Coronavirus
From supply chain to events to store closing, the coronavirus is sending shock waves through the outdoor industry.
Courtesy Unsplash
In late 2019 and early 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) began reshaping life around the globe, affecting work, recreation, industry, schools, the economy, and human relationships more drastically than anything the world had seen in decades. The outdoor industry, like all else, suffered turbulent times.
Major events were cancelled or postponed, brands and retailers shut down, workers were sent home (both with and without pay), and travel plans were dashed. Many in the industry stepped up to help those who were suffering. Revenue-sharing initiatives and donation programs kicked into gear. Communities of outdoor enthusiasts banded together to support local retailers who suddenly had no cash flow and no workforce.
From the beginning, SNEWS dedicated itself to covering the pandemic thoroughly and fairly, bringing readers accurate, thoughtful, up-to-date information as the situation developed. We collected our coverage in standalone new stories and two running timelines of events: one related to brands and businesses, the other to shows and events.
Industry Buzz: Climbers who faked an Everest summit, new CEO at Arc’teryx, Black Diamond opens Colorado stores, IKEA buys 10,000 acres of forest in Georgia for preservation
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Fraudulent summit: Nepalese authorities are attempting to ban a pair of climbers who faked their Everest summit. [The New York Times] New head of Arc’teryx: Industry veteran Stuart Haselden will lead the premium outdoor ...read more
National Park Service announces mask mandate
In addition to the usual gear—water bottle, hiking boots, freeze-dried food, rain gear, binoculars—needed for an excursion to one of our country’s 423 national park sites, visitors will now need to stash at least one more essential item in their backpacks: A mask. That’s ...read more
A guide to summer '21 trade shows in the outdoor industry
It's no secret that the pandemic complications of 2020 were ruthlessly unkind—and in some cases, nearly disastrous—to trade shows in the outdoor industry. All through last year, industry pros repeated the phrase "back to normal" like a mantra, looking ahead to summer 2021 when, ...read more
Industry Buzz: Olympics planning confusion, mountaineer dies on K2, national unity walk, KEEN grant program, mobile bike repair
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Confusion in Tokyo: After cancellation rumors, Japanese officials and the IOC are resolute in their plans to host the Olympics this summer. [Vulture; Reuters] Remembering Sergi Mingote: The mountaineer and outdoorsman died ...read more
Industry Buzz: Fee free national parks, more permits for The Wave, racial justice grantees, a turn-of-the-century trailblazer
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web A unique ski season: Discover how ski resorts around the country (and the continent) are operating during the pandemic. [SKI] Racial justice in the outdoors: Youth Outside announces its inaugural Liberated Paths Grantees, ...read more
Emerald just wrapped in-person Surf Expo trade show in Florida
2020 was the year of virtual trade shows and the question on everyone’s mind now is whether or not 2021 will look the same. According to the organizers of the twice-annual surf and water sports event, Surf Expo, the answer is a definitive “no.” If that show is any sort of ...read more
Industry Buzz: A trend in avalanche deaths, climbing gyms reopening, ski patroller vaccinations, achievements in climbing
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web A concerning trend: Avalanche fatalities are increasing among older demographics, and experts have several theories as to why. [Outside] Back on the rock wall: Indoor climbing gyms, closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, are ...read more
New PPP loans: What business owners need to know
The latest pandemic stimulus bill, passed by Congress in December, has opened the door for many small business owners to access new relief loans through the Paycheck Protection Program—money that can be used to pay employees and keep the lights on on. If you're a small business ...read more
This winter accessories brand created a silver bullet for sales reps during the pandemic
The pandemic has not been kind to independent sales reps. With in-person meetings cancelled for months on end, reps have had to navigate business in 2020 without (arguably) the most powerful tool in their professional arsenal: the ability to show products directly to potential ...read more
A year-end update from Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
We’ve heard the storyline countless times throughout the pandemic: Outdoor sales have been a bright spot as people seek refuge outside. And while this dominant refrain is largely true, the real story for independent shops is more nuanced. “You can’t paint all retailers with the ...read more
Industry Buzz: Forest Fenn treasure finder identity revealed, funding avalanche education, an accelerator program for outdoor startups, California campgrounds close
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Forrest Fenn treasure update: The identity of the man who found Forrest Fenn’s iconic hidden treasure has been revealed. [Outside Online] The pandemic nature craze isn’t over: The CEO of L.L.Bean discusses why the rise in ...read more
Industry Buzz: Big changes coming to ski resorts, skiing's return to its roots, Outdoor Research's new president, hunting groups support conservation, 100 years of outdoor catalogs
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Plan for a different kind of ski season: What will the winter season look like for skiers and snowboarders? Here are some of the changes to expect. [The New York Times] Skiing returns to its roots: In another take on the ...read more
Poll: How are you planning to shop this holiday season?
