What does the Outdoor Industry Association's Outdoor Retailer Summer Market mean to Utah?

The Outdoor Retailer (OR) Summer and Winter Markets have become the focal point of the $289 billion-a-year outdoor retail sales and services industry--where retail buyers from across the globe decide what will go on next year's shelves.

The OR Summer Market, held annually in the Salt Palace, is the four-day gathering place for the likes of manufacturers, retailers, elite climbers, paddlers, thru-hikers and anyone else enthralled by the latest in outdoor gadgets and gear. Beginning with the Open Air Demo (OAD) at Pineview Reservoir, where guys like Chuck Walker, president of Waynesborro, Virginia-based Rockfish Gap Outfitters, tested the latest outdoor recreation gear from more than 55 manufacturers and brands, to the Salt Palace convention floor, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is billed as the world's largest outdoor sports industry gathering, with exhibits by more than 1,000 outdoor-related brands.

Truly, the OR Summer Market is gear heaven. "I test boats here that I wouldn't get a chance to test at a regional show," says Walker during the OAD. It is also the perfect venue for startup and veteran manufacturers to show off their latest innovations. Ogden-based Klymit was one of 130 new exhibitors at this year's show. The company has developed climate-controlled winter outerwear using noble gas technology as insulation as opposed to down or synthetics. Returning exhibitors included industry stalwarts such as Black Diamond Equipment, Camelbak, Garmont, Marmot, Salomon, The North Face and Clif Bar.

OR Summer Market is an economic engine, generating more than $19 million in direct economic impact for Salt Lake City. As the biggest convention Utah hosts each year, the tradeshow also generates big business for Utah indirectly as well. Beyond packing the Salt Palace with more than 23,000 attendees and exhibitors, filling hotel rooms and restaurants, the show has a significant ripple effect on the Utah economy. It offers immeasurable media exposure for Utah--four days to show off Utah's diverse landscape, wondrous recreational opportunities and exceptional business environment.

It is also a great place to recruit new outdoor-related businesses to the state. A large influx of outdoor recreation-based companies have expanded or relocated operations to Utah after having fallen in love with the climate, the people and the destination during their time at the Outdoor Retailer trade shows. Says Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Scott Beck: "These are companies that would never have had Utah on their radar had it not been for the exposure to Utah they received while attending the Outdoor Retailer Markets for the past dozen years."

While it is difficult to say exactly how many outdoor-related companies have actually located to Utah since Salt Lake City began hosting the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, the tradeshow has definitely had an influence on companies visiting the state. Just ask Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey. He's been using the tradeshow as a recruiting venue for several years and actively recruits outdoor product companies to consider Ogden for their expansion or relocation plans. Approximately 12 outdoor brands have located in the Ogden area since he became mayor and he expects many more to come. "Until this year I have never missed the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market," he says. This year the mayor actually had so many pre-arranged appointments with outdoor companies interested in the Ogden area that he sent his chief administrative officer, John Patterson, to do the recruiting at the tradeshow in his stead.

"I've had appointments with companies that are exhibiting at the show that wanted to discuss their expansion or consolidation plans. Some of them know they are just located in the wrong place," says Godfrey. "The exposure they have received to our amenities and natural resources has helped create a positive feeling about Ogden."

Godfrey also believes that having the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Utah has helped the state land several premier sporting events, such as the Dew Tour, XTERRA USA Championship, the World Youth Archery Championship and the World Cup Archery Championship.

Recognizing that the active outdoor recreation economy is big business, Governor Jon Huntsman designated Outdoor Products and Recreation as one of eight Utah economic clusters--groups of related businesses and organizations within industry sectors whose collective excellence and collaboration provide a sustainable competitive advantage. With well over 1,000 sports and outdoor products companies in the state, many companies are looking to Utah to house their corporate headquarters and primary operations facilities.

The state's exceptional ski industry has drawn such companies as Goode Skis, Voile Ski, Snowboard, & Bindings, Dale Boots, Black Diamond Skis & Boots, Morrell Snowboards and Revolution Snowboards. Many other winter businesses have moved their distribution to Utah as well. Scott USA, Salomon and Atomic are in Ogden. Rossignol, Dynastar and Nidecker are in Park City. The great climbing environment has brought Black Diamond, Petzl, and Liberty Mountain to Utah. Specialized Bicycle has its western warehouse in Salt Lake City and many bicycle accessory manufacturers, like Lone Peak, Lizard Skins, Black Bottoms, Reynolds Cycling and Flat Attack have made their homes here. Utah is home to many other outdoor startup companies, as well.

According to the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), outdoor recreation ranks alongside major economic sectors like telecommunications, while dwarfing other major economic sectors in the U.S., such as pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, automobile and light truck manufacturing, and motion pictures and videos. Active outdoor recreation in Utah is an economic engine that:

• Contributes $5.8 billion annually to the state economy
• Supports 65,000 jobs across the state
• Generates nearly $300 million in annual state tax revenues
• Produces nearly $4 billion annually in retail sales and services across Utah, accounting for almost 5% of gross state product

Utah's spectacular recreational opportunities and world-class destinations bring in tourist dollars from out-of-state active outdoor recreation participants, but also offer exceptional close-to-home recreation for residents. In fact, the state boasts one of the highest outdoor recreational participation rates in the country relative to other states. Here's a breakdown of Utah outdoor activities, with the number of participants and the percent of Utah population enjoying them: