Outdoor Retailer

What Outdoor Retailer does

Outdoor Retailer is North America's largest B2B trade show and industry event for the outdoor recreation sector, founded in 1995 and owned by Emerald X, LLC (acquired ~2017). The company operates a two-sided marketplace connecting outdoor brands and manufacturers (exhibitors) with national retailers, specialty stores, buying organizations, media, and industry stakeholders (attendees). Revenue is generated primarily through one-time exhibition and booth fees — with the ASCENT package for emerging brands priced at $2,500 — supplemented by attendee registration, lead retrieval and matchmaking services, creator marketing services via Wild Reach, and sponsorship and partnerships around awards programs and pavilions. The show historically operated out of Salt Lake City for over 20 years and is relocating to the Minneapolis Convention Center in August 2026.

The core product is the flagship Outdoor Retailer Show (August 19-21, 2026 in Minneapolis), augmented by a portfolio of sub-products: the Retailer Playbook Lab and Industry Day: Outdoor Next education programs, the ASCENT emerging-brand pavilion, the GGG + Founded Outdoors Campsite Pavilion for cottage brands, the Wild Reach creator ecosystem (powered by Popfly, reaching 11.7M+ followers), the co-located Outdoor Design + Innovation sourcing show, the Innovation Awards, and experiential activations including the 57hours Adventure Race and Celebrate Minnesota Outdoors. Distribution operates through the physical show floor, online registration (registration.outdoorretailer.com), and the Wild Reach creator channel. The company is privately held under Emerald X, LLC's Sports and Outdoor Division; revenue is not publicly disclosed, and it has no separate venture, private equity, or public-market financing.

Name

Outdoor Retailer

Legal name

Emerald X, LLC

Website

https://outdoorretailer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Outdoor Retailer operates North America's largest B2B trade show for the outdoor recreation industry, connecting 720+ exhibiting brands with national retailers, specialty buyers, and media. Owned by Emerald X, LLC, the show is relocating to Minneapolis in August 2026 with an expanded format spanning education, creator marketing, and sourcing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Shows & Events

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Shows & Exhibitions (Booths, Show Management) (BPAFAGAD)

Keywords

• Trade show events
• B2B exhibitions
• Outdoor industry
• Buyer matchmaking
• Exhibitor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and Booth Fees: Primary revenue from selling booth space and exhibition packages to outdoor brands and manufacturers. The ASCENT package is priced at $2,500 for emerging brands.
2. Attendee Registration: Revenue from registration fees for retailers, buyers, media, and industry attendees to access the trade show floor and education programming.
3. Lead Retrieval and Matchmaking Services: Additional services provided to exhibitors including lead retrieval systems and buyer matchmaking to facilitate business connections.
4. Creator Marketing Services: Wild Reach initiative connects exhibitors with creators for coordinated on-site activations and social media collaborations, creating value for exhibitors.
5. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Sponsorship opportunities around awards programs, pavilions, and event experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Outdoor Retailer operates North America's largest B2B trade show for the outdoor industry, held August 19-21, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The core offering is the trade show floor, exhibitor booth packages, buyer matchmaking, hosted buyer travel incentives, and supporting education programs that connect outdoor brands with national retailers, specialty buyers, media, and industry stakeholders.

Product overview

Outdoor Retailer is a trade show and event platform for the outdoor industry, not a traditional software product. The core offering is the Outdoor Retailer Show (August 19-21, 2026 in Minneapolis), which serves as the central hub for the outdoor industry. The platform consists of multiple integrated components: the main exhibit hall, education programming (Retailer Playbook Lab and Industry Day: Outdoor Next), specialized pavilions (ASCENT for emerging brands, Garage Grown Gear + Founded Outdoors, State Pavilions, Outdoor Design + Innovation for sourcing), the Wild Reach creator ecosystem, outdoor activations (57hours Adventure Race, Celebrate Minnesota Outdoors), the Leadership Village advisory group, Innovation Awards, OR Gatherings discussion series, and the Gear of Tomorrow platform. Supporting services include a Hosted Buyer Program, lead retrieval, matchmaking, and digital marketing promotions. The show format features themed zones including ASCENT, Outdoor Lab, Community Hub, and Activity-Focused Zones for Camp & Hike, Run & Cycle, Climb, Water, and Lifestyle categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Outdoor Design + Innovation: Co-located sourcing and materials show for product developers and designers
• Ascent
• Wild Reach
• Retailer Playbook Lab
• Garage Grown Gear + Founded Outdoors

Products and services

• Outdoor Retailer Show The primary trade show event for the outdoor industry, held August 19-21, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Features exhibit halls, education sessions, networking, and outdoor activations serving as the central hub for the outdoor industry.
• Retailer Playbook Lab A half-day, hands-on conference for retail owners, buyers, and managers featuring interactive workshops across four tracks: People & Culture, Resilient Operations, Customer Growth, and Future-Proofing. Includes AI tools workshop and lunch keynote.
• Industry Day: Outdoor Next Full afternoon forum featuring rapid-fire panels and debates on the future of the outdoor industry, covering topics like independent retail, Gen Z/women customers, wearables, AI, and circular economy.
• ASCENT Emerging Brands Pavilion National launchpad for emerging outdoor brands featuring a $2,500 cost-effective booth package with digital marketing promotions, lead retrieval, matchmaking services, and access to the Ascent Summit.
• Garage Grown Gear + Founded Outdoors Pavilion Partnership pavilion showcasing 50-100 small and cottage outdoor brands from across North America, featuring creative storytelling and emerging trends.
• Wild Reach Creator Initiative Built-in creator ecosystem powered by Popfly that connects exhibitors with outdoor content creators (11.7+ million followers) for authentic product storytelling, on-site activations, and social media collaboration.
• 57hours Adventure Race Marquee outdoor activation at Theodore Wirth Park bringing creators, media, retailers, and exhibitors together for an adventure race combining navigation, checkpoints, and outdoor challenges.
• Outdoor Design + Innovation Show Co-located sourcing event featuring domestic and international suppliers of raw materials, textiles, fabrics, insulations, fastenings, composites, and sustainable manufacturing technologies for product developers and designers.
• State Pavilions

