Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's all about outdoor specialty retail!

Specialty retailers play a crucial role in the outdoor industry, serving as community connection points and acting as tastemakers essential for brand legitimacy and consumer engagement. Today on THE ROCK FIGHT Gabe Meyer, president of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, joins Colin to talk about the about the evolving landscape of specialty retail in the wake of direct-to-consumer trends and larger retail competition.

As the industry navigates these transitions, Gabe emphasizes the importance of specialty shops, driven by their unique value and the experiences they offer to customers. The pair wrap things up with a discussion on trade shows and national gatherings.

Chapters:

• 02:52 - Why Specialty Retailers Matter
• 07:10 - Challenges Facing Specialty Retail
• 12:24 - Do brands understand the value of specialty?
• 22:38 - The Role of Trade Shows

Hurricane Helene Relief Links:

• Fuel Goods
• GoFundMe for Bubba O'Learys
• Western North Carolina Hurriance Helene Resource Guide
• East Tennessee Foundation Relief Fund

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