OR Blog

National Bike Month - May, and Bike-to-Work Week 5/16-20

So I'm not exactly the most dedicated bike commuter on the planet, but I have an incredible ride into work that puts me on a ridge trail that overlooks the beautiful Capistrano Valley and the Pacific Ocean.   Being that this is National Bike Month, and that the OR show celebrates the cycling scene as part of the greater outdoor recreation world, I want to encourage myself (and you all) to take advantage of the tailwind and, as Freddie Mercury so wisely screamed into his microphone 20 years ago, 'Get On Your Bikes and RIDE!'

I'll be working the Bike-to-Work Week angle too, May 16-20.  I'll update this post with any adventures and hopefully no mishaps.

Kenji

SXSW and the future of events

UPDATE 4-19 - Here is an article that has some concrete takeaways from the SXSW experience... and yes SXSW was, as all good events need to be, an Experience. http://bit.ly/dTkhRV

and another review of the SXSW event.

 http://www.slideshare.net/christophercarfi/an-ants-eye-view-of-sxsw-2011-7274593

 

(original article below)

With Coachella staging now in SoCal, and South By Southwest (SXSW) just concluded in Austin, TX, the question lingers 'what are these events about?' and 'why do they draw so powerfully from the consumer base? 

Both events draw hundreds of thousands of people and major attention over the web as well, with live streaming content in the form of music concerts, parties, and other festival happenings.

What could OR learn from these consumer events functioning as quasi-b2b venues?  Is the culture of the outdoor industry in play at OR, and should it be?  Does it take from the strictly business attitude we foster?

My first time attending SXSW was this year, and my eyes were popped by the throngs of iPad-toting  twenty-somethings staffing booths and appearing to network like the gaming fiends they were in a previous life.  Brands like Gowalla and Blogworld were launched at prior versions of SXSW, and Coachella is following step as the 'arts gathering' to replace the failed Woodstock revival.   I wonder what really happened there (besides arson)...

Chime in.

KH

Tsunami help

As an island nation Japan has designed brilliantly over many centuries to handle both earthquakes and tsunamis, but this latest event, unmatched in recorded history, tops any of the computer model scenarios that could be anticipated even today.  Predictions have been ongoing for a west coast U.S. monster quake for over a decade, so Be Prepared fellow Californians...

Like New Zealand, the 'ring of fire' island nations are most susceptible to this 'one-two punch' of Quake into Tsunami.   No side of the islands are safe, really...... check out this 'max energy' wave power map of NZ. 

 

All we can do at this point is help electronically to put something in play right away... pick your favorite and be generous.  They need our help.  Take Ichiro's lead and put something forward. 

Here are some vetted options beyond Red Cross (not a terrible option) from our friend Felicia.  On this blog, written by an American aid worker in Japan, there are many orgs listed that already have operations on the ground in Japan.  Check it out if interested

http://www.toddswanderings.com/2011/03/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-tsunami-survivors.html

Spread the word and keep the support rolling... as First Responders all know, the initial shock masks the full effect of having your home and life torn away suddenly.  As that shock wears off and the hard work remains, support is the crucial ingredient that can make a huge difference in outcomes for individuals. 

MASSIVE thanks to all the brands reaching out with gear and support for victims of the Quake and Tsunami in Japan.

KH 

 

White House and Sally Jewell on America's Great Outdoors

This is a worthy 16 minutes if you are interested at all in active outdoor recreation.  Funny that I just saw this while my neighbor is on a treadmill, in his garage, facing in, while it's sunny, 65 and gorgeous outside.

 

  http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/02/16/president-obama-americas-great-outdoors-initiative

UPDATED 2/8 Linkfest featuring in-depth coverage of the OR Winter '11

 Well you can google search the crap out of 'Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011' or you can peruse the following links to see what influencers are saying about the show... there's a lot, and there could be more if you post up a reply with your favorite review on the hottest topic of the season, Outdoor Retailer (if I say so myself).  Dig in! 

Link to OR Show Dailies hot off the digi-press! http://bit.ly/gdeEsu 

These are great gear and show reviews from across the landscape of media verts, from core product junkies to the action sports edge. 

http://gearjunkie.com/outdoor-retailer-innovation-awards-winter-2011

http://labelnetworks.com/stories.php?id=755

http://vimeo.com/19271000 (vids from Outside Magazine coverage)

http://business.transworld.net/55935/features/retail-recon-outdoor-retailer-2011-winter-marketplace/

Just added Live video spots with Timmy O from the OR Show http://www.outdoorretailer.com/info/live-from-or 

 The effervescent Grace Potter (interviewed by Backpacker Mag)

http://www.backpacker.com/outdoor_retailer_grace_potter/blogs/daily_dirt/1960

http://www.venturethere.com/blogs/detail/Winter-2011-Outdoor-Retailer-Show/451.html

http://www.outdoorinformer.com/index.php/Table/GearPosts-Blog/ 

I'll keep adding but want to post this before jetting from the office today...

kh

Handy Links you need for OR Winter Market 2011

Here is just one more place to easily find the links you need for the show that is upon us!

