LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR) hosted its first-ever booth at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Convention. This was the first time Arkansas had a branded booth at North America’s largest outdoor industry tradeshow, joining the ranks of states like Maine and New Mexico, which have previously showcased their outdoor sectors.
Historically, individual Arkansas companies have attended the show with their booths. However, the OOR spearheaded a collective effort to highlight Arkansas’ outdoor recreation economy this year.
"We love to take every opportunity we can to grow the outdoor recreation economy in Arkansas," said Katherine Andrews, director of the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation, "By providing this platform, we were able to showcase Arkansas' incredible outdoor opportunities at the national level, while giving Arkansas businesses a place to connect with major retailers and build relationships."
The Outdoor Retailer Summer Convention is a B2B tradeshow, attracting major retailers like REI, Bass Pro Shops and Dick’s Sporting Goods. These retailers attend the event to discover innovative products and forge new business relationships. The Arkansas booth aimed to provide invaluable exposure for local companies, hoping to secure deals that could propel their businesses to new heights. It also showcases all the breathtaking trails, serene waterways and other unparalleled experiences Arkansas offers for every outdoor lover.
The University of Arkansas played a pivotal role in selecting and vetting the participating companies, with Matthew Myers from the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (OEI) attending the event. The OEI also hosts the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), which has supported two of the five featured companies: Lacaida Ropes and Adventure Trail Outfitters.
"Outdoor Retailer was a fantastic opportunity for the University of Arkansas to help showcase the growing outdoor economy in Arkansas, including our new outdoor industry programs," Myers said, "It was especially exciting to have two GORP businesses with us, Lacaida and Adventure Trail Outfitters. Lots of really valuable interactions and connections were made."
The other three Arkansas companies featured at the booth included LIVSN Designs, FLPSDE and Eddyline Kayaks. Together, a thriving outdoor recreation economy is being fostered, and local businesses continue on their journey to success.
"Outdoor Retailer was awesome for FLPSDE. We got to make some great connections that we expect will have a positive impact on our business," Ben Bazis, FLPSDE, said, "We are truly grateful to the State of Arkansas for the opportunity and it was an honor to represent our wonderful state."
"We met retailers that are looking for newer brands that everybody else doesn’t have. I love seeing people that I only see once or twice a year. When we’re in our little bubble back in Arkansas designing, we’re not out in the world," Andrew Gibbs, LIVSN Designs, said, "This is our chance to go out and test the things that we think are great, get feedback, meet people that we haven’t seen in a long time, and really just be a part of the industry."
"Outdoor Retailer allowed Lacaida to make important connections with retailers, grow awareness of our proprietary technology, and represent The Natural State's outdoor industry," Pedro Somarriba, Lacaida Ropes, said, "We were possibly the only climbing rope brand at the show, and we are so grateful to have been able to participate!"
"Adventure Trail Outfitters were able to demonstrate our portable Overland Shower and Water System to some of the biggest authorities in the Overland and vehicle-based camping segment," Tom Brawley, Adventure Trail Outfitters, said, "We received some invaluable reviews and positive critiques from these industry leaders that otherwise would not have been possible without an incredible investment of time and effort."
"It was a wonderful experience to join with our other colleagues in outdoor recreation in Arkansas to return to outdoor retailer in Salt Lake. As a 50-year-old company, we have a history with the event that goes back to its early heady days as the can’t miss industry show," Scott Holley, Eddyline Kayaks, said, "It was exciting to see emerging brands, many from Arkansas, inject new life into the show. I’m grateful for Katherine and the State of Arkansas Office of Outdoor Rec for supporting our company."
