Grassroots Outdoor Alliance cancels November 2020 Connect buying show in Kansas City

August 12, 2020

The planned November event would have marked the first Connect show to be held in their new venue of Kansas City, but was called off due to ongoing COVID-related challenges for attending retailers, exhibiting brands and organizing hosts.

AUG 12, 2020 – Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, this week announces the cancellation of their fall Connect buying show, originally scheduled for Nov. 9-12, 2020.

The planned November event would have marked the first Connect show to be held in their new venue of Kansas City, but was called off due to ongoing COVID-related challenges for attending retailers, exhibiting brands and organizing hosts.

“In the same way that it takes months for a full team to plan an event like Connect, it also takes a coordinated group effort to unravel one,” said Rich Hill, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “Kansas City has been an exceptional partner throughout this unusual season, and continues to validate our excitement about them as a new home for future fall Connect shows. We are incredibly grateful to the teams at the Kansas City Convention Center, Loews and Hotel Phillps for being amazing partners as we push back our plans for a gathering there until November 2021.”

Previously, Grassroots also canceled their spring Connect show (June 12-15, 2020; Knoxville, Tenn) replacing it with a free online resource center known as the Grassroots ConnectHub. As daily usage of ConnectHub by vendors and retailers has remained strong throughout the summer, and as other trade events continue to be cancelled in fall 2020 and beyond, Grassroots will continue growing ConnectHub as a highly efficient single-stop resource for shops looking to manage a remote buying process.

“As the needs of retailers and vendors for a collaborative digital buying process continue to grow, we are navigating this current remote buying season to the best of our abilities, and have made significant progress in ConnectHub and other digital tools,” said Hill. “That said, our individual members and our collective whole misses the efficiency, effectiveness, and personal connections created at Connect, and are eager for a season where it is both safe and smart for us to hold another gathering.”

Upcoming Grassroots Connect dates include June 7-10, 2021 (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Nov. 8-11, 2021 (Kansas City, Mo.).

ABOUT GRASSROOTS OUTDOOR ALLIANCE:  Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is an active, independent network of 83 independent retailers, with 187 retail locations, 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. Upcoming Grassroots Connect dates include June 7-10, 2021 (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Nov. 8-11, 2021 (Kansas City, Mo.).

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