Together we are catalysts for meaningful change. Learn. Connect. Innovate.
At Outdoor Retailer, OIA will present education sessions on the topics that matter most to you and your outdoor brand, including addressing barriers to inclusivity in the outdoors, building outdoor advocacy plans, meeting sustainable product development expectations, and mitigating the myriad risks to business success. OIA team members, field experts, and research analysts will provide you with the tools and application strategies you need to carry your brand into the outdoors of the future.
Together we will network, share ideas, and innovate creative solutions to drive our shared values forward and catalyze positive change for the outdoor industry.
Day One | June 19 | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Hear from Triple-Crown thru-hiker and community advocate Will Akuna Robinson, learn how to apply a Collective Impact Model to lessen the Nature Gap in your local community, and gain insight into emerging outdoor participation trends and workforce development efforts so your brand can support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors.
The Trail Shows the Way: Perspectives of a Triple Crown Thru-Hiker and Community Advocate, Will Akuna Robinson
Time: 7:30 – 8:45 AM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom
If you haven’t already read the headlines or followed his inspirational Instagram account, we invite you to attend a very special keynote breakfast to meet and hear Will Akuna Robinson, a long distance thru-hiker and 2022 George Mallory award recipient who ESPN refers to as, “the trailblazing superstar of thru-hiking.” Fueled by a desire for real connection, community, and healing from the PTSD of military service, Robinson was the first Black man to complete America’s Triple Crown of Hiking in 2019, an almost 8,000-mile journey he began in on the Pacific Crest trail in 2016, followed by the Appalachian trail in 2018, and ending on the Continental Divide trail. Robinson has graciously taken up the role of mentor to countless others, especially to people and communities of color, and serves as a brand ambassador for OIA member and outdoor footwear leader, Merrell. In his keynote, Robinson shares invaluable personal wisdom from the trail and asks the outdoor industry, a community led by its values for healthy business, people, and planet, how might we lean into the call to understand and address inequity and the socio-economic barriers to outdoor recreation so that the outdoors is truly for us all.
2023 Outdoor Participation Trends Report: A Snapshot of the Evolving and Emerging Outdoor Participant Base
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom
Whether you’re an outdoor industry brand or business leader, product strategy, innovation, and success depend on how much you understand the market and consumer behaviors. Come join OIA’s Research Director Kelly Davis to learn about the latest trends in outdoor recreation participation, including how many Americans are participating in outdoor recreation, what categories are growing fastest, what activities are most popular, and how often Americans are participating, providing attendees with a full view of the changing outdoor participant base.
Grassroots and Grasstops: How to Narrow the Nature Gap
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Juniper Room
As an industry, we all talk about the importance of equity in the outdoors and access to nature. But what does that really look like, and how do our shared goals manifest in practice and real life? We all want to decrease the Nature Gap and provide opportunities for all to access the benefits of time spent outside. In order to reach that shared goal, the intersectional work that organizations do from the grasstops to grassroots levels is necessary to realize. Join leaders in the outdoor industry and community advocates to discuss what outdoor equity looks like at all levels and how we can come together for collective action and change. Whether you’re interested in federal advocacy or motivated to act locally, you will leave this session with tools to move equity in the outdoors forward and ways to align your business strategy to inclusive growth.
DEI in the Outdoors: How to Use a Collective Impact Model for Lasting Social Change and Inclusive Growth
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom
While outdoor participation continues to grow at record-breaking levels, there is still work to be done to increase diversity and equitable access within the outdoor participation base. Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative works to address barriers to outdoor access by utilizing a collective impact model—an innovative approach designed to coordinate the efforts of many programs working in communities. Within the space of a single year, Thrive Outside grew its youth outdoor participant base by 175%. How did Outdoor Foundation accomplish this, and what metrics did it use to evaluate its impact? Join OIA’s Research Director Kelly Davis and recreational social scientist, Dr. Amonte Martin, as they reflect on Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Evaluation Report and share how you can support the collective impact model and apply an evaluation strategy to measure its impact on outdoor participation.
Pathways to an Inclusive Workforce: Building Educator and Youth Collaborations
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom
From park rangers to accessible product designers and data scientists, the outdoor recreation industry is a significant source of job creation and workforce evolution. Hear directly from experts who are partnering with outdoor industry companies, agencies, and nonprofits to help build the pipeline for the future outdoor industry workforce and learn how it applies to your HR and business needs. This interactive panel will feature experts from University of New Hampshire, Weber State, and Center for Applied Special Technology (C.A.S.T.) working to create pathways to new and better jobs in the outdoor industry. Specifically, these panelists will share how the outdoor industry is impacting rural learners, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) opportunities, and local economic development. Panelists will showcase current projects with students from middle school through college.
