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Outdoor Unfiltered

Outdoor Unfiltered

De : Rock Fight LLC
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Want to know what's REALLY going on in the outdoor industry? Move past the PR speak and platitudes. Get the "why" behind the headlines with the unvarnished truth about the outdoor industry's biggest drivers. Host Eoin Comerford -- former CEO, marketer, and consultant -- brings two decades of industry scars and successes to the table. He’s calling out the missteps, celebrating the innovators, and dissecting the "playbook" used by the world’s leading outdoor brands and retailers. Alongside guest experts, Eoin dives into the topics that actually move the needle: - Market Drivers: Affordability, sustainability, and the "authenticity" gap. - Retail Reality: What’s actually happening on the floor vs. the boardroom. - Future-Proofing: Connecting you to the insiders shaping where the industry goes next. Stop skimming the surface. Hit play to get better informed, more connected, and a step ahead of the competition. It’s way more interesting down here.Copyright 2026 Rock Fight, LLC Economie Management Management et direction Politique et gouvernement
Épisodes
  • El Nino's Threat to Outdoor Retail, Arc'teryx's Climbing Store Myth & the End of Coalition Snow

    El Nino's Threat to Outdoor Retail, Arc'teryx's Climbing Store Myth & the End of Coalition Snow
    Oct 12 2026
    Today on Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin Comerford breaks down how a historic super El Nino could devastate cold-weather apparel and outerwear sales this fall and winter, drawing on lessons from the 2015-2016 season that battered retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods, Paragon Sports, and EMS. He shares hard-earned advice from his Moosejaw days on how retailers in the Northeast and Midwest should prepare for what NOAA and Weather Trends data predict could be the strongest El Nino on record. Then, Eoin calls BS on Arc'teryx's new climbing-dedicated retail concept in Venice, California, questioning whether the comically thin product assortment is really about climbers or just another way to sell $600 shells. Later, Jen Gorecki, founder of Coalition Snow, joins for a candid conversation about her decision to shut down the trailblazing women's ski brand after 12 years, how a cancer diagnosis forced clarity, the brutal economics of seasonal hard goods manufacturing, the outdoor industry's retreat from DEI commitments, and her new venture Far Out.Time Stamps0:00 -- ISPO Amsterdam Preview Eoin runs through what to expect at ISPO November 3-6 in Amsterdam, from the Peak Reality climbing wall and The Loop sustainability section to the Snowfest Village, Waterlab testing pond, padel court, and running expo with brands across outdoor, snow, water, fitness, and running.1:50 -- Super El Nino and the Threat to Outdoor Retail A deep dive into how historically high Pacific water temperatures and a forecasted record-strength El Nino could crush cold-weather apparel demand, with data from NOAA, Weather Trends, and the 2015-2016 playbook that hit Dick's Sporting Goods, EMS, Paragon Sports, and brands like Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and Canada Goose.11:45 -- Calling BS on Arc'teryx's Venice Climbing StoreEoin questions whether Arc'teryx's new climbing-dedicated retail concept in Venice, California, with its Grasshopper climbing wall and comically thin carabiner assortment, is really about climbers or just another way to sell expensive shells, despite the brand's legitimate climbing heritage dating back to 1989 as Rock Solid in Vancouver.15:07 -- Jen Gorecki on Closing Coalition SnowCoalition Snow founder Jen Gorecki on her decision to shut down the women's ski and snowboard brand after 12 years, how a cancer diagnosis brought clarity, and the weight of being a female founder representing an entire community.18:00 -- The Unique Burden on Female Founders Jen and Eoin discuss the heavier responsibility women founders feel toward their investors, communities, and the broader representation of women in a male-dominated outdoor industry.20:46 -- Is It Actually Tougher to Build a Brand Now? A conversation about how COVID fallout, tariffs, the AI-driven attention economy, and the Meta and Google tax have made it harder than ever for small, undercapitalized brands, particularly women-owned businesses, to survive.25:16 -- Why Seasonal Hard Goods Are the Worst Business You Could Start Jen breaks down the brutal economics of manufacturing skis and snowboards once a year, the cash flow gap between paying your manufacturer in February and getting paid by retailers 60 to 90 days after delivery, and why model-year stamping makes it all worse.29:00 -- Advice for the Next Women's Ski Brand Founder Jen recalls her conversation with Anna Daly, who is starting her own women's ski brand, and the pointed observation that Anna admired Coalition but never actually bought a pair of their skis.32:43 -- The Real Size of Coalition SnowJen reveals Coalition was always a tiny business, never more than three full-time employees, never broke a million dollars in annual sales, and why she chose grassroots guerrilla marketing over paid Meta and Google advertising.35:39 -- Sexism in the Ski IndustryJen shares specific stories from SIA trade shows, including a male rep getting aggressive about her product, buyers flexing her skis between their legs and refusing to believe she was the owner, and a shop that tried to avoid paying her until she walked in and took her product off the wall.39:21 -- Being a Political Brand and Whether It Helped or Hurt Jen on running Coalition Snow as an unapologetically feminist and provocative brand, whether it cost sales, and why she believes not rocking the boat just upholds the status quo.42:34 -- The Industry's Retreat from DEI Eoin and Jen on how brands quietly backed away from diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments after 2020, whether it was hypocrisy or pragmatism, and the missed business opportunity for someone to step up and differentiate.48:14 -- Far Out: What Comes Next Jen introduces her new venture Far Out, co-founded with creative director Andrea Slusarski, focused on the intersection of creativity and the outdoors, featuring original artwork, group adventures to Kenya and Japan, and small-batch handmade goods, all created without AI.52:43 -- Did She Succeed in Shredding the Patriarchy?Jen reflects on whether 12 years of ...
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    57 min
  • Outdoor Media Summit: What Worked, What Didn't, and Why It Matters

