Category: News

Olympian Shaun White took to the stage to inspire fans

Snowbound Expo brought together over 21,145 North East skiers, snowboarders, and families to shop over 190 brands and resorts last weekend (Nov 3-5). The event provided inspiration for the coming season by hosting an incredible line up of speakers, Olympic athletes, record holders and more plus a weekend’s worth of interactive fun for families. Previously known as the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo, the show was a celebration of all things snow sports where consumers were able to buy the latest range of gear, tech, apparel, skis, boards, accessories ready for the season ahead.

A celebration of snowsports

This year’s expo offered 190 brands and resorts, doubling in size, compared to the launch in November 2022 where 98 brands and resorts presented their goods for the season. The family-friendly expo offered a chance for snow sport enthusiasts of all abilities and backgrounds to meet up and kick off the season in style with stacks of inspiration and new products to purchase at the show. The expo hall felt a buzz as a bustling crowd of 21,145 visitors enjoyed the weekend, smiling and enjoying new interactive experiences. New highlights included a new rail jam, an Inspiration Stage of guest speakers, an indoor slope, Eliteam’s obstacle course and more apres ski bars than before.

More Gear to Buy
SkiEssentials was the Official Retailer for the expo and offered boot fitting and a full shopping experience of ski gear and apparel. For visitors who didn’t find the product they wanted onsite at the expo, there is now a 10% discount on the SkiEssentials website using code SHOWSPECIAL.

Brands and resorts were extremely happy with the attendance of visitors and the sales that were made throughout the weekend with 92% of them rebooking their booths for the 2024 expo. This not only shows their commitment to Snowbound Expo but also the commitment to serving the North East community with their latest gear year on year.

Brands selling the latest in gear, apparel and accessories and technology included; Arbor Collective, Atomic, Burgeon Outdoor, Darn Tough Vermont, Deuter/ORTOVOX USA, Elan Sports, Elevate Outdoor Collective brought Marker, Dalbello, Volkl, K2 Ski, K2 Snowboards, LINE, and Ride Snowboards. Fischer Sports, Auclair, HEAD/Tyrolia USA, Inc., Helly Hansen, Hestra, J skis, Kulkea, LLC, Lacroix Boards Inc., Meier Skis, New Belgium Brewing Company, Nikwax North America, Nordica, OOSC, Parlor Skis, Rossignol, Salomon, Scarpa, Ski The East, Teton Gravity Research, Whitespace plus U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and USASA. The full list can be found at this link. www.snowboundexpo.com/exhibitors

The range of resorts grew significantly for this year’s expo and visitors saw reps discussing their passes and upgrades for the coming season; Burke Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Chic-Chac, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Gore Mountain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Jay Peak Resort, JTB-Hokkaido, Killington Resort, King Pine Ski Area, Loon Mountain Resort, Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Pats Peak Ski Area, Ragged Mountain Resort, Woodstock Inn & Resort Whiteface Wachusett Mountain Visit Big Sky Valle Nevado, Saddleback Maine, Tenney Resort and Recreation Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, Smugglers’ Notch Resort and more listed.

Inspiration at every corner
The weekend packed a punch when it came to offering inspiration and talent at a ski show. The expo offered live-action and interactive features for families to enjoy. Highlights included Shaun White’s talk which attracted thousands of fans asking questions and receiving autographs from the legendary snowboarder. The Inspiration Stage welcomed the most decorated cross athlete of all time Lindsey Jacobellis, Olympian Ted Ligety, US Biathlon legend Jan Reynolds, Burton’s Athletes Rob Roethler and LJ Henriquez, Founder of Share Winter Foundation Constance Beverly plus so many more.

Skis and boards were tried out on the indoor slope and new rails were fitted and were used by the more advanced riders. The debut of the Gilson Snowbound Rail Jam came to life on Friday night where visitors saw a showcase of professional snowboarders and skiers displaying their prowess on a crafted rail setup.

Birdie Blue worked in collaboration with Subaru of New England to host a Revive, Reuse & Recycle Zone to elevate sustainability in snow sports. This was a chance for visitors to drop off pre-loved gear which is no longer functional or fashionable and will be upcycled into gear. Any usable gear in good working order will be donated to a local charity.

