SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -Salt Lake City shrunk by 20-thousand people Sunday. The Outdoor Retailer's annual winter market is now over, and exhibitors say based on what they have seen in the past four days the economy is improving.
They rolled the red carpet up as retailers packed up what was left of their display booths. Most say they are leaving happy.
Patty Duke created Point 6, uniquely patterned socks that appeal to the fashion conscious as well as outdoors enthusiasts. This is her 4th show, and her best. She is hopeful about the economy. “I would say a little bit up. I’m excited abut it, and we were at a show before this where we took orders, and we even took some orders at this show which is unusual for a sock company.”
For other's this is their first endeavor. Salt Lake based Achiva Energy has created a new power sustaining fitness drink made out of Chia seeds. Yes, the same Chia seeds used to grow Chia Pets. Tori Bergstrom says they received a little ribbing while at the show." No Chia Obama head will grow in your stomach, and it won't improve hair growth or beard growth."
All joking aside, she says they have seen sustained energy directed at their product, and left the Outdoor Retailers winter market feeling encouraged. "Oh it's been great, we have met so many people, and so many different retailers, and it's been a ton of fun."
Another Utah company making its debut will make it look like you sprouted a beard. It’s designed to keep your face warm. Ten percent of all exhibitors are first timers like Salt Lake based Five O'clock Shadow, and even though their exhibit positioning wasn't the best, Tessa Rushton says her start-up company got plenty of attention as both functional and funny.
“We really made a lot of connections and they were really excited about our product we had a lot of people going out in the main showroom wearing our beard around and a ton of people were just trying to come and find us." Like most of the attendees, she says Five O’clock Shadow will be back for the next show.
