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Outdoor Retailer Trade Show Makes Debut in Minneapolis Following Relocation from Utah

The national outdoor trade show, Outdoor Retailer, made its first-ever appearance in Minneapolis this week at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The move follows a period of controversy where the show relocated from Salt Lake City after Utah's support of a plan by the administration to shrink the Bears Ears National Monument. This decision led to a boycott by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and other retailers, eventually moving the show to Colorado before it settled in Minneapolis. Lindsay Hubley, Senior Vice President of Emerald’s Sports and Outdoor Division, led the redesign of the show to focus on discovery and innovation. The event features over 275 brands, including a new small brand pavilion and a creator program called Wild Reach. The show aims to serve as a primary hub for retailers and industry insiders to explore future trends and launch new products. By shifting to an annual event, organizers intend to hold a larger expo that caters to the investment in independent specialty retailers, which Hubley described as the backbone of the industry.

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