Outdoor Insight

N E W S / A N A L Y S I S OUTDOOR EYE Scarpa has named U.S. ski legend Bode Miller to its athlete roster. Miller says he has a long history with the brand — he began wearing Scarpa climbing shoes as a child while climbing with his family. Miller said he is "excited to work with a brand that not only focuses on innovation but also keeps sustainability at the forefront of research and development." Cotopaxi recently added seven new staff members to its leadership team. New to Cotopaxi as of late 2021 are: Eric Turner, Director of Growth Marketing; Julie Bartlett, Chief Legal Officer; Jeffrey Steadman, Community Engagement Director; Matt O'Connor, Senior Director of National Sales; Liz Peixoto, Vice President of Product Design; Stephanie Fraser, Senior Director of Product Sourcing & Sustainability; and Stacey Howe, Vice President of eCommerce. Footwear Unlimited, the Fenton, MO parent of Baretraps, Spyder Footwear and The Frye Company Footwear, has hired Jon Hanson as EVP/GM for Spyder Footwear. The 20-year industry veteran most recently served as Director of Sales for all outdoor brands at Amer Sports. Vista Outdoor has acquired Stone Glacier, maker of lightweight, performance hunting gear designed for backcountry use. The addition of Stone Glacier to Vista Outdoor's portfolio of outdoor products and shooting sports brands will allow the company to enter the packs, camping equipment and technical apparel categories. This is the seventh acquisition in last 16 months for Vista Outdoor, including Remington, HEVI-Shot, Venor, QuietKat, Foresight Sports and Fiber Energy Products. GSM Outdoors, the multi-brand manufacturer of spe- cialized hunting and shooting sport accessories, has acquired SOG Specialty Knives. Sweet Protection, maker of high-performance helmets, goggles, and technical clothing, has been named the official helmet and eyewear partner for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It is the first such partnership with a North American resort for Sweet Protection, a Norwegian brand with roots in the mountain safety industry. The multi-year partnership covers the fall/winter 2021-22 season and will run until October 2023. l F ounded in 1975, Eagle Creek is entering 2022 in a re-evolution stage after being purchased by Travis Campbell from VF Corporation in September. Formerly the president of emerging brands at VF, Campbell says when the opportunity to buy Eagle Creek presented itself, he jumped. Smaller brands can get lost in a large portfolio and Campbell said he wanted to give the brand "the voice it deserves," strengthening and reigniting the emotional connection people have for the brand. "What an amazing opportunity," says Campbell, who is running the new Eagle Creek business from Steamboat Springs, CO. "We've got a brand that means so much to so many, is known for incredibly high-quality products, and we have an opportunity to build a company from scratch around that love. We can put some of the toothpaste back in the tube, rethink some of the decisions that have been made in the past around discounting and distribution, and product assortment, and move forward in a way that is authentic to the brand and our customers." Back in 1975, Eagle Creek started as a rugged travel bag and backpacking company that combined some lifestyle elements. Going forward, Campbell says the brand will invest in growth, focusing on scaling its impact and creating funds for sustainability work and conservation efforts. "I know that you can be a great business by all the traditional financial metrics and also do good in the world," Campbell says. — Cara Griffin 46-Year-Old Eagle Creek Is a Startup Again 6 • Outdoor Insight • Winter 2022 outdoorinsightmag.com Bode Miller # T H E B U Z Z Travis Campbell Charting Growth in Snowsports Used Marketplace T o buy new or used? That is the question SIA asked in its December Consumer Insight survey regarding snowsports decision-making in the age of mindful purchasing. And the answer is "new," and by a long shot. In the apparel category, for example, snowsports shoppers overwhelmingly prefer to buy a new garment over a used one. A mere .8 percent of SIA survey participants report a strong preference for buying used apparel, compared to 56 percent with a strong preference for buying new. Things are a bit better sustainability wise on the equipment side with 4.3 percent of survey takers reporting a strong preference for used gear, compared to 38 percent having a strong preference for new equipment. Upcoming SIA Consumer Insight survey topics include: Retail Behavior + Retail and Direct-to-Consumer for Snowsports; Rental and Service; Technology and Participation; and Diversity in the Snowsports Industry. l

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