Grassroots Outdoor Alliance will not hold an event in Sandy, Utah in 2018 as planned, the organization has announced.
Grassroots鈥� decision to withdraw is twofold, according to President Rich Hill.
鈥淥ur membership is unanimous in opposing Utah鈥檚 public lands policy,鈥� he said. He also cites his organization鈥檚 desire to stay together as an industry. 鈥淭he best idea that we鈥檝e come away from the last year with is co-location with Outdoor Retailer. It鈥檚 critical that we work together as an industry.鈥�
Outdoor Retailer announced last month that it will not be returning to Utah, its home for two decades, because it does not see eye to eye with governor Gary Herbert on the protection of public lands, including the designation of Bears Ears National Monument.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unlikely that there鈥檚 a bigger issue out there for Grassroots members and partners than preservation and access to public lands,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淭he outdoor community spends millions of dollars collectively each year to create and protect open spaces for outdoor recreation, and the aggressive stance of Utah鈥檚 elected officials on this front has our membership pretty fired up.鈥�
The June 2018 Grassroots Connect show will co-locate with Outdoor Retailer Summer Market at their new venue, as determined by their current search process.
The variety of benefits from 鈥渃o-locating鈥� the two independent shows include providing Grassroots retailers, vendor partners, and reps with substantial financial and marketing efficiencies, as well as delivering a broad industry perspective that benefits each individual business.
鈥淐o-location makes so much sense for our retail members,鈥� said Hill. 鈥淚t essentially saves retailers six to eight days per year on travel.鈥�
That鈥檚 six to eight more days they can be in their stores selling.
鈥淭rade shows are obviously a big part of outdoor industry life,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淎nd while they鈥檙e important to everyone鈥檚 bottom line, the big opportunity is to use our gatherings to come together as an industry to recognize鈥攁nd address鈥攖he headwinds that we are all facing.鈥