Roads Rivers Trails is a leading edge specialty outdoor shop in Milford, Ohio, whose commitment to community is carrying them through the pandemic shutdown. RRT is both supporting their business neighbors (by helping found a community hub at milford-strong.com) as well as engaging current and NEW customers through lighthearted social media engagements like virtual happy hours, trivia nights, zoom presentations and even a date night. “The lasting relationships we are building through this has been amazing. Any relief we can be that reminds you of favorite moments … that’s really what we’re trying to do.”  https://www.roadsriversandtrails.com/ #Smallwins #indieretail

Ramsey Outdoors is a 67-year old outdoor store with two storefronts in New Jersey, a refreshingly outdoorsy location amidst one of the nation’s larger urban areas. Despite the stores being closed for normal walk-in business, Stuart Levine and his team have bolstered their e-commerce abilities with the addition of live chat and expert advice. As his stores began to reach out more online, Levine has noted a distinct traffic bump not just in usual local customers but also in people from throughout the country who are embracing the idea of “If you can’t shop local, shop small”.  “People just want to help out,” says Levine. “Obviously, we’re getting more from the northeast, but we are definitely getting sales from the rest of the country.” https://ramseyoutdoor.com/ #Smallwins #indieretail

Jesse Brown’s Outdoors, an independent specialty outdoor retailer in Charlotte, NC, is officially closed. But to stay busy, stay connected and stay relevant during this pandemic spring, the store’s owners have honed in on a new tactic, Facebook Live daily sales. Scheduled three times a day (11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm), the sales are not only showing the store's personality as well as the personality of their product … They’re also creating revenue. The new tactic is a true learning experience, but a positive one. "We have called this ‘falling forward’,” said Bill Bartee of Jesse Brown’s. “It is by no means a normal work day or a normal work week, but it’s something. And we’ve had successful days.” This the first podcast in a series of interviews with specialty outdoor retailers about some small successes they’re having in the midst of great challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. #BigPivot #SmallWins #GrassrootsOutdoorAlliance https://jessebrowns.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JesseBrownsCLT/ LINK: all episodes, Outdoor States podcast Theme music by Chicky Stoltz This the first podcast in a series of specialty retailer interviews about some of the small successes they’re having in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. #BigPivot #SmallWins #GrassrootsOutdoorAlliance https://jessebrowns.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JesseBrownsCLT/

04.10.20 Steve Kropf on DPS Skis and their team effort to create protective medical face shields Drew Simmons, Pale Morning Media DPS Skis, an innovative ski manufacturer in Salt Lake City, is leading a team effort of outdoor companies to make and distribute medical grade face shields. With the support of Petzl, Goal Zero and Eastman, the DPS team of engineers and hardcore skiers have found a new passion in the national effort to protect frontline health care workers.This is the FOURTH in a series of podcast interviews with small outdoor industry manufacturers who are pivoting to stay open, to stay busy and to join the effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.LINK: DPS SkisLINK: Outdoor States series / “The Big Pivot”Theme music by Chicky Stoltz

Up until a couple months ago, Sam Hooper was overseeing ‘normal business’ at Vermont Glove, a family-owned work glove manufacturer in the rising outdoor town of Randolph, Vermont. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Sam and his operation made the big pivot to start building protective masks for front-line healthcare workers. As orders poured in, the Vermont Glove team created a statewide network of 80 sewing enthusiasts to help fill the rising demand.

Gina Thorsen is the president of Stormy Kromer, an iconic hat and apparel manufacturer in Ironwood, Michigan. Like many manufacturers who were shuttered by “shelter at home” orders, Stormy Kromer had halted production a few weeks ago. But then, the phone began to ring with requests from hospitals and medical facilities in dire need of personal protective equipment (PPE).

04.04.20 VANCOUVER, BC - Alan Yiu of Westcomb dives into the creation of performance fabric PPE

11.15.19 NEW MEXICO AND ... YES ... THAT AXIE NAVAS > Former Outside magazine editor takes new role Drew Simmons / Pale Morning Media For the last five years, Axie Navas has worked to grow the digital media offerings of Outside Magazine, a Santa Fe-based media titan in the outdoor industry. This month, Axie steps into a new job, and a new career, as the first outdoor recreation director for the State of New Mexico’s first outdoor recreation office.Helpful links:Outdoor Economics Conference in Silver City, NM (LINK)New Mexico names former Outside editor as OREC director (SNEWS, LINK)Opportunities abound for New Mexico's outdoor business (SNEWS, LINK)New Mexico signs on to bolster outdoor recreation industry (AP, LINK)Five New States Sign Outdoor Recreation Industry's 'Confluence Accords' (KUER, LINK)The New Mexico Economic Development Department has named 15 people to serve on the advisory panel for the Outdoor Recreation Division. (Grant County Beat, LINK)

Subscribe to Outdoor States Podcast on iTunes. Theme music by Chicky Stoltz "Is it a lack of funding? Or a lack of priorities?” “Is the rise of State (“backpack tax” proposals) compensating for a lack of leadership on outdoor funding at the national level?” “Can the LWCF truly take care of all the funding requests out there for recreation, conservation and stewardship?” This spring, after Washington state legislators rolled out a proposal for a tax increase on outdoor products (HB2122), outdoor industry companies and retailers in the state rallied to oppose the measure. Known as a “backpack tax,” this targeted fundraising tool has emerged at the state level in the past, but in the current climate of proposed tariff increases and other economic challenges, there’s never been a better time to get a little more educated about the issue.  Amy Roberts, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association, goes deep on the topic in this interview, providing both background and anticipated outcomes. Helpful links: What is an Excise Tax (LINK) What is a Tariff (LINK) Dingell-Johnson Act (LINK) Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (LINK) OIA: Oppose Washington Excise Tax on Outdoor Gear (LINK) Conservation Northwest: Support Washington HB 2122 (LINK) Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (LINK) Oregon’s Bicycle Excise Tax (LINK)

"How do we empower a generation of culturally diverse leaders?  By bringing them together, inviting them to find the common ground in the outdoors, and letting them tell us what it means to be an active citizen.” Juan Martinez is the director of strategic partnerships for the Children and Nature Network, and Youth and Community Leadership Fellow for the Center for Native American Youth at The Aspen Institute. Martin LeBlanc is the principal of LBC Action and a senior advisor for the Children and Nature Network. Together, the two are primary engines behind Fresh Tracks — a program of the Center for Native American Youth at The Aspen Institute — which launched in 2015 following a call from President Obama for bold new programs that use the outdoors to broaden horizons for young Americans facing persistent opportunity gaps.