SNEWS

The news about how companies are responding and reacting to the coronavirus pandemic have been flooding in so fast over the last few weeks that we, here at SNEWS, have been scrambling to keep up. The impacts on our community have been wide, deep, and vast, and the implications ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web PPE from the co-founder of Granite Gear: Jeff Knight has designed a new tool to help prolong the life of N95 masks. #CurbYourTurns: SIA has launched a new campaign to promote the idea that flattening the curve “has to take ...read more

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 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

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

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

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

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

Coronavirus news Your local gear shop needs your help: Here at SNEWS we've started a new campaign, #SaveYourLocalGearShop, to help specialty independent retailers through difficult times. The outdoor industry speaks up: OIA and 23 other trade associations sent a letter to ...read more

SAN FRANCISCO - March 16, 2020 - The unfortunate postponement or cancellation of major industry trade shows creates a significant loss for the industry, and other events may follow. Brands rely on these annual events to launch and showcase their latest products and innovations, ...read more

Last week we shared an important 20-minute podcast about coronavirus crisis communication. (Listen here.) Little did we know at that time that things would change so incredibly fast.  “Even if you haven’t gone out to {communicate with} anyone yet, it’s time to start. If you ...read more

Coronavirus news Outdoor brands shutter stores left and right: Many companies are closing all retail stores to prevent the spread of the virus, among them Merrell, REI, VF Corp., and Columbia. Some, including Patagonia, are halting ecommerce as well. End of the line: Ski resorts ...read more

For too many people, the threat of climate change is abstract—an arcane question of degrees centigrade, sea level inches, and CO2 parts per million. A new mockumentary by San Francisco filmmaker Sam Blakesberg challenges this notion by showing how a warming globe poses threats ...read more

The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Coronavirus throws spring travel into chaos: The pandemic has changed life for everyone. See what industry professionals are saying about their travel plans. Queer identity and the outdoors: Venture Out Project founder Perry ...read more

With a timeline of event cancellations and postponements changing by the day, travel plans for professionals in the outdoor industry—and everyone else on the planet—have come to a screeching halt. SNEWS polled the industry about spring travel plans and received more than 550 ...read more

Accused of murder: Dean Cummings, a celebrated skier and peer of Doug Coombs, has been charged with the murder of a man in New Mexico. [Outside Online] Jeremy Jones’ brilliance: The pro snowboarder is using political tactics typically associated with right-wingers to help fight ...read more

Outdoor companies helping during the crisis Across the industry, we've seen outdoor businesses step up and make sacrifices for the greater good. Here's a running list. Eddie Bauer and Flowfold have started making masks for hospitals. L.L.Bean is using a distribution center to ...read more

Should Outdoor Retailer cancel? Take our poll and see instant results. March 30: Grassroots Connect Show cancels, goes digital. March 26: OutDoor by ISPO cancelled. March 23: Overland Expo West postponedOriginally scheduled for May 15-17, the expo has been delayed to July 24-26. ...read more

SNEWS' outdoor industry trivia challenge returns for its fourth and final round. If you missed parts one, two, or three, be sure to play those first. Then, try your luck at these next ten questions. Tally up your scores across the four quizzes and record your total in the ...read more

Toad&Co puts money where its mouth is: Long respected for its commitment to independent retailers, Toad&Co has announced a first-of-its-kind revenue sharing program to help brick and mortar retailers through the economic upheaval of the coronavirus outbreak. Stay calm and ...read more

Will LCWF finally get permanent funding? He used to want to cut it from the budget, but now President Trump is calling for Congress to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses oil and gas revenue to fund conservation projects. [The Hill] Tragedy ...read more

Last year, a new grove of old-growth Redwoods was discovered just north of San Francisco—a historic discovery that revealed trees as ancient as 1,640 years old. Purchased by Save The Redwoods League, the Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve quickly attracted the world's attention. ...read more

Your guide to all coronavirus news: SNEWS has launched a page for ongoing coverage of the outbreak, updated daily. Check back for continual updates, news, recommendations, quotes from industry leaders, and more. Could Everest close? As concern over the coronavirus mounts, there's ...read more

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

The outdoor industry spring/summer calendar is packed with events: We've got  Outdoor Retailer, The Big Gear Show, Grassroots Connect, dozens of regional rep shows, Capitol Summit, Outdoor Media Summit, and so many more. So many people crowded into enclosed spaces, so many ...read more

Coronavirus strains Mountain House supply chain: As coronavirus panic stirs, the backpacking food company Mountain House was forced to temporarily shut down its website in response to overwhelming demand for its freeze-dried food. [Outside Online] Coronavirus travel tips: ...read more

