Rapid Media Named Official Media Partner for 2018 Paddlesports Retailer Show

October 3, 2017

The inaugural Paddlesports Retailer Show has just wrapped up in Madison, Wisconsin and already plans for 2018 are underway. Rapid Media has again been named the Paddlesports Retailer Show’s official media partner.

“In addition to a special Paddlesports Retailer edition of Paddling Business magazine, daily reporting from the show floor and pre- and post-show coverage, our team is already lining up more ways to showcase the hottest new products for 2019,” says Rapid Media founder and publisher, Scott MacGregor.

As the media partner, Rapid Media will be focused on three things: promoting products of attending brands to more retail buyers; educating enthusiasts at home about what’s coming the following season; and fostering a vibrant paddlesports industry.

“We’re working on developing a best new product awards program and ceremony,” says MacGregor. “The new initiative will reward innovation, but also serves as a strategic marketing play.”

Award-winning brands will promote their products, which promotes and strengthens the show. Even bigger picture is that new product awards encourage non-endemic media to pick up the stories and deliver paddlesport innovations to their wider audiences.

“While it’s certainly important for Rapid Media to get the news to the enthusiast readership, and we certainly will, it is also important that we are providing ways for mainstream media to help us reach and intrigue new people,” says MacGregor.

Paddlesports Retailer is also an ideal opportunity to celebrate both the new and long-term local, national and international contributions of individuals, clubs, retailers and brands are making in the paddling world.

“There is a real opportunity here to acknowledge those making meaningful contributions,” believes MacGregor. “With the entire industry gathered we plan to share these successes in hopes that some brilliant conservation, participation and community projects can be rolled out on more local waterways, in more communities and in more businesses.”

Also as the official media partner of Paddlesports Retailer, Rapid Media will be showcasing films and recognizing the contributions of athletes and filmmakers including the presentation of the Reel Paddling Film Festival’s People’s Choice Awards.

“And let’s not just do this for those of us lucky enough to attend the show. We plan on live-streaming and recording the presentations for post-show circulation,” says MacGregor. “This year we have an entire year to plan and a successful show to build upon. Who knows what else we may come up with. It’s going to be great.”

Next year’s four-day event will take place at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City from August 27-30. The site was chosen for its central geographic location and its convenient walking distance of the Boathouse District, a world-class urban paddling site on the Oklahoma River. The new site boasts an additional 90,000 square feet of exhibition space.

About Rapid Media

Rapid Media is the world’s leading paddlesports media company. Rapid Media publishes Kayak Angler, Paddling Magazine, and Paddling Business, including the Paddling Buyer’s Guide and Paddling Trip Guide annuals. Rapid Media also produces the Paddling Film Festival and Rapid Media TV. www.rapidmedia.com

About Paddlesports Retailer

Paddlesports Retailer is a tradeshow, endorsed by the Paddlesports Industry Coalition, providing the premier commercial and cultural experience for exhibitors, retailers, media and industry advocates alike. Paddlesports Retailer will take place Aug. 27-30, 2018 at Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center. For more information, visit www.paddlesportsretailer.com or contact info@paddlesportsretailer.com

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Media Contacts
Cristin Plaice, Rapid Media
marketing@rapidmedia.com

Carly Fleming, Darby Communications
carly@darbycommunications.com