Brands
Archive
As it approaches its sixth birthday, Kuju Coffee breaks into the national Whole Foods ecosystem and co-founder Jeff Wiguna reflects on the journey
VF Corporation’s former president of emerging brands aims to lead the heritage travel company into the next era of success
The collective shares of outdoor-focused public companies posted modest gains in August, up from July’s surprising setback
Solo Stove's recent acquisitions, the latest of which closed yesterday, will form the basis for a new DTC-focused outdoor portfolio called Solo Brands
David Gellis, president of Gordini USA Inc., shared what’s on tap for the brand as it ramps up sustainability efforts and works to welcome more people into outdoor sports
We've compiled the 50 best products of next season, ranked by more than 100 retailers, gear testers, and outdoor enthusiasts
The two outdoor brands have disputed a warming-technology patent for several years. Though the latest verdict fell in Seirus’ favor, Columbia plans to appeal the decision.
As the world gets used to doing more business online, B2B e-commerce providers are sparring for market leadership in the outdoor industry. Dozens of brands have yet to adopt a technology. Welcome to open season.
Renowned for making premium sleeping bags, pads, tents, and other outdoor products, the 20-year-old company has decided it no longer wants customers carrying gear in backpacks made by other brands
A look at how Envoy B2B is helping this iconic brand stay in step with the times
The New Mexico ski resort has hiked its minimum wage to $15 per hour to exceed the living-wage standard for Taos County
The outdoor brand has reportedly stopped selling products to JHMR’s retail stores because of an event held earlier this month by one of the resort’s owners
Polartec’s NeoShell and eVent took the hardshell scene by storm more than a decade ago—only to be outshone by proprietary versions of the same stuff. Can these brands mount a comeback?
We spoke with Sword, the former Oberalp, Pearl Izumi, and Bell/Giro executive, about his new post and the opportunities—and challenges—that lie ahead for the Colorado company he now leads
For the first time since OBJ began tracking the stock performance of outdoor-focused public companies, the industry slipped. Was it a blip or does it signal the start of a trend?
A behind-the-scenes look at why outdoor brands are opening up new, in-person retail locations—even after the pandemic prompted a surge in online sales
When your social media account attracts a storm of negative comments, what’s the best way to respond? Brands, experts, and influencers weigh in.
The gear maker’s newest venture is a campground in Washington state that’s modeled after existing sites in its home country of Japan and honors the brand’s ethos of connecting consumers with nature
Envoy B2B surveyed 6,500 outdoor retailers to understand the role and value of sales reps
Mystery Ranch recently contracted with Sea to Summit for distribution in Australia. Alex Kutches, VP of sales for the pack brand, says finding a trusted partner that understands a new market will increase the chance of expansion success.
After transitioning to a remote-first work model, Cotopaxi devised a new way for team members to meet in person: a camping retreat with hiking and climbing, team games, and storytelling sessions
The Colorado town has seen a surge in both manufacturers and retailers opening their doors on its iconic Pearl Street Mall as the pandemic continues to drive consumers outdoors
MacNeill Pride Group, a portfolio company of the private equity firm Centre Partners, has added another outdoor asset with the acquisition of the Utah-based camping gear brand
The eyewear and headwear icon and one of its ingredient-brand partners have accused the snowsports giant of improperly using their patented technology in certain Anon-branded snow helmets
The outdoor brand and retailer hopes to broaden its consumer base with the launch of the “Rent Your ϳԹ” program
We spoke with Patrick Lynch, formerly of Backbone Media, to learn more about KAR Direct, the startup he launched in 2019 to help brands grow their e-commerce channel—and their brand recognition
The Colorado-based provider of active-lifestyle content and services has expanded its portfolio again, bringing on three new cycling brands
When an oil company targeted The North Face with a tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign accusing the brand of hypocritical climate activism, it served as a reminder of the contentious—yet partially codependent—relationship between the outdoor and fossil fuel industries
The OBJ Outdoor Index for the second quarter shows that outdoor businesses continue to outperform other industries by a wide margin
Sea to Summit’s new ultralight shelter series is shaking up the tent category
The artist Futura had filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the brand earlier this year because he says the apparel technology’s logo resembled one of his atom designs
The powerful technology of Envoy B2B is critical to BioLite’s thriving wholesale channel, company leaders say
Founders of the iconic travel brand Eagle Creek sat down for an exclusive interview with OBJ following parent company VF Corp.’s announcement that it will shut down the business by the end of 2021
How limit-pushing expeditions—and a little bit of healthy scorn—lead to limit-pushing gear for Sea to Summit
The 100 percent employee-owned insole brand has signed an acquisition deal with Seattle-based Westward Partners
The heritage outdoor brand has a new leadership team in place and a new vision for the way it makes and markets apparel and gear
Parent company VF Corporation will shut down the decades-old brand by the end of the year
Roland Tyson built Sea to Summit from a one-man shop based in his bedroom to the lauded international brand it is today
In this episode of Straight Talk, Todd Spaletto reveals new details about Public Lands, the new conservation retail concept launching from Dick's Sporting Goods this summer
The OBJ Outdoor Index moderated in May, but it still outpaced other indices, proving that publicly traded outdoor businesses remain a safe bet
Mike Massey, founder and CEO of Locally, discusses how brands can better support retailers, what the future of trade shows looks like, and more
Clarus Corp. President John Walbrecht spoke exclusively with OBJ about the company’s $198 million acquisition of Rhino-Rack, including what drove the deal and what’s next for its newest asset
Vista Outdoor, the parent company of CamelBak, Giro, Camp Chef, and others, has acquired e-bike maker QuietKat and the “hunt athleisure” brand Venor, adding to its portfolio of outdoor companies
The British outdoor gear brand is adding to its collection of mountain essentials with a series of packs for hiking and climbing
ϳԹ has unveiled its new membership platform, a one-stop shop for active lifestyle participants with premium articles and reviews, event discounts, sport-specific training plans, and more from the company's portfolio of 36 brands
Tucked neatly into the back of Snow Peak's Portland flagship and HQ, Takibi offers consumers a new way to interact with the Japanese outdoor brand
The new line from OXO, part of Helen of Troy’s Housewares division, will be sold exclusively at REI starting this month
Patagonia beat out 99 other prominent U.S. businesses in consumer rankings for company ethics, citizenship, and culture
As an Ibex superfan for many years, Bonie Shupe dreamed of working for the renowned maker of merino apparel. Now she’s in charge of reviving the brand.
