The Grassroots Podcast

On this episode of The Grassroots Podcast, Grassroots Vice President and host, Dana Howe explores the complex world of public lands policy with Rebecca Gillis from The Conservation Alliance and Jake Dickerson, co-owner of Wild Iris Mountain Sports. This conversation examines how political pressures are shaping the outdoor recreation economy, what business-friendly public lands policy could look li...

In this episode of the Grassroots Podcast, host Dana Howe is joined by Hannah Mathews, of the Futurists Project, and Peyton Short, a recent Futurists grad. Together, we dive into how the Futurists Project is reshaping professional development in the outdoor industry by fostering purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, and cross-sector collaboration. We explore the importance of including small busi...

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the featured story from our recent Grassroots Stories issue, "The Good Sales Rep," with Kurt "The General" Smith, owner of Top Gun Sales Agency. Kurt shares his journey from professional climber to seasoned sales rep, his insights on how the industry and his role has evolved, and the keys to success as a sales rep in today's marke...

On this episode of The Grassroots Podcast, Host Dana Howe, dives into everything you need to know for Connect November 10-14, 2024 in Kansas City. Tune in as the Grassroots Events Team, Maggie and Chelsea, join Dana to cover the essentials: from attendance stats and appointment schedules to prep tips for productive business meetings, both for retailers and brands. Discover the extracurriculars to...

In this episode of the Grassroots Podcast, host Dana Howe dives into responsible business practices and sustainability in outdoor retail with Bryan Wolf from Roads Rivers and Trails (RRT) and Chris Enlow from Future Scapes Consulting. We explore RRT's ongoing journey to become a BCorp and their new Responsible Inventory Initiative. Chris offers practical advice for retailers, starting with evaluat...

In part 2 of Episode 10, we dive deep into one of our organization's core values: learning and collaboration. One of the ways we champion this value is through our highly anticipated in-person Education Day, held annually the day before Connect kicks off. In Reno, the Connect Education Day, held on Sunday, June 9th June 9th, will feature enriching on-site workshop options at the Peppermill and...

In this episode, we dive into the world of outdoor specialty retail and civic engagement with Dave Polivy, the founder of Tahoe Mountain Sports and Mayor of Truckee, CA. Dave shares his journey of founding Tahoe Mountain Sports, evolving from an exclusive e-commerce business to now two thriving brick-and-mortar stores. Discover what influenced this transition and how it reshaped his business. We&#...

Credit card processing fees (swipe fees) are typically ranked in Grassroots Retailer's top 4 expenses , just behind cost of goods sold, payroll, rent/mortgage. In fact, swipe fees cost American businesses approximately $165 billion annually . Swipe fees are also an expense where retailers have no recourse or negotiating power. In this episode, hear how one retailer, Sarah McDonald of Out There...

Join Dana Howe and Gabe Maier as they dive back into the hot topic of Pfas in the Outdoor Industry. Together with expert guest James Pollack, they expand on the basics covered in Episode #3, exploring what retailers need to know and do to navigate the Pfas landscape in 2024 and beyond. From understanding the implications for inventory to gearing up for informed customer interactions, this episode...

In this exclusive October bonus episode, Dana Howe sits down with industry experts Dana Caraway and Dana Davis to dive into the essentials of meeting preparation as we step into a new buying, selling, and planning cycle. Whether you're a retailer gearing up for a buying event, a sales pro hitting the road for the season, or a brand leader eager for insights into how retailers approach business...

Gear up for Connect with our events team, Maggie Perrault and Chelsea Flynn, who have your guide to the upcoming show! In this episode, we break down the essential Education Day & Discovery Marketplace events, happy hours and show special events, as well as, the nitty gritty details on hotels, badge pick up, registration and more. Whether you're a seasoned Connect'er or a first-timer,...

The national resale market is set to reach a whopping $23 billion by the end of 2023, and we're excited to dive into how specialty retailers are embracing secondhand gear and resale in their outdoor specialty businesses. In this episode of The Grassroots Podcast, we chat with Todd & Megan Frank from The Trailhead in Missoula, MT, and Josh Haring from The Mountain Air in San Luis Obispo, CA...

On this episode of The Grassroots Podcast, we speak with expert inventory manager, open to buy specialist and specialty retail consultant, Carrie Watson of Outside Looks and President of Grassroots Gabe Maier. If you are a retailer rep or brand and have been curious about how retailers are doing across Grassroots and specialty indie outdoor, want to gain some perspectives on how retailers are clos...

Episode Description: PFAS, AKA Forever Chemicals are a class of chemicals that don't naturally break down and are found in many of the products that we produce and that consumers purchase at retail in the outdoor industry. We're diving into this topic at Grassroots because it is going to have a big impact on the industry and a big impact on speciality retailers who are going to be selling...

This short and lively conversation taps into the expertise of Gabe Maier (Grassroots president) and Dana Howe (Grassroots director of membership and education) for a quick overview on key stats and recommended strategies for getting the most out of the upcoming Grassroots Connect show (June 11-15; Knoxville, Tenn). SHOW NOTES: Key links: The one link you need to find all-things-Connect: linktr.ee/...

This episode is an insider’s look at all the extra-curricular activities surrounding the upcoming Grassroots Connect show (June 11-15; Knoxville, Tenn), including Education Day, the Discovery Marketplace, the annual service project, lunch & learn film screenings and more. Grassroots experts in this episode include Dana Howe (Grassroots Director of Membership and Education) and Maggie Perrault...