    Outdoor Media Summit: What Worked, What Didn't, and Why It Matters
    Oct 5 2026
    Recorded live from the Outdoor Media Summit in Asheville, North Carolina, Eoin Comerford is joined by Colin True and Shawnté Salabert to break down everything that happened at OMS. From an unexpected black bear sighting and zip-liners passing by at the Crowne Plaza Resort to deep dives into the brand speed dating format, the trio covers what makes OMS different from other outdoor industry gettogethers. They discuss notable brands including HEST, Zenbivy, Bedrock's new mountain shoes, Packfire, Airstream, Nemo, Eno, Grand Trunk, Hollow Socks, Patagonia, Teva, Smartwool, Altra, Nomadix, HydroFlask, Grivel, Yeti, and Altra. Eoin recounts his bushcraft excursion with Victorinox that turned into an Army Ranger-style survival challenge, Shawnte shares her fly fishing experience with Mayfly Outdoors and Mountain Fly Anglers, and the team digs into the hunt-fish segment's growing relevance with Hollow Socks. The conversation also covers keynotes from Matt Tucker of Circana and Earl Hunter of Unity Flame, the value of brand excursions, category expansion trends in the outdoor industry, and why the next OMS heading to South Dakota might be worth your calendar.Show Notes[0:00] Intro and Aarn Packs sponsorship[2:13] Welcome from OMS Asheville, featuring a live bear sighting and zip-liners at the Crowne Plaza Resort[4:51] What the Outdoor Media Summit is, who attends, and how it has evolved over ten years[6:42] The OMS business model: how destinations, brands, and media folks fund the event[8:00] Day Zero at AutoCamp with activations from Victorinox, Packfire, Gozney, and Airstream[9:46] Day One brand speed dating with 30-plus brands and the 12-minute rotation format[11:41] How OMS compares to the Outdoor Market Alliance media event in Denver[15:30] Notable brands from the speed dating floor: HEST, Zenbivy, and the camp chair obsession[16:57] Bedrock's new mountain shoes: bold design move or risky bet beyond the Cairn 3D Pro[19:23] Category expansion and the chair trend: Eno, Grand Trunk, Nemo, Nomadix, and the Circana data behind it[22:30] The hunt-fish segment and how Hollow Socks built a dedicated hunt sock from consumer feedback[24:12] Excursions overview: fly fishing with Mayfly Outdoors, bushcraft with Victorinox, cold plunge with Nomadix and HydroPak, a run with Smartwool and Altra, and a hike sponsored by Teva[25:02] Eoin's bushcraft survival challenge with Victorinox: Army Rangers, cargo netting, tug-of-war, and a fire-starting finish[32:51] Sessions, panels, and the format debate: what works, what does not, and how OMS could improve[35:50] Keynotes from Matt Tucker of Circana and Earl Hunter of Unity on diversity in the outdoors[37:18] Closing thoughts: will we be back, the value of the hang, and next year's OMS in South Dakota[39:57] Asheville love, Sierra Nevada Brewing, and why this location was a standout[40:17] Outro, follow request, and contact infoOur SponsorsISPO -- Unites the sporting and outdoor goods industry - inspiring global movement, protecting the places we play and providing a single, streamlined platform for the brands, athletes, buyers and innovators who shape the future of sport. ISPO Amsterdam relaunches November 3-5. www.ispo.comCrux Retail -- Creating bold retail displays for bold outdoor-active brands. www.crux-retail.com/outdoorAarn Packs -- Aarn Packs give you a more comfortable backpacking experience by using Balance Pockets that help you spread your pack weight around your center of gravity and allow you to keep your posture natural. https://www.aarnpacks.com/Connect With UsWe would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind.LinkedIn: Eoin ComerfordEmail: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comOutdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rockvite LLC.
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    41 min
  • Backcountry's Latest Acquisition & Retail's AI Future with Anne Mezzenga

