Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the outdoor specialty outdoor retail buying group, will not gather for its spring Connect show as previously scheduled on June 12-15, 2020.
Instead, due to direct impacts from COVID-19, the association will move ahead with a collaborative digital framework to support the spring buying cycle during the month of June, said the group. That process is anticipated to include a resource hub with best practices on digital workbooks and video line showings.
“By announcing this change now, our hope is that we will give all of our members and partners as much time as possible to work toward this common goal,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “We are creating a transparent, easily accessible process that can be shared with all independent specialty retail stores to help everyone get through this challenging season.”
The digital Connect process is expected to include three phases: an information and material gathering phase, an online meeting phase, and a follow up phase. For each of these three components, Grassroots anticipates facilitating key meetings, recommending best practices, and providing needed tools. For both retailers and vendors, Grassroots will be creating a ‘road map’ that details key elements needed for a familiar, common structure.
“With a digital Connect, we’re not trying to recreate the wheel. We’re just hoping to assemble a bunch of new wheels so that everybody can keep moving forward,” added Hill.
