Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) said its next LEED-based prototype store will open Friday in Round Rock, Texas. The 32,700 square-foot store was built from the ground up and projected to consume 48% less energy than a typical store. REI's first pr
Author: Charlie Lunan
REI Workshops Seek to Drive Women’s Outerwear Sales
W.L. Gore & Associates and six top outdoor brands have partnered with REI to drive women's outerwear sales at the co-op's stores starting this weekend. REI will offer one-hour workshops on how to dress for the outdoors. Participants will get a c
Construction Starts on Greener Tannery in Vietnam
Construction has begun in Saigon, Vietnam on an ecologically friendly “model factory” for the German/Chinese leather producer ISA Tan Tec. The tannery will emit 35% less CO2 than conventional production facilities. The company said it needs the capacity t
Conservation Alliance Lobbies Congress on Public Lands
Representatives from The North Face, Osprey, The Forest Group, and The Conservation Alliance spent two days lobbying Congress last week to support a bill that includes more than 150 public lands bills. The proposal could go to the Senate floor for a vote
Skram Media to Acquire Mountain Gazette Properties
Skram Media has reached an agreement to purchase the Mountain Gazette from GSM Media, LLC, of Paonia, CO, a deal that will expand its reach to 350,000 mountain sports enthusiasts. Skram Media will also own the magazine’s website, mountaingazette.com. Skra
Icebreaker Goes Live with CenterStone’s iVendix
Icebreaker, the New Zealand-based manufacturer of merino wool activewear, has gone live on CenterStone’s iVendix B2B e-commerce application. iVendix will provide Icebreaker’s sales reps and more than 2,000 dealers with a 24/7 on-line ordering solution in
SOLE Lands First OEM Deal for Moldable Footbeds
Swedish footwear maker Haglöfs will use moldable footbeds made by Sole in its entire spring 2009 line, marking the first such deal for SOLE, which has grown primarily in the aftermarket. Haglöfs – Scandinavia’s largest outdoor manufacturer – will include
Backcountry.com to Launch More Bike Sites
Just three months after launching an off-price bike outlet online, Backcountry.com has announced plans to drill further into bicycle territory by adding two new high-end, bike-specific web sites and a “one deal at a time,” or ODAT site. The executive over
Electra Taps Pacific Vet for Product Development Post
Chris Holmes has joined Electra Bicycle Company’s product development team. Holmes, who spent nearly seven years at Pacific Cycle in Madison, WI and five at Schwinn/GT in Boulder, CO, will utilize his background in sales and marketing as Electra’s Produc
Canadian IBD Distributor Expands W.L. Gore Line
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. selected Cycles Lambert to distribute its new low friction shifting and braking cable systems in Canada. Lambert, which earlier agreed to distribute Gore Bike Wear to Canada's IBDs, will begin carrying the cable systems
Forecasts Call for Lowest Holiday Sales Growth Since 1991
Two forecasters predicted sales growth this holiday season would be the lowest in 17 years, or between 1.5% and 3%. Online sales growth is expected to slow to 9% from 19% according to one forecast. Retailers, however, have prepared well for slower growth
Timberland to Bring ‘Dig it” Festival to Four Cities
In a move to promote its new apparel collection, Timberland is sponsoring a multi-city festival to bring eco-minded activists and artists together through environmentalism, tree planting, art and music. These daylong events will take place in Boston, New
Opposition Clash on EU Footwear Duties
A British retailing group called on the European Union to abandon its plan to extend import taxes on footwear from China and Vietnam in the wake of opposition to the duties by 15 EU countries. European shoe manufacturers responded with an open letter in S
New Action Sports Store Divides His from Hers
The owners of New Haven, CT-based outdoor retailer Trailblazers officially opened their innovative action sports store Enclave Aug. 30. The store is divided into separate spaces that allow men and women to shop in their own uniquely designed areas…
ExOfficio to Open Store at New JFK Terminal
Outdoor apparel brand ExOfficio announced it will open a retail concept store in JetBlue’s Terminal 5 (T5) at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Oct. 1, 2008…
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