After a two-year pandemic break, Messe München can finally hold its outdoor trade fair again from June 12th to 14th. More than 300 brands have announced their attendance at OutDoor by Ispo and are temporarily presenting themselves at the Munich MOC for the first time.
The industry can finally meet again. After two trade fair cancellations due to the pandemic, Messe München promises a “firework of innovations” when the industry presents itself to the trade public again in person for the first time. Around 300 brands have announced that they will be presenting their new collections on more than 30,000 square meters at the Munich MOC. A total of four halls and atriums, various showrooms of the order center and open spaces in front of the Motorworld site opposite are available to exhibitors and visitors. Leading brands such as Fjällräven, Vaude, Maloja, Mammut, Ortovox, Deuter, Houdini, Teva, Lowa, Ecco, Hanwang and many more have announced their presence. Outdoor heavyweights like Patagonia or Jack Wolfskin are not included.
Outdoor is booming like never before
The industry actually has a lot to talk about: two years of pandemic with major shifts in the distribution channels and disrupted supply chains in an outdoor market that is still booming. Messe München has just published a representative study according to which 76 percent of those surveyed have invested in new outdoor accessories in the past twelve months, and the same number of Germans want to do the same in the current year. Younger and middle age groups in particular want to buy hiking boots, functional clothing and other equipment or have recently done so. Backpacks are currently particularly popular. Jogging, walking and camping are also far ahead.
Sustainability is the focus of innovation
The first product innovations that will celebrate their premiere at the trade fair are already catching on: Nordisk is showing a completely compostable tent, for example, and Cotopaxi is presenting backpacks made from 100 percent recycled material. The Winqs Zerofly running shoe is certified climate-neutral and follows a circular approach, just like the Scott Shield Recycled glasses, which build new frames from old ones and also make the glasses strap from 100 percent recycled polyamide. All winners of the newly established Ispo Awards will also show their award-winning products in a special area, as well as the latest material trends. The Sustainability Hub focuses on inspiration and information.
Appointment makes for a topic of conversation
And another innovation will provide a lot to talk about: the early date. The OutDoor date, which we had learned over the years, was until mid-July. If the fair starts a month earlier, that’s just an intermediate step. Because as early as next year, the trade fair wants to move to May (22nd to 24th May 2023) and then give more weight to the voices of the industry, which would like a trade fair to kick off the new order season. By the previous date in July, most of the orders had long been written, so the trade fair as an information exchange was much too late. The upcoming trade fair will then take place again at the Munich exhibition center.
When Messe München organized OutDoor by Ispo for the first time in 2019, it promised that the format would be further developed. Now she wants to get back to that.
Framework program for the regenerative value chain
And what other topics did the fair set itself? The supporting program includes several high-quality conference formats, including the OutDoor Conference by EOG and NOW, which on June 13th and 14th will address the question: How does a regenerative value chain become a motor for economic success? Here, solutions for industry and trade are discussed, which at the same time strengthen supply chains, customer relationships and financing options.