Outdoor Retailers

REI President and CEO Jerry Stritzke is resigning on March 15 after he and the Board of Directors agreed that his relationship with another leader in the outdoor industry is a perceived conflict of interest. Rob Discher, director of communications and public affairs, had "no ...read more

Our Outdoor Specialty Retail Store Directory (available for purchase and download below) is truly specialty outdoor retail. We created a list that embodied specialty outdoor retailers—those selling at least the core outdoor products of backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. Apparel- ...read more

From electronics to apparel, dog food to toilet paper, consumers are turning to e-commerce avenues for their convenience and speed. And with product reviews at their fingertips, price comparison capabilities just a click away and two-day shipping that’s often free, why wouldn’t ...read more

Since the inception of our #CoolShops column in March 2017, SNEWS has sought out innovative, authentic, and standout specialty outdoor stores across the country. As of this month, we’ve featured nearly 50 retailers, each with something to share on doing retail right. Every day, ...read more

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

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

Kenny Parker lives in a world of awesome. That's how the co-owner of Water Stone Outdoors talks about living in Fayetteville, West Virginia. "If you like to play outside, it's a good choice. It's a good place to hide from the world." And if you like to climb, the New River Gorge ...read more

*This article is the third in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers the development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. The scariest ...read more

“Did you happen to catch the presentation by those folks from Louisiana?” asked veteran outdoor retailer Beezer Molten, owner of Half-Moon Outfitters. “What they have going on is a whole new level of commitment to the community, which is something to aspire to.” Molten wasn’t ...read more

*This article is the second in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers the development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. It was ...read more

At least one thing that retailers have over online sellers is the in-store experience, and showing off product in engaging ways does more than just sell. It persuades shoppers to return for inspiration, human interaction, and to be wowed.  Enter Robin Enright Salcido, a ...read more

This article is the first in a three-part series about developing women’s events in specialty outdoor retail shops. Part 1 covers development and goal-setting; Part 2 covers securing speakers, sponsors, and brand involvement; Part 3 covers marketing the event. There wasn’t an ...read more

After 36 years running River Sports Outfitters, Founder Ed McAlister knows what resonates with customers—but he always keeps an open mind when seeing new gear and brands. Nearly 50 brands—from A to Z and from big name to up-and-coming—mix together on his shelves and in the ...read more

The snow is just starting to fall in Rapid City, marking winter’s approach. That means Roam‘N Around’s Bill Bernhard is scouting out which products he’s going to push to their limits in the cold—which is likely to drop below zero for at least a few days this season.  “I try to ...read more

Walkabout Outfitter’s origin story is one of love. A hiker and retail shop owner fell for each other in 2004 and decided to open up their own outfitter in Lexington, Virginia. Five other locations have opened since then, and this year, the store decided it was time to attend ...read more

Fifty-six years ago, in a garage in La Mesa, California, a backpacker and a group of adventurous Boy Scouts and their engineer dads decided they wanted to produce 16mm movies of their escapades into the mountains. To raise funds, they built weight-transferring ...read more

Something you should know about Townsend Bertram & Company Adventure Outfitters: You’ll always have a friend there. The store has been in the same spot for 30 years, in the heart of downtown, close to plenty of lakes and wilderness trails. Brand Manager—and daughter of the ...read more

Out of more than 100 submissions for Powder7’s logo contest, Matt Brozovich’s asymmetrical snowflake won unanimously. The Golden, Colorado-based ski shop and local graphic designer make a common sense pair: Both the contest and the selection align with Powder7’s “Skiing for All” ...read more

Malcom Daly has been a self-described “floor warrior” at Neptune Mountaineering, in Boulder, Colorado, for years. And sometime back in January, he watched as an older couple—obviously old-school outdoor, in a hobnailboots sort of way—walked into the shop shortly after it ...read more

Celebrating 35 years this year, Great Outdoor Store is the only locally owned specialty outdoor store in Sioux Falls. Within the store—housed in an old train depot from the 1880s—you’ll find gear for rock climbing and backpacking, but DeAnn Echols describes the product selection ...read more

Located near the Appalachian Trail and in one of the top fly-fishing areas in the U.S., Mahoney's Outfitters is a go-to stop for outdoor adventurers in Tennessee. Soon, the city will even have its own mountain biking park.  "We've never had anything like that in Johnson City," ...read more

Beezer Molten is a busy guy. The owner of Half-Moon Outfitters runs eight stores scattered across Georgia and South Carolina. He founded the first 25 years ago, and since then, he's been on a mission to make his buildings the most eco-friendly they can be.  "To me, it's the best ...read more

Picture this: a customer walks into a specialty retail shop, spends an hour chatting with a sales associate to find just the right pair of shoes—then heads out empty-handed to go buy that exact pair online. This frustrating situation has played out in countless retail shops ...read more

David Labistour, CEO of Canadian retail giant Mountain Equipment Co-op, has announced that he’ll step down from his role next June. This news comes as somewhat of a surprise, only two weeks on the heels of his recent open letter addressing MEC’s failure to represent its diverse ...read more