Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has admitted Next Adventure of Portland, OR as its newest retail member and Nite Ize as its newest vendor partner.


Based in Asheville, NC, Grassroots provides buying and other services to 45 independent outdoor retailers with nearly 100 doors.

 

Next Adventure is Portland’s alternative outdoor store and was started in June of 1997 by Deek Heykamp and Bryan Knudsen. Deek and Bryan are childhood friends and from day one, were committed to building a business that allowed for a balanced life of work and play. This commitment continues today and has created a company culture of passion and excitement for outdoors adventure and the products they sell.


The company was started as a fun and funky used gear and closeout store. Through their passion for service and the unique customer service, they have developed their own customer base of true enthusiasts. Whether a customer is a kayaker, climber, snowboarder, hiker, camper, skier, cyclist, mountaineer, or just someone who loves the outdoors, Next Adventure can help with anyones next adventure.
With their customers support, they have grown to a full inline specialty retailer and continue to maintain their roots with used gear in their Bargain Basement. Next Adventure occupies three physical addresses:


  • The Grand Store, their original 16,000-square-foot location that houses all their outdoor categories.
  • The Paddle Sports Center, a 13,000-square-foot building with all their kayak, canoes, SUPs and other paddling products.
  • Their 20,000-square-foot warehouse with a yard for storage.

Deek and Bryan have are two of the smartest, hardest working retailers I have the pleasure of working with,”  said Stuart McCornack, co-owner of Yukon Trading Company and sales representative to Next Adventure. “They have remained true to the roots of their original business model while expanding into new categories with some of the premier brands in the outdoor industry. They are very active in the community and sponsor numerous events over the course of any given year.”


 

Next Adventure will be attending the Grassroots Early Show being held from June 10-13, 2013 in Ogden, UT.

 

Grassroots also announced that Nite Ize has joined our organization.

CEO and Founder Rick Case started Nite Ize as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado in 1989.

 

“I was on a fishing trip using the brand new mini flashlight my family gave me as a gift,” he recalled. “I was fishing at night with it, holding it in my mouth. Sure enough, I opened my mouth, and the flashlight fell out. I was staring down into the water, watching my still lit flashlight on the bottom when an idea hit me. That idea became the first product I ever made, the Headband Mini Flashlight Holder.”

Case was running the company from his mountain cabin when he received his first order for 42,000 Headbands. Over twenty years later, Nite Ize continues to expand with a large manufacturing facility and corporate offices based out of beautiful Boulder, CO.

 

“You have to be passionate, have faith in what you are doing, and be persistent,” said Case.


Today, Nite Ize sells a wide variety of accessories, tools, and devices.

 

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance retail members represent the heart & soul-the core of the outdoor industry, said Paul Gagner, director of Nite Izes Outdoor Channel.  Ive worked with many of these members for over 20 years at other companies, and Im excited to again have the opportunity to introduce the members to the high turn, highly innovative, and wildly creative products that are at the core of the Nite Ize and Inova brands.


Nite Ize is a solid business that has enjoyed steady growth within our membership over the last 5 years,,said Grassroots President Roanne Miller. We are pleased to partner with them and to utilize Pauls years of outdoor experience to build a long term, mutually beneficial partnership.