Published
Feb 8, 2012
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ISPO: 80,000 visitors strong

Published
Feb 8, 2012

The Ispo grew in the number of its exhibitors but remained stable in terms of attendance. In the dead of winter, the latest edition of the fair for sporting goods and apparel, which closed its doors Wednesday, February 1, attracted 80,000 visitors, the same number it did in 2011. It should be noted, however, that the February 2011 edition was an exceptional one with its 80,000 visitors, versus the 64,000 it had seen in 2010.


Black Yak exhibiting at Ispo. (Photo Messe München)




Messe München, the organizer, says that 65% of visitors were foreigners. Not surprisingly, the best represented countries were Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Britain and France. "The greatest increases were recorded for visitors from the United States , Canada, China, Turkey and Russia", said Klaus Dittrich, CEO of Messe München. Exhibitors interviewed noted that the number of French buyers in Munich was also relatively stable.

As for the atmosphere, the economic crisis and late winter did not completely dominate the discussions, according to the brands. "All of Europe has experienced problems due to weather. 2011 was one of the warmest years on record. As for the crisis, it has been felt in some markets, such as Hungary, Greece and Spain. But the Outdoor segment can also serve as a valuable weapon against in difficult economic times. When people have fewer resources, they tend to engage in activities closer to home and in the outdoors," said Columbia’s Christian Finell. At Salomon or La Sportiva, we also see that outdoor products, for trail running in particular, are becoming more in-demand every day. Skiwear and outdoor brands are suddenly making cuts and colors as important as their hi-tec construction. "I do not see any significant innovation in textiles for Fall/Winter 2012/2013 in any of the companies. You cannot innovate all the time. That is how it is. Often, the industry moves faster than the consumer," said Pascal Aymar, Director of Orange Europe and head of wholesale for Lolë Europe.


The next edition of the ISPO will open on February 3rd of 2013.

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