by Mickey Smith

     The annual Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City had a special guest this year, because Cambridge Representative Adam Howard talked Governor Peter Shumlin into making the trip.
     Howard, who attends the annual exposition checking out what will be hot next year in the outdoor industry for his Height of Land publications, explained he realized Vermont has lost a number of outdoor-based companies in recent years and felt  the governor's presence would be good for the state and the businesses in Vermont.
     “Vermont’s outdoor recreational industry is second to none, particularly with our focus on year-round opportunities. At the Retail Market in Utah I was able to promote our local companies like Burton, Turtle Fur and others to buyers from across the country,” said Governor Shumlin.
     “I also spent a great deal of time talking to national firms, and a few who have moved out of Vermont, to let them know that Vermont is a great place to do business. Our permitting process had gotten much smoother, which is a big plus for companies looking to move here or expand, and Vermont has a great workforce. I also discussed opportunities for Vermont to partner with other states to promote our recreational industries. The trip was about creating good jobs in Vermont and strengthening the state’s economy. It was an important trip and I felt the CEO’s of outdoor recreational firms were very receptive to my invitation to visit Vermont and learn what we have to offer,” added Governor Shumlin.
     Howard said the Governor's presence may not offer immediate returns, but in the long run it adds Vermont into the mix of possible destinations for businesses.
     “Vermont is not a hard sell for this kind of business,” said Howard, noting the state offers a mountain range closely located to major metropolitan areas like New York City, Boston and Montreal.
     He noted Vermont also is centrally located between the Rocky Mountain ski industry and the European ski industry.
     For these reasons, Howard said Vermont offers a good alternative to Portland, OR; Seattle, WA and Ogden, UT, areas that are competing for this type of business.
     The Winter Market, is an excellent place to pitch Vermont products as well as the state itself.
Howard estimated there were several hundred Vermonters at the event, representing 22 businesses, and reps looking for products to bring into the state. This year's show set a new record with 20,002 visitors.
     One of those exhibitors was Johnson Woolen Mills’ Stacy Manosh. Her business has been attending the show for about 14 years and has found it a great place to let dealers from around the country and beyond see what they have to offer.
     Manosh said, in recent years most of the dealers she has signed up from the show come from Japan.  This year, though, for the first time in many years she said they signed up seven new American dealers.  She said while this could be a sign of changes in the economy she felt it was more closely related to American dealers recognizing consumers are looking for items “made in America.”  And, she noted, they are willing to pay a little higher price for this.