The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance kicked off its annual Early Show on June 11th. The Early Show is an invitation-only event for 30 vendors to meet with the 32 retailers in the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. Each member is required to meet with each vendor allowing the vendor to give their best product pitch, discuss growth strategies, resolve conflicts and facilitate open communication. Appointments are made by the Grassroots staff, easing the logistics of a traditional trade show.
This year's gathering, again taking place in Snowbird, Utah, keeps the heritage aspects of Grassroots in focus, while weaving in the group's expanded mission statement. The Early Show will be bringing its 32 retail members new insights to improve their independently-owned specialty outdoor stores. New speakers include Anne Obenchain, VP, member services & marketing, of the Outdoor Industry Association. Obenchain will speak to the group about staff education and best practices offered by OIA.
In addition, Chaco has stepped up to offset the travel of all 32 Grassroots members to the Early Show this year with offsets from Native Energy. In all, 92 buyers will benefit form this program. Chaco, a vendor member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, made the $1,100 investment to Native Energy on behalf of Grassroots in an effort to make the Early Show a more sustainable event.
Chaco and the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance chose to buy offsets from Native Energy for a number of reasons. First, Native Energy is known for its transparency, and the entire offset purchase amount will go toward a Native Energy project called “Farmer-owned Distributed Wind Turbines.” This project was chosen, because it benefits independent farmers who have been working family-owned, heritage farmlands for multiple generations.
