Mixed in among the rolling sea of 2,200-plus booths in the Outdoor Retailer Winter Show, which closed Tuesday, were a fist-full of Utah companies proudly presenting their goods.
Right there, as one manufacturer so pointedly explained, "Among the big boys and holding our own."
Meaning that in the wave of products being presented, Utah companies left the show well supplied with purchase orders. As will as the Colemans, Hi-Techs. Keltys, Columbias and DuPonts.
This was, consensus seemed to be, one of the most successful shows — more than 700 companies took up every available inch in the Salt Palace, displaying a zillion items and having some 15,000 buyers passing through the turnstiles over the four-day show.
Black Diamond, a Salt Lake-based company, took up nearly a whole isle showing everything from ice axes to, of all things, the first step-in telemark binding. Heretofore, connecting to telemark skis could be a labor-intensive job . . . stepping in, adjusting and then clamping down cables.
Now, reported Jordy Margid, product sales director, like a regular alpine ski binding, skiers simply step in and ski off. "This binding," he said, "will change the face of the sport." The simple fact no one else has one, at $339 retail, it was a hit.
There was also a lot of interest in Black Diamond's Avulung, a breathing device that pulls oxygen from the snow for use by anyone caught in an avalanche. Retail price is $198.
Across the isle, Wing Enterprises of Springville, were busy showing buyers how easy it is to break down a regular pair of snowshoes into a pack the size of a toaster. Total weight is only two pounds, seven ounces.
Simply unhook the webbing, explained Greg Boyer, break down the aluminum frame, much like tent poles, and tuck it all into a pack. The unique three-way locking system on the binding adds to the package. Retail price is $259.
Liston Concepts of Salt Lake mixed convenience with a little fun. Along with things like the Jakstrap, a headband that holds a small flashlight for hands-free activities, it also introduced a line of its Lunastix or juggling sticks . . . two hand-held sticks help keep a free-flying third stick airborne. Retail on the sticks is from $20 to $40.
The news around the Chisco booth, another of the Salt Lake companies, was more about what it bought as opposed to what it was selling. Chisco of Salt Lake bought Quest of Oregon.
Chisco is now a one-stop-shopping center for everything from eyeglass retainers to The Band, the item that put Chisco on the map. Chisco was the first to introduce the Velcro-latched watchband. At $6.99 retail, it remained a hot item.
EK products out of Logan, entered the accessory market some 15 years ago. Its list of credits includes eyeglass retainers, anti-fog cleaner and key chains, including the very popular key-chain-with-a-carabiner.
In this year's show, says Ed Kalbach, company founder, the line includes goods for Fido. This included collars, leashes, sport belts, clasped with a carabiner, and a collapsible dog bowl with a suggested retail tag of $15.99.
The Jagged Edge, a company founded in Utah, but since moved to Colorado, introduced the "dry storm" look in jackets and pants that uses three-layer technology with a breathable outer shell for universal appeal, including, of course, skiers and snowborders rather than one or the other.
And, of course, from the Salt Lake ski company that introduced the 2002 skis and snowboard, Steve Denkers, owner of Evolution Ski/Snowboard Company, came the very popular "Uinta" (a good name for a Utah ski), which is one of the hottest telemark skis on the market.
Now that the show is over and the orders have been placed, buyers can look for these and other Utah-made products on your retailers' shelves this next fall.