Starting this month and running through August, the Running Industry Association’s KICK On-Demand virtual trade show will be available for free to brand and retail members of the non-profit organization.

RIA KICK On-Demand will feature video product presentations from footwear, apparel and accessory brands in the specialty run channel. The organization is encouraging brands to present live to best replicate last year’s in-person KICK Show in Denver. RIA retail members, who will register for individual sessions, will participate in the virtual trade show via Zoom, Brandlive or another service, or simply watch pre-recorded sessions at their convenience.

“This [format] will enable brands to do a single presentation that will reach a host of retailers across the country, and retailers will have a platform to buy effectively for the Spring 2021 season,” RIA Executive Director Terry Schalow said in a statement.

RIA KICK On-Demand is partnering with PlumRiver Technologies’ Elastic Suite as its preferred B2B e-commerce platform, offering brand members streamlined and discounted use of the merchandising solution to serve retailers virtually. The technology, coupled with virtual line presentations, will help specialty run retailers build and place orders. A customized Elastic dashboard will provide RIA members with user-friendly access to custom digital catalog creation, assortment building and whiteboarding features. The seamless approach is both cost effective and sustainable by eliminating expenses related to printing and shipping product catalogs, the RIA said.

The virtual show (www.RIAKickShow.com) will host brand presentations over the course of 6 or more weeks to accommodate the 48 percent of brands that expect third-quarter product release delays, and the 57 percent that may face product delays in Spring 2021, according to the recent RIA COVID-19 Brand Survey.