Outdoor Retailer has a new agenda for its reimagined trade show, which now sees it setting up shop in Minneapolis.
Outdoor Retailer is moving again, this time to Minneapolis as it looks to rebuild its presence in the trade show circuit.
The Colorado Convention Center in Denver for 2021 Outdoor Retailer Summer. Peter Verry
Lindsay Hubley, senior vice president of Outdoor Retailer’s parent Emerald’s Sports and Outdoor Division, will work with Leadership Village — co-led by athlete and Summit Scholarship founder Sunny Stroeer and industry veteran Paul Gagner — to shape the format of the new show.
“Outdoor Retailer must be a discovery engine, a strategic gathering place, and a convener for all corners of the outdoor community,” Stroeer and Gagner said in a statement. “The new Leadership Village will bring this to life, creating a space to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and spark innovation.”
Also involved in the Leadership Village are experts in the outdoor sector: Dana Caraway, founder and principal of Caraway & Co.; Sasha DiGiulian, champion climber and global outdoor adventure advocate; Peter Sachs, industry veteran and former general manager of Lowa Boots, and Mike Massey, founder of commerce platform Locally, which bridges shoppers and nearby retailers. Others in the sector are expected to be added by Oct. 30.
“Over the past few months, we’ve engaged in thoughtful conversations across the outdoor community,” Hubley said. “Those insights are shaping every facet of this event. We’ve reinvented the show to reflect the dramatic changes the industry has endured, while creating a platform that amplifies innovation, collaboration, and growth.”
The reimagined three-day show is expected to showcase five key areas: Ascent for emerging brands; Camp Forward featuring start-up pitches and futurist keynotes; Campfire for storytelling and video content; Outdoor Lab for forward-thinking product design, and Industry Day for a full-day conference on actionable insights on AI, e-commerce, sustainability, and supply chain strategy.
The new show will also include investments for other initiatives beyond the Industry Day conference. These initiatives include the launch of a Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Scholarship supporting specialty retailers, complimentary exhibit space for leading Minnesota-based and mission-driven nonprofits, and the revival of the Outdoor Industry Innovation Awards.
According to Randolph Briley, director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership, moving Outdoor Retailer to Minnesota creates a fresh stage for collaboration and community building.
Briley added that the move to Minnesota underscores the strength of “our outdoor economy, driving billions in impact, [and] supporting tens of thousands of jobs.” He also touted how the future event will showcase the state’s trails, waterways and business community, “while creating a power platform for collaboration, innovation and growth across the industry.”
Outdoor Retailer noted that in 2023, outdoor recreation contributed $13.5 billion to Minnesota’s economy, accounting for 2.8 percent of its GDP.
Lloyd Vogel, CEO of St. Paul-based Garage Grown Gear and the executive director of the Minnesota State Outdoor Business Alliance, said that independent retailers are the “frontline of the outdoor industry, connecting communities with products and experiences that get people outside,” while adding that the presence of Outdoor Retailer in the state will provide a platform for retailers and brands to collaborate and shape the future of outdoor recreation.
During Outdoor Retailer’s decline, Switchback has become the go-to for the outdoor sector. Switchback became a stand-alone event this past June in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. And it even named the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) as its official event partner. Before it became a stand-alone event, Switchback was the outdoor-focused section that debuted in 2022 at part of The Running Event trade show. The June event had nearly 1,300 attendees, 194 brands and 290 retailers from 41 states and nine countries. Plans are already in place for the next stand-alone edition, set for June 2026 in New Orleans.
Whether the new reimagined Outdoor Retailer show can regain its lost momentum remains to be seen. It had been based in Utah for 22 years before moving to Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, and then moving again back to Utah in 2022 at its former home, the Salt Palace Convention Center.
The move back to Utah was met with rancor from some outdoor industry giants. Displeased with the move, particularly because the state’s officials refused to protect duly designated national monuments, natural treasures, and public lands, firms such as REI and Timberland boycotted the trade show.
About Footwear News
FN is the ultimate destination for industry insiders and shoe lovers alike. From power players to style stars, FN draws on seventy years of history to offer a feet first look at what’s new and what’s next in shoes. The site is your first-stop for shoe news globally. Breaking the latest stories, offering expert analysis and on-trend seasonal coverage, FN is connecting readers to the topics that matter most. Led by an informed team of journalists, the site filters the way we look at footwear. With an eye for what’s next, the newsroom sets the tone feet first.
If you are not already a BRA Retail Member, you can easily opt in to either Regular (no cost) or Distinguished Retail Membership via this super simple join form