The world has changed. Your virtual sales tools have worked well with no tradeshows this year. We know that budgets are in flux. And we recognize that shows are probably the first thing to cut. Thankfully, we’re not a conventional tradeshow. Here’s why…
Retailers are telling us they need a place to test new products and discover new brands, or they’ll keep buying the same old stuff. You may not want to travel, but your dealers do – because we all know you can’t purchase the right gear over a computer screen.
Retailers need a place to test new products. You need a place to roll out 2022’s new product line. But your company probably still has travel moratorium and not a lot of plans for tradeshows next year. We get that, in this new normal, no one wants to go to mass gatherings in big city centers, cooped up indoors with 30,000 people you don’t know. But we have a solution for you.
We’re moving to Park City, one of the most authentic mountain proving grounds in the world. We will deliver a dynamic multi-category event designed for retailers, by retailers. We’ll be outside, with just our core community and your top dealers. Lots of social distancing available on the lakes and trails. And by August of next year, we may be the first outdoor industry event to stage.
Put your brand in front of 500 hand-selected buyers from all around North America. These are the best gear shops in the business. In fact, we even pay for some of their travel. If your brand receives an invitation to The Big Gear Show, it’s because these retailers want to see you there.
Showcase your products in the environment they were designed for. See, try, buy – all in one appointment. Let retailers use your gear, do some live testimonials on-trail or water, share with their community and staff, and change the way shows deliver value.
We know that gear makers can’t afford expensive tradeshows. So our prices start at 50% less than other national events. Plus, no unions and expensive mark-ups. Leave your expensive booth behind and let your people and your gear tell your story.
As an invitation-only event, we are small and our brands are highly-curated. That means you won’t get lost in the basement (well, there is no basement, but you get the point). We also respect your intellectual property and shun container dumpers and knock-off artists.
MEET THE BIG GEAR SHOW TEAM
The Big Gear Show is produced by the most experienced events team in the outdoor industry, with the former show directors of Outdoor Retailer, Interbike, and Paddlesports Retailer. Plus, our media and communications are anchored by Verde. You can count on us to deliver an unforgettable experience in Park City.
OUTdoor show director
Kenji has 35 years of industry depth, running retail stores for Adventure 16, teaching outdoor skills for Outward Bound, and as Show Director of Outdoor Retailer. Kenji’s work as an event strategist is well-known and includes building Grassroots Connect, Outdoor PressCamp, and Climb Smart in Joshua Tree. His work in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Outdoors spans decades, as does his service record on leading advocacy and advisory boards at the national, state and regional levels.
BIKE SHOW DIRECTOR
Lance has a lifelong career in the cycling industry that started as a kid working at his local bike shop and as a junior racer. After years in bike retail and executive positions for several global brands, he was hired as Interbike’s Show Director, until he left and started an event company that produced his critically acclaimed media events called PressCamp. As The Big Gear Show’s Bike Director, Lance will be drawing from his years of varied industry experiences to co-create the show.
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Nisa is our Marketing and Project Director. She comes from a digital marketing, brand strategy, and project management background in the cycling and outdoor space. She has worked with such brands as Diamondback Bicycles, Smith Optics, Dew Tour, and she has supported specialty brands with omni-channel content and digital campaigns. Nisa heads up the show’s omni-channel educational resources, marketing, and manages our exclusive retailer online community.
FOUNDERS
Sutton and Darren met while serving on the board of the Outdoor Industry Association. As business people but also as lifelong paddlers, they founded Paddlesports Retailer as a service to the paddlesports community. When they discovered that their friends in biking and climbing also needed a place to gather, they decided to pitch a big tent and launch The Big Gear Show – a show that celebrates all of the gear that gets people outside and supports the local gear shops that our industry can’t live without.
VERDE COMMUNICATIONS
Kristin Carpenter founded Verde Brand Communications after a decade-long journalism career, working on staff for major consumer lifestyle magazines, business and trade titles. Now 19 years later, she continues to serve as Verde’s CEO and directs strategy for the agency. Kristin is also host of the Channel Mastery podcast, voted best Outdoor Podcast by SNEWS in 2019. In her free time, you can find Kristin chasing her kids around the mountains and desert around her home in Durango.
