Ken Hoeve demos a Jackson Kayak SUPerFISHal at Jordanelle State Park on Wednesday.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
JORDANELLE STATE PARK — Their innovations spring from necessity, frustration and desire.
They find ways to keep an iPhone safe — and accessible — while playing in (and under) the water. They figure out ways to charge their computers in the middle of nowhere. They sell boats designed for children, stand-up paddle boards made for land-locked surfers and camping gear for dogs.
Trade shows are, by definition, gatherings of those in an industry where participants learn about and discuss issues and innovations.
But the Outdoor Retailer show is unusual even among trade shows because it brings together such a diverse group of businesses. For four days, the Salt Palace area is home to businesses ranging from multimillion-dollar apparel companies to a lone inventor who designed a new type of inline skate with the help of his 10-year-old.
As business owners, they want to make money, but they also want to share a love of outdoor recreation that transcends regular business relationships.
They're people who feed off the innovations of each other, and the goal for all, from manufacturers to retailers, is making outdoor recreation more accessible, more comfortable and more enjoyable.
"Our goal is to get as many people outside as possible," said Emily Jackson, whose family owns and operates Jackson Kayak. For the two-time world champion white-water kayaker, the yearly trip to Salt Lake City is a bit like a family reunion.
Only instead of flashing photos of her overachieving children, she's fawning over innovative ways to navigate the world's waterways.
For Amy Snyder Hackbart, owner and president of Seaside Brands, bringing a few samples from her new line, Sirena Sol, to the Outdoor Retail show last winter gave her the confirmation she needed to expand her business into women's active wear.
"I just did the January show to see if there was any interest, and we got good traffic and really good feedback," she said at the Demo Day event last week at Jordanelle Reservoir. "We thought, 'We're in the right market; these are the right people.' "
She plans to take her products to another trade show next month — a surf expo in California — but acknowledges that the Outdoor Retailer show in Utah gives her access to a much wider audience.
"We're really excited to be part of the show this summer," she said.
