This is one of two major European trade shows we attend every year, its a gargantuan event where manufacturers display next winters product lines to retail stores from around Europe, if you love new kit it can also be viewed as one giant toy shop full of hopefully exciting new toys!
From gore-tex jackets to new ice axes, ski bindings and boots there is loads to see. Unfortunately i did not have time to go to the fairground, which formed one brands trade stand but you cant always do everything!Despite all the talk of recession and global downturn, the mood at the show was extremely buoyant, the cold and snowy weather along with a continued interest in healthy living and outdoor sports in general is ensuring that for the time at least, outdoor retail is in generally sound health.
Many people think of us as a very British Brand, and we are, but not everyone will realise just how big our export business is. We have our products distributed across many countries, at least 17 or 18 including nearly all of the major European countries including Germany, Norway and France as well as countries further afield such as Japan and Korea. And with our export markets growing every year, it is a real important and busy show for us.
Now while the emphasis on these shows is selling this is not everything we do. Its equally important for marketing and product development with lots of meetings with journalists, fabric suppliers and factories.
So what were the highlights? Well from a personal point of view, its always seeing the level of interest in what I consider the most exciting new products, usually our more specialists pieces and the mood of excitement we are receiving in our new range of technical WINDSTOPPER Soft Shell garments is great to see. We have worked hard on what we think is a superb new lightweight softshell, the Shield Jacket and completely revamped our much loved and cult classic, G2 Ultimate Mountain Pant. These will complement our range of other lightweight softshell's such as the Astron Hoody perfectly. A slightly sneeky peak below right!
We have also been receiving alot of interest in a new technical climbing glove. The Cascade Xtrafit has been developed in conjunction with GORE-TEX, using a new bonded insert technology, the result is vastly improved levels of dexterity and tactility and one which I cant wait to use. Again this will be available from September 2009.
