While turning plastic bottles into performance fibers is a well-practiced and planet-friendly manufacturing process, textile manufacturer, SAYA, is converting scraps, overruns and leftover fabric (deadstock) into recycled fibers to pave the way to a greener planet. (Read More)
The motto for Mad River Glen has always been "Ski it if you can!" It might as well be "Own it if you can" as well. Especially this year, where COVID-19 restrictions have seen its ownership shares sell like hotcakes at its newly refurbished base lodge. (Read More)
Amid the pandemic, with the world still shutting down and retailers unsure about orders, Los Angeles-based Allied Feather + Down is capping off its biggest growth streak in company history. print. SGB Executive caught up its President, Daniel Uretsky, to see what’s up in the world of down. (Read More)
Kicking off this year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Virtual Tradeshow was a seminar presented by NPD Executive Director and industry analyst Dirk Sorenson examining what’s trending in the outdoor and fitness markets and the opportunities for growth in 2021. (Read More)
Opening its new 69,356-square-foot headquarters in Houston, TX on December 23, Taxa Outdoors is rolling strong with sales of its overland habitat spaces. SGB Executive caught up with Taxa President Divya Brown for insight into the Overland market amidst the pandemic. (Read More)
With design improvements making it easier than ever, snowboarders are also venturing off-piste thanks to the burgeoning category of splitboards. (Read More)
The latest buzzword, the Norwegian word Friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-livis), is a Scandinavian concept embracing outdoor adventures no matter your age in all weather. SGB Executive caught up with outdoor eCommerce brand Backcountry.com to see what's trending this season and what consumers are buying (Read More)
With resort restrictions leading more consumers to venture into the backcountry this winter, never has avalanche education, awareness and preparedness been more important. As for gear, this could mean burgeoning sales for the avalanche category including beacons, probes and shovels. SGB Executive interviewed several vendors who occupy the avalanche beacon space and who have introduced new products to bolster retail sales and customer safety. (Read More)
Elan USA President and CEO Jeff Mechura is no stranger to Zoom meetings. Like most companies affected by the pandemic, the ski company, which makes its products in Slovenia, adopted it early on to communicate with its retailers, reps, suppliers, designers, and manufacturers. SGB Executive caught up with Mechura for his view on the pandemic, spicing up virtual meetings and helping retailers sell-through for the upcoming season. (Read More)
While last year’s skiing and riding season was cut short by COVID-19, overall participation numbers still increased, a harbinger that snowsports are on solid footing. (Read More)
Uncertainty has befuddled the snow sports industry’s major buying groups this season including how to connect its members with vendors. SGB Executive spoke with two of the largest buying groups: Nation's Best Sports (NBS) and Winter Sports Market/Sports Specialists, Ltd. and SnowSports Merchandising Corp. about plans to run their buying shows this season. (Read More)
aking advantage of a two-foot early season snowstorm, Wolf Creek Ski area won this year’s race as the country’s first resort to open its slopes for the 2020/21 ski season, firing up three of its nine chairlifts and 600 acres of skiing and riding at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28. (Read More)
With many resorts restricting their operations this winter due to COVID-19, consumers are spending less on the purchase of ski and snowboard passes and instead buying dream gear for backcountry use. SGB Executive asked retailers and manufacturers if that's where they think the category is tracking. (Read More)
Twenty-five years ago, two brothers, Todd and Steve Jones had the vision to create action sports movies. Now, 25 years later, they’ve accomplished that with their adventure lifestyle media company, Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and have branched out into retail, hotels and a new TGR TV platform to work symbiotically with their original concept. (Read More)
If it’s lightweight and tough enough for aircraft, it’s probably good enough for fish kayaks. That’s the theory behind Diamond Shield material, which is taking the fish kayak world by storm in its debut in the Apex Tyr — the first carbon-fiber fishing kayak. (Read More)
While World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on September 27 to “foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value,” this year a dark cloud rained on its parade — concerns about one of the business sectors most affected by COVID-19 — tourism and, in particular, the adventure travel industry. (Read More)
In another blow to the world of outdoor niche publishing, on Oct. 3 A360 Media, owner of Men’s Journal and other mainstream magazines and digital properties, shut down the print and digital products for Bike, Powder, and Surfer magazines, and the print version of Snowboarder magazine. (Read More)
Everyone knows that bikes have been going gangbusters at retail this year. But what other surprises have been selling well at retail this year, leaving shelves high and dry, cash registers ringing and store managers scrambling for inventory? To find out, we queried outdoor retailers across the country to see what outdoor products COVID-19 helped sell this season. The answers might surprise you. (Read More)
With 107 retail outlets and an outdoor product mix as diverse as its store locations, publicly-traded Sportsman’s Warehouse has weathered COVID-19 better than perhaps any other major outdoor retailer (its second-quarter report heralded a five-fold growth in earnings and sales up 79.9 percent). SGB Executive caught up with CEO Jon Barker to shed light on its success during the pandemic. (Read More)
Earlier this summer, California-based watch and accessory brand Nixon promoted Nancy Dynan to president replacing outgoing CEO Scott Kerslake. SGB Executive caught up with her in Nixon’s Encinitas, CA, headquarters to talk all things timepieces. (Read More)