Oia's Audio Outdoorist

This is our short preview of what’s coming up on Day 2 of the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. In this episode we again hear from OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts about Friday’s OIA lunch session. The topic: “How Change Happens: Why do some social movements succeed while others don’t?” Roberts explains why she invited author Leslie Crutchfield to talk at this year’s trade show and how Crutchield’s expertise can help guide the outdoor industry moving forward into 2019 and beyond. Also on the agenda Friday is a sustainability session for anyone who wants to increase their understanding of and involvement with the Higg Index as they develop their company’s sustainability work. You can view Friday’s full OIA events and education agenda here.   Click here to learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies.

In this short episode, we preview a few of the can’t miss events on Day 1 of the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which begins Thursday, November 8, in Denver. Beginning with the Industry Breakfast at 7 a.m. and ending with the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award, the first day is packed with informative and inspiring programming. OIA’s Executive Director Amy Roberts talks about breakfast keynote Leslie Ghize of the TOBE Report, who will share insights about how today’s brands and specialty retailers can thrive in the changing retail landscape. And OIA Political Director Alex Boian explains why the Thursday lunch session recapping the 2018 midterm election campaigns will help attendees understand how the turnout and outcomes affect OIA’s policy agenda in Washington D.C. and in state houses around the country. You can view Thursday’s full OIA events and education agenda here. Click here to learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies.

In this short interview, OIA’s managing content editor Deborah Williams sits down with Jimmy Chin to talk about to talk about the newest film that he and his wife, documentary filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi created about Alex Honnold's free solo climb of El Cap: National Geographic’s Free Solo. Jimmy talks about the ethical questions that arose throughout the project and the team’s desire to reflect an accurate and unflinching portrait of Alex Honnold. He also talks about why this project and the work that he does as a photographer and North Face athlete are so important to helping people—within and outside the outdoor industry—understand the value of our public lands and waters. Take a listen, and then go see this incredible film, which is coming to theaters nationwide this month. You can find out more at freesolofilm.com With the impending midterm elections, we have released OIA's first ever Voter's Guide. First and foremost, we encourage everyone out there to vote - but more than that, we want you to vote info

Live from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, CO, Deborah Williams brings you the highlights of the day's news, must-attend events, and the hottest products.

Live from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, CO, Deborah Williams brings you the highlights of the day's news, must-attend events, and the hottest products.

Live from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, CO, Deborah Williams brings you the highlights of the day's news, must-attend events, and the hottest products.

In this 2-part episode, Deborah Williams talks about a couple places and an issue that are important to her as an outdoorist, a Denverite and a Coloradan. The places are the Montbello Open Space Park and iconic Rocky Mountain National Park, and they are both recipients of Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars. She visits both in this 2-part episode, and she speaks with with some of the projects’ stakeholders from the Turst for Public Land, The North Face, Environmental Learning for Kids about how LWCF dollars were put to work.

In this 2-part episode, Deborah Williams talks about a couple places and an issue that are important to her as an outdoorist, a Denverite and a Coloradan. The places are the Montbello Open Space Park and iconic Rocky Mountain National Park, and they are both recipients of Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars. She visits both in this 2-part episode, and she speaks with with some of the projects’ stakeholders from the Turst for Public Land, The North Face, Environmental Learning for Kids about how LWCF dollars were put to work.

Cailin O'Brien-Feeney, OIA's State and Local Policy Manager for the past three years, has been hired to head the Office of Outdoor Recreation for the state of Oregon. In this interview, Deborah Williams, OIA's managing content editor, interviews Cailin about what he's accomplished over the past three years in his current role and what his first course of action will be once he arrives in Oregon.   Check out https://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/ to see what your state is doing and what you can do to advocate for outdoor recreation. 

On todays episode, you'll hear from a couple of "Climate Crusaders" - individuals who have made it their mission to reduce their and their businesses' impact on the planet. First, we’ll hear from Mario Molina, the executive director of Protect Our Winters. POW is leading the way in climate advocacy and creating a movement among snow sports enthusiasts and professional athletes to speak up to politicians. Mario will be speaking at the Outdoor Industry Climate Leadership Summit, which will take place over Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, on the first day of MountainFilm. Next we’ll hear from Kim Jordan, the co-founder and now board chair of New Belgium Brewing. Since it’s founding in 1991, New Belgium has invested dollars, time, and employees in discovering creative ways to conserve energy in their beer production. It’s a philosophy that has not only paid off for the company and the environment, but one that can inspire other companies in the outdoor industry. Want to learn how you can get involved in OIA’s s

In this episode, OIA’s managing content editor Deborah Williams talks with Cailin O’Brien-Feeney and Stewart Lewis, who make up the local policy arm of our government affairs team. Cailin and Stewart will explain the work they’re doing to move legislative initiatives around outdoor recreation and access in a few key states, as well as their involvement with state offices of outdoor recreation, a trend that’s on the rise across the country.       If you want to get involved, visit our advocacy webpage - http://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/ - to learn more about the federal and state bills that OIA is tracking. There you can also find our Recreation Economy Report, opportunities for you to engage with our policy work, and other helpful recreation and trade policy resources. Finally, if you’re active on social media, you can join the Outdoor Advocate Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OutdoorAdvocateNetwork - and follow OIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorIndustryAssociation/.

