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In North America, Matador has long been a familiar brand to outdoor fans with its ultra-light bags and backpacks. Now the travel experts from Colorado are making their way to Munich for the first time for OutDoor by ISPO. The goal: to take off in Europe.

Can there be a more fitting headquarters for an outdoor brand than the city of Boulder? It's there, in Colorado, that outdoor and travel specialist Matador makes its home. With its ultralight carrying options ranging from backpacks to travel bags to duffle bags, Matador has been supplying North American outdoor stores and fans with the right equipment for adventure travel in the great outdoors for years.

Now Matador is also setting its sights on the European market. For the first time ever, the brand will be exhibiting at OutDoor by ISPO in Munich from June 12 to 14. Founder and CEO Chris Clearman and Adrian Caponera, Chief Revenue Officer, reveal how Matador also wants to score in Europe.

ISPO.com: Why does Matador participate at OutDoor by ISPO and why is it important to you?
Chris Clearman and Adrian Caponera: We are very excited for Matador to attend ISPO for the first time, and to be able to officially launch our brand in Europe. It will be great to connect with a lot of our international partners who we have yet to meet in person.

Chris Clearman, Founder and CEO Matador
Image credit:
Matador

What are the current challenges in the outdoor industry? In how far do these challenges influence your actions and your company?
The outdoor industry is experiencing a number of challenges, some that are affecting Matador and some that are not. The global supply chain delays are currently our biggest hurdle in our operations. As people start to travel and enjoy the ourdoors again, many brands will struggle to keep up with demand. It has forced us to work with longer lead times, but we are fortunately able to be agile and adjust our processes as needed.

Have you planned anything special for this trade fair - what can visitors expect?
We will be unveiling a couple new innovations in the packs category, stop by our booth to learn more and check them out!

Are there any products you will you be presenting for the first time at OutDoor by ISPO and which are these?
We have a number of exciting new products that we will be presenting this year. Buyers should look out for our new SEG series bags, the SEG28 backpack and the SEG45 Duffle Pack. Another exciting release is our collaborative product collection with Volcom. This collection includes a towel poncho, beach towel, and pocket blanket – all in a custom matching colorway.

Who are you particularly looking forward to meeting, who would you like to see at OutDoor by ISPO?
We look forward to meeting all of our existing international partners along with meeting a number of new friends and business contacts. We are also excited to see what new industry innovations are being talked about and presented. 

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