Don't take it from us
“Liberty Mountain is excited to be involved in an innovative new event where many great retailers can connect with a wide ranging, diverse group of the best outdoor brands and companies. We are enthusiastic to be involved in an inclusive opportunity that brings the specialty outdoor industry together. We believe The Big Gear Show will help find new ways to share our love of wild places and our passion to bring interesting, useful products and ideas to the marketplace. Thanks to The Big Gear Show Management who have reached out to businesses throughout the industry and listened to different ideas. This outreach, collaboration and diligent follow up has crafted a show that unites the crucial hardgoods category and the specialty retailers. We look forward to being together in person again with our industry in an outdoor, authentic, and supportive environment.”
“We’re looking forward to taking part in the first Big Gear Show and like that this event is taking a curated focus on more technical gear, along with an intimate and accessible format that allows for quality interaction with dealers. Following a year-plus of not being able to gather as an industry, we’re looking forward to being able to get back to that. And, as we continue to navigate the end of the pandemic, an outdoors venue like this one offers a safer way to gather for now. And it offers the opportunity for climbing walls and other on-site demos.”
Kim Miller
CEO, SCARPA North America
“The Big Gear Show represents a new approach to helping retailers, both buyers and key employees, better assess which products they want to get behind and support. The idea of providing retailers the chance to try products before they arrive in their store takes what the ski and bike industries have done for years and brings this confidence building program to the rest of our Outdoor Industry gear makers. Anyone who has ever tested a product prior to purchase knows the value of these experiences, and Petzl sees this as a unique opportunity to enable these valuable individuals to experience the Petzl difference well before the products arrive in store.”
Jon Rockefeller
Managing Director, Sport Division, Petzl
“Pandemic aside, we are really excited for the inaugural Big Gear Show. Speaking to equipment buyers in August perfectly bookends the Grassroots early summer show where the focus is apparel and footwear. And, we love the idea of the outdoor industry celebrating and learning together outdoors in the Park City!”
“Though Zoom and other virtual meetings have been fantastic in 2020, we’re much more excited about seeing everyone outdoors in Deer Valley at The Big Gear Show this August. Yakima is encouraging our retail partners to do something both fun and productive and bust out of isolation to celebrate together.”
Ben Tindall
Sales Director, Yakima
“We are excited to return to an in-person trade show after two years. It’s been over a year since we’ve witnessed the user-product interface. Lacking this severely reduces our innovation and other “ah-ha” moments. In-person trade shows restore the opportunities of visual and social learning that electronics cannot replicate. Humans are social by nature and paddling is a hands-on experience. No amount of Google Duo or Zoom-n-doom can take the place of in person product discussion and interaction. Finally, we look forward to reestablishing personal connections with our dealers, sales teams, vendors and competitors who are integral to our networks and sharing of best practices.”
“We’re excited to be part of the Big Gear Show for 2021, we expect the Crew to pull together an A+ event. Lance’s years of experience putting together trade shows and events give us confidence that The Big Gear Show will be a great way to be front-and-center for potential dealers. 2020 was a tough year for everyone, so we are really excited to be back, in-person with our customers.”
“Eddyline is excited to be part of the inaugural Big Gear Show. There’s never been a more important time to get together with brands and retailers to chart a course together for a post-pandemic world of outdoor recreation. We’re particularly excited to cross-pollinate ideas with other hard goods manufacturers.”
Scott Holley
President, Eddyline Kayaks
We are the national show for the outdoor hardgoods industries. Why not go outside and test products in the environments they were designed for? Plus, save some expenses and leave your tradeshow booth at home. Brands can bring their pop-ups or we can provide low-cost, full-service tent rentals. Bottom line – bring your gear and your people, and let them tell your brand and product story.
The show has a limited size in order to provide the most impactful engagement between brands and buyers. Invitations to register will be sent to pre-qualified brands. However, we encourage all gear brands to apply, regardless of size, especially if you have something cool and unique. We prioritize innovation and part of our value proposition for retailers is providing a platform for discovery. However, that’s not to say we will have availability. Brands who did not receive an initial invitation will be voted on by the retailers
We have discounted lodging reserved for exhibitors on site at Deer Valley Resort directly adjacent to the event site. We will send registered brands more information on how to sign up and overall event logistics.
Not this year. For the health and safety of all attendees, we feel like it’s best to keep the show limited to familiar faces. However, we do have a plan for digital consumer exposure and engagement that we will be rolling out later this year.
If you’re an innovative hardgoods brand with a story to tell, we want to hear from you. We have limited availability for next summer, but e-mail us here to request an invitation.
