OutDoor trade show hits a new level

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Jul 12, 2016

OutDoor opens its doors on Wednesday July 13 for four days. A key industry event, the outdoor sports apparel and merchandise trade show welcomes more than 900 exhibitors, a slight decrease in the number of brands showcasing previously.

But the show remains very much the premier industry event, having gained the support of the European Outdoor Group. It's worth mentioning also that the dates will change in 2017, the trade show taking place in June, not July, next year and kicking off on a Sunday rather than the traditional Wednesday.

Ahead of the 23rd edition, Messe Friedrichshafen revealed that, as per usual, all 12 exhibitor park halls will be full.
Additionally, all the heavyweights will be attending including Columbia, Merrell, The North Face, Gore-Tex, Salewa, Salomon and Mammut.

But outdoor, as a segment, has recognised the need to also take into account practical and urban sports, in order to stay relevant. Starting with running. International brands will present their new products and sector trends as part of an exhibition located in the new 'Running Village' built outside. The other segment growing in strength is water sports. Here, innovation in textiles will remain a key talking point.

However, the big news for the trade show is a base camp set up for bloggers and connecting industry professionals with digital influencers. OutDoor has even signed a partnership with Outdoor Blogger Network, who work at facilitating digital strategies for brands and blog recommendations.