Outdoor Recreation A Large And Growing Percentage Of U.S. Economy

Outdoor recreation accounts for 2.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), according to the final report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on the outputs from outdoor recreation. The final report also found that outdoor recreation contributes over $734 billion to total U.S. gross output, which is the total value of domestic goods and service produced by an industry.

SGB Executive Q&A: Mountainsmith President Jay Getzel

Jay Getzel, president of Golden, CO-based gear maker Mountainsmith, spoke with SGB recently about what’s truly important in light of the company’s 40th anniversary, a shift in the way it sells on Amazon and what’s on the horizon for this proudly independent brand.

Response to Walmart: Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Pens Open Letter

In an open letter to the outdoor industry, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance president, Rich Hill, addressed the organization’s concerns about the launch of Walmart’s premium outdoor platform. Hill called on the industry to “communicate openly, work together and resist the easy temptations of short-term thinking.”

OIA Reacts To Tariff News

Rich Harper of the Outdoor Industry Association issued a statement regarding President Trump’s decision to impose $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports.

The North Face Launches “New Explorers” Campaign

The North Face launched a global campaign “to inspire the spirit of curiosity and enable a generation of new explorers through an expanded definition of exploration as a state of mind.” The campaign includes rapper/producer Pi’erre Bourne, snowboarder Jess Kimura, filmmaker Jimmy Chin and activist Mikhail Martin.

Big Rock Sports Issues Hurricane Florence Update

Big Rock Sports, headquartered in Graham, NC, sent out an e-mail to its partners indicating that the company’s headquarters escaped damage from Hurricane Florence, its office in Morehead City experienced minor damage, and Hamlet Distribution Center (RC) opened with a small crew on Monday and expects to “be back to full speed within the next couple of days.”

Industry Voices Grow Louder In Opposition To Trade War

President Trump’s claim that increased tariffs on foreign goods have resulted in an improved business climate for U.S. companies has been widely rejected by representatives of the outdoor, sporting goods and active lifestyle industries, who are growing louder in their opposition to the administration’s escalating trade war.

Columbia Sportswear Appoints Dean Rurak SVP Of North America Sales

Columbia Sportswear Co. on Monday announced the following management changes within the company’s North America Sales team. Dean Rurak, Columbia’s vice president of U.S. apparel sales, has been appointed senior vice president of North America sales for the Columbia brand, replacing Joe Craig.