New features for 2023 included Live Community Painting with Lamont Joseph White, The US Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame displayed a section featuring stories and photos of the Class of 2023 and The Share Winter Trail invited children to collect stamps throughout the expo and collect stickers along the trail. Apres Ski was not forgotten with more bars than before including the Ikon Pass Alpine Mountain Bar, The Fat Tire Beer Garden and Harpoon & Long Trail joined the expo with their merch and ale. CB Sports built a runway in the hall and scheduled fashion shows of their apparel throughout the day with a DJ attracting the crowds and creating an incredible atmosphere.

Stephen Morgan, Managing Director of Snowbound Expo commented “What a show that was! We are so thankful and stoked that the brands, resorts, sponsors, media supported this ski and snowboard show and can’t wait to deliver another even bigger expo in 2024. We’re extremely proud to deliver an expo which is accessible and inclusive for new beginners to try out winter sports and is equally supported by the large snow sports community in the Northeast.”

The visiting crowd snagged individual prize giveaways, competitions and discounts including 2 IKON Pass giveaways, Birdie Blue Sling Bags and Fanny packs prizes,  $1400 competition with Ortovox, re-waterproof your gloves with Nikwax, $400 giveaway with deuter, $100 off with J Skis and much more.

The visitor feedback the team are receiving supports the reason Snowbound Expo exists. An email sent post show said “Thank you Snowbound Expo. It was a fun show, a lot of games, great information, outstanding speakers and some cool swag. It has to be one of the best ski shows I’ve been to! I cannot wait to see you all next year! See you all on the slopes this season”

The show will return in November 15-16, 2024 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring the show, please contact Stuart Dacre – stuart.dacre@raccoonmediagroup.com

The National Equine Show’s second event took place last weekend (2^nd-3^rd March) at the NEC and recorded just under 15,000 people through the doors across the two days of the show. This shows an increase of 50% from the first show last year.

Even before the doors opened, queues were snaking their way through the NEC with thousands of people excited to enjoy the shopping, stages, immersive experiences, and a chance to absorb everything equestrian.

“We are delighted with the show and what a success it was, not just for us but also the brands, partners and sponsors we work with,” said Liz Ormesher, Event Director. “The event saw flash mobs to launch our safety partner, Evoke Equestrian, excitable queues at the GS Equestrian Meet & Greet where we had influencers like Harlow Luna White and Megan Elphick alongside riders such as Charlotte Dujardin and Natasha Baker, a packed Skills Theatre sponsored by Animal Web, an incredible Inspiration Stage with the most awe-inspiring guests, it was amazing. The best thing of all though was the buzz in the hall from visitors enjoying the show, that’s what it is all about.”

Plans are already afoot for the 2025 event which will be across two halls at the NEC on the 1^st and 2^nd March 2025. At the show, over 70% of the new floorplan sold for next year’s event, proving how well the event worked for the brands too.

This year, the event was sponsored by Boys Ride Too, Charles Owen, EqueSoul Fitness, Equitex, Evoke, Farm & Stable, Flying Changes Mindset, GS Equestrian, Jelka, Jo Hansford Photography, JockeyCam Ltd, Lunar Eclipse, Nail Bus, PB Movement, PolyJumps, Red Gorilla, Sacha & George, SJB Performance Training, Smart Grooming, Sorbeo Horse Bedding, The Dressage Coach, The Equestrian Index, The Ice Bath Co, and The Knights of Middle England. It was supported by partners including British Equestrian, British Equestrian Trade Association, Evoke, Forces Equine, Horse & Country TV, Horse & Hound, Horse & Rider Magazine, Outside & Active, PONY Magazine, Summerfields Stables, The Equestrian Index, and Your Horse Magazine.

“We’re really grateful to all the sponsors, partners and brands who supported us, and every person that came to the show,” said Liz. “We’re busy planning next year and will be releasing speakers and more over the next few months.”

Tickets for the 2025 event will be available from September but interested parties can sign up to the newsletter to be the first to hear when the tickets get released. See www.nationalequineshow.com

Raccoon Media Group has announced the latest addition to its rapidly expanding portfolio with the launch of its first B2B conference – the Allergy & Free From Business Event, scheduled to debut alongside the highly anticipated Allergy & Free From Show at Olympia, London, in June 2024.

