SNEWS Your source for outdoor, snow sports, and adventure travel news
At $2.6 billion increase, tariffs hit all-time high for outdoor industry
Outdoor businesses are running out of wiggle room for tariffs on all types of products, as duty after duty gets added to the cost of doing business with China. Some brands are turning to their last resort—raising prices. “The China tariffs are looking more and more like a giant ...read more
'Just the beginning': Companies partner with Backcountry following trademark dilemma
Not only is Backcountry apologizing to smaller brands impacted by its trademark litigation, the online retailer has formed partnerships with at least three so far as part of making reparations with consumers and the outdoor community. On Monday night, Wild Barn Coffee—formerly ...read more
Bye bye single-use plastic
It’s countdown time to Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, which stages in Denver January 29-31, 2020. Thanks to collaborative efforts of Plastic Impact Alliance members, including the show management, there was a major increase in awareness around single-use plastic at Outdoor ...read more
Pro tips: 15 nuggets of retail buyer wisdom
Buying is an art and a science. Your buy defines your shop’s essence: the brands and products your choose reflect the culture of your store. The underlying principle is to keep your store fresh and fun for all of your different types of customers. Shops structure their buying ...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
SIA to acquire consumer-facing show
SIA continues to bolster its direct connection with winter sports enthusiasts by announcing its intent, today, to purchase two established consumer-facing shows, the Boston and Denver Ski and Snowboard Expos from BEWI Productions. The two shows act as the "unofficial kickoff to ...read more
Why onsite childcare benefits your business
For many new parents, attending Outdoor Retailer comes at a cost: leaving your kiddos behind. But, for Tessa Byars, the PR and communications manager at Patagonia, it was as easy as climbing into the cab of a truck. “Our daughter was six months so my husband joined,” Byars ...read more
Industry Buzz: American Outdoor Brands, Giving Tuesday, REI, Eddie Bauer, Full Tilt, Sugarbush Resort, and more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. • A stunt on Ama Dablam: A team of Kuwait climbers hauled a 330-pound flag up the 22,401 Nepalese peak and draped it off the iconic summit this week. Reaction ...read more
Backcountry CEO receives online threat amid trademark backlash
Backcountry CEO Jonathan Nielsen said he received an online threat from someone last week after he released a public letter of apology regarding the company's trademark-enforcement strategy. The Park Record reported that the online retailer's general counsel reported the threat ...read more
Poet gets "promotion of a lifetime" from prAna
What would you do with $100,000? Queena Bergen, a software engineer turned poet and motivational speaker, said she would quit her job to travel the country "to bring motivation, inspiration and poetry to the forefront of any conversation." "I want to help people believe that ...read more
Loki the Wolfdog made a blanket with Rumpl
Hot New Products are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors. Pitched by Rumpl: Loki the Wolfdog can now add blanket designer and tester to his resume. He teamed up with Rumpl to create the ultimate dog ...read more
The rise of outdoor pop-up shops
'Tis the season for pop-up shops and exhibits, where shoppers have one more choice to find their holiday gifts. Customers nowadays are attracted to buying experiences and many brands are looking for ways to stoke desirability through their own seasonal stores in addition to ...read more
Industry Buzz: Noso Patches, Orvis, Decathlon, Plastic Impact Alliance, nature and mental health, and more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com Backcountry update: Following the backlash the online retailer faced, the CEO decided to take action. Is what he's doing enough to regain the trust of customers ...read more
Building brand loyalty through adventure
Gear brands are taking advantage of the adventure travel boom—and not by making duffels. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has recorded robust growth in the number of international tourist trips over the past three years, and outdoor brands are jumping to ...read more
Poll | Is Backcountry doing enough to regain the trust of customers and partners?
When the outdoor community found out that Backcountry had been filing petitions and lawsuits against other businesses over its trademark, a social media storm ensued. People demanded that they stop and apologize. Many urged the company to pay reparations. More than 21,000 people ...read more
Shannon Davis returns home to BACKPACKER
For most people, the first week of any job entails meetings, paperwork, introductions, a building tour, and lots of administrative details to contend with. But Shannon Davis's first week as BACKPACKER's new editor-in-chief was much more, well, BACKPACKER. The team spent last ...read more
Here's what's new with the outdoor recreation movement
October was a historic month for outdoor recreation. Directors of offices from Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, and New Mexico joined eight other states in signing the Confluence Accords at the sixth annual Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit in St. George. The set of 12 principles ...read more