Beyond the Black Square: Teresa Baker on Inclusivity Action vs. Rhetoric in the Outdoor Industry

Beyond the Black Square: Teresa Baker on Inclusivity Action vs. Rhetoric in the Outdoor Industry

In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin sits down with Teresa Baker, the co-director and co-founder of the Outdoor Diversity Alliance (ODA) and the unofficial queen of outdoor inclusivity, for a transparent look at the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoor industry. Tracing their collaborative roots back to 2018 with the launch of the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and a fateful 2022 summit at the Patagonia Ventura headquarters, Eoin and Teresa discuss what it takes to build authentic corporate relationships. Modeled originally after the industry action of The Conservation Alliance (TCA), the ODA has rallied an impressive collective of over 23 brands committed to real action—including Burton, Keen, Smartwool, REI, Cirrus, BOA, SIA, Aspen, Bonfire Collective, and the Switchback trade show. This conversation confronts the heavy challenges facing modern brands around inclusiviyt work. Teresa directly addresses the shift from performative corporate gestures to the deep internal work of diversifying corporate boards and staff. Eoin and Teresa unpack why brands are "turtling" in fear of political boycotts, why companies like Brooks Running get authenticity right, and why high-profile outdoor faces need to step up and use their platforms. Unfiltered, urgent, and inspiring, this episode is a call to action to lean into "good trouble," adapt to changing cultural demographics, and rewrite the corporate script to preserve our collective Joy in the Outdoors. CONNECT WITH US We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind. You can reach out directly via the following channels: * LinkedIn: Connect with our host, Eoin Comerford [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/]. * Email: Drop us a line at outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com [outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com]. OUR SPONSORS This episode of Outdoor Unfiltered is made possible by the incredible support of our industry sponsors: * ENDVR [https://www.endvr.io/] — The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. * Crux Retail [https://www.crux-retail.com/] — Creating bold retail displays for bold brands.

Revamping ISPO, Inside KMD's Strategic Review & The Truth Behind Recreation dot Gov

Dive beyond the PR spin with Outdoor Unfiltered, your insider look into the outdoor industry's biggest shifts. In this episode, host Eoin Comerford breaks down why KMD Brands -- the parent company of global surf icon Rip Curl, retail giant Kathmandu, and hiking footwear favorite Oboz -- has launched a major strategic review. Next, we call out the non-stop promotional spam from recreation.gov [http://recreation.gov/], peeling back the curtain on its operator, Booz Allen Hamilton, and how their contract impacts public lands' funding. On a brighter note, we highlight Mountain High Outfitters and their impressive 31-store expansion, showing why the "Big Os" specialty retail model is thriving. Finally, Mike Seaman and Tracy Bebbington of Racoon Media Group join the show to discuss their massive €3 million investment to revitalize and completely revamp the iconic ISPO show as it moves to Amsterdam this November. TIMESTAMPS: * [00:22] – KMD Brands Strategic Review: What does the future hold for Kathmandu, Rip Curl, and Oboz under their New Zealand-based parent company? * [04:45] – The Recreation.gov Spam Machine: Why a private contract with Booz Allen Hamilton is driving massive revenue away from our underfunded National Parks. * [07:11] – Specialty Retail Success: How Mountain High Outfitters is bucking the trend with its 31st store expansion. * [09:05] – Interview with Racoon Media Group: Mike Seaman and Tracy Bebbington lay out their €3 million plan to relocate, revamp, and revitalize the iconic ISPO show in Amsterdam. CONNECT WITH US: We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries, or whatever's on your mind. * Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com [outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com] * LinkedIn: Connect with Eoin Comerford on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/] OUR SPONSORS: We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors who make this show possible. Please support them by checking out their services: * ENDVR [https://www.endvr.io/]: The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. * Crux Retail [https://www.crux-retail.com/]: Creating bold retail displays for bold brands.

