Outdoor and Social host Kevin Harris, freelance broadcast journalist, presenter and self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiast and outdoor adventure lover, has praised the event as an excellent opportunity for retailers.
Outdoor and Social is an outdoor trade event providing workshops and practical sessions designed to increase knowledge and confidence in outdoor products and skills through experience.
Delivered under the guidance of brands, experts, and professionals it is completely free of charge to all retail staff and aims to help all retailers and their staff deliver better information to the consumer.
Kevin, who opened the event and presented the invited speakers during lunchtime and evening sessions, was excited by the inaugural outdoor learning event.
Speaking on the second day of the event, Kevin said: “So far it has been fantastic. It’s the first year that it’s happened and as a starting point we’re in a great place.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for the brands to meet the shop staff, the retailers. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for brands to meet the retailers that are selling their product in store. Also, it’s an incredible opportunity to learn about the kit in the environment that is designed to be used.”
Kevin believes that staff selling equipment in outdoor stores should know them inside and out.
He added: “We’ve seen at the event how important is it for people to actually use the kit. I think it’s incredibly important for shop staff to use the kit. There will be very enthusiastic shop staff, around the country, who maybe have never even been to the Peak District, who’ve never put on a pair of walking boots, never put a backpack on or walked up a hill. I think it’s vital that if we’re going to have staff in stores offering advice to the general public, then those staff need to understand what this kit is all about.”
Asked if he would return to the event next year, Kevin said: “I would love to be back next year. And I think for a retailer looking at this, look at it for what it is it’s an excellent opportunity to train your staff in the right environment on the products you sell and, ultimately, that’s going to be a benefit to everyone – the consumer, the store and the brand.”
The three-day outdoor learning event began on Tuesday, March 12, at Newfold Farm, Edale, in the Peak District.
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