BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The seventh edition of the UK’s own Outdoor Trade Show is just around the corner.
Running from Friday September 7th to Wednesday 12th (the final day being for tents only) the show will be located again at the Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre in Warwickshire.
As regular readers will know, this year the show has teamed up with the Tent Show for the first time, but 2012 also marks another first for the show – Sunday will be an open day enabling busy independent retailers to make the trip without missing out on potential sales. Making the show more accessible has been a priority in general, with an extension of opening times on Sunday and Monday – now open until 7pm.
The ‘no frills’ show is timed specifically so retailers can place forward orders for spring and summer – and top up orders for pre-Christmas deliveries.
OTS organiser Marta Williams said of this year’s show: “We have listened to the feedback provided by retailers at last year’s show and created an exciting new format for 2012 as a result. We are confident that this will satisfy the demands of all who attend, making OTS a cost-effective platform to do some serious business. Retailers can discover new brands and innovative products as well as visiting existing suppliers, making the journey an extremely worthwhile experience.”
Fellow show organiser Alasdair Scobbie added: “We have great expectations about the 2012 show and have risen to the challenge of keeping it fresh with the new format being introduced this year. We are confident that the new outdoor area will encourage the quantity and quality of visitors, as well as providing a great mix of exhibitors.”
PRODUCT PREVIEW
The new tent collection from Eureka! will be at the OTS at Stand 312b indoors, or Tent Area RB5. Additions to the range include the new Wicki Up, an ultra lightweight tent weighing a mere 1.85kg for a three-person version and 2.7kg for a four-person version. Offering the best space-to-weight ratio in the collection, the pyramid-style tent uses 20D Ripstop nylon fabric and one central pole for fast erection.
Also new from the brand is the Eureka! Tentomatic series, introducing an innovative technology that allows it to be easily ‘popped up’ in a mere four minutes. To get the tent up you lift the central frame hub and gently pull the joints of the six legs – then the whole tent, including the two sleeping rooms and a sewn-in floor, is up. The double roof keeps the tent cool inside and offers better UV protection during summer. There’s even a roof window for star gazing or to check if it’s still raining. Six large windows offer a panoramic view for campers too.
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Sleeping bag firm Snugpak is launching a new innovation based on the success of its insulated Softie jacket. At stand 41, the brand’s British-made (in West Yorkshire) jackets use Softie Premier insulation and include mid-layer jackets that are warm, water resistant and windproof. The warmest in the selection is the SJ9, using Softie 9 insulation. With a fully insulated hood and coming in a wide variety of colours (including, yes, camo) the SJ9 is ideal for extreme winter conditions or when stationary for longer periods.
Away from jackets, Snugpak will also showcase its new Travelpak collection – a range of lightweight, antibacterial and mosquito-free sleeping bags.
The line-up includes a handy reading light pocket on the hood (lights sold separately) and has offerings for everything from extreme winter conditions to less chilly summer nights. www.snugpak.com
Action sport distributor Ultra Sport Europe will be at stand 19 at the Outdoor Trade Show, promising to offer visitors to its stand something for nothing. Interested? Well the regular OTS exhibitor is going to offer existing and potential retailers a free custom flag, pole and stand to visitors. Brand manager Ed Broom explains: “It’s really nice to be able to offer this to retailers attending the show and it sets us apart from our competition. Plus with the great brands we’re showcasing, it really is a win-win for anyone who heads over to our stand.”
Ultra Sport Europe will of course also be bringing the latest from its product portfolios, including hands-free camera
specialist Contour, water sport-specific BIC Kayaks and BIC SUP, helmet supplier Bern, plus plenty more. www.ultrasporteu.com
That’s just a small selection of the brands and companies exhibiting at the combined event. Other key names include Burton McCall and Whitby and Co. There are also a few familiar names from the cycle trade, including Actsmart, Buffera, Madison, Cybertill, Gelert, 2pure sister company Ninepointnine and Sealskinz. The full listing is at the official site: www.outdoortradeshow.com /exhibitor-list.asp
