From 29 January to 1 February 2012, sports industry trade show ISPO MUNICH will once again present the latest sports business trends. In addition to product innovations for the 2012/2013 season, the focus of the planned conferences and platforms taking place in Germany will be on future markets and professional marketing concepts for the sporting goods industry.
Among other topics, the events include discussions on the growth potential for the sporting goods industry in ‘Forum Brasil’, the ‘Internet as Marketing Platform’ and the mega trend ‘Healthstyle’. The goal of ISPO is to support sports business professionals in their development and to assist them in successfully tapping new markets. To do so, the management revised the side event program for ISPO MUNICH 2012, now offering even more service and networking opportunities.
Growth markets
Large sports events in the years ahead, such as the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, provide the sporting goods industry with interesting business potential in the Brazilian market. The ‘Forum Brasil – Growth Opportunities for the Sporting Goods Industry’ features high-calibre Brazilian government representatives who will spend an entire day introducing their market.
The desire to remain healthy is universal, yet not always tangible. In recognition of this, the panel discussion ‘Health Sells – How to Tap New Target Groups for the Sporting Goods Industry’, features experts from the primary health market and sports representatives discussing the business potential of the ‘Healthstyle’ trend.
Here, the focus is on challenges, such as how sports business professionals can benefit from the Healthstyle trend in the various generations for their business. This discussion event is also related to the 1st ISPO Health Forum, to be held after its conclusion.
ISPO Generations is a new platform covering trend issues for different target groups. The generation-overlapping topic of ‘Healthstyle’ will be one of the topics at ISPO MUNICH 2012. Sports business professionals will find out how they can successfully use this trend to increase profitability.
Primarily targeting the outdoor community, but also of interest for others will be the panel discussion ‘Comeback of Natural Fibres’, with industry and retail representatives who will evaluate the development and potential use of natural fibers and their potential for the outdoor industry. Another point on the program is the ‘Growth Market Outdoor Footwear’. Here, experts will discuss the driving factors and the related opportunities and risks.
Marketing
The Internet continues to play an increasingly important role in information procurement and shopping – this also applies to the sports and fitness industry. The panel discussion ‘Internet as Marketing Platform’ will cover the opportunities and potential for the wider sports business. Following an introductory presentation by the Consortium for Online Research (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online Forschung – AGOF), participants can look forward to useful advice and tools regarding the potential and dangers of Internet use.
‘Sensible Strategies for Stationary Shops in an Online Age’ is one of the topics in the ‘Modern Shop Strategies’ series at the ISPO Shop Summits 2012. For the last ten years the ISPO Shop Summit has been a vital service platform for snowboard retailers and brands. The focus is on practical information as well as continuing education for shop owners and their staff.
The presentation ‘On the Market – Ready – Go’ explains how to successfully navigate and establish oneself in the marketing jungle. It offers a preview of the markets of the future and shows sports business professionals how to successfully engage their target audience.
A new BMWi study analyses the ‘Development of Consumer Behaviour in Sports’, providing some results on the scope of sports-related consumer purchases, sponsoring, marketing and the handling of media rights. The, as yet unpublished, results of this study will be presented at ISPO MUNICH 2012.
Awards
The new ISPO AWARD will be presented for the first time at ISPO MUNICH 2012. It will be presented instead of the former community-oriented awards, and is slated to function as a sales-driving quality seal for companies and as an orientation tool for ISPO visitors, the media, and consumers. Eight Overall Winners will be introduced during the ISPO AWARD ceremony and will receive the ISPO AWARD 2012.
Once again, the ISPO BRANDNEW Award will be presented to young entrepreneurs and their innovative products. This year’s jury consisted primarily of former finalists and winners, and selected eight winners from the 269 entries from 27 countries. In addition to the winners, the best 50 young entrepreneurs will present their extraordinary concepts at the ISPO BRANDNEW Village in hall C2.
As the event organisers point out, whether sport gives the consumer ‘victory and defeat; pain or recreation’, sports can be about emotion and have had an impact on just about every area of life and thus also on fashion. This year, the European Fashion Award – FASH 2012, in cooperation with the special award Gore Bike Wear, features the motto ‘Active – Performance Sportswear’. Here, the award-winning projects will be presented in a special exhibition.
Networking
Collecting useful information is one thing; interesting contacts are another. At ISPO MUNICH the focus has always been on networking. The ‘ISPO Networking Breakfast’ is one opportunity, as well as the ‘ISPO Outdoor & Ski Get-Together’ at the ISPO Snow Ice & Rock Summit. The ‘Shops 1st Try’ Bar at the ISPO Shop Summit is an ideal meeting spot for retailers, industry, resorts, agencies, magazines, and event organizers from the actions sports segment in particular to talk, share experiences and make new contacts.
Of course, many classic events are still a part of ISPO MUNICH’s side event program, and are worth a visit, such as the Promostyl presentation, AGD/SDBI presentation or the Wearable Technologies Conference. And there is plenty of entertainment, too: the Volcom Miniramp Contest, DAV Boulder Cup, Slackline Show, Fashion Shows and a number of movie presentations during the ISPO Snow Ice & Rock Summit – presented by Marmot.
