Outdoor Retailer Day 1 Report: Inspiration and Jealousy

It was a busy Day 1 at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market here in Salt Lake City.  I’m back at my hotel with my feet up.  I don’t quite have my “trade show” legs yet.

Of special note, I met with Christina Houlahan of B Corporation.  B Corporation is a non-profit that helps companies become more socially responsible.  My client Atayne is a B Corporation member.  I enjoyed learning how B Corporations adhere to comprehensive social and environmental standards.  B Corporation represents the positive spirit of so many businesses and individuals in the outdoor industry that want to do more than simply make a profit–they want to improve people’s lives.  It’s inspiring.

Adventure Racing Team Gear Junkie includes, from left to right, Stephen Regenold and Yoga Slackers Chelsey Gribbon, Jason Magness, and Sam Salwei.

I also met with outdoor writer, adventurer, and crack orienteer Stephen Regenold, a.k.a. the Gear Junkie.  Regenold’s latest outdoor exploits include becoming a team captain for next month’s Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race.  Team Gear Junkie will include fellow Primal Quest veterans and ultra-fit members of YogaSlackers on a a six-hundred-kilometer-multi-sport race through some of the most challenging and profoundly beautiful terrain on the planet.  I so want to go.

Team Gear Junkie gets set to race the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race.

Make sure to tune in to the race coverage on GearJunkie.com.

Off to meet some industry friends and my tribe of outdoorsy social media addicts at the OR Tweet Up…