ISPO Expands Awards with ISPO Award Outdoor Edition

The ISPO Award has established itself as a recognized seal of quality for the sporting goods industry. It is used by retailers to support them in their assortment selection and by consumers as a distinguishing feature in their purchasing decisions. Now a new prize has been added: the ISPO Award OutDoor Edition, which will be presented in Munich during the OutDoor by ISPO trade fair (30th of June to 3rd of July 2019) for the first time.

The new OutDoor Edition has also been designed as an orientation aid for retailers, consumers and media representatives. Interested outdoor companies can apply with their innovations for the first ISPO Award OutDoor Edition from the 1st of April to the 17th of May 2019.

A jury evaluates all submissions according to innovation, design, function and quality. Based on these criteria, one "Gold Winner" and one or two "Winners" will be selected in each category. The "Outstanding" label is awarded to products that are particularly outstanding and pioneering in their kind for the industry.

Products from all outdoor segments have the chance to win an award. So there are not only categories for classic mountaineering or climbing equipment. Products from other areas, which consumers have long considered to be "outdoor", can also be submitted - regardless of whether they are camping or trail running, urban outdoor or water sports.

David Badalec, Head of ISPO Business Solutions, answers the most important questions about the new award.

ISPO.com: Why do we need the ISPO Award OutDoor Edition?
David Badalec: Just in time for OutDoor by ISPO, hundreds of companies are presenting their innovations to the trade. For years, the ISPO Award has been an appreciated orientation aid for retailers and the rest of the industry to identify innovative new products and trends. With the OutDoor Edition of the ISPO Award, we are fulfilling our industry mandate for a transparent and independent product award in the outdoor segment. But also end consumers appreciate the product labeling with the ISPO Award. According to a recent study, 80% of buyers trust independent product awards!

What is the jury looking for at the premiere, especially with regard to the products?
The jury will have the opportunity to experience the functionality of the products under real conditions. This year's jury meeting will take place in Annecy - an outstanding location that unites mountains, water, forests and fields in a narrow space. Besides function, design, degree of innovation and quality also play a role in the assessment. In addition, we survey all participating companies on the sustainability aspects of their submitted products - the outstanding companies in terms of sustainability are honored with a separate award.

What exactly is the added value for a (gold) winner? Why does it make sense to join in?
Award-winning products can rightly be decorated with the ISPO Award Label: They have proven in their respective categories that they are among the best products. In addition to the label, we offer the award-winning brands an extensive communication package: Directly after the jury meeting, we will be producing our own content about the winners in the mountains of Annecy; we will be offering extensive press work and paying tribute to the award-winning products in our own features on ISPO.com.