In this episode, Deborah Williams, OIA’s managing content editor, talks with Jessica Wahl, OIA’s Government Affairs Manager about how OIA is advocating for it's members at the state and federal level. Jessica works in DC on recreation policy, and in this interview we’ll hear the latest on what she’s working on, the response since the Trump Administration rolled back the protection on the Utah's national monuments, and the actions you can take to make a difference. You can find out more information about the work that OIA does on policy at outdoorindustry.org/advocacy. There you can also see what current legislation OIA is working on at the state and federal level. Finally, if you want to engage policymakers directly, you can attend Capitol Summit in DC in April.

In June of 2017, President Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. In a letter to OIA members, Executive Director Amy Roberts noted that the withdrawal threatens not only the $887 billion outdoor industry and the 7.6 million American jobs it supports but also the very future of our planet.   As outdoorists, we see and feel the impacts of climate change when each season becomes harder and harder to predict. As businesses in the outdoor industry, we know we have an important role to play. Our Sustainability Working Group is a global leader in the promotion of responsible and resilient supply chains, and Sustainable Business Innovation is one of our association’s core pillars. Another is advocacy. Following President Trump’s announcement, more than 2,000 mayors, governors and business leaders—including many in this industry—signed the “We’re Still In” letter affirming their commitments to the Paris Agreement’s climate targets. Outdoor Industry Association remain

In early 2017, OIA announced an enhanced suite of member benefit partnerships in six key business channels, including finance operations and marketing sales. These benefits provide valuable tools to OIA members to improve their operating efficiencies and bottom lines. These vetted and trusted partners understand the outdoor recreation landscape and share the outdoor industry’s values. Today we’re talking to Randy Norris, segment manager, and Lisa Berghaus, communications manager, with Monadnock Paper Mills. These two help their clients find or develop paper products that meet their needs. “Paper?” you might be asking. “What does that have to do with my business?” Well, take a minute to think about any and all of your printed materials. If you’re a brand, that might include catalogs, look books, direct mail, product hang tags, packaging and merchandise displays that you provide to your retail partners. If you’re a retailer, it could include brochures, shopping bags, price tickets, store signage and gift cards.

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.  Jill Domain, the CEO of Bluesign, David Labistour, the CEO of MEC, and Thomas Chiu of Everest Textiles are represent links in Mountain Equipment Co-op’s sustainable supply chain. Each person and company plays a role in making sure that fabrics used for MEC’s outdoor apparel are responsibly made and procured. And it’s not always the easiest process. Listen as they get in depth about why they choose to work in sustainable businesses, and why collaboration is the key to a clean supply chain. Want to learn more about these i

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.  Tom Adams, as the director of the Utah Office of Recreation, and Ashley Korenblatt, as the CEO of Western Spirit Cycling, are both undeniably vested in the success and promotion of the outdoors as an economic—and fun—driver in Utah. Listen in to their behind-the-scenes conversation about why they got into the industry and the importance of protecting the outdoors. Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit outdoorindus

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.    Sustainable supply chains. They’re all the rage these days. So, what’s actually in the making of a sustainable, transparent supply chain? Peter Duke, Point6 socks founder and Craig “Smitty” Smith, business development manager at PGG Wrightson Wool, weigh in on their approach to creating a sustainable wool supply chain and the importance of doing so.   Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit outdoorindustry.org

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.    We’ve all heard the stereotype: "The outdoors is for old white guys." James Edward Mills, a freelance journalist and photographer, and Jose Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors, are out to change that perception, one outdoor experience at a time. Together, they’re a force for diversity in the outdoor industry, and they’re not stopping until the demographics of the outdoor recreation population reflect those of the American populace.   Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster co

In early 2017, OIA announced an enhanced suite of member benefit partnerships in six key business channels, including finance & operations and marketing & sales. These benefits provide valuable tools to OIA members to improve their operating efficiencies and bottom lines. These vetted and trusted partners understand the outdoor recreation landscape and share the outdoor industry’s values. Today we’ll be featuring Fidelitas Development in our Partnership Profile. We'll hear from their CEO, Tyler Sickmeyer, about an event they are hosting at outdoor retailer, search engine optimization, pay per click advertising, and more.    You can learn more about Fidelitas Development at fidelitasdevelopment.com/OIA   You can see events at Outdoor University at Outdoor Retailer here - https://outdoorindustry.org/events/oia-outdoor-retailer/   You can learn more about other OIA member benefit partnerships at outdoorindustry.org. Just click on the Membership link at the top of the page. 

In early 2017, OIA announced an enhanced suite of member benefit partnerships in six key business channels, including finance & operations and marketing & sales. These benefits provide valuable tools to OIA members to improve their operating efficiencies and bottom lines. These vetted and trusted partners understand the outdoor recreation landscape and share the outdoor industry’s values. One of those brands is Apogee Digital Media, and in today's Partnership Profile, we feature Apogee’s, director of revenue, Kate VanHee. Listen in as Kate talks about how Apogee is helping brands and retailers enhance and scale their digital presence.     You can learn more about Apogee at http://apogeedigital.media.   You can learn more about other OIA member benefit partnerships at outdoorindustry.org. Just click on the Membership link at the top of the page.