ASR Blog

New Outdoor Market Report Shows Wildlife Watching on the Rise

From Businesswire:

The one sector to show any growth during this 10-year time-span consisted of wildlife watchers who observe, feed or photograph wildlife, a group that in 2006 was estimated to number 71.1 million individuals. The report notes that while hunting and fishing tend to be male dominated, over half of the wildlife watchers are women. "The positive developments in wildlife watching are in stark contrast with the recent trends occurring in the hunting and fishing markets tracked by the Survey," the Mercanti Chronicle says.        

Focusing on the outdoor lifestyle retailers – Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's (NYSE: CAB), Gander Mountain (Nasdaq: GMTN) and Sportsman's Warehouse, specifically, and as opposed to general sporting goods retailers, specialty outdoor adventure retailers (REI, Moosejaw Mountaineering and Eastern Mountain Sports), along with farm and agricultural supply outlets, marine and clothing retailers, and small independents – the report finds a different trend taking place among key chains, which are adding outlets as they angle for market share.

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REI's Sally Jewell Speaks on Sustainability

From The Grist:

The statuesque athlete sitting across the table has just handed me her shoe. As I examine it, she begins to point out the various fibers used in its construction and tells me about the manufacturer's sustainable practices. Clearly, this is a woman who is well aware of her footprint.

Dressed in casual pants and a blue fleece jacket, Sally Jewell doesn't necessarily look the part of high-powered CEO. And during the course of our hour-long conversation, it becomes clear that she's as down-to-earth about the effect a major company can have on the planet as she is about her wardrobe.

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OR Webinar Series Premieres January 8

Via OIA:

Outdoor Retailer, the leading outdoor industry trade event, will launch a series of webinars beginning Jan. 8, at 2:00 p.m. ET, with a 45-minute webcast co-sponsored by Cotton Incorporated called, “Cotton’s Environmental Impact: Debunking the Myths.” Featuring Kater Hake, vice president of agricultural research from Cotton Incorporated, Don Cameron, vice president for Terranova Ranch, and respected environmental consult Liz Muller, the session will explore the truths, myths and misconceptions about cotton’s impact on the environment. Listeners can learn more and register for the webcast at the following link: http://www.outdoorretailer.com/or/1583/industry/webcasts/index.jsp

“Through this series of webinars, we want to expand our role as a resource for the outdoor industry,” said Kenji Haroutunian, show director for Outdoor Retailer. “We will host sessions that cover a wide range of topics covering design advances, industry trends and business issues that continue to pose challenges for us everyday. Connecting experts with each segment of our community will foster discussion and, hopefully, ideas and solutions that will help the industry grow.”

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New Congressional Bills May Impact Outdoor Businesses

From OIA:

Two bills quickly making their way through Congress may expose outdoor businesses to serious problems. Senate bill 2045 (S. 2045) and House bill 4040 (H.R. 4040) will strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), providing more funding for additional inspectors and product testing and significantly increase restrictions on lead in consumer products.

Both bills, though, contain several provisions that may allow public disclosure of potentially inaccurate or business confidential information. The CPSC would have 15 days, down from 30, to notify a manufacturer of the information to be disclosed. Under the Senate bill, the CPSC would no longer be required to take reasonable steps to assure the information released to the public is accurate and fair.

The bills also give explicit authority to states' attorneys general to bring a civil action on behalf of its residents, potentially allowing 50 independent interpretations of what constitutes a product safety violation. The bills do not limit private attorneys' ability to sue. The Senate bill allows lawsuits in both state and federal court for penalties and injunctive relief.

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Winter Market Base Camp Moves to Snowbasin

From SkiPress:

Outdoor Retailer announced its pre-show, on-snow demo for buyers and media, will move to Snowbasin (www.snowbasin.com) located in Huntsville, Utah, on January 22, 2008. Located 33 miles from Salt Lake City, Snowbasin enables Outdoor Retailer Winter Market (ORWM) to host additional activities and to provide attendee services, creating a stronger overall experience.

Registration (and the BBC Bash party) will take place at the Old Day Lodge, with close access to nearby lifts. In addition, attendees will have easy access to Nordic trails, snowshoe testing and a beacon testing area. To support the growing interest in the winter backcountry experience, Winter Market will feature the Backcountry Village on the show floor, a central space that welcomes the community of athletes and businesses whose passion is the winter backcountry.

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Nau: Building a Model for Change

From MercyCorps:

Every new company starts building from the ground up, but there aren't many that begin by questioning what a corporation is and how a corporation should contribute to society.

When it was founded in 2005, the outdoor and lifestyle apparel company Nau made a point to ask those questions. "We came together, not because we thought the world necessarily needed another brand of outdoor clothing but because we thought the world needed another way of doing business," explains Jil Zilligen, Nau's Chief Sustainability Officer. "We really set out to challenge the nature of capitalism. We believed that every single element of the business was an opportunity to turn traditional notions of business upside down."

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USA Today Announces New Active Lifestyle Magazine

From PR Newswire:

Open Air will focus on the active lifestyle and all its rewards. The magazine will be geared towards the busy, well-informed, affluent consumer and will offer a compelling new look at the possibilities for adventure that surround us each day -- from ordinary activities to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Open Air will be inspirational, practical and entertaining with expert writing, concise detail and colorful photography. Editorial content will include stories on outdoor activities, travel features and articles that highlight everything from gear to nutrition to the psychological benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

"Open Air is an exciting extension of the USA TODAY brand. It offers readers ways to find adventure in their daily lives that reward both the mind and body," said Craig Moon, president and publisher of USA TODAY. "Open Air provides advertisers with a unique opportunity throughout the year to reach out to USA TODAY's 3.9 million readers, offering them products and solutions for their active lifestyles."

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Canada's MEC Removes Polycarbonate Containers from Stores

From the New York Times:

A line of water bottles that had become a symbol of environmental responsibility has been removed from the shelves of Canada’s leading outdoor gear retailer over concerns about a chemical used in its manufacture.

The Mountain Equipment Co-op, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, removed the bottles, sold under the brand name Nalgene, and other polycarbonate containers from its 11 large-scale stores on Wednesday.

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Got a Thing For Giving Back?

According to Executive Director Dr. John Librett, SPLORE, Outdoor Adventures for People with Disabilties, is accepting resumes for three director-level positions: Chief Operating Director, Development Director, and Program Director.

SPLORE is a Utah-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality adventure programs to people with disabilities and special needs. Since our inception in 1979, SPLORE has been a leader in creating opportunities for people of all abilities to participate in outdoor adventures by providing a safe, supportive and fun learning environment.

Check out SPLORE's website for more information on what they do.

How To: Keep Your Web Customers Coming Back

From InternetRetailer.com:

Sports enthusiasts love to talk about their triumphs, and more sporting goods e-retailers are making it possible for them to tell not just their friends about their exploits but the whole world.

DicksSportingGoods.com is filled with crisp shots of all kinds of goods and players. But those are for the products. So the e-retailer launched Bragging Board, where everyone from fishermen to hunters can post stories and pictures from their adventures. Likewise, Cabelas.com offers Memories in the Field, where customers can present stories about their outdoors feats.

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