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The trickle down effect on the outdoor industry during the government shutdown
As the federal government shutdown continues into its fifth week, the business of outdoor recreation is feeling the effects. Specialty retail stores and adventure outfitters located in gateway communities near national parks are on the front lines of a political conflict that has ...read more
Durango retailer Backcountry Experience bought a brand
When Jill Shuman started pitching retailers her natural blister prevention product, eNZees Foot Soother, in 2016, Backcountry Experience was her first stop. Having built his business on expert bootfitting, Ben Rockis, the store's owner, was immediately all in. "She looked at me ...read more
'Toilet paper angels' offering loans to furloughed Joshua Tree National Park staff
Joshua Tree National Park is one of the poster children for the devastation to the treasured sites during the government shutdown, which is now stretching beyond a month. Volunteers educating visitors and cleaning up trash bins and vault toilets have even been dubbed "toilet ...read more
A new rock guide course just for women
When Erica Engle started working toward her American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certification in 2006, there were only a few female role models in the guiding industry. More men than women taught her the ropes. But now, thanks to a grant by The North Face, the AMGA ...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
The industry speaks: Here’s how SNEWS can help you be better at your job
This year, SNEWS is celebrating 35 years of covering the outdoor industry, from in-depth dives into important trends and issues to its daily happenings. We're also launching a brand new, radically different trade journal, and it drops on Jan. 30, 2019. The talented filmmakers at ...read more
Industry Buzz: Ultrarunner Jasmin Paris, Jay Getzel, Amy Beck, Patagonia, Picky Bars, New Mexico OREC, and more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Patagonia updated its mission statement from “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the ...read more
How filmmakers shot 'Free Solo'
From holds the width of two quarters on their sides to Alex Honnold's big smiles throughout the climb, filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi planned a whole system to capture all the details of the feat. Hear about it in this latest video. If you can't get enough, ...read more
L.L.Bean's charitable giving swelled to $4 million in 2018
Over the past decade, L.L.Bean has given $30 million to nonprofit community and environmental organizations, and the 107-year-old brand isn't slowing down this year. “At L.L.Bean, we have a strong legacy of promoting outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship, a legacy that ...read more
Industry Buzz: The North Face 'Walls' campaign, Nikwax event, Vail Resorts, GORE-TEX, and more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. The North Face's "Walls Are Meant For Climbing" campaign has given the brand some ammo to use against President Donald Trump. The brand took to Twitter on ...read more
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Op-Ed: Promotional behavior is not healthy
Like dogs salivating at the sound of a bell—the classic Pavlovian conditioning example—customers have been trained to expect discounts around the holidays. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Cyber Tuesday. Cyber Week. What's next? New data from The NPD Group shows that 2018 was the most ...read more
Retailers: Do you own or rent your building?
A new set of responsibilities come with homeownership—yard work, paying property taxes, following zoning rules. But there's also newfound freedoms that renting doesn't offer, such as getting to remodel and paint, and avoiding landlord troubles and inflated rent prices. The same ...read more
Sierra Designs won an intellectual property dispute
Sierra Designs’ zipperless Backcountry Bed changed the sleeping bag market when it launched in 2013. It immediately won numerous awards and has remained the brand’s number one item. But that type of innovation has also attracted copycats over the years. Today, Sierra Designs ...read more
The Next Step in Skiing
“It’s time to disrupt ski hardgoods,” said former Burton executive Clark Gundlach—and that might be exactly what he’s helping to do. Ski boots have always faced the same predicament: They need to be really stiff to give users better control over their skis, but that can make ...read more
Industry Buzz: National parks fund, Royal Robbins, YETI growth, and the ultimate summer job
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Now in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the National Park Foundation is accepting donations to repair damage to national parks. For example, in ...read more
REI's Jerry Stritzke: How to help the national parks right now
As the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week—the longest in U.S. history—we're seeing more brands and organizations chime in on the . Last week, Columbia ran a full-page ad in the Washington Post about keeping the national parks open and funding the government. The ...read more
Industry Buzz: Runderwear, Death Valley and Joshua Tree, plus Columbia speaks up for national parks in newspaper ad
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Columbia ran an $80,000, full-page ad in the Washington Post today, telling Congress to end the stalemate. Here's what CEO Tim Boyle has to say about it: “For ...read more