The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) announced the finalists for the 2008 Outdoor Industry Innovator Award and the Outdoor Industry Ambassador Award.


The candidates are nominated by the outdoor industry and then selected by OIA’s Board of Directors. The award winners will be announced at the Industry Breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, which kicks off the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For 2008, OIA reviewed and updated each award category to honor those who share our mission of ensuring the continued growth and success of the outdoor industry.


New this year will be two categories per award:

 


  • Small to Mid-size Format:

    • Retailer or rep agency with less than $10 million in annual revenue,
    • Manufacturer, supplier, media group, or other industry business with less than $50 million annual revenue.

  • Large format:

    • Retailer or rep agency with more than $10 million in annual revenue,
    • Manufacturer, supplier, media group, or other industry business with more than $50M in annual revenue.

The Outdoor Industry Innovator Award


This award recognizes a business achievement by an outdoor company that has made significant contributions toward the continued innovation and growth of the outdoor industry. Those contributions can be either through a dynamic business initiative or the creation and development of a new business tool or process. The finalists are:


  • Half Moon Outfitters,
  • High Sierra Sport,
  • Horny Toad,
  • Timberland, and
  • Untraditional Marketing.

The Outdoor Industry Ambassador Award


This award recognizes a company that has made significant and ongoing achievements toward the growth of participation in outdoor activities. Those efforts could include spearheading conservation programs, the development and support of programs or efforts intended to serve as model practices for the industry, the introduction and advancement of responsible tourism practices, outstanding consumer outreach campaigns, or strides in encouraging youth to develop an active outdoor lifestyle.

 

This award pays tribute to a company that has embraced a worthy cause and made a significant achievement. The finalists are:

 


  • Adventure Cycling Association,
  • Bay Area Wilderness Training,
  • Great Outdoor Provision Company,
  • Mountain Gear,
  • Sierra Club, and
  • The Coleman Company.

Previous recipients of the OIA Ambassador Award include Atlas Snowshoes, Backpacker magazine, and River Sports Outfitters. Previous recipients of the OIA Innovator Award were Kirk Richardson of Keen Footwear and Gary Erickson, founder and owner of Clif Bar.


“The impressive achievements of these finalists have had a significant impact on advancing our industry, and we look forward to honoring them and announcing the winners on January 23rd,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA.


The OIA Industry Award winners will be announced at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market’s Industry Breakfast on Wednesday, January 23, in Salt Lake City, Utah.