SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Outdoor Retailer will be looking to sell space to bike industry brands at its show in Denver this November. Outdoor Retailer is owned by Emerald Expositions, the owner of Interbike, which announced in December that it was canceling its 2019 show. While OR is adding bike space to the events, it is not using the Interbike label.
OR first plans to add bike exhibits, along with bike demos and clinics, to its Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which is Nov. 5-7 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The bike sessions and bike display areas will be in a new zone within the show floorplan called "The Park."
"It's a natural fit for bike to be part of Outdoor Retailer," said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer's vice president and show director. "Our data indicates that we already see over 3,000 buyers attending our shows who purchase for bike, so incorporating the category makes the show even more valuable. Additionally, retailers, dealers, and buyers will have an opportunity to discover new brands and products, expand store offerings, and make new connections to support their businesses."
Amy Roberts, the executive director of the Outdoor Industry Association, said the organization's research also supported bringing bikes into the outdoor industry community. "OIA ConsumerVue research shows that someone who is a hiker, climber and camper is often a road or mountain biker too, making this a great opportunity for the outdoor and bike communities to align," Robert said. "The addition of bike allows retailers to efficiently see more product under one roof. We look forward to working with the bike advocacy groups on efforts that increase recreation funding and promote increased outdoor and bike participation. The OIA Sustainability Working Group also meets at the November show, making it easier for bike brands to accelerate supply chain sustainability improvements and meet customer expectations."
Tim Blumenthal, the president of PeopleForBikes, said the group will participate in the show. "Connecting the bike business with Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is a logical move and a big opportunity for all involved," Blumenthal said. "People who ski, hike, climb, camp, and boat also bike — there's so much overlap in participation and products. Emerald Expositions has been one of PeopleForBikes' most generous and time-tested supporters and we look forward to extending our partnership by actively participating in the November show."
Outdoor Retailer's next event is its Summer Market, held June 18-20 at the Colorado Convention Center. The trade show is preceded by a one-day outdoor demo at a state park in the Denver area.
CABDA announced last month that it will hold a bike demo and trade show in October in Denver. The CABDA event will include trade-only aspects and consumer-facing events.
