Round Up From Slide & OTS Winter
Slide & OTS Winter closed its doors last week after a busy three days of trading by snowsport and outdoor brands which came together under the one roof in Telford to showcase new products and the latest collections for winter 2023 / 24.
The organisers reported an increase of 12.3% in overall visitor attendance when compared to 2022, reflecting the enhanced appeal of the show to both traditional snowsports buyers and new visitors from the outdoor sector.
Buyers and exhibitors were again complimentary about the show environment and endorsed the timing and location of the show. Steve Wells, Ski Equipment Buyer for Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports commented that, “Slide has to be the most efficient 3 days of my year, seeing every brand that I need to, all in one place and with all their ranges laid out. No excess travelling or drawn out appointments with little product to show. And 2023 was the best yet, with the stands, ranges and brands all looking great.”
Sales Agent for Dynastar skis and Lange boots, Scott Dobson added that, “For me the venue is great, staff welcoming, the stand builders very helpful, and when the show opened we had a very successful few days. Buyers coming to see the newest and best stuff available, good to be able to chat and catch up with business and to have a well-lit venue to show the kit. I always find things very easy, from arrival to breakdown on the last day. Parking for breakdown is great, and cannot fault the whole organisational set up of both SIGB and the Telford International Centre.
Andy Baguley from Denali commented that, “SLIDE/OTS once again proved to be a well organised and very busy show with great support from our retail partners - thank you. Over three days I managed to see around 50 Hestra customers including new ones for Outdoor and for Snowsports. The show continues to be a very efficient use of time for all involved.”
Positive comments were echoed by newcomer Chris Davison from CDA who exhibited Darn Tough socks for the first time, “I enjoyed the show, it was good to see some friendly faces and to feel connected to the trade again! We went to Slide & OTS Winter with a clear focus on promoting Darn Tough ski socks and attempting to open new snow market accounts. This really worked and we now have significantly more snow accounts that we had before! However, what surprised me was the number of existing outdoor accounts we saw at the show as well. Slide &OTS Winter has a relaxed atmosphere, it is a quick and simple get in and set up, it is cost effective and the show was well run, well organised with good communication …. we will be back!”
“Superb! This show is going from strength to strength with a great line up of brands and customers in 2023”, was how Sam Fernando, Sales Director at Keela summed it up.
Bradshaw Taylor’s Sales Director, Sonia Prior said, “Congratulations to Rare Management and MCS for another great Slide & OTS Winter show. Bradshaw Taylor enjoyed a busy show across all our brands both Snowsports and outdoor, including Sherpa Adventure Gear, Artilect, Keen, tentree and Schöffel Ski. Good to see more outdoor brands joining the show, bringing with them new buyers and opportunities for all. We look forward to seeing the show grow once again in 2024. It’s become a critical show for our business.”
Owner of specialist retailer, Countryside Ski & Climb, Anthony Greasby spent all three days at the show and commented that, “SLIDE & OTS Winter 2023 was a good balance of brands and suppliers across both snow & outdoor. It's a well-organised show that is both timely and accessible.”
Chris King, Head of Sales at Ardblair Sports Importers added, "Slide & OTS provided Ardblair Sports with the perfect opportunity to showcase our LEKI Ski and Glove range with its focus on the Trigger system, as well as AKU’s superb Therm200 winter walking boot. The timing of the event was ideal for reviewing LEKI trekking poles and to grow AKU footwear within our forward order timeframe which further justified our attendance. We’ve enhanced our Ardblair stand to be a visual representation of our brand look and feel whilst adding a little theatre and fun to reflect Ardblair's character. The show is a marketplace not just for buyers and sellers but also offers a great platform to catch up with social media influencers and discuss collaborative initiatives with like-minded brands that share similar values. All in all, a successful show for Ardblair Sports with lots of interesting discussions had on the stand, in the aisles, and in the evenings.”
There was a record attendance with in excess of 80 delegates at the Sustainability Breakfast on Wednesday morning which was sponsored by Rab & Lowe Alpine and the SIGB’s AGM, Open Forum and Awards presentation provided an additional networking opportunity for exhibitors and visitors as well as an opportunity to say farewell to Lesley and Mike who have successfully organised and managed the show since 1996.
