ASR Blog

How To: Use Web 2.0 to Increase Holiday Sales

From DMNews:

There has been a lot of talk in the past two years in the e-commerce world about Web 2.0 but, this holiday season, expect less talk and more action. Retailers gearing up for the busiest time of the year are putting more effort into making the online experience more like an in-store experience.

“As stores try to differentiate, they are thinking about the ways that customers want to shop,” said Julian Chu, director of client success at Demandware. “They are beginning to present products in a lifestyle context.”

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Retailers are also giving product recommendations within the shopping cart based on other products in the cart or on how the consumer selected an item. For example, on Timberland.co.uk, a shoppers who added a pair of men’s boots to his cart on the Outdoor Performance page may receive a different recommendation than one who selected the boots from the Men’s Footwear page.

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Interview: REI President and CEO Sally Jewell Talks Oil and Climate Change

From Forbes:

Recreational Equipment Inc., the outdoor retailer and the country's largest consumer cooperative, plans to open its first distribution center on the East Coast--in Bedford, Pa.--at the end of November.

REI President and Chief Executive Sally Jewell recently spoke with Forbes.com about the company's environmental policy, her early career working for Big Oil and why environmentally friendly REI is staying out of the debate in Congress over climate change.

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Submit Your Nominations for Outdoor Innovator and Ambassador Awards

From OIA:

The Outdoor Industry Innovator Award recognizes a business achievement by a retailer, rep agency, manufacturer, supplier, media group or other industry business who has made significant contributions toward the continued innovation and growth of the outdoor industry. Those contributions can be either through a dynamic business initiative or the creation and development of a new business tool or process. This award recognizes a business achievement.

The Outdoor Industry Ambassador Award recognizes a company that has made significant and ongoing achievements toward the growth of participation in outdoor activities. Those efforts could include spearheading conservation programs, the development and support of programs or efforts intended to serve as model practices for the industry, the introduction and advancement of responsible tourism practices, outstanding consumer outreach campaigns, or have made great strides in encouraging youth to develop an active outdoor lifestyle. This award pays tribute to a company that has embraced a worthy cause and made a significant achievement.

Previous recipients of the OIA Ambassador Award have included Atlas Snowshoes, Backpacker magazine, and River Sports Outfitters. Previous recipients of the OIA Innovator Award were Kirk Richardson of Keen Footwear and Gary Erickson, founder and owner of Clif Bar.

OIA is now accepting nominations. For more information on nomination criteria and submission guidelines go to www.outdoorindustry.org. The deadline for award nominations is Monday, December 10, 2007 at 5 p.m. MST.

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Click here to go directly to the nomination form.

Green is the New Black

From the University of Maryland's Diamondback:

"Green is the new black is a catch phrase that has exploded within the last year," American studies professor Jo Paoletti said.

And this trend means not only bamboo underwear, but recycled polyester socks, organic jeans and handbags made from rice, as well. As consumers become more eco-conscious, clothing manufacturers are following suit, and Paoletti, who is researching the environment's impact on fashion, said sustainable style is becoming this generation's gateway to green.

"Sustainable fashion is now where organic food was in the 1960s or '70s," Paoletti said.

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Backcountry Village Planned for Winter OR

From OIA:

To call out the exciting growth in the backcountry riding world, the Outdoor Retailer team has arranged the Backcountry Village at OR, a central space that will welcome the community of athletes/riders, media, guides, manufacturers and retailers whose passions lie in the winter backcountry. A welcome area at the center of a revamped hardgoods focus area at the show, the Backcountry Village will celebrate the scene in telemark, nordic, A/T, ski mountaineering and all things backcountry with continuous film clips, acoustic music, comfortable seating, coffee and beverage offerings, and a 'hang center' that is analogous to the Climbers' Ranch or the Paddle Tank at the OR Summer Market ... but more wintery.

"As an avid backcountry skier, I'm psyched to help gather the community of freeheelers and splitboarders together in one place at the show," said Kenji Haroutunian OR's show director. "This concept works very well in other key market categories, and it's time that the ski mountaineering world have a place to gather at OR too. The innovation and product development going on in this sector is truly amazing. Thanks to Oliver Steffen and Kim Miller for stirring this idea up and for all the brands supporting this new concept."

Please click here for information on the new layout at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market or for any of your industry information and show planning needs.

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OIA Launches Online Eco Awareness Survey

From OIA:

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Eco Working Group, in conjunction with Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI), has launched an online self assessment survey to develop a baseline for brands' sustainability initiatives and determine the industry’s eco awareness and actions. The Eco Baseline Assessment Survey, which is the first of its kind in the industry, will be available until Monday, December 10, 2007. OIA is asking all industry members to participate in this survey. The survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mtTKsmyQpG0UYuqm7oJHKA_3d_3d.

The OIA Eco Working Group has secured the services of six MBA students from Bainbridge Graduate Institute to conduct the Eco Baseline Assessment Survey. The students will also participate in the working group’s ongoing, established work teams. The collaborative effort of the BGI and the Eco Working Group will open new pathways for improving the footprint and long-term health of the outdoor industry.

The Eco Working Group aims to share the results of the Eco Baseline Assessment Survey with the industry at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.

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Amazing Wingsuit Flying Video

This video features people in wingsuits doing some incredible things in the mountains of Norway.

Thanks to the Piton for this!

The Difference Between the Big Box Stores

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Time was, most of a Western Washington outdoors enthusiast's gear needs were served by local bait and tackle shops, along with one or two yearly stops at some creaky, old wooden-floored co-op on Capitol Hill. But with the opening last week of the huge new spectacle of Cabela's first store on the West Coast, the era of the outdoors superstore has arrived in Puget Sound country.

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With the much-anticipated opening of Cabela's -- for decades a catalog supplier of gear to the Northwest's hunters, anglers and campers -- we thought it might be instructional to examine the "big box" outdoors stores in the region. We approached them with a list of eight products that represent a variety of outdoors activities here, to help differentiate these stores and help confused consumers who might be asking "Where should I go?"

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Bass Pro Shops Holds Thanksgiving Campout

From the Springfield Business Journal (MS):

In Bass Pro Shops spirit, the outdoor retailer is giving customers a chance to jump on its Black Friday deals by hosting a campout Thanksgiving night.

Bass Pro is holding a public campout Thursday at its Springfield headquarters store, 1935 S. Campbell Ave., and at other select stores across the country. The Great Turkey Campout will provide the amenities of a campsite, as well as s’mores, hot cocoa and giveaways. Campers are encouraged to bring their own tents and sleeping bags.

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New Reviews from Richard Gear

From OUTDOORSmagic:

Our man Gear, Richard Gear, has been hiding in the airing cupboard for the last couple of weeks, but we finally found him and threatened him with being reproofed and tumble-dried, with the result that he's been answering your kit questions again.

So far Richard has manfully answered over 500 kit questions and you can find all his past answers together with a search mechanism at the Ask Richard Gear section of the site.

Browse through his past answers or ask a question of your own...

This week Richard ponders whether the new Gore-Tex Pro Shell is as breathable as eVent fabric, explains technical ice axe ratings to a man who wants to buy a Black Diamond climbing axe and muses on using a hair drier to activate a reproofing treatment.

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