My Outdoor Retailer Show Agenda

Sometimes it feels like everyone is doing something else

Thursday morning, before the sun rises, I will hit the road for Salt Lake to execute my 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market agenda.

But I feel like I am on my own.  Everyone else that I know is going with completely different goals.

Go against the grain.  Hike your own hike.  Think out of the box.

It’s usually sound advice.

And lately, I find that those phrases keep popping into my mind as I prepare for the Outdoor Retailer Show.  Some of my friends that are also going to the show, like Brian and Ryan, are gear guys.  Their agendas for the show are more straight forward.

They’re picking up what the brands and their PR reps are laying down.  They want the inside scoop on the latest products, they will secure some of the best items for review, and each will most certainly break a few key insights from the show that will once again reaffirm to their readers that they have a solid bead on the outdoor gear market.

Hell, I’m one of those readers.  Be sure to follow their blogs for detailed assessments of the mountains of gear that they will be previewing.

But I’m marching to the beat of a different tune.  Don’t get me wrong, I can geek out on gear with the best.  I’m excited to see what Columbia Sportswear has planned for the coming months, what Geigerrig is going to introduce, and I’m eager to find the brands that design with taller hikers in mind.  Half shirts just aren’t as fashionable as they were when I was growing up even if they are dri-fit!

My 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Agenda

My primary goal is to connect with a select few brands that I have been developing relationships with this year to foster an even deeper connection with their teams and the culture of their organizations.

I want to meet the talent behind the scenes of the digital campaigns that I think have been pushing the limits in social marketing.

I’ll be meeting with PR folks, marketing people, and communications staff to exchange thoughts on the digital landscape and why I think Trail Sherpa is uniquely positioned to inform brand strategies moving forward.

I’m excited to geek out on the digital conversations that drive the storytelling and message dissemination for the brands that we all know in the outdoor space.

My agenda certainly drives me in a different direction than many others attending the Outdoor Retailer Show but it’s this journey that I love so much.  I’ll leave the gear to the gear guys.  I’ll report back on the stories from the digital side of the show.

Stay tuned.