Set to take place on Friday 21^st June 2024, the Allergy & Free From Business Event is a pioneering one-day event designed to unite industry leaders, influencers and innovators within the allergy and free-from sector. The conference will precede the Allergy & Free From Show (22^nd – 23^rd June) providing a dedicated platform for brands and manufacturers to connect with healthcare professionals, wholesalers, distributors, influencers and specifiers. The Business Event will close with the annual Free From Food Awards, which will co-locate with the event on the Friday evening, rounding off a full day of insight, celebration and networking.

The Allergy & Free From Business Event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in the allergy and free-from market. Attendees can expect insightful discussions, a first-class speaker panel and networking opportunities that will contribute to the growth and development of this rapidly expanding industry. Speakers at the event include Audry Head, Head of Food & Beverage at Virgin Atlantic, Dr Paul Turner Clinical Scientist and Hon. Consultant at Imperial College London and Dr Adam Fox, Professor of Paediatric Allergy at Guys & St, Thomas’ Hospital.

Mike Seaman, CEO at Raccoon Media Group commented: “We are thrilled to introduce the Allergy & Free From Business Event as part of our commitment to providing valuable platforms for industry players to engage, share insights and build meaningful connections. This B2B event is a testament to our dedication to facilitating growth and innovation within the allergy and free-from sector and to our overarching aim as a business to support and grow the industries we work in.”

Key highlights of the Allergy & Free From Business Event include:

• In-depth industry discussions: Engage in thought-provoking discussions led by experts, addressing current trends, challenges and opportunities in the allergy and free-from market
• Networking opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals, industry leaders and potential collaborators during dedicated networking sessions, fostering meaningful relationships within the sector
• Sampling and Product Demonstrations: Explore the latest innovations and products from leading allergy and free-from brands and manufacturers. Buyers, bloggers and healthcare professionals can experience the latest products coming to market
• Market insights: Gain valuable insights into consumer trends, market dynamics and regulatory updates impacting the allergy and free-from industry.

As part of Raccoon Media Group’s strategic initiatives for 2024 and beyond, the Allergy & Free From Business Event marks the first in a series of B2B launches planned for the year. The organisation is committed to creating dynamic and impactful events that contribute to the success and advancement of the industries it serves.

For more information about the Allergy & Free From Business Event head to www.allergyandfreefrombusiness.com or to enquire about opportunities contact Annie.bennett@raccoonmediagroup.com.

The organizers of The Boston Run Show have announced that runners should mark their calendars for the 2025 edition, March 1-2, in a new location The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport, Boston. Adding to a new date and different venue, the offering at the expo is set to double as the running expo will be held at the same time as The Boston Outdoor Expo.  

Whilst the runners are kitted out with new gear, enthused with new inspiration, and have found new connections in the community from The Boston Run Show held last weekend, the organizers have already got plans to bring more brands, features and partners onto the floorplan for visitors in 2025. With over 200 brands on site, visitors will get to shop more. Not only will runners find the latest gear, tech, nutrition, apparel and hydration products they need for their year of running but an entire second expo offering outdoors adventure products will be available next door. At The Boston Outdoor Expo, runners will be able to find products for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, climbing, mountaineering, camping, fishing, swimming, adventure travel and nature photography.

A Winning Weekend

Last weekend, the Hynes Convention Center welcomed close to 10,000 runners to The Boston Run Show as it kicked off its biggest, most successful event yet. The annual celebration of running welcomed thousands of families, beginners through advanced, marathon, track and trail runners across New England.

The weekend kicked off with the first ever shake-out run led by Boston Marathon’s Race Director, Dave McGillivray, International marathon and travel expert Kelly McLay, Coach Becca Pizzi and America’s run streaker Hellah Sidibe. Swag, smiles and running along the Charles River was enjoyed by over 50 runners before the expo opened Saturday morning. With endorphins pumping, the mood was high as the entrance giveaways started for the early to arrive visitors, prizes included Wahoo GPS watches, Marathon Sports gift cards, Puma shoes, Skechers cooling towels, Sam Adams hats, Marathon Sports tops – it was an energetic opening!

