Boulder, CO — Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market (ORWM) is hosting a variety of events and educational workshops before and during the trade show in Salt Lake City, UT, Tuesday, January 18 through Saturday January 23.
Programs focus on outdoor industry sales trends, sustainability, trade and recreation participation, as well as workshops for retailers on motivating staff. New this year, is the inaugural OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards Celebration, presented by adidas Outdoor, which recognizes individuals, groups and companies whose efforts have championed and inspired appreciation of and participation in outdoor activities. World-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner will be on hand to talk about his inspirations and take part in the awards presentation.
All ORWM attendees are welcome to attend all OIA events, which will be held at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, with the exception of the OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards Celebration, which will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center. For more information visit outdoorindustry.org/OR.
Schedule of Events
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18
7:00 am – 9:00 am: The Technology of Gear, hosted by Stoel Rives LLP
An interactive breakfast and panel discussion featuring industry representatives talking about the design, evolution and commercialization of outdoor gear technology. RSVP requested
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: OIA Eco Working Group Meeting
The OIA Eco Working Group (EWG) created the Eco Index, a ground-breaking environmental assessment tool designed to advance sustainability practices within the outdoor industry. This workshop for EWG members will review the recommendations gleaned from the Eco Index Pilot Program and discuss the proposed 2011 Eco Index work plan and goals. Space is limited; RSVP suggested at outdoorindustry.org/or.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20
7:00 am – 9:00 am: OIA Industry Breakfast, presented by The North Face
WalMart’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability Andrea Thomas will speak during this complimentary breakfast and discussion on the pressing sustainability issues and how outdoor industry businesses can break out of the “low cost” mode and move towards a “low carbon” mindset.
Thursday – Sunday:
Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work
OR attendees can register their company for the annual "Outside's Best Places to Work" recognition program at the OIA booth (#56000) throughout the show. The winning companies will be recognized and profiled in the September 2011 issue of Outside magazine.
Thursday – Sunday: 2011 OIA Rendezvous® Registration
OR attendees can register at the OIA booth (#56000) for the 16th Annual OIA Rendezvous leadership conference in Portland, OR, October 4 through 6, 2011 and save $50. The conference is the outdoor industry’s largest professional development forum, featuring energetic keynote presentations, business practice discussions, community service and recreational activities. New this year will be the Innovators Forum, which will include top leaders from other key business sectors like transportation, energy and telecommunications. Sponsorship packages available.
Noon – 1:00 pm: OIA Outdoor University®: Individual Productivity: Maximizing Each Person’s Contribution to Build Profitability
Learn how to successfully implement key metrics to track individual performance in order to improve your company or retail shop’s overall performance.
Noon – 1:30 pm: OIA Eco Index Update for Brands and Retailers
Receive a status update on the outdoor industry Eco Index, including a recap of the pilot program; a recap of other developments since Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010, including new partnerships; an introduction to the next version of the Eco Index; and a look into the future: plans for 2011 and beyond.
2:00 – 3:30 pm: OIA Trade Workshop: The Future of Sourcing: Trends and Technologies in Logistics, Supply Chains and Manufacturing
The nation’s foremost experts on emerging trends and technologies in global product logistics, supply chains, and manufacturing will lead an interactive presentation and discussion exploring topics and questions about the future of your supply chain.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21
10:00 am – 11:30 am: OIA Government Affairs Panel: Engaging Your Business in Recreation and Local Conservation Partnerships
Outdoor businesses and retailers will learn how to build a diversity of partnerships between business and community non-profits, local governments, conservation organizations and youth corps and how to plug into a number of different partnering opportunities.
Noon – 1:00 pm: OIA Outdoor University® : Motivating Your Movers and Shaking Up Your Slackers
Learn how to make your entire team move and grove together and improve performance by understanding the two types of motivation in the workforce and how to maximize the efforts of your highest performing team members.
Noon – 1:00 pm: OIA B2B Working Group Meeting
The OIA B2B Working Group developed and promoted a technical communications standard that allows for more efficient manufacture-to-retailer business through the use of XML. Attendees will learn how to benefit from the B2B Standards, how to prepare your systems, and how to connect with other businesses that are using the Standard.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: OIA VantagePoint™: 2010 Product Sales and Trends, and What it all Means for 2011
Using the comprehensive retail point-of-sale data available through OIA VantagePoint™, this year-in-review discussion examines the new footwear trends that shook up the market in 2010 and how the shifting economy and weather patterns impacted big-ticket hardgoods, boots and outerwear businesses. Examine the reasons behind the trends in 2010, and what it means for the year ahead.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (OIA Booth 56000): OIA International Buyer Happy Hour
Product manufacturers, international retail and specialty outdoor buyers and other outdoor-involved influencers are invited to network and mingle with OIA along with representatives from the U.S. Commercial Service, World Trade Center Utah, and outdoor industry buyers and enthusiasts from around the world.
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards Celebration, presented by adidas Outdoor Adventure Theatre/Meeting Room 250, Salt Palace Convention Center
The inaugural OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards, presented by adidas Outdoor, recognizes individuals, groups and companies whose efforts have championed and inspired appreciation of and participation in outdoor activities. Renowned mountaineer and author Reinhold Messner will be on hand to talk about his inspirations and to take part in the awards presentation. RSVP required: outdoorindustry.org/inspiration/rsvp or stop by OIA booth (#56000) for your VIP ticket.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
Noon – 1:00 pm: OIA VantagePoint™: All Over Apparel – Examining the Wear and Tear in Apparel Trends This Season
With a special detailed data report pulled from OIA VantagePoint™, this session will review the 2010 outdoor apparel business and examine the top sellers, apparel category and sub-category purchase trends and insights that can help predict upcoming activity. Details around pricing strategies and inventory availability issues will be part of the lively discussion on the lifestyle and sales influences on outdoor apparel and what’s on the horizon for 2011.
Noon – 1:30 pm: OIA Eco Index Update for Suppliers
Suppliers will get an update on the outdoor industry Eco Index, including developments since Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010, introduction to the next version of the Eco Index and instruction around how to use it, along with discussion how existing certification programs (bluesign, ISO standards, etc.) are complimentary to the Eco Index. About Outdoor Industry Association Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. Over 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and retailers of outdoor recreation equipment and services, as well as other related business entities, comprise OIAs membership. For more information, go to www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.