OIA board member companies urge industry to attend Outdoor Retailer

The Outdoor Industry Association’s board members and their companies wrote a letter encouraging brands to attend Outdoor Retailer this summer.

The Outdoor Industry Association’s board member companies published a letter Friday evening, asking the industry to band together and show up at Outdoor Retailer in July so their voices can be heard. It’s the latest letter in a series of announcements from OIA brand members taking differing positions on attending the show.

We have republished the letter in its entirety below.

Dear Outdoor Industry Colleagues,

We applaud OIA members such as REI, Ibex and The North Face and their call for industry unity by attending Outdoor Retailer this July while we work to find a more suitable venue for future shows. Boycotting the show could have a significant negative impact on small- and midsize brands, specialty retailers and nonprofits who depend on the business and inspiration that happens at the show.

As our industry has grown and matured, our voice has gotten stronger and louder. Our messages are reaching a broad audience and having impact with the public and with policymakers. But that impact will dissolve if we don’t stick together now. Boycotting the Outdoor Retailer show will hurt our industry and the credibility we’ve worked so hard to build.

We, the members of the OIA Board of Directors, represent YOU. We hear, understand and share your desire to make impactful statements in support of public lands, not only in Utah but across the country.

That’s why we are asking you to do three things:

1. Come to Outdoor Retailer. Show your industry peers that you support and value your business relationships with them.

1. Step up to the table, don’t walk away. Join us at Capitol Summit to speak directly with allies and opponents of the public lands issues. Explain why public lands matter to you, your business, your state and the country. Do not abandon the conversation.

1. Contact usdirectly if you want to talk about this more. Our aim is to amplify our collective voice, not to allow it to splinter.

We are working tirelessly with Outdoor Retailer to select a more appropriate venue for future shows, but we are committed to doing the proper due diligence. Thank you for your patience, your passion and your unwavering commitment to one another. Stay tuned for more from OIA and OR about activations and opportunities to engage during the show in July.

Together We Are a Force!

The OIA Board of Directors

Eric Artz
REI, REI, EVP/COO

Cam Brensigner
Nemo Equipment, Founder & CEO

Travis Campbell
Smartwool, President

Bob Holding
Waypoint Outdoor, Co-Founder

Mike Joyce
PrimaLoft, President & CEO

Kelly Kraus
Pacific Market International (PMI), VP of Stanley

Rue Mapp
Outdoor Afro, Founder & CEO

Tracy Mayer
Backcountry North, Principal Owner

Layne Rigney
Osprey Packs, President

Mark Satkiewicz
Tom’s Shoes, General Manager, America

Gordon Seabury
Toad&Co, CEO

Jim Zwiers
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc, EVP