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Business Solutions Forum

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Article Thumbnail Business Solutions Forum: Putting risk into perspective
Mar 15, 2010
I am a relatively new manager and I am challenged with the tough decisions I have to make. I really want to do a good job and don’t want to make any mistakes. Yet, I feel paralyzed by decisions that involve risk...
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Article Thumbnail Business Solutions Forum: Gain control of a seemingly out-of-control business life
Jan 6, 2010
I feel totally buried and out of control. I come in to work early and leave late, and spend the night feeling guilty and worried about what I didn’t get done. What can I do?
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Article Thumbnail Business Solutions Forum: Tips to make sure emails are clear and concise
Oct 30, 2009
"I get emails that are so confusing that it takes me several minutes of deciphering before I can even start understanding the email. When I figure out what they are talking about in a general sense, then the email makes more sense. But even then, it is sometimes hard to know why I got the email and what is expected of me. Any tips?" You betcha!
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Article Thumbnail Business Solutions Forum: How do I plan with all the market uncertainty?
Oct 23, 2009
Everywhere we turn we hear a different and often conflicting view of what is going on, what the causes are, and what the future holds. How can we prepare for the future when nobody seems to really have a handle on it?
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Article Thumbnail Business Solutions Forum: How do I deliver bad news well?
Sep 2, 2009
Q. I'm sure I'm not alone with this problem these days, but I have some bad news to deliver to my employees. My customers and suppliers will not be too pleased either. Do you have any tips on how best to deliver bad news?
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Channel Signal

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Article Thumbnail Channel Signal: Uvex vs. the IOC about a blond girl, plus killing wolves
Feb 24, 2010
Uvex gets slapped by the IOC over Lindsey Vonn, an athlete the goggle maker sponsors, and turns to the web to get the word out...humorously. Plus, Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse raise ire of some over wolf derby hunt sponsorship.
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Article Thumbnail Channel Signal: Separating the signals from the noise in January
Jan 13, 2010
Channel Signal shares some of its social media analysis of the major topics online in the outdoor industry with SNEWS in the month of January, including Petzl, Lange and Winter Trails Day.
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Article Thumbnail Channel Signal: What’s moving the social media meter in December
Dec 16, 2009
Every month, Channel Signal will share some of its social media analysis of the major topics online in the outdoor industry with SNEWS®. What are the conversations buzzing in December? Find out.
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Lizard Lounge Way

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Article Thumbnail The Lizard Lounge Way: Holiday clean-up brings new consumers
Jan 15, 2010
A bit of imagination and even a sense of humor can turn that post-holiday look into something special. Think of a sale as a celebration that serves as a promotion to bring in shoppers who might not have been thinking of buying...and we have five top tips to use.
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Article Thumbnail The Lizard Lounge Way: Holiday displays grab wandering eyes
Dec 16, 2009
Let’s face it, Santa has it pretty good as he gets to hear firsthand what your customers want. Merchandising cues from the Lizard Lounge Way, though, will give you an upper hand.
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Article Thumbnail The Lizard Lounge Way: Inspiring customers to 'go steady'
Oct 16, 2009
Every season calls for a fresh change -- a reason to draw customers into your store by setting a tone and highlighting trends with new styles. It's like a first date where you want to make your best impression so you get a second date…minus the whole awkward goodnight kiss thing. Ensure a lasting relationship with these tips from the merchandising mavens at the Lizard Lounge to get the season off to the right start.
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Money Matters

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Article Thumbnail Money Matters: Executive Compensation -- How much is too much?
Jul 13, 2009
Executive compensation has become a hot topic for consumers and employees as we all grapple with the effects the recession has had on our wallets and our companies. So how much is too much pay? Could you scale down if you had to? Does it matter what your employees think about executive pay?
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Power Players Lounge

