![Slide x Outdoor Trade Show [Winter]](https://www.boardsportsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Slide-x-Outdoor-Trade-Show-Winter.jpg)
Slide x OTS Tradeshow in Telford, UK, Starts Today
Slide, the UK winter sports trade show, reopens its doors today after last year’s show had to be cancelled due to Covid.
The show is now a joint with The Outdoor Industry Association, the organisers behind the OTS summer show. The Outdoor Industry Association’s members had been asking for a winter show and running the two together as a single show was seen as the most attractive option for both brands and retailers. As in previous years the show will be held at Telford International Centre and this year, the inaugural join Slide x OTS show has attracted 90 exhibitors showing 220 brands, with many of the major snowsports and outdoor brands represented. The show guide is available online from www.slideotswinter.co.uk/show-guide/#1
Slide is the only opportunity for UK retailers to see so many brands under one roof, making it the key event in the UK snow industry calendar and an easy decision for specialist retailers. Slide is still very much an order writing show, with brands holding back-to-back meetings, so retailers should book ahead to make best use of their time at the show. Additionally, show organiser Lesley Beck commented: “The latest news from ISPO and the absence of a European show this winter means that our 2022 event is more important than ever to the UK trade”. As a result, this is now the only opportunity for brands to showcase their latest product ranges and innovations, and the only place for snowsports and outdoor retailers to place forward orders to guarantee stock for delivery for the following season.
The renamed Slide & OTS Awards will recognise the hottest, most talked about products at the show, with the winners and finalists in each of the 6 categories (Snowsport Hardware, Outdoor Hardware, Softwear, Accessories, Fresh Brand and Eco) on display in a dedicated area for the duration of the show. Judges include the SIGB member retailers, OIA (Outdoor Industries Association) members, retailers, the media and industry opinion-leaders. The exception is the Eco Award, the winner of this will be selected by POW UK.
Key additional activities scheduled during the show are as follows:
- On Tuesday at 6pm the SIGB, in partnership with the National Snow Show, invites exhibitors and visitors to join us in the show’s central café for Networking Drinks. It’s an opportunity to talk shop, talk snow, talk snowboarding.
- On Wednesday morning from 8-9am is the Sustainability Breakfast, sponsored by Rab and Lowe Alpine, with talks from Debbie Read (CSR Manager at Rab) and Adam Hall (Trustee, POW). To attend, please register by emailing [email protected],
- On Wednesday evening at 7pm is the SIGB AGM, the presentation of the awards and an open forum open to both SIGB members and non-members. The Open Forum gives the industry the chance to discuss any current topics, such as the Outdoor industry joining the show, along with future dates, likely to be a hot topic following the announcement that ISPO is moving to the end of November.
Telford is well served by the road and rail network. A free shuttle from the train station to the exhibition centre helps make the trip a seamless one and car drivers are offered free parking. On-site hotels offer reduced rates for visitors meaning you can easily walk from the hotel to the show and back. Doors open at 9am and close at 7pm on the first two days and at 4pm on the final day. The show is free to attend for all visitors. Visitors are reminded that everyone will need to register to gain entry to the show and no one will be auto registered as a visitor, even if you have previously visited the show.
Finally, please see the Covid regulations for the show. Following discussions with the venue and the local authority, it has been confirmed that it will NOT be necessary to show a vaccine certificate to access the event. In order to limit the spread of Covid, the organisers are encouraging everyone attending the event to take a lateral flow test within 24 hours prior to attending and, if possible, another test each subsequent day they attend the show. In addition, masks are recommended within the venue and halls, other than when sitting down to eat or at meetings on individual stands.
So, for all the key players in the UK snowsports market, Slide is still the place to be. Looking forward to seeing you in Telford for a long-awaited industry gathering!
