Switchback
The education and business gathering for the outdoor industry community
Join us at Switchback Spring 2025, the premier gathering for the outdoor industry community, taking place from June 16-18, 2025 in Nashville, TN at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Switchback Spring offers a dedicated platform for specialty retailers, media, and brand leaders in backpacking, apparel, and footwear to connect, learn, and grow.
Exclusive Benefits for OIA Members
OIA members enjoy discounted Switchback 2025 exhibiting rate of $27 per square foot.
10×10: $2,700 | 10×20: $5,400 | 20×20: $10,800
Included with Each Booth:
- Back drape (8 ft. high), side drape (3 ft. high), and rail drape
- Booth identification sign (7 in. x 44 in.)
- Comprehensive listing on the event website and mobile app
- Two exhibitor badges per 100 sq. ft. of booth space
What Industry Leaders Say about Switchback
In partnership with OIA, Switchback will deliver key learnings from leading outdoor industry data, legacy knowledge of essential and emerging issues, and deep connections throughout the outdoor industry community. Hear what people are saying:
Why Attend Switchback
Discovery
Switchback provides the opportunity to discover new products, new relationships, and new pathways to grow your business. An interactive, dynamic exhibit hall, valuable networking time, and thoughtful education combine to create one-stop events with endless opportunities for discovery.
Industry Leading-Education
Switchback offers full days of educational programming built to address the outdoor industry’s current challenges and trends. Targeted programming will be applicable and valuable to specialty retailers across all business levels and positions.
Time to Connect
Dedicated time for connection—created with the attendee experience in mind—will happen intentionally throughout each event. From happy hours and receptions to structured meeting time, expect to build new relationships, learn from your industry peers, and celebrate the outdoor specialty community.
A One-Stop-Shop
Switchback packs value into just three dedicated days. Centrally located in Nashville, you’ll access leading brands, the latest products, meaningful networking, and unmatched education—all in an accessible location and a short amount of time.
OIA Industry Lunch: State of the Winter Outdoor Market
Saturday, January 26th, 2022, 1:00 PM (MT)
Location: MR 400’s
Speakers:
- Gina McCarthy, White House National Climate Advisor
- Matt Thurston, Director of Sustainability, REI
- Lise Aangenbrug, Executive Director, OIA
- Amy Horton, Senior Director of Sustainable Business Innovation, OIA
- Rich Harper, Director of Government Affairs, OIA
Award Host: Derek Sabori, Sustainability Coach and Founder, The Underswell
Award Judges and Presenters:
- Erin Callahan, Director of Corporate Engagement, RMI
- Bee Hui Yeh, Founder & Principal, The Power of We
- Eliot Metzger, Director of Sustainable Business & Innovation, WRI
- Andrew Winston, Sustainability Expert and Author
Description: A presentation on participation in outdoor activities, sales trends in outdoor, supply chain disruptions, the impacts of Covid on participation, and consumer perspectives. Attendees will learn what the data is telling us about supply and demand, and how the pandemic has affected all aspects of the outdoor market and participation habits. Attendees will also learn about increased diversity across the participation base, the new consumer journey into the outdoor market, and what opportunities the U.S. Census 2020 projections revealed. We will discuss business, participation, buying behaviors and social trends and how they impact the outdoor market. Attendees will walk out of this presentation with a clear view of current activity in the outdoor market and will know what the future likely has in store for outdoor market players.
CLIMATE ACTION: AMBITION, COLLABORATION AND PRACTICAL STEPS TO GUIDE OUR INDUSTRY’S PATH TO CLIMATE POSITIVE
TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021, 12:00 P.M. (MT)
Location: Virtual Education Session
Speakers:
- Gina McCarthy, White House National Climate Advisor
- Matt Thurston, Director of Sustainability, REI
- Lise Aangenbrug, Executive Director, OIA
- Amy Horton, Senior Director of Sustainable Business Innovation, OIA
- Rich Harper, Director of Government Affairs, OIA
Award Host: Derek Sabori, Sustainability Coach and Founder, The Underswell
Award Judges and Presenters:
- Erin Callahan, Director of Corporate Engagement, RMI
- Bee Hui Yeh, Founder & Principal, The Power of We
- Eliot Metzger, Director of Sustainable Business & Innovation, WRI
- Andrew Winston, Sustainability Expert and Author
Description: More than 100 companies representing more than $25 billion in annual sales revenue have united through the Climate Action Corps to tackle the outdoor industry’s most pressing threat. If you are a member of this community, we commend you! If not, it’s not too late to join. Collectively, Corps members made real progress despite the challenges of 2020. During this session we’ll share results from our inaugural year and recognize some notable leaders in transparency, partnership, community and overall impact.
Now, with less than a decade to cut global emissions in half, we need to catalyze even bigger, bolder action within our industry – and beyond. Join this session to gain insights from industry leaders and special guests on our new path to climate positive by 2030, and how collaborating to reduce your GHG emissions, remove what you cannot reduce and advocate for systemic change can drive real impact – and business value.
Join Our Member-led Collective
Become an OIA member and join our passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting—and growing access to—the benefits of the outdoors for everyone.
Call 303.444.3353 to speak to a membership manager today.