Building on educational events at the 10th anniversary Fall Grassroots Connect Show last month, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, this week unveiled the latest issue of its B2B publication Grassroots Stories, putting a lens on hot topics and actionable trends in outdoor specialty retail and the larger outdoor industry.
The most recent edition of Grassroots Stories offers an in-depth look at:
- How outdoor retail is diversifying and widening customer appeal through second-hand equipment sales.
- Steps retailers can take to run their business operations at a more strategic level, both for efficiency and looking to future ownership transitions.
- How retailers can most effectively lean into sustainability efforts.
- The state of the industry through data as well as the perspective of specialty retailers, brands and sales representatives.
Published by Grassroots Outdoor Alliance twice a year, Grassroots Stories is timed with the twice-a-year Connect Show, which supports brand line showings for independent specialty retailers in line with key order deadlines.
Attendance at the most recent show Nov. 3-6, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo., saw a steady number of retailers, buyers and vendors, with very slight upticks in some areas compared to previous shows.
At the recent November show, 378 retail buyers representing 148 retailers attended the show, while there with 136 vendors attending, a slight increase from previous shows. That resulted in more than 8,400 hours of meetings over the four-day event.
“Grassroots Connect is about the specialty retail community showing up and doing the work to serve our communities. And ongoing strong attendance by retailers and brands show that it’s accomplishing that purpose,” said Gabe Maier, President of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “But as much as we’re about providing a super-efficient venue for that important seasonal work, we’re also here to provide bigger-picture educational resources for our retailers and the industry at large. Grassroots Stories is another outgrowth of that work.”
The publication is led by the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance staff in concert with editorial director Doug Schnitzspahn. Schnitzspahn brings 25-plus years of experience in the Outdoor Industry and outdoor media. A range of longtime outdoor industry freelance writers contribute stories to the independent publication.
The next Grassroots Connect Show will take place June 8-11 in Reno, NV, with retailer education sessions and Discovery Marketplace, a venue for retailers to discover new brands, on June 7, the day prior to the show. For registration information, please contact Maggie Perrault at maggie@grassrootsoutdoors.com.
About Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned network of 105 independently owned outdoor retailers and 73 vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance also operates Connect, a twice-annual legacy show experience that spans four days, offering an efficient and structured format for retailers to conduct pre-season line showings and business conversations.
