Denver, CO: The Big Gear Show announced today two new partnerships for its upcoming June 2023 show in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center: Adaptive Adventures and Founded Outdoors. Both organizations support The Big Gear Show’s vision of showcasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in action within the industry, offering retailers, media, and consumers an opportunity to experience a truly inclusive outdoor industry show.
As the single largest nonprofit recipient of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Adaptive Sports grants, Adaptive Adventures provides progressive outdoor sports opportunities to improve the quality of life for children, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities and their families. They will showcase their wide variety of adaptive gear at The Big Gear Show, providing people of all abilities the opportunity to learn and experience what is possible in adaptive outdoor recreation.
Adaptive Adventures Executive Director Chelsea Elder notes, “The Big Gear Show is the perfect venue to engage and educate the entire outdoor industry on a very active and able group of outdoor recreation enthusiasts, providing it with the necessary insights to grow the industry through greater accessibility and inclusion.”
Launched in 2021, Founded Outdoors supports emerging businesses nationwide through community, programming, and connections, with the goal of increasing access in the outdoor industry as well as in outdoor places. Their community includes over 400 outdoor entrepreneurs at different stages across product categories and is supported with ongoing knowledge-sharing, peer support, resource databases, and topical workshops and events.
“Entrepreneurs need specific skill sets, industry knowledge, and professional connections to drive business growth, and in-person events like the Big Gear Show provide important opportunities for beginning to build those strategic relationships,” said Katie Doherty, head of Partnerships with Founded Outdoors.
The Big Gear Show brings a whole new organization and platform to life for the greater outdoor recreation industries. Introducing a unique B2B2C format, the event provides two dedicated business-to-business days, followed by two days of consumer attendance, broadening the value of the event for all participants. Co-located with (e)revolution, the first e-bike-focused show in North America, The Big Gear Show attendees can also learn about the growing electric bicycle market by attending two events in one location. Additionally, a professionally designed interactive demonstration area enhances the show experience.
“Adaptive Adventures and Founded Outdoors participation in The Big Gear Show is the beginning of several inclusivity programs we are developing with future announcements coming to include REI Path Ahead Ventures, In Solidarity Project, and the Moosejaw Accelerator program,” said Kenji Haroutunian, show director for The Big Gear Show. “Instead of merely discussing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at industry events, attendees will see it in action,” added Haroutunian, who has dedicated his work over decades to driving inclusion in the industry.
The Big Gear Show takes place June 8-11, 2023, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. Exhibit space is still available, and trade show badge registration is open. Consumer ticket sales begin in April 2023.
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