Despite various challenges facing international outdoor markets, Messe Friedrichshafen is upbeat about OutDoor 2014. Early this year, exhibition space bookings were encouraging, indicating brisk business on the 85,000-square-metre site as a whole.

From 10-13 July 2014, over 900 exhibitors from more than 45 countries will be making their way to Lake Constance for the leading European trade show. They will be showcasing their latest outdoor products and discussing trends at the start of the new season.

Expanding

“In 2014, we intend to build on last year’s success and continue to consolidate our position on the international trade show market,” said Klaus Wellmann, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen. There are 620 exhibitors from 45 countries that have already registered.

In its 21st year the show will also welcome prominent brands appearing for the first time, including Coleman (Germany), Eider (France), Helly Hansen (Norway), Olang (Italy), Recco (Sweden), Wintersteiger (Austria) and 3M (USA).

“In conjunction with our partner, the European Outdoor Group, in 2014 we’re continuing to focus on current trends relevant to the field while engaging opinion leaders in the industry. We’re also delighted to be able to expand outdoor water sports which we revived last year,” said OutDoor project managers Stefan Reisinger and Dirk Heidrich.

Positive development

Today the industry and the trade fair have grown up to become much more professional than 20 years ago, when the outdoor trend only began.

Many European markets are saturated with long-lived products, investors are looking to profit from the outdoor industry’s success, both producers and retailers are undergoing a period of concentration and consolidation, and sustainability and corporate social responsibility are presenting new challenges.

“Although we are all looking to the future in these economically challenging times, we also want to allow ourselves to celebrate the success of the OutDoor over the past 20 years, said EOG President David Udberg.  “Throughout the history of the OutDoor, we have seen a lot of changes and our industry has developed very positively during this time.”

www.outdoor-show.de