• President Obama’s Great Outdoor Initiative. Many in the industry view Obama’s focus on the benefits of a health, active outdoor life as an unprecedented level of policy emphasis on outdoor living and recreation by Washington.
• Eco-index. This new industry-created system, which measures and scores environmental considerations on new product designs, debuted at the show. Likened to the “Energy Star” rating for appliances, the eco-index program will help companies actually incorporate environmental considerations into product design. In September, several companies that are participating as “beta” sites will report back. The plan is to roll the program out in its entirety in 2011.
• Greening of the industry. Along with the eco-index debut, the show hosted several seminars on the greening of the industry. Topics ranged from use of fabrics from recycled materials to the impact of green products on customer perceptions and buying habits. The show even offered exhibitors and attendees a carbon offset purchase to balance the carbon cost of attendees’ travel-related carbon generation.
• Footwear. Barefoot technology, very thin soles, “toed-shoes” and motion technology (thicker soles with “motion and shape” built in) were everywhere.

The winter equivalent of this conference – Outdoor Retailer Winter Market – will be held January 20-23, 2011. Once again, the venue will be the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.