May 11th 2020.
We appreciate the feedback and guidance we have received from the respective stakeholder communities, particularly from those that took the time to complete our retailer and exhibitor surveys regarding COVID-19 disruption to their operations.
The majority of survey respondents indicated an interest in having the Spry Shows be postponed rather than cancelled and that they would be comfortable with a final decision on any changes to schedules not needed until the end of May. However the on-going and extended government restrictions to the economy, as of early-May, will realistically not allow us to make final decisions by the end of May and rather than wait any longer, we are finalizing the plans immediately.
In order to let stakeholders make alternative plans to get through the S/S ’21 booking season in other ways and before having to wait until the end of May for announcements of revised plans, we have decided to cancel the Spry Spring/Summer Season Preview, the Spry Maritimes Summer Market and the Ontario Summer Market effective today.
Both the Spry Ontario and Spry Maritimes Shows will pivot to a Virtual Trade Show for the time being. The Virtual Trade Shows can be accessed by scrolling down to the Gallery sections on the respective show pages on this site.
IBDShow 2020 plans remain in place for now. Opportunity for Spry exhibitors planned.
Due to the scheduled late-August timing of the IBDShow, we are looking at marketing that event in a format that will provide value to those Spry exhibitors whose product lines fit the timing and that would like to participate. If the government economic restrictions continue to lift over the remainder of the spring and consumers “get out there” over the summer, the 2020 edition of the IBDShow may well be a great opportunity for outdoor, active lifestyle and bicycle brands and retailers to capitalize on late summer booking opportunities for the 2021 spring/summer season with exhibitors at this event.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the economy re-opening and look forward to the possibility that the IBDShow will happen as scheduled.
We apologize to all our stakeholders to have to make these changes to the planned Spry Summer event line-up.
Gillian and I continue to hope and pray that the Spry community sees a healthy and robust rebound over the Spring and Summer months as the economy re-opens and look forward to seeing everyone at the Spry Winter Markets in the fall.
Best wishes,
Robert Lauder
Spry Show Manager.