The North Face Turnaround, Lululemon’s Feud, & Shein Buys Everlane

In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, host Eoin Comerford pulls back the curtain on major shifts hitting the outdoor and apparel markets. We analyze the 4-year financial trajectory of The North Face, look past the personality drama at Lululemon, and deliver a sobering wake-up call to outdoor brands relying too heavily on sustainability as their primary differentiator. TIMESTAMPS: * 00:00 – Podcast Intro and Host Overview * 00:36 – The Unfiltered Upside: Inside The North Face's Q4 and Fiscal 2026 Turnaround Metrics * 01:50 – Product Assortment and "Me-Too" Traps: How TNF Hit a Wall in 2023 * 02:30 – Analyzing VF Investor Day: Category Consolidation and Brand Centering * 03:15 – Premiumization, Luxury Collaborations, and Rising Price Points * 04:00 – Performance vs. Performance-Inspired: Navigating Cultural Relevancy * 04:45 – Product Franchise Management: The Proliferation of Denali and Nuptse Variations * 05:40 – Modernizing Marketing: Reviewing the "Never Just a Hike" Campaign * 06:54 – Commercial Break: ENDVR * 07:42 – The Lululemon Spat: Is Chip Wilson Actually Right? * 08:35 – Stock Peaks and Product Execution: What the Street is Saying About Lululemon * 09:12 – The Rise of Alo and Vuori: Has Lululemon Abandoned Its Playbook? * 09:50 – Commercial Break: Crux Retail * 10:44 – The Anti-Shein No More: Shein Acquires Everlane * 11:34 – The History of Everlane and the Trap of the "Middle Ground" * 12:20 – The Sincerity Crisis: Is Sustainability a Primary Driver or Just Table Stakes? * 12:45 – The Cautionary Tale of Allbirds * 13:30 – The 4 Critical Takeaways for Outdoor Brands in a Trend-Driven Market CONNECT WITH US: > We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries, or whatever's on your mind. * Email Us: outdoorunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com * Connect with Eoin Comerford on LinkedIn: Eoin's Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/] OUR SPONSORS: * ENDVR – The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. Visit www.endvr.io [https://www.endvr.io/] to claim your free starter credits. * Crux Retail – Creating bold retail fixtures and custom displays for bold outdoor brands. Book your discovery call today at www.crux-retail.com [https://www.crux-retail.com/]. Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight LLC.

The Real Story Behind REI’s 2025 Numbers & Should You Attend OR 2026?

Dive deep into the real numbers behind the outdoor industry with host Eoin Comerford in Episode 12 of Outdoor Unfiltered. In this episode, we unpack REI’s fiscal 2025 financial reports, breaking down what flat revenues, rising gross margins, and a declining active membership base mean for the future of the cooperative. Then, we look beyond the PR spin of recent Q1 earnings reports from top brands, including Yeti's wholesale surge, Wolverine Worldwide's lifestyle expansion with Saucony, Under Armour's ongoing retail challenges, and Compass Diversified's technical insights from Boa and Primaloft. Finally, we analyze the latest NSGA (National Sporting Goods Association) sports participation numbers, revealing massive growth in hiking, kayaking, and alpine skiing. In our expert guest segment, we are joined by industry leaders Lindsay Hubley and Sunny Stroeer from Emerald X to discuss the upcoming revamp of the Outdoor Retailer show in Minneapolis, its shifting calendar to August, and the game-changing Wild Reach creator platform powered by Popfly. SHOW NOTES EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, host Eoin Comerford goes line-by-line through the reality of REI’s 2025 financial performance, separates the signal from the noise in recent outdoor brand earnings reports, and highlights which outdoor sports are actually growing according to the NSGA. Plus, Lindsay Hubley and Sunny Stroeer join the show to detail how the upcoming Outdoor Retailer show in Minneapolis is adapting to meet the needs of modern specialty retailers, brands, and content creators. TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 – Welcome to Outdoor Unfiltered & REI 2025 Financial Overview * 00:54 – Breaking Down REI's Revenue, Store Expansion, and the 53rd Week * 02:08 – Gross Margins, Inventory Gluts, and Promotional Discipline * 03:00 – Operating Losses, Payroll Structural Problems, and Layoffs * 04:02 – Membership Metrics: Voting Eligible vs. Total Members * 04:36 – Cash, Investments, and Operating Cash Flow Reality * 05:25 – Sponsor Break: ENDVR * 06:33 – Quick Hits: Yeti Q1 Earnings Analysis * 07:11 – Quick Hits: Wolverine Worldwide & Saucony Growth * 07:44 – Quick Hits: Under Armour's Retail Challenges * 08:24 – Quick Hits: Compass Diversified, Boa, and Primaloft Performance * 08:52 – Sponsor Break: Crux Retail * 09:47 – The Unfiltered Upside: NSGA Sports Participation Report (Hiking, Kayaking, Skiing, and Camping) * 11:24 – Interview: Lindsay Hubley & Sunny Stror on the New Outdoor Retailer Show * 13:00 – Understanding the Outdoor Retailer Leadership Village & Advisory Family * 14:48 – Moving Outdoor Retailer to Minneapolis and Changing the Dates to August * 17:15 – Shifting the Show Floor: Capping Maximum Booth Sizes * 18:29 – Brand Diversity and Headliners at Outdoor Retailer 2026 * 19:33 – Special Sections, Backcountry Partnerships, and Stewardship Pavilions * 21:00 – Introducing Wild Reach: The Popfly Creator Partnership Platform * 24:34 – How to Apply for the Hosted Buyer and Scholarship Programs * 25:34 – What to Expect for Industry Day and the Retailer Playbook Labs * 27:44 – Industry Day Keynotes and Happy Hour Events * 28:54 – Defining Success for the Revamped Outdoor Retailer Show CONNECT WITH US We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries, or whatever's on your mind. * Host: Connect with Eoin Comerford on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/] * Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com [outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com] OUR SPONSORS * ENDVR: The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. Learn more at www.endvr.io [http://www.endvr.io/] * Crux Retail: Designing and engineering custom, customer-centric retail store fixtures and bold retail displays for bold brands. Learn more at www.crux-retail.com [http://www.crux-retail.com/]

