U.K.-based Raccoon Events has made its first acquisition, as it continues to expand its U.S. footprint by forging a long-term partnership with Snowsports Industries America in conjunction with the B2C event Snowbound Expo. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

The partnership is a win for consumers and exhibitors alike and combines Raccoon’s success as a consumer show organizer with SIA’s know-how and reach as the leader of the winter outdoor industry.

“This is an exciting development for our U.S, business and is a sign of our continued ambition to deliver exciting and engaging B2C events for specialist self-identifying consumers passionate about health and well-being,” said Raccoon Events CEO Mike Seaman.

He added.  “SIA is the perfect partner in this venture and shares our vision to create an inclusive event that is environmentally sensitive and built around a premium start-of-season retail experience.”

Scheduled to take place Nov. 18-20 at Boston's Hynes Convention Center, Snowbound Expo will be an oasis for winter outdoor enthusiasts providing a comprehensive retail experience, a first-class speaker line-up and a plethora of interactive features.

“Consumers are a major initiative for SIA. This partnership allows us to serve our members with best-in-class consumer show opportunities both here and abroad and offer a premium experience for the consumer and the entire winter outdoor community,” said SIA President Nick Sargent.

He added, “We are excited to partner with Raccoon to grow and evolve the Snowbound experience.”

There are several exhibitors confirmed already, including Burton Snowboards, Killington Resort and Tecnica Group brands of Blizzard, Nordica & Tecnica, to name a few.

While SIA members still will have access to preferential pricing, all exhibitors will benefit from Raccoon’s consumer-oriented approach to winter outdoor shows both in the U.S. and in the U.K. Raccoon’s guiding principles are based on sustainability, inclusion and a premium in-season retail experience.

The three-day event will span approximately 112,000 square feet of space. The show will play host to some of the snow scene’s biggest names, including six-time Olympic medalist Bode Miller, ski legend Dan Egan, alpinist Philip Henderson, ice climber Lindsay Fixmer, mountain athlete and storyteller Dani Reyes-Acosta, downhill World Cup racer Douglas Lewis and backcountry adaptive skier Vasu Sojitra, who will lead a packed schedule of talks on the Seirus Inspiration Stage.

There also will be a series of workshops in the Snow Skills Theater, providing new and experienced winter enthusiasts with an armory of information and advice to get started or advance in their chosen winter sport.

The Expo, which is expected to play host to more than 10,000 winter outdoor consumers and 140-plus exhibitors, will provide brands and retailers with the perfect opportunity to speak directly to consumers, helping kit them out with the right gear for the winter season ahead. In addition to the latest gear and kit, resorts, destinations and tour operators will be on-site to help plan, offer advice and book the perfect winter adventure.   

“We are very excited,” Seaman said. “It’s going to be fun!”

He added that future plans include launching more regional Snowbound events in the U.S. – “We think this is something that could really explode.”

Raccoon Events has a busy upcoming year in the U.S, with the launches of The Run Show USA  events in Chicago and L.A. Next year also will see the launch of The Run Show USA in Boston.