Webinar: 2021 Threats to the West and the Best Policies to Address Them

Speakers: Dave Metz, Partner and President, FM3 Research
Lori Weigel, Principal, New Bridge Strategy

The 11th annual Conservation in the West survey sponsored by Colorado College’s State of the Rockies Project is the most comprehensive view of Western-state voters’ attitudes about conservation issues and challenges. In years past, the survey has focused on issues such as state control of public lands, water rights and wildfire. The 2021 survey has a heavy focus on climate change and how lands and waters can affect that crisis. Our panel of pollsters will highlight findings from this year’s report, key distinctions among different racial/ethnic sub-groups within this region and how current or future federal and state policies can address conservation issues.

THRIVING PEOPLE AND THRIVING BUSINESS: OUTDOOR COMPANIES LEADING WITH INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE MARKETING

Moderator: Miho Aida, NatureBridge

Presenters: Janice Tennant, Merrell; Mirna Valerio, Merrell Brand Advocate; Allison Miles, Ruffwear; Vasu Sojitra, The North Face Athlete

Description: Diversity and inclusion should not be performative buzzwords. Hear from brands that are doing the work to rethink their marketing strategies, build authentic relationships and incorporate strong representation in their advertising. These industry voices will explore best practices in diversity and inclusive marketing, give insights into steps their companies are taking and discuss the future of marketing within the outdoor industry.

THRIVING PEOPLE, THRIVING PLANET AND THRIVING BUSINESSES: BIDEN, CONGRESS AND THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY

Presenters: George Cooper, Forbes-Tate; Rich Harper, Outdoor Industry Association; Taldi Harrison, REI; Amy Horton, Outdoor Industry Association; Mike Ratchford, W.L. Gore & Associates; Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.); Jeannie Renne-Malone, VF Corporation

Description: The 2020 general election was one of the most consequential in U.S. history for the outdoor recreation economy. And outdoor voters responded in record numbers in support of all aspects of our policy priorities. With a new administration and Congress, we now have the opportunity to build on the success of the Great American Outdoors Act and help tackle climate change, protect our public lands and waters, expand access to the outdoors for all Americans and help our industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic with new investments in green infrastructure and close-to-home recreation and a balanced trade agenda. Join us for an exciting conversation on what lies ahead for the outdoor recreation economy and how we can play a meaningful role.

Covid Edition: Letter from Our Executive Director

It is hard to believe a full year has passed since the global coronavirus pandemic shut down our nation, ravaged communities and caused economic disruption unseen in our lifetimes. We won’t soon forget the devastation, and there is still much work ahead to repair the damages the outdoor industry incurred. However, as I reflect on the past year, I am inspired by how our community came together to respond to this crisis and to deliver some powerful achievements, demonstrating our resilience and strength.

I am particularly proud of the following actions that OIA and our industry were able to take:

We conducted an industry-wide member survey to understand the business impacts of the pandemic and to learn how OIA can lend a hand with tools, resources and advocacy support. We heard from our members the value of focusing on critical outdoor issues such as equity in the outdoors, climate action, public lands, conservation, the outdoor recreation economy and trade. We also heard the need, loud and clear, for new ways for our community to convene. We have already begun delivering on these issues and will continue to do so in 2021 to demonstrate value to our members.

The outdoor industry showed up to support our critical work. We made many asks of you, our members, in the past 12 months, and we are humbled to share that your support will allow us to continue to serve to elevate the collective voice, influence and power of the outdoor industry. Thank you to those who stepped up to Leadership and Support membership levels.

Countless outdoor industry businesses rapidly pivoted their production to make millions of PPE units—including masks, face shields, gowns, ventilators and other critical equipment— for frontline workers. At OIA, we worked quickly to support our members with tools such as this webinar to help move efforts faster and further. Read the inspirational stories here.

Outdoor Retailer went virtual, and OIA pivoted to provide more than 20 education sessions at the Summer and Winter Online shows. Watch our on-demand sessions on topics ranging from DEI to outdoor recreation and from climate action to participation and trade.

OIA advocated on our industry’s behalf in Washington, D.C., and at the state level for economic disaster relief and delivered resources, such as our COVID-19 Hub and webinar and Campfire Conversation series. We also developed a comprehensive policy platform for the 2020 election and secured key meetings with the new administration and Congress.

Outdoorists committed to #VoteTheOutdoors and followed through. In a time of great political division and polarization, protecting the outdoors is one thing we can all agree on. Together through our #VoteTheOutdoors campaign, we were able to preserve public lands and waters, lower costs for outdoor businesses, help advance sustainable business practices and shape public policy.