    Backcountry's Latest Acquisition & Retail's AI Future with Anne Mezzenga
    Sep 28 2026
    This week on Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin Comerford breaks down Backcountry's acquisition of Velofix and what it means for online bike sales, mobile bike service, and parent company CSC Generation's value-driven playbook. Then, a footwear industry roundup covering the haves and have-nots: On's plan to hit $7 billion by 2029 with category expansions into football, golf, and premium sportswear; Salomon's target of $5 billion within five years and plans to quadruple North American brand stores; Under Armour's new hybrid store concept; JD Sports' 20% profit decline amid North American softness; and Academy Sports adding Hoka alongside Nike and Jordan. In the Unfiltered Upside, a look at GearTrade's explosive 47% year-to-date growth in the used gear market under Aaron Provine. Then, Eoin is joined by Anne Mezzenga, retail technology expert, former OmniTalk Retail co-host, and founder of Retail Field Report, to discuss her store "staging" series working retail shifts through the Reflex gig work app, the real and unsexy applications of AI in retail, like AI agents negotiating wholesale prices, the rise of agentic commerce, and practical AI advice for independent outdoor specialty retailers. SHOW NOTES[0:00] Welcome to Outdoor Unfiltered -- Eoin Comerford previews Backcountry's Velofix acquisition, a footwear industry roundup, and a deep dive into retail tech and AI with Anne Mezzenga.[0:39] Backcountry acquires Velofix -- what the deal means for online bike sales, mobile bike service, CSC Generation's playbook, and how it follows Backcountry's earlier Beeline Bikes investment.[4:35] Sponsor: Crux Retail -- bold retail displays for bold outdoor-active brands, featuring work with Wahoo.[5:30] Footwear roundup: On targets $7 billion by 2029 -- category expansion into football with Mbappe, golf, and premium sportswear as the running brand leans into "premiumization."[8:19] Salomon plans to reach $5 billion within five years -- quadrupling North American brand stores from 8 to 40 and what that means for independent specialty retail.[10:15] Under Armour launches hybrid store concept -- premium storytelling in the front, broader price points in the back, or as Eoin puts it, brand business in the front, clearance party in the back.[11:28] JD Sports reports 20% profit decline -- margin pressures, 2.8% same-store sales drop, and US as the worst-performing region across Hibbett, DTLR, and Finish Line.[13:05] Academy Sports adds Hoka -- following expanded Nike and Jordan assortments, and what it signals about distribution strategy for both Hoka and Nike.[14:05] Sponsor: Aarn Packs -- balance pockets, the U-Flow harness, and the science behind a more comfortable backpacking experience.[15:40] Unfiltered Upside: GearTrade -- 47% year-to-date growth in the used gear market, doubling in two years, and why every specialty retailer should consider a used gear section.[17:48] Sponsor: ISPO Amsterdam -- relaunching November 3-5 under new owner Raccoon Media Group with brands including Rab, DB, Hestra, and Fabletics.[18:52] Guest: Anne Mezzenga -- from OmniTalk Retail to Moosejaw memories to her new venture Retail Field Report, and the retail execs who shaped her thinking including Mary Beth Lawton at REI and John Furner at Walmart.[24:33] Launching Retail Field Report -- why Anne left podcasting to get back inside stores and understand AI adoption from the frontline.[26:16] Inside the store staging series -- working retail shifts through the Reflex gig work app across the country, from luxury brands like Ralph Lauren and Farm Rio to everyday retail.[30:17] Could gig work work for outdoor specialty retail -- how flex employees can support peak traffic, greet customers, and complement expert staff during busy seasons.[36:30] AI in retail: the unsexy applications that matter -- consolidating feedback for store manager meetings, personalization with Genesis X, and AI agents negotiating wholesale prices between manufacturers and retailers.[43:34] The concern with AI -- backward-looking data, the sea of sameness in retail assortments, and why AI can't sleep in a sleeping bag on a mountain.[46:41] Agentic commerce -- when AI does your shopping for you, from grocery list optimization today to full autonomous purchasing tomorrow.[49:53] Practical AI advice for independent outdoor retailers[54:11] Wrap-up -- where to find Anne Mezzenga at retailfieldreport.com, how to follow and review the pod, and how to reach out.CONNECT WITH USWe would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind.Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comLinkedIn: Eoin Comerford -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rockfight LLCOUR SPONSORSISPO -- Unites the sporting and outdoor goods industry, inspiring global movement, protecting the places we play and providing a single, streamlined platform for the brands, athletes, buyers and innovators who shape the future...
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    56 min
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