This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A light blanket of new snow and temperatures in the mid-20s greeted visitors Wednesday at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market's All Mountain Demo Day at Solitude Mountain Resort.

Four dozen retailers, from Arc'teryx Equipment to ZEAL Optics, had booths in the parking lot of the Big Cottonwood Canyon resort, pitching their wares to some of the 20,000-plus people who will attend the Outdoor Retailer trade show, which runs Thursday through Sunday at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The weather boosted their efforts. Two inches of new snow overnight softened up the slopes for retailers to test out exhibitors' skis, snowboards and snowshoes while the temperatures were well suited to many apparel companies' efforts to display their products' warmth.

"Getting the opportunity to speak one on one with the brand representatives and get hands-on with the products gives specialty retailers a competitive advantage," said Marisa Nicholson, vice president and Outdoor Retailer Show director. "Knowing the product details and having the knowledge to better sell the product, makes them a trusted reliable resource that their customers can trust."

As always, the show emphasized backcountry safety. Several companies displayed avalanche and survival gear.

Outdoor Retailer organizers announced in August that the twice annual trade shows will continue to be held in Salt Lake City through summer 2018.

Mike Gorrell