The Outdoor segment continues to be one of the focal points at ISPO Munich. The major brands will be appearing at the world’s largest sports trade fair, where they will reveal their new products for the season ahead across four prominently positioned halls. With everything from ultra-light cookers and SUP (stand-up paddle) boards to climbing skins for touring skis and multi-functional, all season jackets on display, retailers and members of the press can explore the broad spectrum of the industry in the Outdoor halls (A1 to A4).
The world of outdoor sports has become even more diversified. Although exclusive focus areas such as alpine climbing, mountaineering, and ski touring have been the order of the day in the past, the demands placed on equipment and clothing are now more complex. Brands are responding to changes in the seasonal conditions, with winters getting shorter and transitional months accounting for a bigger chunk of the year. The result is that consumers’ requirements for products are shifting as they are beginning to use equipment in a different way.
Outdoor sports are no longer restricted to hiking or climbing up in the mountains. In fact, the boundaries are becoming blurred and we are seeing a changing attitude to leisure time, whether that’s in the mountains, out in the great outdoors, or in urban settings. Outdoor activities are increasingly being taken to the park, to the water, and to the climbing gyms (of which there are many).
This evolution signifies more scope for athletes to be creative, while for manufacturers it opens up a new customer base and further sales channels.
At ISPO Munich 2019, brand-new areas of interest will be on display in the Outdoor segment. In order to accommodate the developing trends within the industry, the world’s largest sports trade fair is introducing an optimized design and adding another hall to the exhibition area. With a total of four Outdoor halls this time, information will be on hand for visitors to find out all they need to know about the latest trends and innovations relating to mountaineering, climbing, ice climbing, bouldering, trail running, camping, and water sports.
Hall A3 will also be home to the Snow & Safety focus area, which is dedicated to one of the key developments we are currently witnessing. Indeed, safety on and off the piste and trails has come to be an important issue within the sports industry. Special hardware, such as protective gear, avalanche transceivers, avalanche airbags, snow shovels, avalanche probes, and even emergency radio technology, has long been part of the equipment considered to be standard, alongside the traditional helmets, goggles, and rope.
One thing visitors to ISPO Munich 2019 can be sure of is that if they head to Halls A1 to A4 (easily accessible via the West Entrance), they will be treated to a full overview of the entire outdoor sports market. There they will find suppliers of exclusive specialist climbing equipment, the hottest water sports labels, and suppliers catering to multiple segments across the outdoor sports industry.
With the likes of family outings on a folding kayak and yoga classes on a lake on the table, it seems that the creativity of specialist retailers and sports suppliers knows no bounds. Water sports athletes are exceptionally creative and inspiring, bringing renewed motivation to get out into the great outdoors right from our living rooms.
The latest product trends address the requirements of our modern lifestyles, with the design of boards, paddles, and water sports accessories making them easy to transport. There will often be the option of inflating or folding state-of-the-art sports equipment, with only very little compromise on performance, if any at all. High-tech product innovations benefit from being light as well as extremely tough and durable, whether they are in the form of kayaks, surfboards, or kites.
Providing companies from the water sports sector with the ideal platform for presenting their brands, the Outdoor & Water Sports Village in Hall A4 also falls under the Outdoor segment. We will even be setting up our very own pool that can be used to demonstrate the latest trends and innovations to come out of the surfing and paddle sports sector. You are happily invited to test the new equipment. ISPO Munich provides swimming things. Trade visitors heading to the Outdoor & Water Sports Village can expect to find clothing, hardware, and trends in swimming and diving equipment.
On the nearby stage workshops, speeches and interviews will be held, where useful tips and tricks for your next watersports adventure will be given.
Another focus area in Hall A4 is Outdoor and Travel, which is the place to go for specialist retailers, journalists, and outdoor experts representing manufacturers and brands who are looking for information and inspiration relating to new outdoor and travel products and developments.
If you grow up surrounded by nature, it stands to reason that you will be at one with nature. It should come as no surprise, then, that the “Scandinavian Village” is a popular port of call for all fans of outdoor sports every year at ISPO Munich - this year even bigger. Based in Hall A2 and organized by the Scandinavian Outdoor Group (SOG), this area features some 60 brands from the north of Europe. The legendary SOG Bar and Lounge are firm favorites among buyers, decision-makers, experts, and journalists.
Companies within the outdoor sports sector take some beating when it comes to their commitment to sustainability. Strategies that aim to preserve nature have come to be a priority for many businesses, as customers become increasingly aware of the importance of outdoor sports and the corresponding equipment also being environmentally friendly. With consumers continuing to demand more transparency in communications about products and their journey to reach the customer, this progressed to become more than just a trend some time ago now.
ISPO Munich joins forces with associations, experts, and representatives from the worlds of industry and trade to work on ways of improving transparency for brands and consumers. As well as arranging workshops and conferences at the sports trade fair in Munich, the ISPO Award Judging Panel made up of international experts is a globally recognized body boasting expertise in sustainability management built up over many years. This committee is more or less unparalleled on an international level. At ISPO Munich 2018, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is also set to be one of the major focal points within trade and industry.
Hall A4 will host a CSR Hub & Sustainability Kiosk, which offers the possibility of useful information and a personal exchange. “Brands for Good” and “Greenroom Voice” and their sustainable Brands are exhibiting there, too.
Experts give lectures in the CSR Speaker’s Corner for trade visitors, who plan to expand their company in terms of sustainability.
The CSR Sustainability Kiosk offers a perfect platform, if you have the following three questions on your list:
- How can I establish a sustainable production/supply chain.
- How can I ideally use and transport sustainable topics in my classical communication and in my social media channels.
- How can I handle and convert my trade in a sustainable way?
In addition all experts take their time to help finding solutions for your most important questions and matters regarding your business.
An Art Gallery presents outstanding projects related to sustainability.
- Retailers selling clothing, equipment, and accessories for climbing, mountaineering, water sports, bouldering, hiking and trekking, traveling, camping, and backcountry skiing
- Trainers and coaches specializing in outdoor sports
- Mountain guides
- Outdoor tour operators
- Trade fair visitors interested in outdoor sports
