Industry: Intersport Q3 show Outdoor at Intersport
The latest show by buying group Intersport included a number of names from the outdoor industry. David Pittman spoke to a selection to get their view on the show.
W
hile the Intersport Q3 show was primarily targeted at the sports industry, there were a number of outdoor and related brands in attendance. Caribee Bags, Hilly, Ronhill, MBT, Salomon and Gore Running Wear are notable names that stick out from the exhibitor list.
Overall, the Intersport Q3 show was heralded as a success. Outgoing general manager Barry Mellis, who was replaced by Tom Foley at the end of January, said: “From member and supplier feedback, we have just come out of ‘our best show ever’.” Mellis added that brand offers and deals at the show were “amongst the best ever available”.
Many with ties to the outdoor industry reported similar positive feedback to their products from retailers at the show. Connie Feast, senior retail marketing manager at footwear brand MBT, said: “It went really well. We had a good response to our new products, such as shoes with the supergrip sole.” MBT was showing its FW11 collection, which includes the Sayari feminine technical boot, Sifa boxing-style shoe and Kisiwa, Nafasi, Mahuta, Kitabu, Kizingo and Chakula GTX boots Ronhill UK sales manager Jon Wild said it had seen positive response to its latest products, including its Vizion high visisbility range, and said: “It went really well. The show allowed us to put products in front of retailers and showcase them.”
Benjamin Washington from Gore
Running Wear, part of the W.L. Gore &
Associates group, said it had spoken to around a dozen or so people at
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www.sgboutdoor.co.uk
the show, and had made a lot of contacts. Gore Running Wear was debuting at the show, and Washington said: “Being at the top end of the market our audience is smaller but it’s good to be here and show we’re in the market and that we’re a brand people can aspire to.” Washington added that, while Gore Running Wear’s core market is for runners, it is growing its product lines into cross-running and other outdoor pursuits, so there is a natural fit between its sport and outdoor products. Sock, glove and hat brand SealSkinz said attending the show was a useful tool in its
research and development activities. SealSkinz's Stuart Andrews said: “Retailers are a group we need to communicate with and it’s important for us to work with them as they contribute to our product development and other activities.
“Here we can talk to them in depth, which is invaluable as a lot of our developments are based on this feedback.”
Brooks Running marketing manager Mike East said: “We’ve got a lot of leads out of attending. “These shows are never about orders but about leads. Our people can take to the floor, meet people and talk to them.”
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