Throughout the weekend, inspiration was in abundance as headline speakers shared anecdotes from their careers, skills knowledge and selfies with the running audience. The 2-day line-up included Olympian Michael Johnson, Barkley Marathon finisher John Kelly, ultrarunner legend Scott Jurek, Comedian Laura Green and many more. The inspiring and immersive experience for runners of all abilities, featured a multitude of exciting new features, world-class speakers, over 100 brands, expert advice, and community initiatives.
Stephen Morgan, Managing Director of Raccoon Media Group USA commented with certainty “We are thrilled to have a new plan to share with the communities we’re building. By co-locating two expos in the city, we are bringing two active communities together and offering a bigger offering for brands, partners and visitors involved. The strategic move enables us to curate a great day out for families who can immerse themselves in the world of getting outside and active. We aim to create healthy active lifestyles and encourage consumers to try new sports in an inclusive space with inspiration, education, and camaraderie. Visitors will find that at both expos co-located in Boston, 2025.  We can’t wait to see you there”

The two expos will return March 1-2, 2025, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. There is opportunity to book booth space, sponsor features and create marketing partnerships to reach an active audience in Boston. Contact info@thebostonrunshow.com or info@thebostonoutdoorexpo.com for more information.

ENDS

For all media enquiries, contact Senior Marketing Manager Chloe Hyland at chloe.hyland@raccoonmediagroup.com

Almost 30,000 runners laced up for the sixth National Running Show at the NEC, Birmingham this weekend, a record-breaking number of runners for the annual event. With over 250 brands, over 50 speakers, 25 features and runners from every corner of the country, the event was the perfect kick-start to a great year of running.

Running royalty including Sir Mo Farah, Dame Kelly Holmes, Eilish McColgan, Vassos Alexander, Jasmin Paris and record-breaking winner of Spine Race 2024, Jack Scott, graced the three stages at the show to packed audiences of avid runners who queued in their hundreds to hear from and meet their #runninginspo in real life.

With over 250 brands on site, visitors shopped their favourite kit, tech, nutrition and hydration products, getting face-to-face bespoke advice tailored to their needs. Runners shopped brands including adidas, Altra, Asics, Science in Sport, Hoka, Hilly, Mizuno, Salomon and more.

Co-Host Iwan Thomas commented: “I have been hosting The National Running Show since the first year and I am continuously blown away by how much energy, enthusiasm and excitement there is in one room. To bring this many people together who choose to spend their time doing the same activity is really special, it’s certainly become the only way for runners to kick start their year.”

Susie Chan, Co-Host of National Running Show commented: “Another year, another Run Show and what a Show it was. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen an event so busy. I loved meeting old friends and being introduced to new brands and I always come away feeling a little bit more excited about my year’s running adventures.”

The Show also saw the launch of the first ever National Running Show Awards that recognised and celebrated outstanding contributions to the community. 10 individuals and brands were recognised in the closed evening presentation, winners included Kevin Sinfield for ‘Inspirational Runner, Allie Bailey for ‘Coach of the Year’ and Food Bank Run for ‘Best Charity Initiative’.

Plans are already underway for a bigger Show in 2025 with speakers including Dame Denise Lewis, Scott Jurek and Shakira Akabusi already announced to speak. For visitors who love trail running, The National Outdoor Expo takes place at NEC, Birmingham 23-24 March and caters to people who love hiking, camping, watersports, trail running, climbing and cooking outdoors.

Raccoon Media Group has seen success at this year’s Trade Show News Network (TSNN) Innovation Awards with The Boston Run Show taking home the award for The Best Consumer Show. The awards evening took place Saturday Oct 28^th and honored the “Best of Innovation”. Global show organizers joined the event in Puerto Rico and celebrated those who have truly shined brightly in the past year.

The TSNN Awards recognized nominees in 12 categories and received an incredible number of nominations for the Outstanding Show Pro Awards and Innovation Awards. Finalists for the Best Consumer Awards included Super Pet Expo, Awesome Con, Anime Con, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as well as The Boston Run Show.

The debut of the Boston Run Show in partnership with Boston.com and the Boston Athletic Association was hosted at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA in February 2023 and received over 18,000 ticket registrations. Despite the coldest weekend the city had seen for seven years, the show welcomed close to 10,000 visitors out of the cold and into the warm expo. The show’s two stages played host to Olympians and athletes from across the world of running including Sally McRae, Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, Dave McGillivray and Jenna Prandini. The line-up of speakers enthralled packed theatres with the highs, lows, achievements, and failures from a life spent running. The city’s runners shopped for new gear, tech and nutrition from leading brands and found new races to sign up to at the Events Village. The event is strategically timed to prepare runners for the city’s marathon and promote the benefits running to new audiences who are looking to start.

