Caroline Gleich remembers a decade ago when advocating for climate policy became an essential part of her career as a professional ski mountaineer. As she reported the impacts of climate change from far-flung corners she explored for her work, she was besieged. “Told to shut up, called a glacier killer, a hypocritical ecoterrorist, a polluter. […]
Outdoor Retailer
Posted inBusiness, Environment, Health, News, Outdoors
Nearly half of Americans didn’t go outside to recreate in 2018. That has the outdoor industry worried.
For the glass-half-full crowd that makes up the outdoor industry, the results of the latest outdoor participation survey are sobering. Outdoor businesses need people to get outside, but almost half of Americans don’t venture outdoors to play. The steady decline in participation threatens not just the bottom line but the outdoor industry’s mission to collectively […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors, Outsider
Denver Merchandise Mart has become a hub for outdoor retailers — and could one day host trade shows
Todd Herrick sees opportunity in the chaos. The entrepreneur is hoping the roiling state of outdoor industry trade shows — coupled with the industry’s dynamic buy-and-sell cycles based on shifting overseas production timelines — will elevate his frill-free Denver Merchandise Mart as a safe harbor for outdoor brands, reps, vendors and retailers. “Wheeling and dealing. […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado’s outdoor opportunity: Open state lands to public access
Colorado’s population and recreation economies are booming. The state’s outdoor opportunities are the catalyst behind this growth. A side effect of this growth is the strain on existing public lands and recreational infrastructure. Permit systems have been proposed for the Maroon Bells Wilderness, campgrounds are booked months in advance, and anglers stand shoulder to shoulder […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, News, Outdoors
Paper beer bottles and waterless dye: Here’s how outdoor companies are getting creative to reduce their environmental impact
Just about every business in the outdoor realm today is exploring ways to reduce its impact on the climate and environment. Spend an hour strolling the Outdoor Retailer trade show and it’s impossible to miss the frenzied focus on “sustainability.” Gearmakers and retailers large and small are rethinking every aspect of their operation, from water […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors, Outsider, Politics and Government
“There is a lot of uncertainty”: Outdoor industry facing $1.5 billion in monthly losses from Trump’s trade war
“Who here has a business impacted by these tariffs?” asked the speaker at the lectern. Hundreds of hands reached for the ceiling of the standing-room-only convention hall. The angst was palpable at this week’s Outdoor Retailer trade show as the outdoor industry hunkered under painful, punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in his trade […]