REI presented its 2020 Vendor Partner of the Year Awards. Hoka One One received the Co-Op’s overall 2020 Vendor Partner of the Year award. The following vendors collected 2020 divisional honors:
- Action sports: Cannondale, 2019 all-around Vendor Partner of the Year award. The company responded to pandemic market conditions with quick leadership and decision-making. It partnered to open DTC sales of bikes immediately after the closure of REI stores and created online training content for the needs of its retail staff supporting expertise upon reopening. Cannondale prepared for the future by developing a progressive packaging reduction strategy including the introduction of 100 percent sustainable packaging on select 2021 Cannondale bikes.
- Camp: Nemo Equipment, a 2017 Vendor Partner of the Year Award honoree, returns as REI’s camp division winner for its ongoing commitment to product innovation and work to complement REI’s sustainability impact goals. A founding member of OIA’s Climate Action Corps, Nemo Equipment was also one of the first brands to take on REI’s initiative to eliminate packaging waste by discontinuing individual polybags and was also recognized with a 2021 Green Good Design Award.
- Apparel: Fjällräven exceeded partnership goals by designing a customized experience for customers to get to know the brand, and it was one of the first brands to take on REI’s initiative to eliminate individual polybags.
- Footwear and Basics: Darn Tough Vermont, a 2013 Vendor Partner of the Year award honoree, again wins in 2020 because of the quality of its socks and for its handling of the supply needs in 2020. A family-owned sock mill producing exclusively in Vermont supports its employees and the community.
Photo courtesy REI
