This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, which concluded Sunday at the Salt Palace Convention Center, attracted 21,711 attendees, a 12.4 percent increase over the previous year. Peter Devin, group show director of Outdoor Retailer for VNU Expositions, said an additional 175,000 square feet of exhibit space provided by the $58 million expansion of the Salt Palace enabled 238 new exhibitors to take part, increasing the total number to 967. While the overall show involved 6,095 retailers, 1,175 retailers took part in the first two-day Open Air Demo of outdoor products at Willard Bay State Park. The demo featured 73 exhibitors. In addition, 461 working media attended the trade show. "This Summer Market surpassed many expectations," said Devin. "Overall attendance numbers increased and from the Open Air Demo to the last day of the show we had packed aisles, industry networking and product presentations being done throughout the entire hall." Outdoor Retailer returns to the Salt Palace Jan. 27-30 for its annual Winter Market. The fourth annual Backcountry Base Camp will be Jan. 26. - Mike Gorrell
