In 1992, I was hired as the first black independent sales representative for The North Face (TNF). Back then, TNF was privately owned and headquartered in Berkeley, California. On the way home from my very first sales meeting, I happened to bump into the company president, Bill ...read more
As activists are speaking out about the the need to support statements with concrete actions, Columbia takes a step in the right direction. In a memo sent to all employees yesterday, the executive team announced the closure of all North American Columbia stores for two hours ...read more
As outdoor leaders begin to speak out against racial injustice in the United States—once again brought to light by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis—SNEWS is collecting their statements in one place. Our list currently includes the following voices: Access Fund, American ...read more
After months of closures that spelled disaster for some and extreme hardship for many others, retailers both small and large have started reopening across the nation as states lift the stay-at-home mandates that have kept them closed. The results so far, according to multiple ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Patagonia and Columbia take on Trump: The two brands have teamed up to support a lawsuit challenging the White House’s assault on environmental protection. [Outside Online] Dakine makes hard choices: The brand is closing ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Furloughs at Columbia: Another big outdoor company has resorted to cutting pay as the coronavirus crisis worsens, cutting 3,500 workers’ wages by 75 percent. [The Oregonian] Your mask might not be working: That polyester ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web A CEO sacrifice: Columbia’s CEO, Tim Boyle, has slashed his annual pay to $10K to keep paychecks flowing to retail employees. [The Oregonian] Close the parks: The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks has sent a ...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
Yesterday, a recommendation from the CDC dramatically changed the in-person event landscape for the outdoor industry for at least the next two months. In a statement released on the agency's website, experts advised cancelling or postponing all gatherings of 50 or more people ...read more
A little less than a month after outdoor companies with Chinese supply chains got some relief from a preliminary trade deal, they’re now reeling from work stoppages caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Large outdoor apparel companies VF Corp. and Columbia Sportswear are losing ...read more
The aisles were rocking on Day 1 of Outdoor Retailer Snow Show 2020. Here’s just some of what went down. Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Stay up to date and get Industry Buzz delivered to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. Some hard truths: The ...read more
Keep up with all the important outdoor news by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Stay up to date and get Industry Buzz delivered to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. New blood at Camber: Meet ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Backcountry's apology tour: Boise Gear Collective announced that it has partnered with Backcountry for a multi-year deal that includes the Idaho retailer selling ...read more
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect show went down as planned over the weekend, despite the cancellation of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which was to be held in the days following Connect. Connect is a critical microcosm and bellwether of the outdoor industry, and SNEWS was ...read more
The outdoor industry has lost One Tough Mother. Gert Boyle, Chairman of the Board (she hated the term “chairwoman”) and former CEO of Columbia Sportswear, died on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at the age of 95. Gert never retired; she loved going to her office at the brand’s ...read more
When Alison Hill landed in the Bahamas only days after Hurricane Dorian, destruction surrounded her. The LifeStraw managing director was on one of the first seaplanes to reach Grand Bahama Island, and she was equipped with LifeStraw products and other water filtration systems to ...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 Joe Boyle, brand president of Columbia: We recently launched the SH/FT Collection–our newest footwear line inspired by today’s rapid ...read more
Columbia Sportswear Company's great hope is that consumers never have to think about a tariff, Chief Administrative Office Peter Bragdon said. But the trade war with China doesn't seem to be cooling anytime soon and tariffs are top of mind for many outdoor businesses. "Enough ...read more
The tariffs on Chinese imports just keep coming. President Donald Trump last week announced that the U.S. will impose 10 percent on $300 billion worth of products—a fourth round in the trade war—which could include all outdoor apparel, footwear, tents, sleeping bags, skis, ...read more
Columbia Sportswear President and CEO Tim Boyle has publicly said it numerous times and even confessed to FBI agents in person, but he's saying it again: the multi-billion dollar sportswear company wouldn't be around today without immigrants, including his mother who fled Nazi ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com Outdoor apparel brand Columbia Sportswear testified in front of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington against the proposed tariffs on ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. President Donald Trump proposed tariffs on all imports from China, including outdoor footwear and apparel; the public comment period starts in June. Outdoor ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Consumer-facing outdoor media site Gear Junkie has joined the Plastic Impact Alliance and supported the initiative by reporting on it. Adventure Journal also ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Outdoor Industry Association welcomed 56 new members in the first quarter of 2019. Familiar brands include Purist, Extreme Mist, Bear Paw Products, plus ...read more
