Paddlesports Retailer 2019 Show Updates

Speaker Schedule

See the newly updated speaker schedule with all new content here: https://www.paddlesportsretailer.com/2019-speakers-seminars

Speakers include Dirk Sorenson of The NPD Group as Industry Breakfast Speaker on Tuesday, August 27th. His topic: “Finding Meaning, Purpose & Connection with Today’s Paddlesports Consumer, a Data Oriented Approach.” Presented by Suspenz Storage and Transportation.

As well as John Williams  as Industry Breakfast speaker on Wednesday, August 28th. John is from Pack & Paddle and will be discussing “Events, Trips & Seminars as Guerrilla Marketing.” Presented by Mariner Sails.

Badge Pick Up

Exhibitor badges will be available Sunday, August 25th during booth setup in the exhibition hall. Show staff will make rounds through the hall to distribute these at exhibitors’ booths.

Retailer, independent rep, media and non-profit badges will be available for pick-up Sunday, August 25th at the Kick Off Party at nearby Bricktown Brewery from 6pm to 10pm.

Show badges will also be available Tuesday, August 27th starting at 7am at the check-in desk. A map of the Convention Center and show lobby is available here: https://www.paddlesportsretailer.com/s/PSR-2019-Lobby.pdf

Note that badges will not be available for pick up at Riversports Rapids on Demo Day. Attendees will, check-in, sign a waiver and receive a wristband upon arrival. Show badges are not required or recommended for use at Demo Day, and lost badges may be subject to a replacement fee.

Demo Day Schedule

Over a hundred registered exhibitors were presented on the initial floor plan, which exceeds last year’s vendor commitments at the time the floor plan was released in July of 2018. Seventeen of these exhibitors are new to the show. In the next three months prior to the event, the Paddlesports Retailer team expects to book approximately 7,000 additional square feet in the convention center bringing the final number of exhibitors close to 150. The 2018 show was fully reserved at 140 exhibitors representing more than 450 paddlesports brands, all of whom were carefully curated to ensure their relevance for paddlesports retailers.

Paddlesports Retailer 2019 Show Schedule

Demo Day will kick off the 2019 show on Monday, August 26, followed by two-and-a-half exhibition days in the Cox Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

“Our first year in Oklahoma City was amazing. Both exhibitors and retailers told us the Demo Day at Riversport Adventure Park was the most successful demo in the industry’s history. In post-show surveys and interviews, attendees raved about the convenience of the hotels and restaurants in Oklahoma City and said the community welcomed everyone with enthusiasm. We’re proud to be back for two more years,” said Conner.

Representing paddlesports manufacturers, Bill Kueper, Vice President of Wenonah Canoe concurred: “The OKC location and the packed event schedule really delivered. Ninety-four percent of attending retailers indicated they plan to return for the 2019 show. That’s phenomenal. Paddlesports Retailer has established itself over the past two years and shows great potential going into 2019.”

The show’s second year—and first in Oklahoma City—drew more than 500 buyers representing over 230 individual retail stores. Show organizers expect attendance to grow in the coming years as momentum builds and attendees spread the word about the demo site, OKC’s convenient accommodations and restaurants, and the collection of paddlesports-specific exhibitors.

New for this year are two additional social events, a Kick-Off Party on Sunday, August 25th at the nearby Bricktown Brewery, and an After-Hours Gathering on Tuesday, August 27th, presented by American Whitewater at TapWerks Ale House–also an easy walk from the Cox Convention Center.

The events are intended to give all show attendees additional networking opportunities and to bolster the show’s social calendar. According to show General Manager Charles Conner, retailers and exhibitors both wanted more networking opportunities and considered social events a critical part of their show plans. “Attendees ranked networking events the third most important show element, besides the core events in the exhibition hall and the demo day.”

Adding the events also serves another important function, it makes the show more enjoyable. “An important characteristic of our show is that it’s fun. For our retailers these may be the only summer days they’ll spend out of their shops, and it’s important that they’re able to enjoy themselves while doing business at Paddlesports Retailer” asserted Conner.