Mobile App download

Event Schedule at show

Special 'Adventure Theater' schedule at show

OR Rocks Art/Music/Culture in and around the show (Incl. the Industry All Star Jam!)

OR Hub digital enhancement for show planning and efficient follow-through (free!)

New Product Showcase - see some of the hot new products launching at show

 

 

 

 

Winter Market rising...

I just finished reading 'Crowdsourcing' by Jeff Howe.  It definitely has me thinking about how it applies to the show environment, since our industry gathering is a worthy crowd, by any measure.  When it comes to like-minded passionate enthusiasts for the winter wilderness, there ain't no crowd like ours.

 One thing I'm strongly considering is displaying a special snowmobile in the Backcountry Village area of the show... if you aren't familiar with that zone, it's where nearly all the cool winter hardgoods (skis, split boards, bindings, avy beacons, nordic, etc...) are shown.   I know it's controversial, but I also know that when it comes to avy safety and backcountry wintersports, we are inexorably tied to the sled (sometimes literally!).  Snowmobiles cut track, they move people and gear, and many cool lodges and backcountry destinations across the U.S. utilize them for work and play.  They've gotten a bit quieter I believe (haven't shopped for one), and their users share our deep concern for avalanche safety education. 

What are your thoughts on the subject?  The purpose of the display would be to spur 'crowd' awareness and conversation on one under-spoken connection we have to the motorized world. I'm interested in making it an interactive display, where attendees can voice their thoughts on how Outdoor and Snowmobiling fit and don't fit together on the trail or at the show, and we can report on the results in the post-show wrap up. 

Chime in...?

KH

 

Virtual Design Center - Reloaded

What is a Virtual Event?  Is it, like, a tweetup, or a meetup, a mashup or a web conference, or what?  Can it be helpful to my business or just another distraction from my core business?

UPDATE!

One Day - December 7, 2010 for Live Cast

15 key brands supporting from OIA Eco-Index and Polartec to Bluesign Technologies and AAPN

90 days online and available in archive form

The OR Virtual Design Center focuses on education and latest material developments behind the branded products that are the focus of Outdoor Retailer shows.  This is a fast-moving and changing landscape (seen the price of cotton today?), and staying on top of the myriad technological, logistical and societal developments will help brands cement their leadership status, grow awareness and profits and 'do the right thing' to lessen environmental impact all at the same time.  

The VDC is anchored by a cluster of webinars (see finalized topics HERE) that last one hour each and are spaced out throughout a day.  The topics, panels and experts who are speaking on the issues are leaders in our industry and are full-time focused on creating sustainable options for designs of the future... OIA, AAPN, prAna, Zero-Waste-Alliance, Bluesign Technologies, Textile Exchange, Promostyl, etc... are all, in their own way, pushing the envelope on green design.   There are interactive brand displays ('booths') that feature sponsoring brand presentations with live interaction (on the Live day) and downloadable or viewable collateral available for interested attendees.  There are several ways for a supporting brand to configure their 'booth', including private room sessions, special timed events, and interactive engagement of visiting attendees. 

This interactive education event requires ZERO travel, ZERO housing, ZERO shipping or drayage and ZERO wasted time for both supporting suppliers/sponsors and for attending designer/developers.  Ideally, this online interactive environment will help tee up important business meetings at the OR Shows, and fuel even more value from our live, face-to-face events. 

Who is Attending?  This VDC version will focus on sustainability in the supply chain, and the target audience is the product design/development professional working for brands in outdoor, cycling, health & fitness, action sports and general sporting goods.  Through the reach of Nielsen (who owns over 40 pubs and shows that attract design professionals), this event will be able to draw thousands of working pros from other materials-intensive industries like hospitality, military, industrial, fixturing, general merchandise, etc... so the message of suppliers (and programs like eco-index, bluesign) can reach far beyond the wide world of sports. 

How Much $$?  The technology is expensive, but the platform is very reasonable for sponsors, and free to attendees.  For $2500 (about one 10'x 10' booth space at OR) a supplier/sponsor can easily upload collateral to an interactive brand display, which will then be visited by invited, interested attendees of both the live and archived event (3-month flight).   This interactive environment is flexible and can accomodate image galleries, video spots, quick time movies, pdf downloads, white paper research and messaging (instant and email style).  Higher level sponsors can get extra value from the event too... of course. 