Mike Seaman, CEO at Raccoon Media Group commented: “I am thrilled for the team to have been recognized and rewarded for the launch of The Boston Run Show. Despite a tough start due to a  date postponement and extreme weather, we couldn’t be happier with our first running expo in New England. We had a great time immersing ourselves into the USA industry and we think there are exciting times ahead!”

The Boston Run Show will return for its second edition, January 27^th-28^th 2024 at the Hynes Convention Center. For more information about other Raccoon Media Group events visit www.raccoonmediagroup.com/events.

Raccoon Media Group has been shortlisted for this year’s Trade Show News Network (TSNN) Innovation Awards. The Boston Run Show has been recognized and is shortlisted as a finalist for the Consumer Shows category. The awards program will celebrate and honor the “Best of Innovation” – shows that truly shined brightly in the past year with new marketing programs, an amazing virtual or hybrid event, a highly engaging (fun) show or created/maintained a great community or culture after digging deep and finding new ways to serve and engage their audiences.

The debut of the Boston Run Show in partnership with Boston.com and the Boston Athletic Association was hosted at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA in February 2023 and received over 18,000 ticket registrations. Despite the coldest weekend the city had seen for seven years, the show welcomed close to 10,000 visitors out of the cold and into the warm expo. The show’s two stages played host to Olympians and athletes from across the world of running including Sally McRae, Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, Dave McGillivray and Jenna Prandini. The line-up of speakers enthralled packed theatres with the highs, lows, achievements, and failures from a life spent running. The city’s runners shopped for new gear, tech and nutrition from leading brands and found new races to sign up to at the Events Village. The event is strategically timed to prepare runners for the city’s marathon and promote the benefits running to new audiences who are looking to start.

Mike Seaman, CEO at Raccoon Media Group commented: “I am so incredibly proud of the team here at Raccoon and it is fantastic to see us developing relationships in the USA and being recognized by the TSNN Awards. To have our company listed alongside the biggest and best events in the USA is testament to the amazing people we have in our business. Good luck to the other nominees and we look forward to the winners being announced next month.”

The Boston Run Show will return for its second edition, January 27^th-28^th 2024 at the Hynes Convention Center. For more information about other Raccoon Media Group events visit www.raccoonmediagroup.com.

Raccoon Media Group Ltd has announced that a new investment vehicle, Cuil Bay Capital (CBC), has today acquired a majority stake in the business. CBC is led by Doug Emslie, the former CEO of Tarsus Group who will join the board as chairman, replacing Ralph Collett. The remainder of the senior management team will remain in place to take the company into its next phase of growth.

Mike Seaman, CEO of Raccoon Media Group explained “Over the past seven years, Raccoon has evolved from a personal dream to a business that employs 33 members of staff, delivers ten events per year, has a growing digital arm and operates in the US as well as the UK. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and what we have managed to achieve together. This acquisition is perfectly timed to enable us to take the next step on our journey, building on the solid foundations that already exist and giving us the investment and ability to expand”.

He continues “Doug has been an incredible advocate and mentor for us over the last couple of years and shares the same passion in creating products that inspire people to live active and healthy lives. The team at Raccoon will remain unchanged and we are all excited for the future growth of the business. You can expect to see us move into B2B as we expand our portfolio, whilst retaining our focus on quality of delivery, customer service, passion and purpose”.

CBC’s strategy focuses on acquiring well-established, entrepreneurial businesses and events that are in the high-growth stage in sectors that are in transition. The purchase of Raccoon is the initial stage of developing a portfolio that focuses on healthy, active and sustainable markets that inspire positive lifestyle choices.

CBC Chairman Doug Emslie, who was the first employee of Tarsus Group in 1998 and served as its CEO until its acquisition by Informa for $1 billion in April 2023, will assume the position of Chairman at Raccoon.

Speaking about the exciting acquisition, Doug Emslie, Chairman of CBC, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am very pleased to have Raccoon as our first investment and I look forward to working with Mike Seaman and his team to help them execute their exciting expansion programme. Raccoon will continue to grow organically, by launching new products and by acquisition. They have a clear plan building passion-led communities in multiple media channels and we are excited to help them achieve their aims.”

“The exhibition sector is a very entrepreneurial and dynamic sector and the opportunity for CBC is to help entrepreneurs accelerate the scaling of their businesses both sectorially and geographically by providing both financial and strategic input.”