SLIDE & OTS WINTER 2024 RECORDS GROWTH

 Visitors and exhibitors full of praise for three-day show

The 2024 Slide & OTS Winter Show saw record numbers of visitors and exhibitors, enjoying three days of networking, product and industry updates, and social events, once again at the Telford International Centre. There was a very encouraging rise in both exhibitor numbers as well as visitor attendance which reflected an 8% overall increase on the 2023 show.

Looking back over the past couple of years to 2022 when OTS joined forces with Slide, visitor attendance has risen by 22% indicating that there is a strong interest from a wider audience of retailers wishing to benefit from a winter show and the depth of products showcased by all the brands.  The three-day show featured 110 exhibitors, showcasing new products and innovations for the 2024/25 winter season.

Day 1 kicked off in fine style with an increase in visitor attendance on 2023, and ending with a packed evening networking drinks reception in the main venue café, sponsored by The London Snow Show. Day 2 was another full day, bookended by two key show events:  the early morning Sustainability Breakfast was a fully booked session, with Scott Nelson (European Outdoor Group), Charles Ross (RCA) and Dominic Winter (Protect Our Winters UK) bringing fresh perspective on the challenges for the industry of climate change and product sustainability – and the initiatives underway to meet those challenges.

The SIGB AGM, Open Forum & Show Awards presentation saw outgoing joint presidents David Sawyer-Parker (Bespoke Trading Solutions) and Sonia Prior (Bradshaw-Taylor) thanking the show organisers for a seamless organiser transition and delivering a vibrant and enjoyable show, and handed over the presidency to two new joint presidents, Steve Wells (Ellis Brigham) and Tord Nilson (Iconic Agency), who will head up the 16-strong SIGB committee.

Praise for Slide & OTS Winter 2024 has already poured in from visitors and exhibitors alike. Amongst the exhibitors, Joe Nocito from Darn Tough Vermont said, “Slide & OTS provided a great chance to reconnect with our valued customers, meet new ones, and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow brands and media alike – all under one roof makes it a win-win for us!”.

Geoff Hanson from first time exhibitors Imbrace concurred, saying, “The show exceeded expectations. All the old hands were very welcoming and encouraging. A great experience – felt like we put Imbrace on the map”

Alan Walker from Keela highlighted the benefits of exhibiting at OTS, saying, “In a mere three days at the Slide exhibition, I presented the latest range to a larger audience than I could have reached in a whole month. Slide stands out as the ultimate winter trade show, where you can chill out with your favourite customers while ensuring the job gets done!”.

Feedback from Mark Wood at Scott Sports echoed that. “Slide 2024 was once again a great exhibition”, he said, “enabling us to showcase our 2024 products with my appointments turning up, as scheduled, ‘on the hour, every hour’, which is probably the closest I will ever get to experiencing speed-dating!”

Visitor feedback was similarly positive, including:

• “Slide & OTS Winter was a very successful and productive show for us this year. Being able to view a large number of brands under one roof, really helps streamline our decision making, whilst providing the opportunity to pick up new product lines and grow our business. There was a real buzz about the show this year, with a number of new brands we hadn’t seen before.” Nick Warne, Snowtrax
• “Slide ticks all the boxes for me and my team. We get to see all the brands in one place, in a professional environment and with all the ranges given the space that they need to shine. It saves a considerable amount of time and money, plus it helps keep the UK industry together in a business and social sense. Speaking with many brand managers from outside of the UK they are always impressed, if not jealous of what an arrangement we have.” Steve Wells, Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports
• “Slide & OTS Winter was a valuable event to catch up with suppliers, retail colleagues and friends alike. While the focus of the show is ski/snowboard and we are primarily outdoor, we still found our diaries full for the day and a half of our visit, resulting in some valuable new business. It feels like the show is developing nicely and we look forward to attending again next winter.” Paul Casey, Hooked on Granite

OTS organiser Marta Williams added, “In our first year as Slide & OTS Winter organisers, we are very pleased with how well the show went, and the feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike is particularly gratifying. It’s very encouraging to see an increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers at what is a relatively tough time for the snowsports and outdoor industries, serving as an illustration of the benefits and value of participation in the show.”

Slide & OTS Winter 2025 will take place at the Telford International Centre once again, with exact dates to be determined according to exhibitor and retailer feedback.