Review of OutDoor Show Europe 2015

Reporting on a specialist exhibition that was held recently in Germany.

by Christine Anscombe

The small, picturesque town of Friedrichshafen, nestling on the edge of Lake Constance, provided the perfect backdrop for the recent OutDoor Show Europe 2015. This four-day trade event, which took place in the Messe Friedrichshafen, is dedicated to the industry that supports outdoor recreational activities of all types. There were over 900 exhibitors representing 40 countries, and the typical products exhibited include performance footwear and clothing, backpacks, camping gear and tents and accessories for specific sports such as mountaineering.

The exhibition was quite extensive, covering 12 halls and with demonstrations taking place in the grounds. Suppliers of performance footwear and related accessories (such as insocks for which technical claims were being made) were mainly located in Halls A1, A6 and B5, and included many SATRA member companies. These firms reported that the exhibition had been commercially very positive for the first two days, with orders made and enquiries taken, although the number of visitors dropped towards the end of the show. The general feeling among the exhibitors seemed optimistic, with the view that it would be worth showcasing their products at future editions.

A seminar programme also ran in parallel to the exhibition and provided some interesting international speakers. The biggest problem for the visitor was trying to cover the vast exhibition and find time to listen to presentations of interest.

Technical innovation was very much the focus of the exhibition. To support this, companies were able to submit new and innovative products to be assessed by an independent panel to achieve the international OutDoor Industry Award for design. The North Face and adidas – both SATRA members – were among the recipients of these prestigious awards.

The show also provided the opportunity to invite performance footwear and component companies to the SATRA European roadshow (entitled 'Footwear technology – improving your supply chain') being held in Milan, Frankfurt and Paris in September.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 51 of the September 2015 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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