OCC Outdoor

Less than a month after its official launch the team behind Britain on Foot has announced that it has secured financial backing from a further five outdoor businesses, in the process bringing the total for funding from all sources close to a landmark of £100,000.

Two recently published reports have painted a gloomy picture of long and short term prospects for retailers. The first, published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reported that retail sales of clothing and footwear had fallen by 21% and 11% respectively in May when compared to the same period last year.

With more than a month to go, the Outdoor Industries Association has reported strong support from UK retailers for its sponsored package to visit the Friedrichshafen OutDoor show. The trip, jointly organised with OCC Outdoor and sponsored by Vaude and The Mountain Boot Company, will take place between July 12^th-14^th.

The Outdoor Trade Show (OTS) will shortly break the 100 exhibitor mark for the 2013 event following a flurry of bookings which took the total of those businesses reserving space to 99.

Cumbrian distributor, Lyon Equipment, is continuing its programme of expansion with the announcement that it is to handle Liquid Grip. According to Lyon, Liquid Grip is a unique hydrocellulose formula containing an exceptional drying agent that keeps climbers’ hands dry, in the process dispensing with the need for powdered chalk.

Friedrichshafen OutDoor Show regulars, Tilley Endurables and The Healthy Back Bag Company, have decided not to exhibit at the 2013 event after what HBB’s Managing Director Priscilla Chase described as an “unacceptable degree of mucking about” on the part of the show’s organisers. 

BCB, the Cardiff based outdoor and survival equipment supplier, has opened a new plant in Llanelli, from where it will manufacture FireDragon fuel.

Climbing and outdoor brand, Black Diamond Equipment, has put an end to months of speculation by naming Oakham based Bradshaw Taylor as its new distributor. The announcement brings to an end the US company’s year long search for a successor to First Ascent, with which it had worked for the past 18 years. 

SMG Europe has announced that it is to handle the exclusive distribution in the UK and Ireland of the Kelty and Wenzel brands. Kelty is best known here for its backpacks and along with Wenzel is owned by the American Recreation Corporation. The deal comes after more than a year of negotiation between the two businesses.