Other notable changes to the schedule include starting Demo Day earlier on Monday, and holding the flatwater and whitewater demos in succession rather than simultaneously. These changes are expected to give retailers more time to explore and use products and to provide exhibitors a more focused and efficient Demo Day experience, as Monday is also the second day of exhibitor installation.

Also noteworthy, the show will end earlier on Thursday. The new Thursday hours are 8am to 1pm. Last year the show ended at 3pm. Conner explained, “Exhibitors should still have time to schedule a range of appointments on Thursday, but they’ll also have time to break down their booths and start heading home for their Labor Day weekend plans.”

This year’s schedule changes reflect the show organizers’ emphasis on post-show surveys and attendees’ feedback. These changes resulted from almost 250 post-show surveys from exhibitors, attending retailers and even retailers who were unable to attend the event.

New Product Showcase and Industry Awards

This 3,000-square-foot, buyers-only gallery highlight’s the show’s premier products into one browsable collection—ensuring buyers see 2020’s most important innovations.

Information on benefits, eligibility and pricing is available here. All registered Paddlesports Retailer exhibitors are invited to participate, and buyers vote on their favorites. Awards will be presented in 11 categories at Paddling Magazine’s Industry Awards on the evening of Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

New Industry Panel Announced

A newly announced industry breakfast and panel discussion will take place at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27. “Finding Meaning, Purpose and Connection with Today’s Paddlesports Consumer—a Data-Oriented Approach” is presented by Suspenz Storage and Transportation and features Dirk Sorenson of The NPD Group.

Sorenson will share insights from The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service to uncover opportunities and discuss challenges facing the paddlesports business right now. During his talk, Sorenson will present new findings on the power of unique features, focused branding, and cause marketing as cornerstones of growth in 2019 and beyond.

Exclusive Retailer Hotel Reimbursement Offer

The 100% Hotel Reimbursement Offer for Retailers ends on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Qualified retailers who attend Paddlesports Retailer 2019 and book lodging within the official room block will be eligible to receive reimbursement for their lodging expenses.

• $150 per night if reserved and submitted prior to 6/1/19
• $75 per night if reserved and submitted between 6/1/19 and 8/1/19

*Note that Paddlesports Retailer only offers one room incentive per shop.

The show’s primary focus is to host brands that serve paddlers, specifically paddle/watersports hardgoods, softgoods, and accessories. Retailers who were surveyed after the 2018 event strongly indicated that they would like to see inclusion of complimentary categories; Paddlesports Retailer responded by broadening the exhibitor mix to include those who offer fishing accessories, high-quality footwear, technical apparel and camping gear.

Paddlesports Retailer General Manager Charles Conner states, “We designed the 2019 floor plan incorporating feedback provided by exhibitors after the 2018 show. Placing major must-see exhibitor booths throughout the hall will increase buyer circulation, ensure a strong show for all attendees and ultimately benefit the entire industry.”

Paddlesports Retailer Partners with SUP Industry Association (SUPIA)

Paddlesports Retailer has created a “SUP Zone” on the exhibition hall floor, where many of the show’s SUP brands will be on display in one central location–creating a convenient experience for interested retailers and raising the profile of SUP as a critical component of PSR’s exhibitor mix.

SUP industry attendees will also be able to participate in an on-water demo on Monday at Riversport Rapids in OKC’s Boathouse District. A flatwater demo will be held on the course from noon to 4pm, with the whitewater pumps turned off. This setting will provide the opportunity to preview and test the newest stand up paddleboard designs and accessories from a variety of manufacturers. The whitewater pumps will be turned on for a 5pm to 9pm whitewater demo, where SUP paddlers will be able to test manufacturers’ designs on Riversport Rapids’ surfing wave, competitive whitewater channel and recreational whitewater channel.

SUP is our industry’s fastest-growing activity, as well as an entry path to all forms of paddling, and our show intends to give it the prominence it deserves

Attending SUP shop retailers will be eligible for a 100% hotel reimbursement offered to all PSR attendees. Originally set to expire on June 1, this deadline will be extended for SUPIA members to give them time to secure this important attendee incentive.

