Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect returns to Knoxville with four-day national buying show, Nov. 7-10, 2017

October 27, 2017

Efficient, affordable and effective for all attendees, Grassroots Connect is the only national show designed specifically to improve retail buying results

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, will bring their four-day national buying show to the Knoxville Convention Center, Nov. 7-10, 2017.

Efficient, affordable and effective for all attendees, Grassroots Connect is the only national show designed specifically to improve retail buying results. Scheduled as early as possible in the buying cycle, and organized to be as simple as possible in layout and design, the upcoming Grassroots Connect show is anticipated to attract nearly 1,000 independent specialty retailers, vendor brands, media, and members of the outdoor industry community.

“It’s really heartening to see the broader outdoor industry community embrace Connect as a place to gather, to listen and to focus on business,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.

A unique aspect of Grassroots Connect is that organizers schedule all attendee appointments in advance – at the upcoming fall 2017 show, more than a third of attending retailer buyers are already booked solid for the entire four-day event. Additional advance data shows an 8% increase in total appointments booked (6,366), a 10% increase in the total hours of appointments booked (5,619) and a 24% increase in the average number of appointments per buyer (22).

Open to members and invited guests, Connect provides a highly efficient opportunity for retailers, reps and vendors to present, discuss, plan and collect pre-season orders. Invited retailers also receive a per attendee reimbursement to offset their travel costs.

Grassroots Connect will be held in the Knoxville Convention Center (http://www.knoxvilleconventioncenter.com), a 500,000-square-foot facility which includes a 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 30,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and 18 meeting rooms. The hall is the first convention center in Tennessee to be certified LEED Silver for Existing Buildings from the USGBC, and Green Certified through the TN Green Hospitality Certification program. The show venue is located a short walk from Market Square, the heart of the city’s vibrant and walkable downtown which includes eclectic shopping, fine dining, outdoor concerts and hotels.

Grassrots Connect will be held in Knoxville for the next two shows (Nov. 7-10, 2017, and June 14-17, 2018).  Future dates and venues for Grassroots Connect will be announced during the upcoming event in Knoxville.

ABOUT GRASSROOTS OUTDOOR ALLIANCE: Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is an active, independent network of 64 independent retailers working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is also recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry. For more information on Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, please go to www.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

ABOUT GRASSROOTS CONNECT: Grassroots Connect is an ideally timed, invitation-only buying show for the specialty outdoor industry hosted by Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. Scheduled as early as possible in the buying cycle, Connect provides a highly efficient opportunity for retailers, reps and vendors to present, discuss, plan and collect pre-season orders. Cost-effective and simple, Connect is both an incubator and testing ground for the greater outdoor industry. Invited retailers receive a per attendee reimbursement to offset their travel costs. Future confirmed dates include Knoxville, Tennessee (Nov. 7-10, 2017, and June 14-17, 2018). To request a retailer or vendor invitation, please go to http://www.grassrootsconnect.net/request-invitation

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