Outdoor Industry Association

Love 'em or hate 'em, virtual gatherings have likely been on your mind a lot this season. From experimental, techie affairs like the Thin Air Show to smaller, more intimate efforts at connection during the pandemic, workable replacements for in-person events have cropped up ...read more

L.L.Bean wades into U.S. wholesale: The legacy brand has announced that, for the first time, it will enter into wholesale partnerships in the U.S.—starting with Nordstrom, Staples, and the sporting goods store Scheels. [Business Insider] Coronavirus in Yellowstone: Tests have ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Yeti Cycles updates its language: In response to concerns about insensitivity toward Indigenous communities in the U.S., the brand will soon drop the word “tribe” from all its marketing material and brand language. ...read more

On June 17, 2020, the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that guarantees mandatory, permanent financing for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million a year and sets aside $12 billion to deal with the maintenance backlog on federal public lands. The ...read more

As the outdoor industry works to rebound from the pandemic, many companies are looking for innovative ways to connect with consumers and to make back what they’ve lost in profits. The answer is simple: connect with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Nearly half of ...read more

Outdoor Industry Association will have four fresh faces at its board meeting on June 22.  Trina Fornerette-Ballard, Brand manager at Waypoint Outdoor “I’m solutions driven with a willingness to have tough conversations to look for resolve.” Alison Hill, CEO at LifeStraw “As a ...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

The meaning of anti-racism: This article, recently shared by Camber Outdoors, is a good primer on why being "not racist" isn't enough. [Mashable] Racism and public space: It’s time to contend with the reality that individuals of color have a markedly different experience of parks ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Stay safe this weekend: If you’re headed outside for Memorial Day weekend, follow this advice released by Outdoor Industry Association, REI, and other industry leaders as part of a new campaign, Recreate Responsibly. Who’s ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Ski resorts hold out hope: Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge resorts refuse to give up on the idea that late-spring skiing might be possible. [The Denver Post] A massive coalition of climate advocates: The Outdoor ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Outdoor companies speak up: Patagonia, L.L. Bean, The North Face, and others publicly joined OIA in calling for the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. [The Hill] Support the effort yourself: Sign this letter from ...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 Layoffs and furloughs at Orvis: The Vermont-based company is the latest to join a string of outdoor businesses that have been forced to reduce staff and weekly worker pay. [Bennington Banner] American Alpine Club furloughs: ...read more

National parks reopening: The acting director of the National Park Service is currently working on a “framework for a gradual resumption of operations." [National Parks Traveler] A cautionary tale: Even that happens, however, we should heed the warnings from places like Utah’s ...read more

How to start making PPE: Register for a webinar on Tuesday, April 14 by OIA and SIA about pivoting your business to produce tools for healthcare workers in need. Outdoor State of Mind: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, Protect Our Winters is launching a ...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

Lise Aangeenbrug’s first day as executive director of Outdoor Industry Association was March 4, 2020. Less than one week later, our country was in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic. It wasn’t exactly what she signed up for. Just over one month into her new gig as the leader ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Alterra Mountain Co. makes tough choices: The company that owns 15 North American ski resorts, including Steamboat and Deer Valley, is furloughing many year-round employees after huge layoffs of seasonal workers last month. ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Join the discussion: Outdoor Industry Association has started a private LinkedIn forum for “OIA members to connect and collaborate directly with each other and OIA leadership, receive answers to business questions directly ...read more

Outdoor Retailer, the largest outdoor trade show in the country and a cardinal event on the industry's annual calendar, cancelled its annual Summer Market Thursday as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. Outdoor Retailer released the following statement: ...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

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Letters to Trump and 50 governors: The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable sent letters to the president and all 50 governors asking for tariff relief, stimulus aid, and “essential business” classification. Modell’s buys some ...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

On Friday, Outdoor Industry Association announced that it had decided to postpone Capitol Summit, its April conference in Washington, D.C., in light of the coronavirus pandemic. A statement from OIA reads, "As the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow as a public health concern, ...read more