Stories From Community Leaders: The Next Generation of Outdoor Enthusiasts
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM Location: Juniper Room
With 13 communities nationwide and more than 40,000 youth and their families now connected to the outdoors, Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative is a proven model for increasing equitable access to the outdoors through community-led collective impact. Outdoor Foundation’s Executive Director Stephanie Maez and Development and Program Manager Jacob Fisher will share learnings from The Foundation’s 2022 Annual Report, while Thrive community leaders share stories and lessons learned about how they’re breaking down barriers and expanding access to the benefits of the outdoors for all. Come prepared to feel inspired and leave with actionable insights about how you too can utilize the collective impact model to increase participation and inclusion in the outdoors.
Day Two | June 20 | Advocacy and Sustainability
From federal- and state-level trade and outdoor recreation policies that directly impact your business to new sustainable product development regulations that will be critical to both company prosperity and loyalty, our team will ensure that your brand is prepared for the outdoors of the future.
Forever Chemicals: Evolving Approaches to Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom
Are PFAS regulations on your product development radar? If not, they need to be. 54% of U.S adults have at least some level of familiarity with PFAS and 37% are “more likely” to shop at companies and retailers that ban PFAS. OIA’s new industry-wide sustainability program, Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition, is here to help. Our consulting service and working group is designed to help member companies balance financial and product management risks with new and existing sustainability legislation while retaining customer loyalty and demand for sustainably made products. Join our panel discussion with OIA’s chemicals experts, Michelle Legatt and James Pollack, to learn how to meet PFAS compliance standards. Attendees will also learn about trends in sustainability marketing from Jason Parkin of Compose[d], a digital strategy and creative services agency focused on addressing business goals through sustainable solutions.
Powerful Data: Business Innovation and Customer Satisfaction
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom A/B
OIA’s Research Director Kelly Davis will demonstrate how to use data to design better products, engage customers more effectively, manage supply chain and logistics issues, and increase profits. A master of insights, Davis will bring detailed participation data, consumer intelligence, and market research to show how powerful knowledge about your market, your consumer, and even your internal processes can increase your bottom line. Several examples and tools will be shared to help small business owners make the most of the research OIA provides to its members. If you own a small outdoor business or are just getting started, this session could help you develop your business plan, obtain financing, more effectively target your marketing, learn how to do concept testing, better understand consumers and potential consumers, and much more.
Measure Your Carbon Footprint: Hands-On Learning with OIA’s Climate Action Corps, Climate Neutral, and Worldly
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom D/E
Has your company set climate goals, but is unsure of where to start? Are you looking to set or meet greenhouse gas emissions targets, and need guidance on how to measure your footprint? Join OIA’s Climate Action Corps and Climate Neutral leaders alongside experts from Worldly, a sustainability insights platform, for an interactive workshop on how your business can begin to measure its carbon emissions. The facilitators will guide participants through the program and participants will have the opportunity to work directly with Worldly and Climate Neutral staff for hands-on learning. You will leave this discussion with actionable next steps to measure your value chain impact and ensure your outdoor business is prepared to meet its climate goals this year. For a deeper workshop experience, feel free to bring your own laptop or tablet to demo the tools yourself. Otherwise, observe the Climate Neutral and Worldly teams as they demo the tools for you.
Mitigating Business Risk: A Look at Near-Shoring Opportunities
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom A/B
Whether you’re on your outdoor company’s marketing, finance, product design, or operations team, it all comes back to one crucial element: your outdoor product, and having the tools, resources, and supplies to produce it. Over the past several years, outdoor companies have faced a series of supply chain challenges—from the pandemic, to rising shipping costs, punitive tariffs, and volatile federal trade policy—that have inspired business leaders to seek to diversify their supply chains and source from countries closer to their US consumer base. Yet significant obstacles remain. What actions are the outdoor industry and the government taking to mitigate and anticipate these obstacles head on, and how can you get involved? Join OIA’s Director of Government Affairs Rich Harper alongside additional OIA research and commerce leaders, members of OIA’s Trade Advisory Council, and outside trade counsels from Sorini, Samet, & Associates to learn more about the near-shoring initiatives in Congress and the administration as well as the latest trends and opportunities for product innovation in the Western Hemisphere.
Tips and Tricks: Emerging and Start-Up Outdoor Businesses
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom D/E
The outdoor industry was founded on a drive for adventure and sense of infinite possibility, a perspective we often take home long after we’ve left our muddy boots at the door. The opportunity for innovation is as strong as ever today, but also unique and urgent in its challenges—climate change, supply chain interruptions, consumer demand for sustainable products, and efforts for greater inclusivity. That is a lot for a small or emerging start-up business to tackle all at once. Hear from OIA industry experts and community leaders from Founded Outdoors with experiences in research, product design, supply chain, and entrepreneurial mentorship on how start-ups might right-size their approaches to business models, funding sources, audiences, and inclusivity.
