Welcome to the GearTrends® Winter Outdoor 2008 Magazine -- issued to the trade January 2008. As a GearTrends® website visitor – you now have direct access to the same market-leading editorial, feature articles and product information that industry professionals have come to rely on. To maintain the quality that our readers and members have come to expect in GearTrends® publications, we are providing all magazines only in high quality Acrobat PDF format. (You can download the FREE Acrobat Reader here)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

12 SHRED ALERT | BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
Ski equipment blending backcountry and alpine traits are luring new fans to tele and AT skiing.

18 SOMETHING’S BREWING | COFFEE MARKET
Specialty coffee makers are entering the outdoor industry, hoping to perk interest in this high-end, niche product.

24 WHAT’S IN STORE… | MERCHANDISING
See how new technologies will change the way retailers provide customers information and alter the ways customers shop.

30 THE COLD TRUTH | WINTER OUTERWEAR
Freshen up your store with these helpful hints for cleaning and organizing.

38 LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER | SPECIAL FEATURE
The daughters of industry veterans are entering the marketplace and reshaping what has been a traditionally male-dominated market.

46 NIP/TUCK | NORDIC SKIING
Most new product development in the Nordic world revolves around the recently dubbed “rugged touring” category.

50 LOCALS ONLY | BUSINESS TOOLS
More businesses across the United States have decided to expand locally. Check out how you can too.

52 ICE AGE | ICE CLIMBING
GearTrends® examines trends in ice climbing products and makes a few predictions for the winter season.

56 INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS | OUTDOOR HISTORY
Part IV in our continuing series on the industry’s pioneers looks at the innovators of the 1960s and early 1970s who were motivated by a desire to improve gear aesthetics, and make some money.

64 BARE ESSENTIALS | WINTER ACCESSORIES
When big-ticket sales slow, retailers can rely on the sales of goggles, gloves, helmets and rescue gear to keep the register ringing.

72 2007 SNEWS® RETAILER SURVEY
Check out retail’s highs and lows in our annual survey summary.

76 THE PRODUCT ZONE
Preview the newest products hitting the trade show circuit this winter.

AD INDEX
As sustainable business practices hit the mainstream, the outdoor industry continues its push.

CONTRIBUTORS
Meet the dedicated team making the cogs turn at GearTrends®.