Mark Wolf, President of Fireside Industries in Surprise, Arizona, was more than a little excited to be attending his second Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Denver to show off his ‘next-generation fire pit.’
“Our first show was OK, but we are so new to the world of outdoor products that we didn’t really know what to expect,” Wolf said. “This time we have some experience such as the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, where we sold out of our Pop-Up Pit in one day. We are really excited to display our latest product that will change outdoor fire pits forever.”
Wolf explained that the Pop-Up Pit was invented as a way to safely allow anyone to set up a fire pit where they need it when they need it.
“For decades the fire pit has remained virtually unchanged because traditional fire pits are bulky and leave a rusty mess behind,” he said. “We set out to invent a new, easier way to enjoy a fire while camping, and we did.”
Fireside Industries new technology— an aerospace inspired design that uses entirely rust-proof materials— solves all of the problems associated with old fire pits. Lightweight, clean burning and easy to set up, the Pop-Up Pit is the best way to host a fire, anywhere, anytime and on any surface explains Wolf.
“The Pop-Up Pit sets up in just 60 seconds and cools down in 90 seconds so you can pack it away after your fire.”
Wolf also brought and exhibited his Campfire Defender, a campfire safety system designed to make camping easier and safer. The Campfire Defender is placed over a campfire in the event of inclement weather or simply when it’s time for bed. Made from a military grade fabric, the Campfire Defender is more than capable of containing a campfire by not allowing embers to escape. Instead of having a cold wet fire pit in the morning the Campfire Defender allows you to wake up to a fire pit that is dry, hot.
The Pop-Up Pit performs exceptionally well in snow, with no mess involved. [Photo/Fireside Industries]
Wolf said that his new products are perfect for car camping and RVers, and that both Meyer Distributing in Indiana and AIM RV Wholesalers in Arizona are interested in carrying his products.
“It’s perfect for camping because in less than 2 minutes you can pack it up and drive away,” Wolf said. You can’t do that with a regular old-fashioned fire pit. Wolf enthusiastically noted that the company is really happy to show their products at the Winter Market in Denver.”
The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Denver is the largest U.S. tradeshow and premier business event for the outdoor industry. Just concluded the four day show occurred from Nov. 8-11, 2018 and spanned nearly half a million square-feet at the Colorado Convention Center.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reports that outdoor recreation contributed over $673 billion toward total U.S. gross output, which is the total value of domestic goods and services produced by an industry. This supports the $887 billion that consumers spend annually on outdoor recreation and confirms the national importance in recreation funding and infrastructure. These figures show that recreation is an important sector of the U.S. economy and that the desire by Americans to spend time outdoors continues to grow. This annual Denver show is the launching pad for new products that facilitate these outdoor adventures.
“Outdoor Retailer Winter Market answers a long-standing need in the industry to have a launch event for the winter season,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer vice president and show director, in a statement. “[It] has a proud history of delivering exceptional shows that provide the most efficient options for getting business done. At this November’s show, buyers and media can see more brands and gather more data all in one place before making buying decisions. The Winter Market also finally brings the sales and manufacturing functions of the trade show to the front of the buying cycle.”
Those in the industry see this event as the must-see, or must-travel to event. You’ll find retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media workers who gather to conduct business via interviews for the publications like the Outdoor Retailer Magazine, holding product demo events, and participating in seminars and critical face-to-face business initiatives.
The November show ended Sunday as the third of three expos hosted by Outdoor Retailer this year. There's the Winter Market, the Snow Show, and the Summer Market. In January, the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show kicks off the year, while the Summer Market takes place in July. The next upcoming Snow Show is January 30 - February 1, 2019, back at the Colorado Convention Center. In response to feedback from the industry, the show had to change up its show cycle dates to help navigate changes and influence the buying decisions. They moved to Denver because Colorado shares the industry’s values and commitment for outdoor recreation. The show kicked off the new show cycle this year featuring the inaugural Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, key industry events, and a full slate of experts that shared their knowledge over all four days.
“As we gather in Denver, we’ll officially kick off the new cycle and season with The Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards – our first awards program to recognize the people and products leading the way,” Nicholson continued. “And, as always, the show will be an opportunity to connect, learn, and encourage growth in our industry.”
Another vendor we focused on was Big Agnes, a Steamboat Springs-based outdoor gear company. Big Agnes is just as enthusiastic as Wolf to attend the show, although they have been in business for more than 20 years.
“We’re gathering to showcase new products and talk with other brands,” said Garett Mariano, marketing director for Big Agnes. “We’re happy that the show is in Colorado, because this state has such energy when it comes to the outdoors.”
Big Agnes is named after a 12,060-foot peak in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where the staff gladly hikes and tests the products in the backcountry.
The two products that Mariano thinks that RV owners will be interested in are their outdoor chairs and hammocks.
“The chairs are lightweight, 2 pounds or less, which makes it prefect for backpacking, but also for storing in travel trailers and RVs,” he said. “The hammocks of course weigh next-to-nothing, but the cool thing about the hammocks is that you can put one of our foam pads inside the product and sleep under the stars.”
Big Agnes will also be launching a furniture line in the spring of 2019 which will showcase such products like a stool, three new chairs and two outdoor tables. The stool and chairs feature a patented hub-less frame for smaller pack size and enhanced comfort and stability through pre-bent poles. The tables feature foldout table-tops and hub-less frames also to cut down on the amount of space used while packing. Ideal styles for RVers will be the Big Six Chair and the Soul Kitchen Table.
Colorado, Features, Outdoors, Products, RV Lifestyle, Trade Shows & Conferences