Retail College is the place to be if you want to be valedictorian of outdoor specialty retail.
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The more you learn about outdoor gear, the more you can sell. In Retail College, we'll teach you everything we know about succeeding in outdoor specialty retail, from how to sell more socks to how to make sure boots and backpacks fit customers perfectly.
Our Outdoor Retailer Playbook series and Outdoor Brand Playbook series are aimed at helping brands and retailers navigate the omni-channel word of retail with best practices for success.
Before Amy Kleissler was hired in June of 2014, she had been a loyal customer for years. She noticed a call for interested applicants at the bottom of a TB&C newsletter. With her four boys coming home from school for the summer she said,”I had to get out of the house and thought ...read more
Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. With the option to distribute through a ...read more
Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. With the option to distribute through a ...read more
Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. With the option to distribute through a ...read more
Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. With the option to distribute through a ...read more
Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. With the option to distribute through a ...read more
Everyone in this industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the traditional outdoor marketplace on its head. Consumers now turn to the internet first when they need new gear; brands seize the chance to sell it directly through their own websites or ...read more
Everyone in this industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the traditional outdoor marketplace on its head. Consumers now turn to the internet first when they need new gear; brands seize the chance to sell it directly through their own websites or ...read more
Everyone in this industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the traditional outdoor marketplace on its head. Consumers now turn to the internet first when they need new gear; brands seize the chance to sell it directly through their own websites or ...read more
Everyone in this industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the traditional outdoor marketplace on its head. Consumers now turn to the internet first when they need new gear; brands seize the chance to sell it directly through their own websites or ...read more
Everyone in this industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the traditional outdoor marketplace on its head. Consumers now turn to the internet first when they need new gear; brands seize the chance to sell it directly through their own websites or ...read more
It's a common refrain we've heard from retailers over the years: "I wish I had more training resources for my staff."What if you had unlimited access to free online gear training modules that are independently taught, not tainted by any one brand trying to get you to sell more of ...read more
Every year, the world of e-commerce produces new statistics and trends that show how the internet is continuing to disrupt traditional retail. Internet Retailer Convention and Exhibition, the largest e-commerce trade ...read more
Here’s our layman’s guide to today’s footwear tech lingo for your inner scientist — whether you’re working the sales floor or updating inventory for next season. The more technical outdoor footwear gets, the more its product descriptions resemble alphabet soup. PVC, EVA, PU, TPU ...read more
“What’s the difference between a canister and liquid fuel stove? Will that battery pack charge my iPad? Can I wear merino wool in the summer?” Customers come to specialty outdoor retail with a lot of questions and your floor staff should be ready with the answers. Knowing the ...read more
No reason to blush when selling underwear at outdoor retail. Next-to-skin boxers, briefs, thongs and bikini bottoms are just as important as any other technical layer. Read this Retail College chapter to find out how to make this add-on sale to adventure travelers, long-distance ...read more
There’s no stopping this generation of consumers. They’re going to bring their electronics outdoors. Smartphones, tablets, video cameras, lighting, Bluetooth speakers and GPS devices are becoming essential gear in packs and at campsites. While this may be to the chagrin of ...read more
With many outdoor adventures getting shortened in today’s fast-paced world, food and drink prep for a trip is shifting to the home kitchen. To that end, insulated bottles, mugs and food containers are on the rise at outdoor specialty retail, with a larger variety of products for ...read more
Teach your customers how to shield themselves from harmful rays by upgrading their apparel — their first line of defense — to UPF-rated sun-protective clothing. Read this SNEWS Retail College to learn about the technology behind UPF-rated clothing, and why your customers need it ...read more
Help bust the myth. Merino wool socks and apparel can be top performers in the summer, too. But not all wool is alike. Read this Retail College chapter to find out how the best wool products tackle the heat for your customer.A printed version of this digital flipbook (click to ...read more
Most backpackers carry about 2-3 liters of water with them at a time, which means if they’re going out for more than a day, they’ll need to collect new water in the field. While glacial mountain springs and streams conjure up images of pure water, what hikers can’t see in their ...read more
People sleep in so many different positions it’s virtually impossible that one sleeping bag will serve every need. That’s why you should find out just what your customers need in terms of shapes and sizes of sleeping bags in one of our December Retail College Chapters titled “How ...read more
Some parts of the country are getting hit by spring snow storms, but the truth is, summer is around the corner. And that means one thing: more adventures for your customers. One essential piece of gear for both backcountry and closer-to-home adventures is a pair of summer ...read more
Spring is around the corner, and for many parts of the country that means rain. So there's no better time to introduce your customers to the advancements in water-resistant down, and the increasing lineup of sleeping bags, jackets and accessories with the technology. Read this ...read more