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Sign Up For March 23rd Outdoor Industry Supplier Summit Hosted By Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry

| General Government Relations

While the pandemic has created a boom in outdoor recreation sales and interest, it has also presented unprecedented challenges to outdoor recreation industry’s product supply chains and delivery systems. On Tuesday, March 23, the Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, along with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Pure Michigan Business Connect, will host the first Michigan Outdoor Industry Supplier Summit to match make the outdoor industry with Michigan product and service suppliers.

This summit is designed to address these challenges by educating Michigan suppliers on outdoor recreation product sales and trends while also facilitating connections between industry companies and qualified Michigan suppliers to fill supply chain gaps. The summit will also increase visibility and promote capabilities of the Michigan supply base to a national outdoor recreation industry audience, including non-traditional suppliers who may have other industry experience applicable to outdoor recreation, such as automotive, aerospace, etc.

Procurement needs, such as components, products, services, and skills, will be the primary focus of buyer-supplier match meetings during the event. These needs were identified in consultation with the RV Industry Association, NMMA, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the American Sportfishing Association, and member companies from these associations.

The free, virtual event will take place March 23 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET and include an educational webinar, networking opportunities, and one-on-one, buyer-supplier meetings.

Who should participate:

  • Any company interested in:
  • Discussing current or anticipated purchasing needs with Michigan suppliers.
  • Committing spend to a more regionally focused or localized supply base.
  • Connecting with diversity-owned businesses.
  • Exploring new innovative products & services in the industry.

How to participate
To participate, notify Colin Dillon and Katy Till from Pure Michigan Business Connect by email at [email protected] and [email protected]. Colin and Katy will work directly with the purchasing and/or engineering staff to bring them into the online platform. All interest needs to be received by February 15.

Alternatively, if the company already knows the procurement needs they would like to explore, they can complete the “purchaser needs” intake form found on the Pure Michigan Business Connect website here. This information will be used to create the online application that suppliers will respond to if believe themselves to be a good fit for the specified needs. All interest needs to be received by February 15.

For more information, please contact NMMA Great Lakes policy and engagement manager, Jill Sims at [email protected].