Outdoor participation grew. Forthcoming research confirms what our industry was reporting anecdotally: people across the country were able to find a reprieve from the pandemic in outdoor activities like trail running, hiking, camping, fishing, biking and more. I take comfort in knowing our industry helped millions of Americans recreate safely through the Recreate Responsibly coalition and that retailers and outfitters across the country found new and creative ways to continue serving their customers, many of whom were newcomers. Our Special Report, The New Outdoor Participant (COVID and Beyond), will help you learn what motivated these newcomers and offer strategies for retaining them, even after pandemic restrictions are lifted.

The Thrive Outside Initiative released its first annual Impact Report. The Thrive Outside Initiative empowers communities to make outdoor recreation an accessible lifestyle for all. This effort is a catalyst to drive positive outcomes in critical areas such as health and wellness, youth development, social justice and community development—all more important than ever during the pandemic. Read what we were able to accomplish and how the communities adapted in year one.

We committed to building a just and equitable outdoors. As the association for the outdoor industry, we have a voice—and a corresponding responsibility to do more. The police killing of George Floyd and countless instances of racism and racial violence against Black people were horrific, and we know these events are not isolated and are part of a long history of systemic racism and injustice in our country and in the outdoors. Read our statement and commitment to do better, as well as the progress we made in 2020.

The Climate Action Corps grew to more than 80 members. In light of global circumstances around the pandemic, it would not have been surprising to see companies take a step back from their sustainability efforts. But the outdoor industry doubled down on its commitment to combat the climate crisis, and we gained dozens of new and committed Corps members. Learn more about our industry’s collective commitment to measure, plan and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and share progress annually.

Despite the challenges and setbacks our industry endured over the past year, we also demonstrated incredible resiliency and unity. I am eager to see how this momentum carries our industry toward continued collaboration, innovation and growth.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to our membership team. We are here for you as we collectively work to recover.

Together We Are a Force,

Lise Aangeenbrug
OIA Executive Director

COVID-19 Stimulus Package Highlights

The following provisions are related to small businesses and access to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) second draw loans. For additional information on obtaining PPP loans, view OIA’s webinar from March 2020 with Small Business Administration.

Additional expenses are now allowable and forgivable with PPP funds:

  • Covered worker protection expenditure. PPE and adaptive investments to help a loan recipient comply with federal health and safety guidelines or any equivalent state and local guidance related to COVID-19 during the period between March 1, 2020, and the end of the national emergency declaration.
  • Covered property damage costs. Costs related to property damage due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that are not covered by insurance.
  • Covered supplier costs. Expenditures to a supplier pursuant to a contract, purchase order, or order for goods in effect prior to taking out the loan that are essential to the recipient’s operations at the time at which the expenditure was made. Supplier costs of perishable goods can be made before or during the life of the loan.
  • Covered operations expenditures. Payment for any software, cloud computing, and other human resources and accounting needs.
  • These forgiven loans will not be counted as taxable income.

Specific Group Insurance Payments as Payroll costs:

  • Clarifies that other employer-provided group insurance benefits are included in payroll costs. This includes group, life, disability vision and dental insurance.
  • This provision applies to loans made before, on, or after 12/22/2020 (enactment date), including forgiveness of the loan.

PPP Second Draw Loans:

  • This “PPP second draw” loan will be for smaller and harder-hit business, with a maximum amount of $2 million.
  • To be eligible to receive a PPP loan, you must:
    • Have fewer than 300 employees
    • Have used (or will use) the full amount of your first PPP loan
    • Demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts in the first, second, or 3rd quarter of 2020 relative to the same 2019 quarter.
  • Eligible entities must be a business, certain non-profit organizations, self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, independent contractors and small agricultural co-operatives
  • Loan terms:
    • Seasonal employers may calculate their maximum loan amount based on a 12-week period beginning February 15, 2019 through February 15, 2020
    • New entities may receive loans of up to 2.5x the sum of their average monthly payroll costs
    • Businesses with multiple locations that are eligible entitles under the initial PPP requirements may employ not more than 300 employees per physical location
    • Wavier of affiliation rules that applied during initial PP loans apply to a second loan
    • An eligible entity may only receive one PPP second draw loan
  • Loan forgiveness: borrowers of a PPP second draw loan would be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the sum of their payroll costs, as well as covered mortgage, rent, and utility payments, covered operations expenditures, covered property damage costs, covered supplier costs, and covered worker protection expenditures inured during the covered period. The 60/40 cost allocation between payroll and non-payroll costs in order to receive full forgiveness will continue to apply.
  • Guidance to prioritize underserved communities: directs the SBA Administrator to issue guidance addressing barriers to access to capital for underserved communities no later than 10 days after enactment
  • Application of Exemption Based on Employee: extends existing safe harbors on restoring full time employees (FTE) and salaries and wages.
    • Specifically, applies the rule of reducing loan forgiveness for the borrower reducing the number of employees retained and reducing employees’ salaries in excess of 25 percent.

