Manufacturers emptied their inventory. Retailers bought big. The parties raged and the players schmoozed.
This year’s SnowSports Industries America Snow Show was, by all accounts, a return to the boom time, when the annual trade show was a party-addled explosion of ever- escalating buying and selling.
“Our best show ever. Hands down,” said Ben Anderson, whose 6-year-old Icelantic Skis doubled its sales of the handcrafted-in-Denver boards this year over last.
This year, more than a dozen retailers wrote checks to Anderson, compared with “a couple” in an average year.
More than 3,100 booths displayed wares at the Colorado Convention Center to about 19,000 attendees.
Many of those manufactures and suppliers said their stockpiles were depleted, even though they had ramped up production in hopes of an economic revival.
“I’m more worried now if my inventory is going to last. Last year I was worried if I’d even sell it,” said Dan Abrams, whose Denver-born Flylow apparel will find its way into the biggest stores next season.
Abrams estimated he sold 70 percent more of his technical and popular ski jackets and pants than at last year’s Snow Show.
“The economy is coming back,” he said. “It’s steamrolling.”
The industry is buoyed by the latest statistics from SIA showing the snow-sports market notching $1 billion in sales by December and projections that the season will reach a record $3 billion in sales.
“I’ve never seen it this positive,” said Jeff Streeter of Lucky Bums crafts technical and durable outdoor gear for kids. “This was our best show in six years.”
Kat Jobanputra, chief operating officer of the 145-store Specialty Sports Venture, said, “Manufacturers took a risk, upping production and developing some really great new technology and products.”
“We are willing to take the risk on our side, so we are buying more than we have in a couple years,” Jobanputra said.
If the upward trend continues, says SIA’s top statistician Kelly Davis, the snow sports retail market will hit $3.1 billion for the first time.
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374 or jblevins@denverpost.com