Paddlesports Retailer General Manager Charles Conner commented, “SUP is our industry’s fastest-growing activity, as well as an entry path to all forms of paddling, and our show intends to give it the prominence it deserves. Most of our manufacturers and shops already cater to stand up paddling, so the core of a SUP market has always been here. But now it’s a primary component of the show.”

PSR is held at the end of shops’ busy summer season, but the Demo Day and the first exhibition hall day are intentionally held on a Monday and a Tuesday for retailers’ convenience. “If you can only carve out those two days you can still get a lot of important business done efficiently. The show is comprehensive, but also manageable because we limit it to only the most pertinent paddlesports brands. It can be walked in a day by a buyer on a mission” PSR General Manager Conner suggests. “Retailers can reach out to us about their availability and show preferences, and we can help them make an attendance plan that works for their schedule.”

About Stand Up Paddle Industry Association (SUPIA)

Founded in 2013, SUPIA is the trade organization for all Stand Up Paddle businesses: Brands, Distributors, Retailers, Service Providers, media, associations and more. SUPIA strives to move SUP forward in a positive direction, while improving each member’s individual business.

Paddlesports Retailer Partners with Nation’s Best Sports

Paddlesports Retailer, the official national trade show of the paddlesports industry, has partnered with Nation’s Best Sports for the 2019 show season in late August. Paddlesports Retailer is set for August 25-29 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, while Nation’s Best Sports Fall Semi-Annual Market will take place August 27-29 in Fort Worth, Texas. The first-time partnership enables NBS retailers to attend the PSR show on Monday and Tuesday, before traveling to NBS for Wednesday and Thursday.

Paddlesports Retailer General Manager Charles Conner commented, “We’re happy to collaborate with the Nation’s Best Sports team to offer retailers a two-for-one opportunity. It’s difficult for many retailers to take a week out of the store or office, and the option to attend two shows provides them extra value for their time and travel expenses. It’s also helpful for our industry to attract retailers with a secondary interest in paddlesports, as they represent potential new customers for many of our exhibitors.”

Participants will register for both shows and will fly into Oklahoma City and out of Fort Worth. A free shuttle will be provided on Wednesday, August 28 from the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City to the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas—an easy three-hour trip.

NBS retailers who book an Oklahoma City hotel in the official PSR room block and attend Paddlesports Retailer will qualify for the full lodging reimbursement available to all PSR attendees. The full reimbursement is available to reservations made prior to June 1, with a 50% lodging reimbursement available for reservations made prior to August 1. Registration and hotel booking instructions for Paddlesports Retailer are located at paddlesportsretailer.com.

For more information about the NBS market and how to register, visit their website.

Paddlesports Retailer 2019 Registration Information

Paddlesports Retailer, the official national trade show of the paddlesports industry, opened registration via email for returning exhibitors on Monday, January 28, offering booth preference priority for exhibitors in the hall and at Demo Day in the order exhibitors register. Registration for other exhibitors opens on Monday, February 4 and retailer registration opens on February 11.

Paddlesports Retailer will remain in Oklahoma City, OK, for 2019 and 2020. The show will take place from August 26 to August 29, 2019. In 2020, the event will occur August 31 through to September 3.

Paddlesports Retailer general manager Charles Conner announced new perks for exhibitors in 2019, some of which are based on exhibitor feedback from the post-show surveys, including:

• The show is subsidizing drayage to a flat $60 per hundred-weight for both advanced and direct shipments, which could save some exhibitors as much as 35 percent on drayage and materials handling
• There will be free, nearby surface parking for exhibitor trucks and trailers
• And free Wi-Fi internet access for exhibitors and retailers

About Paddlesports Retailer

Paddlesports Retailer is the national trade show of the paddlesports industry, endorsed by the Paddlesports Trade Coalition. The show provides exclusive on-water demo opportunities, an expansive marketplace and an unsurpassed cultural experience for exhibitors, retailers, media and industry advocates alike. For more information, visit www.paddlesportsretailer.com or contact [email protected]

Feature Photo: Pat McDonnell