Increased Ability for PPP Borrowers to Request an Increase in Loan Amount due to Updated Regulations:

  • Requires SBA to release guidance to lenders withing 17 days of enactment that allows borrowers who returned all or part of their PPP loan to reapply for the maximum amount applicable so long that they have not received forgiveness
  • This section allows borrowers whose loan calculations have increased due to changes in interim final rules to work with lenders to modify their loan value regardless of whether the loan has been fully disbursed, or if Form 1502 has already been submitted

Eligibility of 501(c)(6) and Destination Marketing Organizations for Loans Under PPP:

  • Expands eligibility to receive a PPP loan to include the following organizations –
    • 501(c)(6) if:
      • The organization does not receive more than 15 percent of receipts from lobbying
      • The lobbying activities do not exceed $1 million during the most recent tax year that ended prior to February 15, 2020
      • The organization has fewer than 300 employees
      • Professional sports leagues or organizations with the purpose of promoting or participating in a political campaign or other political activities are not eligible under this section
    • Destination Marketing Operations if:
      • Sections 1-3 above, and
      • The destination marketing organization is registered as a 501(c) organization, a quasi-government entity, or a political subdivision of a state or local government

      Prohibition on use of Loan Proceeds for Lobbying Activities:

      • Proceeds of the covered loan may not be used for lobbying activities, as defined by the Lobbying Disclosure Act, lobbying expenditures related to state or local campaigns, and expenditures to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, or regulations

      Limitations on Eligibility:

      • Businesses or organizations that were not in operation on February 15, 2020 are not eligible for a second draw PPP loan
      • This was the case for initial PPP loan
      • Eligible entities that receive a grant under the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants will not be eligible for a PPP second draw loan

      Direct Appropriations:

      • $284.45 billion for PPP, including:
        • $35 billion for first-time borrowers
        • $25 billion for second draw PPP loans
        • $15 billion for PPP loans issued by community financial institutions
        • $15 billion for PPP loans issued by certain small depository institutions
      • $15 million for the Minority Business Development Centers program
      • $50 million for PPP auditing and fraud mitigation
      • $3.5 million for Debt Relief program

New ban on products made with forced labor in Xinjiang, China

The Trump administration announced last week that it would ban all inbound shipments containing cotton or any cotton products – including textiles and apparel – originating from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) due to forced labor and human rights concerns.

The XPCC is a paramilitary organization that is responsible for most of the cotton production and harvest in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (“XUAR”) of China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that XUAR’s cotton harvest accounts for more than 80 percent of China’s overall cotton production.

This action is the latest in the administration’s effort to combat forced labor and other human rights violations in the Xinjiang region, home to China’s Muslim Uyghur community.

In September of 2020, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it would detain imports suspected of being made with forced labor from the following entities in XUAR:

  • Xinjiang Junggar Cotton and Linen Co. and its subsidiaries – Cotton
  • Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. – Computer parts
  • Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co. – Apparel products
  • Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co. – Apparel products
  • Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center – All products
  • Lop County Hair Product Industrial Park – Hair products

In July of 2020, the administration listed the XPCC as a specially designated national (SDN) under U.S. sanctions laws enforced by the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) by the Treasury Department; this bars all transactions that benefit the XPCC or its subsidiaries and affiliates with a 50-percent-or-greater controlling share by XPCC. The Commerce Department has also placed companies connected to the Xinjiang region on its Entity List subject to technology export controls.

In addition, the Senate may consider the House-passed Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R.6210/S.3471) before the end of the year. As currently drafted, the bill includes the following provisions:

  • A requirement for the administration to develop an action plan to address forced labor in the XUAR.
  • A prohibition starting 120 days after enactment of the importation of all goods produced, in whole or in part, in the XUAR, based on a presumptive link to forced labor – unless the importer can provide clear evidence to the contrary.
  • A requirement that SEC-reporting companies include new disclosures about any nexus to the XUAR.

It is possible that the bill’s provisions could be amended before a final vote in the Senate. We will keep you posted on any developments.

To learn more about this important issue and the impact on outdoor companies, check out this OIA webinar from September.

Webinar: Understanding and Integrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: An Inside Look at the Latest Course in the Outdoor Industry Business Certificate

Speakers: Lise Aangeenbrug, Outdoor Industry Association and Andrés Esparza, Western Colorado University

Take the first step in a life-long path towards a better understanding of what it means to belong to a diverse community and the strength, power, inspiration, and opportunity that such a community can provide for the greater outdoor industry. Learn about the new course currently being offered as a part of the Outdoor Industry Business Certificate (OIBC) program from instructor Andrés Esparza. Learn more about the course objectives, and what you can expect to learn by taking the course. Hear from OIA executive director Lise Aangeenbrug on why knowledge on these principles is critical to a successful career in the outdoor industry. You’ll also have a chance to ask them questions in a live Q&A session.

