The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (Grassroots) just finished its 13th annual trade show in Ogden, Utah. With 330 attendees including 44 vendors, seven value added dusiness services and all 46 Grassroots retail members, participants are calling it a successful event.
“Combining great business meetings with fun, community service and unparalleled networking opportunities, your show kept each of these elements tightly intertwined resulting in the perfect show setting, and for that Grassroots deserves major kudos,” said ark Connors, Sales Manager Performance West for Ecco.
“At the risk of repeating myself from last year, you really put on a first class show and the way you have it promotes such a great environment for retailers/vendor relationships,” said Greg Wozer, VP Leki International. “Makes me wonder what the outdoor business landscape would look like if the entire industry had the opportunity to operate within your structure.”
One of Grassroots guiding principles as an organization is to develop trade shows that properly represent independent outdoor specialty excellence and the uniqueness of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. This year’s community service focus was on gathering sponsorships from the Grassroots retail members and vendor partners for a large scale donation of bikes to disadvantaged youth in the Ogden community. All told, 55 bikes and an additional $560 were donated to both the Boys and Girls Club of Ogden and the Youth Community Connection.
Other trade show activities included a business seminar on effective interviewing and hiring staff as well as a guided Via Ferratta, morning yoga with prAna and the third annual 5K Vasque Roots Run.
For the last three years, Grassroots has presented their annual awards to its retail members and vendor partners. This year’s winners are:
Retailer of the Year: Rock/Creek Outfitters, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Vendor of the Year: Patagonia
Buyer of the Year: Richard Allen, Summit Hut in Tucson, Ariz.
Sales Representative of the Year West Coast/Rockies: Erin Eugster with prAna
Sales Representative of the Year Midwest/NE: Brian Boudreau with Marmot, Keen and Camelbak.
Sales Rep of the Year Southeast and South Central: John Harvey with Mountain Hardwear.
The Retailer of the Year and Buyer of the Year are nominated and voted on by the Grassroots Vendor Partners and the Vendor of The Year and Sales Representatives of the Year are nominated and voted on by the Grassroots Retail membership.
The next Grassroots Fall/Winter Show will be held in a new location in Knoxville, Tenn. from　November 18 – 21, 2013.