How Do I Get Involved? - If you are a designer or product developer, save the date, register online when the time comes (about 3 wks out from live date), and plan to attend the same way you'd attend a webinar, or several in one day.  If you can't make Dec. 7, then visit the archived show online.  If you are a brand leader, consider supporting and showing off your latest fabric or solution in a cutting edge, dynamic two-way experience online.  Register here for FREE if you are interested.

How Much Work?  For sponsors, The Virtual Design Center is easy to use, much like uploading photos to flickr or having a facebook site for your brand... since design/developer types will be looking for sustainability options in their material choices, best to focus options there.  For attendees it's as easy as registering to attend a Webinar, except you'll get 4 and access to tons of relevant information around sustainability in the supply chain.  This information is helpful not just to designers but to retailers, media, marketers as well as consuming public who want to stay on top of latest trends in product development and sustainable business models.

What will the attendee walk away with? Lots of new concepts, tips, ideas, ways to measure, fabrics and solutions to incorporate in designs immediately.  Materials to tee up business and future design componentry.  Also a sense of who they need to know better come showtime in January. 

Like many live events, attendees have a virtual brief case or show bag that they can drop materials into for review later... paperless of course.  If I were an attending designer, I might take away a link to a keynote presentation, a few intro papers from new suppliers I didn't know about, some special programs from suppliers I did know about, and a coupon for taking advantage of a special offer on business services for my firm.   Oh, and a serious bump in my knowledge about cutting edge 'green' technologies and materials available for products of the future that I will have a hand in designing.

Virtual events can set up and enhance live face to face business, and empower your future customers with information relevant to their work in building more sustainable products that consumers want and that will be the hallmark of the active outdoor industry.   Doing events online in itself advances business without the cost of travel, or the environmental impact. 

What do you think?

Kenji

 

 

 

 

Interbike shifts to launch window and out of Vegas, avoids OR Summer overlap

What a whirlwind week (again). Planning for 2011 is in full swing, especially Winter Market, but all the strategic partnerships and new elements I want to bring to the market take fairly huge time commitments per each. Then an upwelling of surprise due to the premature announcement of Interbike dates that overlap Summer Market 2011 put the icing on the whirlwind cake! Today's announcement (official) that Interbike dates will not overlap but begin 3 days after OR has me sighing in relief, and I'm grateful for the thoughtful discussions had in the past few weeks of dealing with the move of Ibike dates and venues; although that is still going to be tight for brands who are in both camps, at least it's not impossible to get a booth down, over to Anaheim and back up. AND it puts Interbike in the better buy/sell window for brands and dealers both... As much as retailers think they want familiar fall dates, the reality of getting maximum intel earlier in the season on next year product will be a benefit to the specialty dealer. At least they have the chance to compete with the bigger boxes.

This is a contentious issue, dates and venues. Sound off on what you believe... we must acknowledge that the markets are closely aligned, and the buy/sell cycle inherent to Outdoor and Cycling aren't that radically different. It makes some sense for them to need similar dates, if not venues, to get the specialty dealers on board while they have strong customer interest and business remaining in summer.

So what do you think?

And the Show goes on

Well the whirlwind of the OR Summer show 2010 has subsided, except for those of you road-tripping on to points N/S/E/W.  I didn't find any road trippers from the South, but certainly from every other direction and I bet there were a few willing to take highway and byway to SLC last week.
I know it's important to say, so I'll say it now that attendance at the show was up in all measured categories of buyers, stores, exhibitors, media, advocacy groups and overall attendance.  This bucks the trend in the trade show industry for sure... But is that really important, or just a sound byte for the data-starved b2b media market?   Is the show, after all, a quality play, or quantity play?  Is it a numbers game at the end of it all?

I'll let you answer that... likely a different answer depending on what your goals were going into the show.  Those numbers are important enough that I will be engaged in show stat analysis like never before in the next month (while planning Winter 11) to test Nielsen's new audience development technology called Alterian (who comes up with these names anyway?).  Store demographics, geographic profiles, attendance history patterns, success/failure with prospecting, and detailed survey results will all be part of the wrap up effort on the show.  As video, images, stories, reviews and commentary on the show stream onto YouTube/Facebook/Wordpress/Blogger/Twitter/LinkedIn over the coming weeks, can we really even say the show is over?

So instead of a post-mortem on SM10, I'll post up some of the highlights in pic form (pictures worth 1000 words each), and keep adding to it as the pieces of the overall puzzle flow into the public domain.

Kayak Polo at OAD!

Laird Hamilton at OAD mixing it up with the kayaks and canoes

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar (in cap), White House Lead Counsel on Environment Nancy Sutley along with the entourage...

Wayne Gregory!   
 
 

Park n' Pedal program providing propulsion to purveyors who paddle and peddle proactively, previewing products for procurement