FAQ: 2020 BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS REPORT ON OUTDOOR RECREATION RELEASED

Outdoor Recreation Is an Economic Force; Accounts for Over 2 Percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product

November 20, 2020

How is the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) study different from the OIA economic study?
The featured BEA measures include gross output, a measure of outdoor recreation goods and services produced by domestic industries; and value added, a measure of the contribution of outdoor recreation industries to gross domestic product (the primary measure of economic activity in the nation). OIA’s study measures consumer spending on all gear-related expenses and associated travel for outdoor recreation, including spending on imported products.

How does the $842B nominal gross output ($788B real gross output*) contribution line up with the OIA’s $887 billion consumer spending on outdoor recreation?
Both are true, they just measure different economic contributors. The BEA satellite account measures gross output while OIA’s study measures consumer spending on all gear-related expenses and associated travel for outdoor recreation.

It is important to note; the BEA estimate only includes the wholesale and retail mark-ups applied to imported products while the OIA’s figures report all consumer spending.

* Current-dollar estimates are valued in the prices of the period when the transactions occurred—that is, at “market value.” Also referred to as “nominal estimates” or as “current-price estimates.” Chained-dollar (Real) estimates are calculated by taking the current-dollar level of a series in the base period and multiplying it by the change in the chained-type quantity index number for the series since the base period. Chained dollar estimates correctly show growth rates for a series but are not additive in periods other than the base period.

What is the methodology of the OIA Outdoor Recreation Economy Report?
BEA’s analysis for the time period 2012-2019 was just released on November 10. We have not had an opportunity to review the methodology at this point, but what we do know is that our economic report is based on consumer spending, while the BEA’s numbers are focused on measuring gross output and value added.

Essentially, our economic report – which is basic economic input-output modeling – starts with the consumer and works down to the manufacturing/imports point. The BEA goes the opposite direction, starting with production in manufacturing and other industries and works up to the consumer. This approach uses different data sets and methods which accounts for differences, too.

What is the difference between gross output and value added (or GDP)?
Gross output (GO) is the measure of total economic activity in the production of goods and services. It is a much broader measure of the economy than gross domestic product (GDP), which measures final output (finished goods and services).

2020 Membership Dues Deferral

We recognize that the Coronavirus pandemic has put many companies, small and large, in a very difficult financial position. Our priority is supporting you through this challenging time. That is why we created the COVID-19 Resource Hub and why we have decided to defer OIA membership payments.

Current OIA members will have 120 days (expanded from the usual 30-day grace period) to pay their renewal invoice. You will continue to retain your full membership status and all of your OIA membership benefits for up to 4 months after your anniversary date.

In addition, we are waiving all initiation fees for new and renewing members.

If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to our membership team at membership@outdoorindustry.org.

We are here for you. Together We Are A Force.

Pandemic? Holiday Sales? Shortages? Landed Costs? How Traeger Grills Manages Supply Chain Planning in an Unmanageable World

Speakers: Anne Patterson, Principal at InventoryGuru.com; Russ Graf, VP Channel Management North America at NETSTOCK; and Dustin Joyce, Director of Operations Planning at Traeger Grills

Sales are flamin’ hot at Traeger Grills, yet supply chain and inventory replenishment are keeping their cool. Learn how KPI-driven dashboard insight helps Traeger balance sales growth and inventory investment, keep customers happy and let planners focus on the big picture instead of spreadsheet minutia.

Brand recognition and market-share leadership have enabled Traeger to expand its grill product line as well as to diversify into accessories, apparel and consumables.  But with growth comes challenges: more SKUs, more suppliers, more product life cycles and – with the pandemic – exponentially more supply chain risk.

Learn how NETSTOCK’s cloud-based inventory management solution helps Traeger manage inventory by exception: what’s out of stock, what’s about to go out of stock and what’s excess – prioritized by inventory classification that cleverly marries cost with run rate and enables quick ordering, while at the same time optimizing transport.

With the pandemic still in play, consumers are queueing up for the holiday sales, said to have already begun in Q3. Learn how to audit and adapt your inventory strategy so that this year’s holiday season is a smooth one for your business and your supply chain is geared up for 2021.

Sponsor: This webinar is proudly sponsored by NETSTOCK inventory optimization software. Used by over 15,000 users in over 1,600 companies worldwide running over 40 different ERP systems, NETSTOCK brings enterprise-class planning to the mid-market with affordable subscriptions and 100 percent remote implementation.