Tennessee-based MacNeill Pride Group snapped up the 25-year-old GCI Outdoor—maker of camping tables, chairs, and other outdoor gear
If your reps are dialed in, they can elevate a season from good to great. But what tools do you need to make sure they're enabled to deliver killer experiences to their accounts?
Cramer, on his popular CNBC investment show, told viewers that when it comes to stocks, the “great outdoors theme has more legs than you realize.” These are the brands he shouted out.
The latest installment of the OBJ Outdoor Index measures the gains or losses of corporations’ share prices during the past month and compares the industry’s April performance with other indices
Emerald Holding’s new digital marketplace stems from its $34 million acquisition of the B2B sales platform PlumRiver
We checked in with a handful of core footwear makers to find out what material and design innovations they’ve got in store for this year and beyond
The iconic Swiss outdoor brand’s parent company, Conzzeta AG, sold Mammut to London-based Telmos Capital as part of a planned rightsizing of its portfolio
The Colorado-based creator of active lifestyle content and experiences has added Cairn, an outdoor subscription-box service, to its rapidly growing portfolio of brands
Want to turn your business into everyone’s dream workplace? Follow these cues for a more fulfilled, productive, and inspired workforce
The RV market is surging—and not with the customers you might expect
It’s clear that retailers want more from brands than fancy digital tools
Investors are betting big on the outdoor industry, as evidenced by recent stock performances. Our new index provides a snapshot of public companies’ financial picture and measures the health of the industry.
Two new eye-catching pieces of gear from HOKA ONE ONE and Cotopaxi dropped this week. They're pretty cool on their own, but the mission behind them makes them even better.
How brands are managing port delays and other shipping slowdowns
Two years ago, a beer from the St. Louis brewing corporation Anheuser-Busch called "Patagonia" appeared on the market. The outdoor gear brand was, predictably, not pleased.
For years, two magazines—Climbing and Rock and Ice—have battled for readership in the rock climbing community. Now the two publications are one, with an entirely new look and feel.
The Oregon-based brand is asking outdoor footwear companies to take a “detox journey" and showing them how to do so
Ali Carr launched a jobs board on Facebook four years ago. Today, it’s the go-to hub for 22,000 people who work in and seek to work in the outdoor industry.
Our parent company has made a public promise to all content creators: 30 days after you complete your work, you will be paid. Period.
We dove into the most recent financials of public outdoor companies to see how they're doing as the pandemic rages on
A small materials company in Colorado has been battling The North Face and Columbia for years in a patent infringement case. Last week, it scored an important victory in the fight.
Rather than file a lawsuit, Peak Design targeted Amazon Basics’ knockoff of its Everyday Sling bag with a hilarious, must-watch video
Editors past and present take a look back at the biggest stories, seismic changes, and expanding influence of the publication’s first 37 years
We examined what some of the industry's top brands are doing on Instagram to engage users and reach new audiences
The new company aspires to be the preeminent global source of content, experiences, utilities, community, and services for active lifestyle participants
A new glamping destination called Camp Bespoke is set to open in Kentucky, if the project can meet fundraising goals
The president of Thule’s Americas region explains why the brand chose Denver for its North American brick-and-mortar debut and how the company will measure success in a challenging retail environment
Peter Arlein, founder and owner of Colorado-based mountainFLOW eco-wax, got his big shot on ABC’s “Shark Tank” on Friday night
Beta—a new mountain biking magazine, website, and membership program—might have emerged from the Covid-driven cycling craze, but its industry roots run deep
The Colorado-based PR pro and co-founder of Inside Out Communications has struck out on her own