After years of discussing sobriety and what it means in the outdoor industry, Shannon Walton and Stacy Bare hosted the first sober happy hour in July at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. They expected maybe 25 people to show up, but more than 100 attended to network in the ...read more
If you read anything today, make it Industry Buzz. Here are the latest headlines: Woot, woot for the little guys! Jennifer Scism and David Koorits, founders of gourmet camp-food company Good To-Go, received Maine’s Small Business Manufacturer of the Year Award. The couple founded ...read more
Every layering system starts at skin level. And whether it’s wool, synthetic, or a little bit of both, there’s no shortage of brands who make great baselayers. But that doesn’t mean we can’t chime in on our favorites. So tell us, who do you think makes the most killer baselayers? ...read more
Eight years after becoming the first wool company in the world to incorporate traceability into its products (with its innovative “Baacode”), and just two months after announcing its acquisition by VF Corp., New Zealand’s 22-year-old Icebreaker turns the spotlight on its own ...read more
So many great brands, so little time. The world is brimming with awesome outdoor socks. Whether its because of quality, colorways, fit, customer service, brand story, or something else, tell us: Which is your favorite sock company?We narrowed it down to ten great options: Farm to ...read more
Icebreaker announced today that it has been acquired by VF Corporation. The U.S.-based company owns many big name brands, including SmartWool, Vans, The North Face, and Timberland. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.Founder Jeremy Moon says the inspiration for starting ...read more
Camping World has acquired a Chicago-based, family-owned chain, Uncle Dan’s Outfitters. The specialty retailer sells outdoor gear, apparel, and camping supplies. Brands include Patagonia, The North Face, Canada Goose, Icebreaker, Merrell, Mountain Hardware, and Hydro Flask. Uncle ...read more
It is 2017, and we are now #adultsummercamping. Don’t judge: That’s pretty much the No. 1, unspoken rule of the wild and wonderful new CamelBak Pursuit Series. It is the opposite of the “Gore-Tex Vortex” you’ll find in places like Boulder, and it’s a beginner outdoorist’s ...read more
We, the independent specialty retail shops, did all the legwork to create these customers. Without us, these companies wouldn't be here. I’m not sure there are many vendors that could survive without us, so I’m trying to help vendors balance capitalizing on the opportunities that ...read more