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Article Thumbnail Power Players' Lounge: What is your green story?
Oct 5, 2009
What is green messaging? In a nutshell, it's how we tell an environmental story to our audience. But as the green movement grows, consumers are being bombarded by vague and confusing green messaging and we are losing their trust.
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Article Thumbnail Just 48 hours left to nominate your picks for 2010's SNEWS Power Players
Sep 30, 2009
SNEWS® Power Player award nominations have been pouring in all month, but have we heard from you? Take this last chance to enter your nominations quickly and easily online.
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Article Thumbnail Power Players' Lounge: Outdoor recreation's role in a shifting economy
Sep 21, 2009
Back in the day, people viewed conservation issues through a "jobs versus the environment" lens. Thankfully, in many areas -- particularly the rural West -- those days are gone. Throughout the West, communities that once depended on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other traditional extractive industries are now meccas for outdoor recreation and home to retirees with nest eggs drawn to mountain skylines, whitewater rivers and open spaces.
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Article Thumbnail Power Players' Lounge: Transitioning your company to the 'next generation'
Sep 9, 2009
All companies reach a point in their lifecycle where significant management transition becomes inevitable, if not necessary. As the founders and senior managers of companies look to move on to new challenges, scale back workload or retire, companies often find themselves in a forced "transition mode." Many companies also face transition as business models evolve, competition increases and economic realities change. Outdoor industry companies are no different, as we've witnessed in the last decade. Unfortunately, companies often reach this point with no real plan or open dialog about the impending changes.
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Article Thumbnail Power Players' Lounge: Does your store have a social strategy?
Aug 26, 2009
Social media has launched a new means of connecting and communicating that in turn has created a market opportunity for companies of all sizes to engage directly with customers, consumers and each other. Whether it is through blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other means, strategically using social media has the potential to positively impact specialty retail if a retailer's customer base feels engaged.
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Retailer Roundtable

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Article Thumbnail Retail Solutions Forum: Should you own or lease your retail space?
May 27, 2009
We were asked, "I am currently leasing a space for my store, but thanks to the current economy, a nearby property has become available to buy that looks ideal in terms of location and building size. Are there advantages to buying over leasing space? Disadvantages?" Eight specialty outdoor retailers from the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance chimed in with various views...
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Article Thumbnail Retail Solutions Forum: Defending a store against shoplifting and employee theft
Apr 29, 2009
The Retail Solutions column in our new Expert Network section is designed to be your personal retail advisory sounding-board with retail owners, managers, buyers and merchandisers from our retail advisory partner, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, available to answer your questions. Our retail forum offered up tangible suggestions to one retailer's query about dealing with shoplifting and employee theft.
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Article Thumbnail Retail Solutions Forum: How do I get guys to fold and merchandise clothing?
Apr 15, 2009
The Retail Solutions column in our new Expert Network section is designed to be your personal retail advisory sounding-board with retail owners, managers, buyers and merchandisers from our retail advisory partner, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, available to answer your questions. In this installment, we explore: It seems in our store that the female staff ends up working in the clothing department because the guys just don't seem to have an interest. I expect all my staffers to learn to fold and merchandise clothing. How do I create a work environment where the guys do these tasks?
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Article Thumbnail Retail Solutions Forum: How important is business interruption insurance?
Mar 13, 2009
The Retail Solutions column in our new Expert Network section is designed to be your personal retail advisory sounding-board with retail owners, managers, buyers and merchandisers from our retail advisory partner, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, available to answer your questions. In this installment, we assess: How important is business interruption insurance for one specialty store?
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Article Thumbnail Retail Solutions: Do you have creative solutions for a retailer with less budget than time?
Feb 16, 2009
I have a store full of rounders and waterfall racks with walls covered in slatwall. No matter what I do, my store looks cluttered. Do you have any creative merchandising tips for a retailer with little extra time and even less budget?
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Think About It

