Earlier this year, EORA (Eastern Outdoor Reps Association) and NESR (New England Sports Representatives) agreed to merge, and on Wednesday the organizations announced the new entity’s name, 360 Adventure Collective.
360 Adventure Collective will host 12 markets and expos each year along the East Coast, as far north as New Hampshire to as far south as Alabama, offering a variety of retail representation and regional expertise in outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and virtually all facets of technical gear for hiking, climbing, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, canoeing, camping, paddle boarding and more.
“Our shows are smaller and typically more convenient, which not only streamlines my business in writing orders, but it allows my customers the opportunity to experience more of each line more intimately without the need for costly travel or loss in work time for all involved,” said Samantha Flamand, 360 Adventure Collective rep.
Both EORA and NESR started in 1979 in an effort to support independent and non-independent sales representatives of outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and gear for all things from sea to ski.
NESR, focused predominantly on winter sports prior to the merger, recognized the need for an expanded portfolio in an increasingly dynamic retail environment.
“In 2016, we experienced a winter without snow, which led to the demise of numerous multi-door retailers, as well as increased pressure from direct-to-consumer and online channels,” said Will Masson, NESR’s president. “We were looking for ways to stay relevant to consumers, as were our vendors and retailers.”
“For us, the merger proposed a larger body of reps operating under a common name and shared passion for the outdoor industry,” said EORA president Allison Frazier. “As retailers and vendors weigh which shows to attend and support, 360 Adventure Collective offers the value of hands-on, regional expertise and compounding knowledge that many of our less-focused counterparts can’t. Additionally, a unified, larger membership body helps our reps lobby for the most competitive discounts for our retailers.”
