ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2024) — Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, retained Verde Brand Communications to help manage communications and public relations.
Moving forward, Verde will assist the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance team with strategy and communications support around how the organization is working to champion best practices, education and information sharing among independent specialty outdoor retailers, and between those retailers and outdoor brands.
Founded in 1996, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a member-owned organization consisting of 95 independent outdoor specialty retailers with 206 retail locations across the U.S. There are also 67 product manufacturers who are members of Grassroots.
The organization works to build relationships between its retailers and vendor partners through data sharing, education, ideas, insights, buying opportunities, community events and other activities, as well as advocating for independent specialty retail within the outdoor industry.
Grassroots also operates the invitation-only Connect tradeshow twice a year in Kansas City, Mo., and Reno, Nev. Its member network receives a higher level of service through Grassroots programs and events, including at Connect, but many retailers and vendors who are not members also attend Connect, which broadens the show’s effectiveness for member retailers and brands as well as with its resonance in the Outdoor Industry.
“Connect is the way we are most visible to the larger outdoor industry, but the work we do day in and day out to provide support to and information exchange among our members is at the core of what we do,” said Gabe Maier, President of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “Verde will help us communicate around the work we are doing to support the health of independent specialty retail and how that relates to the health of the overall Outdoor Industry.”
With its 32-year track record in the outdoor industry and principals who worked in the industry prior to that, Verde has the long-term industry experience and perspective around specialty outdoor retail, the broader outdoor industry, and the relationship between the two in order to effectively work with the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance team.
“Specialty retail is the heart and soul of the Outdoor Industry, but more importantly, it’s one of the most effective, productive and authentic channels for brands to reach consumers,” said Julie Evans, CEO of Verde. “What Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has built to serve independent retailers as a group is incredibly unique and impactful — exactly what you’d expect from such a group of strong leaders. We’re excited to help build on the work they are doing.”
The recent June Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect Show saw record attendance with 144 participating brands at Connect, 108 brands at Discovery Marketplace (hosted Day 0, Sunday, June 9), and 146 attending independent outdoor retail stores.
The next Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect show will take place in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 11-14, 2024.
About Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned network of 95 independently owned outdoor retailers and 66 vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance also operates Connect, a twice-annual legacy show experience that spans four days, offering an efficient and structured format for retailers to conduct pre-season line showings and business conversations.
About Verde Brand Communications
Verde Brand Communications is a woman-founded, woman-led agency that delivers brand communications and strategy, media relations, digital marketing and affiliate management. We specialize in serving the outdoor and active lifestyle industries as well as adjacent specialty markets. Our market-driven approach stems from a nimble, close-knit team of creative thinkers along with proven industry experience since Verde was founded in 2002. We have offices in Durango and Boulder, Colo., and Jackson, Wyo. For more information about Verde, please visit www.verdepr.com or follow our adventures on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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