Slide Retailer Show Dates Changed To Late January

kailee bradstreet

• October 28 2009
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The wintersports trade show Slide, created and held by Snowsport Industries of Great Britain, announced that it will hold the show nearly two weeks earlier than last year,  from January 27-29, to better coordinate with ISPO, according to a Boardsport SOURCE post. The move to earlier dates has generated some positive feedback from companies, who say the dates now fall within order deadlines.

“‘Slide is a major part of the winter retail buying experience so it’s imperative that the show dates are relevant to the buying calendar,’ said Damo

n Street, President of SIGB. ‘Most suppliers present to retailers in store, at showrooms, at Slide, at ISPO, at the Ski Test in Bormio and at the Snowboard Test in Kaunertal.  When ISPO announced the show would be running a week later due to the major American show SIA’s date change, we could either take Slide to the end of February or run it prior to ISPO.’

After much discussion, the SIGB committee came down on the side of the earlier date, but controversy still rages in the wider industry. Several retailers were quick to point out that they wouldn’t be placing orders at such an early show because they wouldn’t have sell-through information. “We have to wait until after half term to know what’s working” said one retailer. Several suppliers were also concerned about sample availability…

Buyers were generally positive about the dates. Steve Wells from Ellis Brigham, was unreservedly so; ‘I need to see ranges in one place to understand how the shop is going to look,’ he said. ‘This will act as an ISPO preview for me but nearly all the brands I’m looking for are at Slide; it’s going to be the start of the serious decision-making process.’”