A conference takes shape
2012 is Mike and I’s 10th conference and so we are making it particularly special. Planning for innov_ex 2012 began almost as soon as 2011 ended, so we could build on last year’s experience and better identify trends that would interest the outdoors industry. But 2012 is a tough year in so many ways. High levels of uncertainty for the outdoors industries make innovation vital for survival so conference discussion is going to be focused around the nature of these problems alongside showcasing innovative directions for the outdoors industries and on sustainability.The 2012 innov_ex keynote speakers bring vital insights to help you stay ahead and meet key industry threats and identify opportunities. In terms of innovative technology in 2012 it is increasingly clear that what seemed blue sky thinking only a year or two ago is rapidly becoming mainstream. Revisiting Innov_ex 2011set me thinking and I realised that, combined with Mike and I’s innovation courses, for students and small businesses, our conferences were picking up many trends likely to shape business in the future.
Listening is crucial
Social media isn’t a fad, we all know that, but successful social media depends on listening, evaluating and focusing first and and Tweeting later. Looking at the really successful outdoor users of social media, like Patagonia and Rohan, what is clear is how close to the concerns and interests of their customers they are. They do not just shout about their products through social media, they are involved in a ‘long conversation’.
And what if you are a high street retailer looking to respond successfully to an increasingly online world. Again there is no single solution. Relationships between manufacturers and retailers, however managed, almost always now include an online element, so the retailers’ website and social media campaign is vital. Innovative solutions include REI regional Twitter campaign. But what about making the retail store feel like an online store? There are many futuristic and some not so futuristic technologies out there that can help make the store feel more interactive while potentially increasing footfall and getting you closer to the customer. These include 2D bar codes and personalised product labels with more in the future.
Do have a look at the following presentations to remind yourself if you were at innov_ex in 2011 or if you weren’t see what you were missing :
future of e-commerce, search engine optimisation, social media and interactive retailing.
How does innov_ex 2012 show technology becoming more social and emerging technologies more mainstream?
Phil Sorrell whose Social Hiking “has already revolutionised the world of mobile phone based navigation, bringing mapping and route finding together with social media” (MyOutdoors 2011) is going to overview how outdoors people are relating to social media and how Social Hiking fits into that wider picture.
Emerging technologies have been very important to the outdoors industry in the past as our earlier blog showed.Much of the time since last April has seen Mike and I involved in working with businesses and students on social media – so thinking about implications of digital technology discussed at innov_ex 2011 and seeing how it was moving further forward was logical for innov_ex 2012.
Here are some of the ways we are picking these emerging technologies up in innov_ex 2012 :
SMART technologies are now a breathe away from becoming mainstream and Adrian Wilson author of IntertechPira’s Smart Fabrics to 2020 overview the latest commercial launches in e-textiles, and near-future developments asking what can industry learn?
SMART Footwear and the Outdoors
Given the existing Nike-Apple products and the launch of iOS linked Adidas ‘Football Boot with a Brain’, an expert panel will open discussion of the implications of such SMART Footwear for the outdoor industries.Panel will include Mike Redwood, Phil Sorrell, Adrian Wilson, and invited footwear brands.
There is much much, more in innov_ex 2012 later blogs will talk about Olympic innovation and sustainability.