The Outdoor Industry's Amazon Dilemma! Plus: The Power of SOBAN

Join Eoin Comerford on Outdoor Unfiltered as we strip away the PR speak to examine the real forces driving the outdoor industry. In this episode, we tackle the "elephant in the room": Amazon. With roughly 50% of all U.S. e-commerce searches starting on Amazon, outdoor brands can no longer ignore the platform. Eoin breaks down six specific Amazon strategies—from the "Full Blackout" favored by Patagonia and Birkenstock to the "Single Designated 3P Seller" model. Later, Eoin is joined by Jonathan Jarosz, Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes and Co-Founder of Land of Outsiders. They dive deep into the world of Outdoor Business Alliances (OBAs) and the State Outdoor Business Alliance Network (SOBAN). Discover how these alliances work alongside Offices of Outdoor Recreation (ORECs) to bolster the outdoor economy in states like Michigan, Maine, and Minnesota.  Whether you are an emerging brand or an industry veteran, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating digital marketplaces and state-level advocacy. SHOW NOTES Episode Summary: Host Eoin Comerford explores the tactical realities of Amazon for outdoor brands and discusses the vital role of state-level business alliances with guest Jonathan Jarosz. Timestamped Highlights: * 00:00 – Intro: The uncomfortable truth about Amazon and the outdoor industry. * 04:18 – Strategy 1: The Full Blackout (The Patagonia Approach). * 06:17 – Strategy 2: Selling 1P (Dancing with the Devil). * 07:38 – Strategy 3: Selling 3P Direct (Owning your presence). * 09:54 – Strategy 4: The Single Designated 3P Seller (The Orva Model). * 11:51 – Strategy 5: 3P Direct + Approved Dealer Network. * 13:31 – Strategy 6: The Free-for-All (What happens when you don't decide). * 15:10 – Sponsor Break: ENDVR and Crux Retail. * 18:25 – Interview with Jonathan Jarosz: Defining Outdoor Business Alliances (OBAs). * 21:28 – The "Spiral Corkscrew": The relationship between OBAs and ORECs. * 24:35 – The three flavors of OBAs: Industry Only, Business Plus, and Big Tent. * 27:14 – The SOBAN map: Growth in the "Missing Middle" (Minnesota, Arkansas, Pennsylvania). * 31:18 – How to get involved and what’s next for the Outdoor Economy. Connect With Us: We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries, or whatever's on your mind. * LinkedIn: Connect with Eoin Comerford [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/] * Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com Our Sponsors: * ENDVR [https://www.endvr.io/] – The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. * Crux Retail [https://www.crux-retail.com/] – Creating bold retail displays for bold brands. Resources Mentioned: * SOBAN (State Outdoor Business Alliance Network) [https://soban.org/]