On January 19, 2012, the Salt Lake City (Winter) Outdoor Retailer Market was grandly held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, USA. Outdoor equipment retailers, manufacturers, and professionals from around the world, including UTC Travel, as well as thousands of buyers, gathered at the Salt Lake City Convention Center to share the latest trends brought by this major event.
It is understood that the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, USA, has gone through more than 30 years of growth and has now become one of the world’s top outdoor product exhibitions. The show is held twice a year, in winter and summer. Each edition features innovative scientific and technological advancements, trendsetting new products, refreshing creative designs, and diverse interactive experiences, attracting elite professionals from around the globe. The Outdoor Retailer Show not only promotes multi-channel development of the outdoor market but also serves as an important platform for thousands of buyers and top decision-makers to expand their markets.
This exhibition gathered thousands of exhibitors, many of whom were veteran participants. UTC Travel, as a professional travel equipment operator in China, has been attending the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City for many years. This time, UTC Travel, together with its represented brands Eagle Creek, Timbuk2, Briggs&Riley, and Wenger, participated in the show. Daisy, the Brand Director of UTC Travel, had a face-to-face exchange with the brand representatives.
At the exhibition, Daisy, Brand Director of UTC Travel, stated that UTC Travel has participated in the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City for many years, which is very beneficial for the company to grasp international trends and keep up with consumer preferences. Daisy said that in recent years, there has been increasing integration of outdoor travel with popular fashion elements, and the functionality of travel bags and luggage has been continuously emphasized. The concept of travel equipment is also being mentioned by more and more people. UTC Travel has always advocated the concept of “travel equipment,” which is an innovation and also a trend in outdoor travel. “The Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City is part of the annual interaction among international brands,” Daisy said. “Participating in such international exhibitions and introducing the latest global trends to China — Everything For Travel — is a philosophy that UTC Travel has always upheld.”
The United States has long been the home of many unique brands, including Eagle Creek, Timbuk2, and Briggs&Riley. According to Daisy, as the leading brand in American outdoor travel, Eagle Creek offers the most comprehensive product line — from large suitcases, travel bags, and hiking backpacks, to specialized organizers for managing various types of clothing during travel, as well as travel accessories like neck pillows, eye masks, pouches, and a variety of lightweight daily-use bags, covering all aspects of travelers’ needs. As the originator of messenger bags, Timbuk2 has always adhered to the design philosophy of “stylish, functional, and timeless bags,” using the best materials and superior craftsmanship to produce bags that can last a lifetime. In the U.S. messenger bag market, Timbuk2 holds an absolutely dominant position. Briggs&Riley has long been regarded as a premium brand for business elites, with its luggage designed and manufactured from the perspective of lifelong use and offering free lifetime repair services. The exhibition featured both renowned American brands and internationally acclaimed names. Centuries-old Switzerland carries on its classic legacy, and Swiss Army Knife brand Wenger is known for its high-quality, multifunctional backpacks and extensive range of outdoor products, winning the love of outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.
This was a gathering of global brands. It is understood that attendees shared their outlooks for the 2012 outdoor travel industry and summarized the trends in outdoor travel equipment for the year — namely, a closer integration of function and fashion, the rise of green and eco-friendly products, and a perfect balance between comfort and durability. In short, the outdoor industry does not believe that 2012 is the end of the world; instead, it marks a year of continued expansion for the sector.