Press Release
19 June 2025
OTS 2025 - RECORD BREAKING SHOW GAINS MOMENTUM
Strong visitor and exhibitor growth, more networking and expanded reach
TheOutdoor Trade Show (OTS)2025has enjoyed a record-breaking year, and has marked a turning point for the UK's only outdoor sport and leisure-focused trade show. Held at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the three-day event welcomed987 unique visitors—an8% increaseon 2024—and hosted a record 145 exhibitors across 8,100 square metres of floor space.
Organisers are particularly encouraged to report a 7% increase in repeat visitors - those attending more than one day of the show - over 2024, showing a deeper engagement from retail visitors, and a remarkable 74% increase in Day Three attendances; highlighting the value retailers place on spending multiple days at the show and joining the many networking events available. Retail buyer attendance rose over 9% on 2024, which include buyers from all multiples, independents, as well as buying groups and high street and online fashion retailers. The growing geographic reach of the show is illustrated by the spread of increased visitor numbers from across the UK - Wales 53% increase, South-East 54%, and Yorkshire & 13% and international attendance, Ireland up 118%, Germany 75%.
Celebrating the Industry
At the 2025 show, awards were once again a key focus, celebrating the best of the industry's manufacturers and retailers. At the OTS Social on the Wednesday evening, hosted by presenter Kev Harris, the finalists in the ten categories of the UK Outdoor Industry Awards 2026 were announced, with the Awards Display area in the entrance area featuring 111 products, and proving very popular with visitors throughout the show. The OTS Social also saw the presentation of the second Outdoor Retailer of the Year - OTS Awards2025, recognising retail excellence across 11 categories, voted exclusively by OTS exhibitors; a fulllist of winnerscan be viewed on the OTS website.
OTS Sustainability Breakfast
The OTS Sustainability Breakfast, once again sponsored by Rab, is now a firm favourite in the OTS event calendar, with brands, retailers and media joining together to find out the latest on sustainability, circularity and the journey towards carbon neutrality. Around 70 attendees met bright and early on Wednesday morning, for presentations on how bluesign partnerships can help in assisting sustainability practices from Ginny Treviss-Bell of Osprey and Mark Edridge from bluesign, and Georgie Monaghan from Wholegrain Digital taking us through five key things that companies can do to lower their digital carbon emissions. The breakfast rounded off with a Sustainability Panel discussion, hosted by Dom Winter from the Outdoor Industries Association (OIA), and featuring Debbie Read, Equip Outdoor Technologies, Christian Schneidermeier, European Outdoor Group (EOG), Mark Edridge, Bluesign, Dan Yates, European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), and Cathy Casey, The Climbers Shop and Joe Brown Shops.
Exhibitors and visitors enjoyed a range of other networking opportunities at OTS 2025, including after-hours on-stand entertainment in the exhibition hall on Tuesday evening, and morning runs on all three show days. with the chance to try out footwear from run sponsors Topo and Ronhill.
Marta Williams, Director of MCS PR & Events, OTS organisers, commented: "This is the 19thyear of OTS, and the show continues to grow in scale and relevance and flourish in what is often a difficult retail and trade landscape.The increase in visitor numbers and the record exhibitor turnout, show just how essential OTS has become for the outdoor trade. With major watersports and surf brands joining us this year for the first time, the breadth of the show continues to expand.Exhibition Centre Liverpool is the ideal venue for the show, providing a cost-effective and attractive experience for exhibitors and visitors alike.We are already seeing strong interest for 2026, and we look forward to celebrating 20 years of OTS fromTuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th June 2026."
Ends
For further information please contact:
Dan Garbutt at MCS PR & Events
T: 0161 437 4634 E: dan@mcspr.co.uk
NOTE TO EDITORS
- Images from OTS 2025, for press use, can be accessed via Dropbox athttps://bit.ly/OTS-2025-Images.If you require a specific image that is not in the folder, please get in touch.