COLA is on the way

Should drinkers care to look out of the windows of the George, theyre not hallucinating thanks to the booze, there really is a neo-classical fronted building where before there was a car park.

This is the newly built Hall M of the Harrogate International Centre. (Pix will be available tomorrow).

Go Outdoors 2000 will be the third show to use the new hall, which was finished in August and officially opened on 5th September.

Of course, Go Outdoors 2000 is not all about booze (although the show organisers have sent journos £9.00 worth of drinks tokens for the George) and, if your shop stocks any form of camping gear, the show is a must.

And cross-over companies such as Vaude, I & M Steiner and Jack Wolfskijn are there too, so there are panniers and cycle rucksacks as well as the latest in Gore-tex jackets, dome tents and togged-up sleeping bags.

Theres also a workshop programme. The bits useful for the bike trade are:

Sunday 24th September

15.30 Serving the customer right

Bill Mason, MD, Amber Arch mystery shoppers (the company which does the mystery shopping in RetailWeek)

Monday 254th September

11.00 Serving the customer right

Bill Mason, MD, Amber Arch mystery shoppers

14.00 Waterproofing myth, magic or manufacturer?

Eamonn Quinn, Cumbria Trading Standards

The seminars cost £10 on the day but you can get free advance tickets by faxing 020 8842 1121.

Go Outdoors 2000 (24-26th September) is organised by the Outdoor Industries Association, formerly known as COLA the Camping and Outdoor Leisure Association.

www.go-outdoors.org.uk

www.harrogateinternationalcentre.co.uk