2013 Asia Outdoor Summary

    The 2013 (8th) Asia Outdoor was held in Nanjing from July 24 to 27. Over the four-day exhibition period, it welcomed 18,563 professional visitors (2012: 20,542). The first two days of the show attracted 10,782 professional attendees, a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2012. A total of 4,103 exhibitors and invited guests attended (an increase of 15% compared to last year). 455 journalists, including those from CCTV 5, were present to cover the event.

 

Mr. Jaeger, advisor to both the Asia Outdoor and Asia Bike, explained the situation regarding this year’s professional visitors: “The decision to hold the Asia Bike and Asia Outdoor separately for the first time in 2013 has had some impact on the number of professional visitors to the Asia Outdoor. However, learning that the number of professional visitors this year is relatively optimistic has filled us with anticipation for this year’s Asia Bike. After two years of development, it now seems that the decision to separate the two shows was wise and correct.”
    “Separating the two shows will inevitably affect the number of professional visitors attending, and we also found that, compared to previous years, the average length of stay of visitors at the show has shortened. One reason is that the growing number of large-scale ordering fairs have gathered many dealers, and another is that the growth of the outdoor market is slowing this year. Due to limited profits, some dealers have relatively tight travel budgets. In the last two days of the show, we clearly felt a decrease in visitor numbers,” said Li Hao, Project Director of Asia Outdoor.

“What impressed me most was the very high quality of booth construction at the Asia Outdoor. This year, all custom-built booths were beautifully designed and highly innovative, showing great improvement compared to previous years and far exceeding my expectations,” said Klaus Wellmann, President of Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH. Indeed, many well-known brands not only expanded their booth sizes but also made their designs more aesthetically pleasing and premium. The North Face participated for the first time this year, not only setting up two large booths on-site but also hosting a grand bouldering competition, press conference, and delivering a speech at the Asia Outdoor Industry Forum, sharing the development history of the outdoor market in the United States.

The 2013 Asia Outdoor China Bouldering Open, co-hosted by The North Face, the Climbing Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Chinese Mountaineering Association, was successfully held during the outdoor show. The well-known domestic brand Kailas provided full support, and Nanjing Ningfei International Exhibition Co., Ltd. (the organizer of Asia Outdoor) meticulously managed the event. The competition was exciting and drew over a thousand spectators each day. “This bouldering competition is of great significance. The friendly collaboration between competitors The North Face and Kailas sets a fine model for promoting the development of bouldering in China,” said Mr. Jaeger.       
“We hope to promote bouldering and rock climbing nationwide by sponsoring this bouldering competition and other similar events. We believe that through our joint efforts, rock climbing will become an Olympic sport in the near future.”—Zhong Chengzhan, founder of the Kailas brand and General Manager of Maya Outdoor Products Co., Ltd.As said by Zhong Chengzhan, founder of the (Kailas) brand and general manager of Maya Outdoor Products Co., Ltd.