BOULDER, Colo. — After 30 years, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Outdoor Retailer, the largest U.S. trade show for the outdoor industry, organized by Emerald Expositions and held twice each year, have ended their exclusive partnership. The move reflects a change in business strategy within the organization, as well as a broader shift among associations to diversify their revenue streams.
A national trade association with more than 4,000 outdoor industry members — manufacturers, suppliers, sales reps and retailers — OIA bills itself as the outdoor industry’s “catalyst for meaningful change.” Its members include business leaders, climate experts and policy makers, as well as outdoor enthusiasts, and there is a strong focus on education, advocacy and sustainable growth.
OIA has been under the new leadership of outdoor industry veteran Kent Ebersole, who joined in 2022 as Interim Executive Director, the year that Outdoor Retailer moved its location after a five-year stint from Denver to Salt Lake City. He became the organization’s President in 2023, directing a shift in the association’s post-pandemic business strategy.
Related. Former Tarsus Exec Follows His Passions to Launch TrailCon
For decades, OIA has relied heavily on royalty payments from its trade show business, which accounted for more than 70% of the association’s annual income. But that revenue has not returned, according to an article in the Colorado Sun; in its place, OIA collected a record $3.1 million in membership dues in 2022, posting its highest annual revenue of any year at $8.59 million.
The outdoor recreation industry represents the interests of 57.3% of the United States population, according to OIA’s 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report. The study showed that the outdoor recreation participation base grew 4.1% in 2023, to a record of 175.8 million participants.
“OIA and Outdoor Retailer have enjoyed a longstanding partnership marked by industry-leading education, networking and community experiences. We appreciate the valuable opportunities that Outdoor Retailer has long provided, and continues to provide, to the outdoor industry and our membership,” Ebersole said. “This next chapter enables our organizations to work to unify our industry, foster growth and deepen community engagement.”
Through the 2024 Outdoor Retailer Winter show November 6-8, OIA members will continue to receive a 10% discount on booth rates for exhibiting.
Reach Kent Ebersole at kebersole@outdoorindustry.org