Backyard Advocacy: How to Impact State Policy for Business Growth
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Location: Juniper Room
State level policy might not be on your day-to-day radar, but it directly impacts your business and has the potential to determine the fate of the outdoor industry. But where to begin? Join OIA’s Policy Fellow Hannah Wintucky and state outdoor recreation professionals to learn how you can build successful advocacy strategies that support the outdoor industry in your state and enable a healthier outdoor ecosystem and stronger local economy. In this workshop, you’ll learn scalable and actionable steps you can take to be your business’ best advocate and support state and local policies at the intersection of economic development, climate, equity, conservation, and recreation. Come into this session a curious learner and leave an agent of action!
Ask an Expert: Get to Know OIA Research Director Kelly Davis
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 PM Location: Juniper Room
To help businesses better understand the markets and people they serve, OIA sponsors and originates industry-leading research and gathers expert perspectives on participation trends, market intelligence, and consumer insights. Come prepared with questions and meet our team in this informal gathering for an intimate roundtable discussion with OIA Research Director Kelly Davis. Get an overview of the resources that are available to you as an OIA member, including insights on economic conditions impacting outdoor businesses like employment and inflation, consumer confidence, sentiment and trends in consumer spending, climate and supply chain impacts on manufacturing, inventory management, shipments, and more.
Day Three | June 21 | Business Strategy
Learn about today’s key challenges to outdoor business success and how to address them—from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to navigating supply chain obstacles, to avoiding potential patent infringement issues.
Patent Infringement Issues? How to Use APEX (Amazon Patent Evaluation Express) For Business Wins
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom A/B
Many retailers may be familiar with the Amazon Brand Registry that can be utilized to protect a company’s brands. This has been very effective for those who have registered trademarks to prevent infringers on the Amazon marketplace. For a long time there has been little to no ability for these companies to fully enforce and defend their patented products short of having to pursue claims in Federal Court. This can be quite problematic as many of the online sellers on the Amazon marketplace may be headquartered overseas or easily change names and form a new company to sell through Amazon. The Amazon APEX program provides an expedited and effective means for patent holders to enforce their rights against third-party infringers selling products through the Amazon marketplace. This presentation will cover the APEX program, the process, how it all works, and why it can be an effective tool for those retailers with patented products that also sell through the Amazon marketplace.
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Lessons from OIA’s Climate Action Corps
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom D/E
Climate Action Corps is leading companies to become a climate positive industry by 2030, which requires members to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), remove even more GHG from the atmosphere than they emit, and advocate for systemic change. But we can’t get there alone. Join OIA for an interactive workshop on how to reduce greenhouse gases, including your harder-to-reach supply chain emissions. The team will walk you through our Impact CoLabs approach—facilitated precompetitive collaborations among outdoor industry companies to reduce emissions in our supply chains—and provide you with case studies of companies that are working together to reduce their emissions. Participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm ways that they could reduce emissions and determine what kinds of Impact CoLabs could be helpful for them. Session attendees will leave this discussion with well-formed ideas on how to drive measurable decarbonization in their value chain.
Lobbying 101: Get to Know Your Trade and Supply Chain Experts at OIA
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Location: Salt Lake Ballroom A/B
Always wanted to pick the brain of a supply chain expert with boots on the ground in D.C., actively working to advocate for policies that ensure your outdoor business is positioned for success? Well, now is your chance. Bring your questions and pull up a chair to learn how you can leverage OIA’s industry expertise to help your business. OIA’s Director of Government Affairs Rich Harper will share how OIA mobilizes advocacy networks at the intersections of equitable access, trade, climate, and conservation. Our goal is to garner incentives and funding at the federal and state levels to create jobs, invest in recreation, save money, expand outdoor access for all, and protect our environment.
FIND US AT OUTDOOR RETAILER
Engage with OIA experts and collaborate on innovative solutions.
Meet our team and learn about the benefits of OIA membership.
Gain key insights from our 2023 Outdoor Participation Trends Report.
Grab some OIA swag and show your support for the outdoor industry.
Be a catalyst for meaningful change.
Find us at Booth #120-ST.
OR AND OIA: Read the Q+A
The Outdoor Retailer trade show is moving to Salt Lake City beginning in 2023. You may have been asking yourself: “Where does OIA fit in all of this?” Read answers to a few of the top questions we’ve received.
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