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.7 million+ combined follower reach through Wild Reach creator ecosystem
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 57hourscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 202657hours, a platform connecting travelers with certified local guides for outdoor adventures, hosts the 57hours Adventure Race on August 21st during Outdoor Retailer 2026. About 150 participants are expected including show attendees, creators, retailers, and outdoor industry leaders. The race takes place at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis with a Greenland adventure trip as the grand prize.
• PopflycoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2026Popfly powers the Wild Reach creator initiative, providing the technology platform that connects Outdoor Retailer exhibitors with outdoor content creators. Creators reach 11.7 million+ followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. The partnership enables coordinated creator matchmaking, on-site activations, and product storytelling for exhibitors.
• Garage Grown Gear (GGG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Partnership with Garage Grown Gear to host the inaugural Ascent Summit on August 19, 2026, bringing together 200+ founders of independent outdoor brands for education, collaboration, and community. The collaboration extends to the GGG + Founded Outdoors Campsite Pavilion featuring 50-100 small and medium-sized brands.
• Founded OutdoorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Founded Outdoors partners with Garage Grown Gear and Outdoor Retailer to showcase independent outdoor brands. Their mission is to help founders build sustainable businesses and authentic communities.
• BackcountrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Backcountry has partnered with Outdoor Retailer to debut the 'Backcountry Garage' activation at the reshaped show in Minneapolis, August 19-21. This on-site activation brings additional retail and brand discovery opportunities to the show floor.
• Minnesota Orienteering ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization partnering with 57hours to design the adventure race course and manage race-day logistics for the August 21st event at Theodore Wirth Park.
• Orienteering USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing sponsorship and support for the 57hours Adventure Race as part of its mission to introduce more people to the sport of orienteering.
• Loppet FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinneapolis-based nonprofit connecting over 40,000 people to the outdoors every year, providing additional support for the 57hours Adventure Race at Outdoor Retailer 2026.
• Mayor Jacob Frey of MinneapolisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Minneapolis leadership providing support and advocacy for Outdoor Retailer's move to Minneapolis, hosting the 2026 show and future events at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SHOT Show (NSSF): SHOT Show is the largest U.S. trade show for the shooting, hunting, and outdoor firearms industry, operated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as a major outdoor-industry B2B trade show with overlapping specialty retailer attendance and adjacent brand ecosystems.
• High Point Market: High Point Market is the largest home furnishings trade show in North America, held twice yearly in North Carolina. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as a flagship B2B trade show with similar scale, hosted buyer programming, and seasonal show cadence serving a vertical specialty retail audience.
• ICAST (American Sportfishing Association): ICAST is the world's largest sportfishing trade show, serving fishing tackle, marine, and outdoor recreation brands and retailers. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as an outdoor recreation B2B trade show with similar buyer demographics and adjacent product categories (water, lifestyle).
• MAGIC (Emerald): MAGIC is a large fashion and lifestyle trade show operated by Emerald (Outdoor Retailer's parent) in Las Vegas, covering apparel, footwear, and accessories. Comparable as a sibling Emerald B2B trade show operating with similar booth, sponsorship, and registration monetization, though in a different vertical.

Regional players

• Pitti Immagine (Pitti Uomo): Pitti Uomo is the leading international menswear and lifestyle trade show held semi-annually in Florence, Italy. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as a flagship vertical B2B trade show anchoring brand-retailer discovery and seasonal buying in a different geography, with similar premium brand monetization mechanics.

Direct peers

• The Running Event (TRE): The Running Event is the leading specialty running and fitness trade show in North America, serving running specialty retailers and brands. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as an industry-specific B2B trade show targeting specialty retail buyers in the outdoor-adjacent active lifestyle category.
• Agenda Show (Emerald): Agenda is a B2B action sports, streetwear, and lifestyle trade show operated by Emerald. Comparable to Outdoor Retailer as a sibling specialty outdoor/action-sports trade show targeting brands and specialty retailers with similar booth, sponsorship, and matchmaking revenue models.
• Surf Expo: Surf Expo is a twice-yearly B2B trade show for the surf, skate, swim, and coastal lifestyle/outdoor markets, held in Orlando. Comparable as a specialty outdoor/action-sports trade show targeting specialty retailers and brands, with similar booth, sponsorship, and buyer program revenue models.
• ISPO (Messe München): ISPO Munich is the largest international B2B trade show for the sports and outdoor industry, held annually in Munich with global brand and retailer participation. Directly comparable to Outdoor Retailer as an industry-specific B2B trade show serving the same outdoor and sports apparel/equipment ecosystem.

Others

• Outdoor Industry Association (OIA): OIA is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry, representing brands and retailers on policy, sustainability, and market research. Not a direct competitor but a closely adjacent ecosystem participant that co-shapes the industry Outdoor Retailer serves and partners with on industry initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/outdoorretailer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/OutdoorRetailerShow
• Facebookfacebook.com/OutdoorRetailer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outdoor-retailer
• Instagraminstagram.com/outdoor_retailer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Outdoor Retailer