“We anticipate an excellent OutDoor 2015. With over 85,000 square metres at our disposal, we’ll be welcoming brands and trade visitors from all sectors of the outdoor industry,” said Klaus Wellmann, CEO Messe Friedrichshafen. Year after year, the trade show attracts more than 20,000 industry visitors. The 22nd OutDoor covers everything from apparel and footwear to hardware, backpacks, sleeping bags and
tents and climbing equipment. Service providers from all areas of the outdoor business will also be attending. “The outdoor category continues to perform well in Europe, but the market place is more competitive than ever. Meanwhile, our sector is constantly developing – more family oriented, fitness or urban driven activities and products are just three examples of the increasing integration of outdoor sports and lifestyle in
society. Once again, our annual gathering in Friedrichshafen will provide an excellent opportunity for brands and retailers to get fresh ideas, prepare business for the upcoming seasons and demonstrate this sector’s huge ongoing potential”, said OutDoor partner and general secretary of the European Outdoor Group (EOG) Mark Held.

The leading international outdoor trade show also features a new hall plan this year.
OutDoor project manager Dirk Heidrich explained, “For 2015, we’ve listened to exhibitors and redesigned major sections of the show to meet requirements. As a result, there will be more exhibiting space, an improved mix of brands and topics and greater use of the open air exhibition grounds.” This means that the Rothaus Hall A1, Friedrichshafen’s largest trade hall, will now be a conventional hall for exhibitor stands,instead of a tent display ground. Leading brands The North Face, Columbia, Mountain Hardware, Polartec, VauDe and Thule are among those taking advantage of the change. And 2015 also sees the return of global players such as Dynafit, Carl Zeiss and Kolping (Korea) to Lake Constance this summer. Trade visitors looking for the Tent City will find that it has moved to the (East) open air exhibition grounds, as well as halls A7, A6 and A2.

OutDoor Conferences – think tanks and open exchanges The European Outdoor Group will again be organising a series of talks at the East Conference Centre. It has become the platform for exchanging information, professional development and lively discussion. Some thirty talks are planned, covering the topics Digital, Retail, Sustainability, Trends & Change. The focus will be on issues such as eco-friendly production and new materials and technologies. Tenth anniversary of the OutDoor Industry Award Outstanding products deserve outstanding awards. The OutDoor Industry Award is celebrating its first ten years. Of course, the spotlight will remain on the selected products. Last year saw 361 innovative entries, 35 OutDoor Industry Awards and 7 Gold Award winners. EOG and Messe Friedrichshafen are sticking to the winning formula and once again organising the competition and judges’ panel session with support from the Deutscher Designer Club (DDC). New products are entered in the categories apparel, footwear, backpacks, bags and travel luggage, climbing equipment, camping equipment, sleeping bags and sleeping mats, water sports, accessories plus material and sustainable innovations. The OutDoor Award winners are announced on July 15 at 17.30 in Hall A2 and all winning products will be on display in the Foyer East throughout the show.
Hall of Vision (Hall A2) – fashion trends of the future The Hall of Vision provides an exciting look into the future. It’s been created to show
where we are heading and what the future holds when it comes to colours, designs, 13.05.2014 – OutDoor 03/2014/FG Page3 materials and cuts. Potential trends for 2016 will also be presented in trend windows.
The latest must-have items are selected by exhibitors, international trendspotters, fashion experts and fashion journalists. Every day at 11.00, 14.00 and 16.00 the OutDoor Trend Show will be presenting their findings. Additionally, a free booklet will be available to provide a summary of the trends. On the catwalk, the latest lighting and projection techniques are going to complement the models. Hall A2 will also be further
enhanced by various lounges and a nature bar. This same setting is used to hold the “Movie Nights”, the Bouldering Championships and sections of the Tent City.

Opening times
OutDoor 2015 is open to industry visitors only from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18 July (Wednesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). All important information about the OutDoor trade fair with a directory 13.05.2014 – OutDoor 03/2014/FG Page4 of exhibitors, events and directions are available to download free of charge at: www.outdoor-show.com.