Once a year, as winter begins to fade and the spring flowers begin to blossom, there is a gathering of a diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts. The one aspect that unites this band of individuals is their shared love for the sport of paddling. This gathering takes place in the 100,000 square foot exhibition hall of the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin near the beginning of March. The organizer and promoter for such an event is the Midwest’s largest paddlesport retailers, Rutabaga. What would such an event be called? Being the cornucopia of paddlesports, it is rightfully called Canoecopia. I had the pleasure to attend this gathering on more than one occasion in the past. I was very pleased and see the potential for growth in the future. In my list of experiences that could be considered consumer experiences I could probably count the number of “Wow” experiences on one hand. I would have to classify the annual event of Canoecopia on this hand. ...
