THE GEARTRENDS® OUTDOOR WINTER 2007 MAGAZINE

Welcome to the GearTrends® Outdoor Winter 2007 Magazine -- issued to the trade January 2007. As a GearTrends® website visitor - you now have direct access to the same market-leading editorial, feature articles and product information that industry professionals have come to rely on. To maintain the quality that our readers and members have come to expect in GearTrends® publications, we are providing all magazines only in high quality Acrobat PDF format. (You can download the FREE Acrobat Reader here)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

14 STEPPING UP | PROFILE
A good mountain guide adapts to the situation on the ground. Likewise, Peter Whittaker is adjusting his companies, Rainier Mountaineering Inc. and the Whittaker Mountaineering store, to deal with new competition.

20 BELOW THE BELT | OUTERWEAR
We understand folks rarely talk in public about things “below the belt.” But, hey, they’re just pants. Here’s the latest on styling, fabrication and fit in wintersport pants.

28 HOLD TIGHT | CLIMBING
Get a grip on today’s climbing holds market for home walls, commercial gyms and schools.

32 BAD BEHAVIOR | SALES TRAINING
Our mystery shopping team reveals the top flubs by retail sales people and offers pointers to overcome them.

36 INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS | OUTDOOR HISTORY
Part II in our continuing series on outdoor pioneers looks at the pool of design, manufacturing and retail talent that emerged between thelate 1950s and late 1970s.

42 GET IN TUNE | ACCESSORIES
Add-on sales gone cold? Set up a section of ski tuning accessories and enjoy the sweet turns.

48 SHIFTING FORMULAS | GREEN SCENE
PVC plastic gives Mother Nature nightmares, so companies are using eco-friendly alternatives in packs, PFDs, shoes and other products.

54 FIELD WORK | MERCHANDISING
More outdoor companies are investing in field merchandisers to assist retailers with product presentation and building brand image.

60 BREAK FROM THE PACK | SKI PACKS
The ski pack niche has come into its own, offering product designs that meet the needs of backcountry winter enthusiasts.

64 SHARE THE WEALTH | BUSINESS TOOLS
Retailers fail to redeem about half of all co-op dollars offered by manufacturers. Find out how to put them to good use.

70 SOFT SELL | FOOTWEAR
Soft shell materials have found their way into footwear, but will consumers buy into the concept?

PUBLISHERS’ CORNER
Remember to catch some downtime in today’s distraction derby.

CONTRIBUTORS
Meet the dedicated staff that makes the cogs move at GearTrends®.

MERCHANDISING TRICKS
Catch customers’ attention with these store layout, signage and display ideas.

2006 SNEWS® RETAILER SURVEY
Find out whom retailers rank as tops in our annual survey summary.

ONE MORE THING
Originally appearing as Surviving Retail humor bits in Adventure Network, our team is reprinting with permission here to share some truly wild customer service foibles in the land of retail.

THE PRODUCT ZONE
Preview the latest products hitting the trade show circuit this season.