Article Explains Outdoor Retailer’s Return to SLC

When the Outdoor Retailer (OR) show announced in March it would return next year to Salt Lake City, it surprised some of the industry’s largest brands, which previously had said they would boycott the show if such a move occurred.

Even though Salt Lake City and the state of Utah had been home to the show for more than 20 years, the relationship began falling apart in 2017 after state Republicans began to dismantle Obama-era public land protections around Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, two declared national monuments.

OR’s show director Marisa Nicholson explained the decision to GearJunkie. She said the organization surveyed members and learned that Salt Lake City was the “preferred location across the community.” But another major factor was the January dates available. Nicholson explained dates for a Denver show in January were too late for the organization’s members.

She added that OR has been in conversations with Utah officials regarding what the organization values and supports, and the officials’ views align closely with the industry’s. In fact, a Business with Purpose committee has been formed comprising state and local officials along with members of the outdoor community to explore the things that are valuable and important to the industry and how everyone can work together to drive those issues forward.

The committee will focus on building relationships and seeking opportunities around public lands, outdoor recreation, access and conservation, Nicholson explained to GearJunkie’s editor-in-chief Adam Ruggiero.

Nicholson told GearJunkie that OR is open to feedback and welcomes the conversations, adding that the organization wants to do everything it can to ensure all voices are heard. She added that she believes OR has an “opportunity to have a seat at the table, and work with state and local officials on things that are important to our industry — how we can align and work to make progress — is going to be more beneficial to everyone.”

Nicolson called Utah “a beautiful state, with so much outdoor recreation and so many public lands,” saying, “Our industry can definitely stand to work closely with state and local officials to ensure all that stays intact and allows for our industry and more participants to enjoy.”