OutDoor by ISPO to see improvement with industry feedback

26 Feb '20

3 min read

Pic: ISPO

Preparations in Munich for the second OutDoor by ISPO are in full progress. The leading international outdoor trade show will be held from June 28-July 1, 2020. The show is expected to see a significant improvement with new concepts and extensive supporting programmes, thanks to the feedback from the industry which will be incorporated in the planning.

“As we had already done when developing the OutDoor by ISPO concept in the run-up to the premiere, we sought close contact with the industry at all levels, both through our Advisory Board and expanded network and through our partner, the European Outdoor Group. All in all, the feedback for the first event was very positive, but of course - as with every new project - there were also numerous suggestions for specific improvements. We are very happy about the varied feedback, because only then do we know what moves people and how we can improve. We are now in the direct implementation of the corresponding measures,” Markus Hefter, exhibition group director of OutDoor said in a press release.

Talking about the optimised hall layout and new planning of the outside area, Hefter said, “The generous distribution of the exhibition space across nine halls and the outdoor exhibition area, the very wide central aisles and open stand design provided the desired relaxed marketplace atmosphere. Subjectively, however, some exhibitors were under the impression that there were fewer visitors on the floor than actually attended. In addition, the flow of visitors in the C-halls of the site was not entirely satisfying for us. For 2020, we are optimising the hall layout: We will only occupy the A and B halls with access to the atrium. The central aisles will be made a little narrower. This means that we gain more exhibition space in each hall and make better use of niche areas without reducing the beautiful, airy ambience. At the same time, we promote a more even visitor flow.”

Speaking about increasing the quality of the trade visitors, he added, “The quality of the trade visitors in 2019 was very good. Over 80 per cent of the more than 22,000 visitors stated in the official visitor survey conducted by Messe München that they had decision-making authority in their professional capacity. In order to further increase the quality and quantity of the visitors and to make better use of the potential of international distribution networks, we expanded our ‘Altogether to Munich’ invitation and matchmaking tool. Our exhibitors can activate their own dealer network, subsidiaries or distributors with just a few clicks via the online-based invitation tool. With ‘Altogether to Munich’, exhibitors may send 4-day tickets to sports retailers and buyers at no additional cost and also make appointments on site directly in the system. The tool is currently available in eight languages.”

“This year we will again set up a camping site within close proximity to the exhibition halls. In our eyes, it serves not only as an alternative to a hotel, but also as a meeting place for the industry. The proximity to the bathing lake in Riemer Park was already very well received last year. This summer, the trade fair campers can look forward to additional and improved gender-specific sanitary facilities, an optimised catering offer and extended green areas for tents. For a cosy end of the evening we also set up a central fireplace. It is expected that it will be possible to book the site from March onwards,” Hefter said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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