It's going to be a chaotic year for holiday shopping, that's for sure. Local stores are doing their best to keep customers safe, as they have been for months, but it looks like Amazon will be poised to capitalize (once again) on a difficult situation. Read more: The outdoor ...read more
Industry Buzz: Biden's choices to lead Park Service, YETI posts great numbers, extending the life of gear, wearable sleeping bags, how cycling retailers are adapting to COVID
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Choosing a leader for the NPS: Three candidates are currently on Biden’s short list to lead the National Park Service. [E&E News] YETI’s performance surges: The brand reported a 62 percent boost in direct-to-consumer ...read more
How retailers are managing inventory challenges during the pandemic
"If there's any pattern to all this, it's to expect delays. Which categories, brands, or products—that's anybody's guess. It's best to just assume everything will be delayed and end up pleasantly surprised if it's not." That's Eastside Sports owner Todd Vogel's take on the state ...read more
Industry Buzz: Rossignol changes leadership, Trump undercuts the Great American Outdoors Act, Vista Outdoors boosts sales, Colorado reintroduces wolves
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Rossignol gets new CEO: The company will transfer its leadership from 16-year chief executive Bruno Cercley to Vincent Wauters in Q1 of 2021. GAOA threatened: The Trump administration is already undercutting the ...read more
Coping with COVID: Why transforming into a grocery store helped United By Blue survive the pandemic lockdown
This is the third part in a series of three stories highlighting the creative ways outdoor businesses have pivoted during the pandemic-era. Their solutions may seem small, but the ideas have huge impacts. Be sure to read part 1 about prAna and part 2 about Selk’bag, too. United ...read more
Coping with COVID: How Selk’bag’s founder visited Asian factories—without traveling
This is the second part in a series of three stories highlighting the creative ways outdoor businesses have pivoted during the pandemic-era. Their solutions may seem small, but the ideas have huge impacts. Read part 1 about prAna here. Seeing and feeling a new product in person ...read more
The SHOT Show is cancelled
As recently as two weeks ago, organizers of the SHOT Show—the industry-adjacent hook and bullet trade show scheduled to run in January—said the event would go on as planned in Las Vegas. Late last week, that position changed as show managers announced the gathering would be ...read more
Coping with COVID: How prAna used watercolors to overcome a pandemic-era challenge
This is the first part in a series of three stories highlighting the creative ways outdoor businesses have pivoted during the pandemic-era. Their solutions may seem small, but the ideas have huge impacts. Read part 2 about Selk'bag here. Read part 3 about United By Blue here. ...read more
Industry Buzz: Columbia share price plummets, Trump opens public lands for logging, the pandemic threatens New England skiing, how to build ethical corporations
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Columbia struggles: The brands’ share price plummeted 16 percent this week. [The Oregonian] New public land threat: The Trump administration has opened Tongass National Forest to logging. [Adventure Journal] Covid vs. the ...read more
The Big Gear Show unveils plans for summer 2021 calling it "America's first open-air trade show"
When we announced the launch of The Big Gear Show (BGS) in December 2019, we had an inkling that it signaled a shift in the greater outdoor trade show landscape by offering a hardgoods-centric show that directly competes with what is widely accepted as the Goliath: Outdoor ...read more
Industry Buzz: Pieps avy beacon faces scrutiny, Nepal closes Everest access, inside the Bureau of Land Management chaos, the fate of Best Made, Smartwool helps good causes
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Avalanche beacon under scrutiny: A popular piece of avalanche safety equipment, the Pieps DSP Sport beacon, faces claims of malfunction from customers. Some are urging Black Diamond, which acts as a North American ...read more
Retailers, use this new training to help your staff deal with belligerent customers
It started with a simple request—a routine safety measure. Last month, a customer tried to enter Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont, to do some shopping. A few minutes later, he was grabbing the OGE employee's throat and wrestling him to the ground. The police were ...read more