The GearTrends Network launches GearTrends.com

The GearTrends® Network officially announced the launch of its website, www.GearTrends.com, less than two months after announcing the company’s formation.

“GearTrends, in tandem with SNEWS® and our upcoming launch of GearTrends®, The Book Winter Outdoor, is clearly poised to become the most efficient method for retailers, manufacturers, media and certainly consumers to have immediate and constant access to the best information and happenings in the outdoor and fitness industries,” Michael Hodgson, co-publisher of GearTrends®, said.

The new website is fully searchable and uniquely customized so that the public sees only consumer-relevant information, while trade and media, logging in with a password, see additional details for their business needs.

Trade-only information includes access to the Resource Center, a directory of industry businesses, associations and organizations that GearTrends® provides as a free service. In addition, only those in the trade with a password will be able to view products designated as “viewable by trade only,” such as wholesale pricing information, media contact information and national sales manager contact information.

Lowe Alpine, Horny Toad, Travel Chair, Marmot, Kelty, W.L. Gore, Polartec, Leki, Harbinger, Timberland, Cascade Designs, Gramicci, Manzella and Gregory have quickly jumped on board with the new GearTrends.

For manufacturers, in addition to receiving other GearTrends Network® benefits, the ability to create and then maintain a company page in GearTrends®, controlling what products get displayed and how, is a significant bonus and a feature that is surprisingly easy to use.

“The new site rocks! Very easy to navigate and to administer products,” said Brandon Walton of Lowe Alpine.

Consumers are already logging into the GearTrends Retailer Directory — a free service provided by GearTrends for outdoor, snowsports and fitness retailers anywhere in the world. Retailers are able to establish an account, provide a logo and enter every store into the directory. In turn, the directory is linked directly from individual manufacturer product detail pages in GearTrends, automatically placing the manufacturer name of that product in the keyword search. Click here to view the Retail Directory.

SNEWS®, also part of the GearTrends Network, will launch with a new website and design in early November, though publishers Hodgson and Therese Iknoian assure readers that SNEWS® content will not change one bit.

“We’ll always be advertising-free in our approach and attitude,” says Iknoian. “You will never see a manufacturer-paid banner, button or advertisement on SNEWS®, that’s a promise.”

In related GearTrends news, Daisy LeDuc, a former Outdoor Retailer account executive, has joined the team as an account manager and is currently working with GearTrends Network Sales Director Gene Treacy on selling GearTrends memberships and SNEWS® subscriptions. LeDuc can be reached by email at daisy@geartrends.com

SNEWS® LLC owns The GearTrends® Network, which operates SNEWS®, as well as www.GearTrends.com, and publishes a series of market trend trade magazines under the brand name of GearTrends, The Book.