Shortly before the EOS will meet at Lake Tegernsee, we took the opportunity to speak with Andy Schimeck (Chairman of the professional group “Outdoor” FGO) about the expectations and challenges regarding the summit as well as the future of the outdoor market.

The European Outdoor Summit begins in around two weeks. What expectations do you have for the international get-together?

I’m expecting a great industry gathering and a lively exchange among participants on the exciting themes our excellent speakers are covering. I also hope that the presentations can inspire us all to further develop the outdoor industry we all care about so much. The strategic impulses from Dr. Max McKeown in combination with the socio-political themes of democratic change should be of great interest to anyone working in the sport and outdoor industry, regardless of whether they are on the retail or the brand side. Dr. Kai Hudetz’s look at the future of the retail landscape is in itself reason enough to participate. Never before has retail been in such a state of transformation as it is now. In short, I expect to see a lot of participants from retail so that we, as brands of the professional group and the EOG, can work together to plan the future of the industry successfully. (more…)