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Article Thumbnail Think About It: OIWC asks, is your company addressing quality-of-life benefits?
Feb 26, 2010
Women make up almost half of the working population and lead some of the country’s biggest corporations. Yet despite society’s advancements in the past few decades, in many respects, we still have a ways to go to even out the playing field of Corporate America, as OIWC found out in its “Are Your Women Satisfied?” survey.
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Article Thumbnail Think About It: OIWC says, make flextime work for you
Jan 27, 2010
Wondering how flextime can work for you? OIWC gives insight into the program being adopted by corporations to provide a work/life balance for employees.
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Article Thumbnail Think About It: OIWC wonders, what would you do if a co-worker made more than you?
Sep 16, 2009
There is no stickier situation than finding out that a co-worker with the same experience and responsibilities is making more than you. How you choose to deal with this situation can potentially backfire if you are not careful. There are steps you can take to move toward a peaceful resolution, and if you take some advice from experts, you can turn a situation such as this into a professional coup.
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Article Thumbnail Think About It: OIWC offers up positive ways to 'rock the boat' in your workplace
Aug 17, 2009
Got ideas? Then perhaps it's time to bring them to the table to inspire positive change within your company. Still, as a woman in a male-dominated industry, it can sometimes be challenging to find the right time, place and method to bust out with your ideas.
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Article Thumbnail Think About It: OIWC asks, where are all the women?
Jul 20, 2009
Earlier this year, SNEWS released its inaugural Power Players list and SGB came out with its 2009 40 under 40. On the bright side, the lists highlight some of the vast talent that exists in our industry. However, there was something disappointing about both lists -- the lack of female representation: only five women out of 25 SNEWS Power Players and only three women on the SGB 40 under 40 list. This got us thinking: Why are there so few women recognized in the outdoor industry? To recognize the women behind women's products, OIWC will launch Intuition & Ingenuity: A Women's Product Showcase at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, available at the SNEWS booth (#22050).
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Products and Trends
GearTrends New Products Marketplace
Enforcer ice climbing glove Enforcer ice climbing glove
Oct 29, 2009
Black Diamond's quintessential ice climbing glove protects against impact and wet ice
Read Complete New Product Listing | Go to the GearTrends New Product Marketplace
Women's Nio Amphi Roll-up Pant Women's Nio Amphi Roll-up Pant
Feb 18, 2010
Best Uses For The ExOfficio Nio Amphi Roll-up Pant: Backpacking, Camping, Everyday, Fishing, Hiking, In-Transit, Lounging, Outdoor Work, Paddle Sports, Resort, Stay Dry, Sun Protection, Urban Exploration
Read Complete New Product Listing | Go to the GearTrends New Product Marketplace
Ariel 65 Ariel 65
Mar 1, 2010
The Osprey Ariel 65 is an ideal size for a variety of backpacking adventures. With added features like J- Panel access, Stow-on-the- Go™ trekking pole attachment and an improved suspension technology, this backpack remains the #1 choice for adventurers of all calibers. Superb women's custom fit is achieved through torso specific sizing, and contoured women's harness and hipbelt. Colors available: Seaside, Salsa
Read Complete New Product Listing | Go to the GearTrends New Product Marketplace
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Community Chat
"Risk- a good reminder " by Keith Reis (03/16/2010 09:12 MDT)
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"Cardboard display material " by Eryn Willard (03/12/2010 12:27 MST)
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"cardboard display " by eco bag gal (03/11/2010 13:17 MST)
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Industry Releases
GoLite Receives Apparel Magazine’s Sustainability All-Star Award
Mar 18, 2010
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Goose Person Lance Mackey Wins Fourth Straight Iditarod
Mar 18, 2010
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GU Announces 2009 Sales Data
Mar 18, 2010
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Mountain Source adds Bruce Gordon to ‘rep force 2.0’
Mar 18, 2010
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Werner Paddles Defines SUP Paddling Styles
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SNEWS Headlines
Canoecopia signals better days ahead for paddlesports market
Mar 17, 2010
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The Lizard Lounge Way: Spring merchandising -- out with the old, in with the new
Mar 17, 2010
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Outdoor financials: West Marine narrows Q4 loss, plus Outdoor Channel, Garmin, Suunto names president
Mar 17, 2010
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Featured Content
The Lizard Lounge Way: Spring merchandising -- out with the old, in with the new
Mar 17, 2010
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Mystery Shopper: Thin product selection, lack of fitting tools doom footwear sale
Mar 12, 2010
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Merchandising Tour: Natural environmental display ideas from Winter Market
Mar 10, 2010
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Trend Reports
‘Wearable Technology’ showcase introduces sports/fitness products and technologies of the future
Mar 8, 2010
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