERE.