Prepare for coronavirus: OIA will run a webinar next week on the economic realities of the emerging health crisis and what comes next for you and your business. Olympics face cancellation: The longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee member has suggested that ...read more

Got a hot new product for Spring/Summer 2021 that you want to get it in front of retailer buyers and the rest of the outdoor industry? Give us all the details and you could earn a coveted spot in The Voice in our highly-curated, crème de la crème product pick section, The Voice ...read more

Turning to the masses to save Modell’s: The beleaguered sporting goods retailer, which plans to close 15 percent of its stores to stave off bankruptcy, is also seeking new outside investment, an effort that CEO Mitchell Modell called “crowdsourcing at the highest level.” [PR ...read more

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 Reima At Reima, we believe what’s good for our kids should be good for our environment, too. That was our thinking behind the Voyager ...read more

SNEWS' outdoor industry trivia challenge is back for a third round. If you missed parts one and two, be sure to play those first. Then, try your luck at these next ten questions. Don't forget to record (see: brag about) your score in the comments below. Good luck. ...read more

Here at SNEWS, our top priority is to bring you the most relevant, accurate, up-to-the-minute news in the outdoor industry. We don't do it for the awards, but when a nomination does come our way, we're deeply flattered. It means that we're doing something right in our service to ...read more

Grangers supercharges distribution with Sea to Summit: The UK-based manufacturer of weather-protection products for outdoor gear has teamed up with Sea to Summit for all U.S. distribution. Dire straits at Modell’s: The 130-year-old sporting goods retailer will shutter 24 stores ...read more

Asolo's changing of the guard: Asolo ends one era and begins another as industry veteran and longtime U.S. general manager Bruce Franks retires, handing the reins to Bill Lockwood, who will assume full control after the 2020 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Filling Jake Burton's ...read more

Coronavirus: The worrisome virus has migrated to a ski chalet in Haute-Savoie, France, after skiers there were exposed to a man who recently visited Singapore. [Gear Junkie] Moving on: Livestrong has undertaken a top-to-bottom rebrand, ditching the iconic yellow wristbands of ...read more

At this year's Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, SNEWS and The Voice hosted a trivia night that brought dozens of outdoor geeks together to test their knowledge of obscure and entertaining industry factoids. Held at Earl’s Kitchen + Bar in downtown Denver, the event was full of melding ...read more

Whether it's for environmental reasons or because nobody likes constantly  slathering sunscreen all over their body and hands when adventuring, more and more people are discovering sun-protective clothing, and outdoor retail shop employees can help even more. With SNEWS’ Retail ...read more

Challenging the narrative: A new exposé from National Geographic attacks the much-hyped and exhaustively publicized story of Colin O’Brady’s 2018 solo ski journey across Antarctica. [Adventure Journal] In memoriam: James "Jim" Lewis Throneburg, founder of the sock company Thorlos ...read more

Here are today's top headlines: Danish innovation: Architect Bjarke Ingels has designed an enormous, whimsical, completely unique synthetic ski slope atop a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen. [Outside Online] New record: With the help of groups like the North Carolina Outdoor ...read more

Here are today's top headlines: Inclusivity win: Eddie Bauer has rolled out a new program called All Outside that partners with community leaders and activists to promote outdoor accessibility for everyone, especially those underrepresented in the space. Hickenlooper’s efforts: ...read more

At this year's Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, SNEWS and The Voice hosted a trivia night that brought dozens of outdoor geeks together to test their knowledge of obscure and entertaining industry factoids. Held at Earl’s Kitchen + Bar in downtown Denver, the event was full of melding ...read more

Whether they’re used to help reduce knee pain while hiking downhill, add balance while trekking, or to pitch an ultralight tent, trekking poles can be a great addition to a hiker’s gear closet. But there’s more to the category than ensuring he has the right length pole. With ...read more

Murder at Timberland: A 20-year-old security guard was charged with the murder of a female Timberland employee at the company's New Hampshire headquarters on Monday. Job alert: The Conservation Alliance is hiring a Government Affairs Director and a Communications Manager. The ...read more

Here are today's top headlines: New leadership: OIA has concluded its six-month search for an executive director and named Lise Aangeenbrug as the new head of the organization. Aangeenbrug will transition from her role as head of the Outdoor Foundation, the OIA’s philanthropic ...read more

The anti-plastic warriors were out in force at last week’s Outdoor Retailer Snow Show. Exhibiting members of the Plastic Impact Alliance, a coalition of more than 350 outdoor companies working to eliminate the industry's dependence on single-use plastic, displayed PIA signage at ...read more

Most avid outdoor adventurers know to leave the cotton at home during any aerobic activity. Yet there are tons of people who wear what they have, not knowing the benefits of a T-shirt made from a technical fabric like wool or polyester. It’s time to enlighten them. With SNEWS’ ...read more