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Mystery Ranch leads community mask-sewing effort
It started by word of mouth. An employee at Mystery Ranch, the Montana-based backpack brand, heard from a friend that a local quilting guild had started sewing masks for hospitals, and soon many of Mystery Ranch's own employees were clamoring to do the same. "Lots of people ...read more
How to save your local gear shop
As the coronavirus crisis spreads, independent retailers are hurting badly. (Even before this pandemic, many were losing business to Amazon and other direct-to-consumer competition.) Shops are now empty, workers have been sent home, and cash flow is drying up. At the same time, ...read more
Live updates: Everything you need to know about coronavirus and the outdoor industry
This is SNEWS' live blog covering all the latest news regarding the coronavirus and the outdoor industry. We will be updating this page as news breaks. We also urge you to contact us if you have any new information concerning the coronavirus that hasn't appeared on this page. ...read more
An editor's note in the spirit of transparency
Dear friends and colleagues, First, I hope this note finds you healthy and safe and in good spirits during this surreal time in our lives. The ripple effects of the coronavirus on our industry—on all industries, really—is equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking. But we will get ...read more
Recent Press Releases
Since 1984, SNEWS has been the outdoor industry’s most trusted source for trade news, company and retailer profiles, outdoor politics and issues, gear trends, and important interviews with power players.
Catch up on all the stories that are making news in the outdoor industry
Active Interest Media releases free online courses
During this period of quarantining, self-isolating, and social distancing, there's only so much binge watching a person can do. It's nice to veg out for while, but after a couple of weeks (or days), the urge to get moving sets in. Active Interest Media has temporarily made a ...read more
Industry Buzz: Letter to Trump, Modell's, DOI trickery, a death in New Mexico, OIA resources, disaster loans
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Letters to Trump and 50 governors: The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable sent letters to the president and all 50 governors asking for tariff relief, stimulus aid, and “essential business” classification. Modell’s buys some ...read more
ISPO cancelled
Europe's biggest outdoor trade show, OutDoor by ISPO, announced it's cancelling the show for 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Scheduled for late June in Munich, Germany, show organizers announced on March 27th that the next ISPO show will happen June 20-23, 2021. “Under these ...read more
The best (and worst) home offices in the outdoor industry
“WFH” was an acronym that was not in my vernacular just two weeks ago, which is pretty funny because I actually do WFH, and have for the last 20 years. But now, we’re all doing it. It’s clear from all the Zoom calls I’ve been on in the last two weeks that some of us have pretty ...read more
This company has responded to the coronavirus with nearly unbelievable speed
It's no surprise to learn that David Billstrom, the CEO of Kitsbow, worked as an EMT for 38 years before taking over as head of the premium cycling apparel company in Asheville, North Carolina. As the coronavirus emergency has developed in recent days, Billstrom has responded ...read more
Don't be a backcountry cov-idiot
Skiers and snowboarders, we get it. You want to be outside right now. You weren't ready for the season to come to such an abrupt end, as it did in Colorado and virutally everywhere else. You're tempted to pull out your backcountry setup and keep the fun going yourself. Plenty of ...read more
Industry Buzz: Outdoor companies make medical supplies, Everest, national park closures, RockyMounts
The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Should Outdoor Retailer be cancelled?: We asked you if the OR Summer Market should go on as planned, be postponed, or be cancelled all together. Sixty percent agreed on one definitive answer. What do you think? Eddie Bauer ...read more
Eddie Bauer and Flowfold commit to emergency mask production
As the White House resists calls to mandate the production of masks and other resources to fight the coronavirus, some companies have stepped up voluntarily to help. In the outdoor industry, Eddie Bauer and Flowfold are among the first. "Just a few days ago, we learned that some ...read more
Poll: Should Outdoor Retailer cancel, postpone, or go on?
As of today, our industry's largest gathering is still on the books for June 23-25 in Denver. But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it's pretty clear that the show will not go on as planned in just 13 weeks. Mountain Hardwear took a proactive stance: President Joe Vernachio and ...read more
Industry Buzz: Olympics postponed, SIA, national parks, backcountry skiing, "Naked and Afraid," getting outside safely
The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Incredible community support: In just four days, customers of Alpenglow Sports in Lake Tahoe purchased $75k in gift cards from the retailer to help keep cash flowing. (To help spread similar efforts, share our new campaign, ...read more
Alpenglow sells $75k in gift cards in just four days
Sometimes people will blow you away with kindness…if you just let them. The coronavirus crisis has had a crippling effect on so many retailers and small business owners and made them realize how vulnerable their businesses are unthinkably unexpected forces. Brendan Madigan, owner ...read more
Industry Buzz: OR, Vail Resorts, coronavirus aid, quarantine activities, Sweet Protection
The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Save your local gear shop: We've launched a new campaign to keep independent retailers going through these uncertain times. Read a letter from SNEWS' editor-in-chief, Kristin Hostetter, about the initiative. In this ...read more