Outdoor Market Alliance (OMA), a collective of 25 independent sales and marketing agencies representing over 175 different brands in the outdoor and active lifestyle markets, is hosting its second Footwear Showcase. This event will be held July 23-24.
Based on the success of its first Footwear Showcase in February, the OMA is now welcoming nearly twice as many shoe brands for a two-day market event for retail buyers. Regional Rockies retailers can register to join the OMA at its Denver headquarters, over the course of two days, in order to see new and in-line footwear from over 75 footwear brands. Participating brands include those represented by sales groups within the OMA, as well as other notable footwear brands interested in reaching the shelves of specialty retailers that offer a mix of outdoor, active and casual footwear.
“Our market weeks are now proven to be both efficient and preferred by many of our Rockies-based retail buyers, and we saw an emerging need for a footwear-specific buying marketplace here in the Rockies,” said Steve Copeland, president and founding board member of OMA. “The first one sold out at 45 brands, so we’ve welcomed almost twice as many brands and have sold out again, which speaks volumes about the market need. We are excited to see such rapid growth and to be the host of what we expect will be a twice-annual event to support the market. And most of all, supporting the OMA’s founding vision of collaboration as we connect a wider reach of regional buyers with national and notable footwear brands.”
The OMA will also host its next seasonal Market Week on June 17-21. This event offers buyers the ability to discover and select retail assortments in one regional hub, over one week in one location. It will also host its fifth Media Show, July 17-18, where a growing number of editors and journalists are joining to preview new products and discover new stories from outdoor and active lifestyle brands, all onsite at OMA’s Denver hub.
Space for the OMA Footwear Showcase is limited, and interested retailers can register here.
“Our vision in creating the OMA was to find new ways of doing business,” added Copeland. “Extending our market weeks for greater convenience, our partnership with Elastic Suite, and our growing media shows are all amazing examples of seeing that vision actualized. Our retail buyers love the convenience of market weeks that fit their schedule without extensive travel, and this model has been really well received. Buyers also know we’re here year-round and can do business at the OMA any day of the year. Adding these footwear showcases to the growing demand for efficient, regional marketplaces just seemed to make sense, and seeing it double from one show to the next in a few short months highlights the demand for these regional market events.”
For more information and to view brands in residence, visit www.outdoormarketalliance.org.
