Key Takeaways:
- Industry Day on August 19 in Minneapolis will feature a live debate on the future of independent specialty retail, with executives from Black Diamond Equipment, Alpenglow Sports, Caraway & Co., and Locally.com.
- Sessions also cover brand discovery, Gen Z and women consumers, wearable tech, and AI and the circular economy.
- Ultrarunner and author Mirna Valerio closes the day with a keynote on belonging.
Outdoor Retailer has announced the Industry Day program for its 2026 Summer Show, and the lineup reflects an industry that has plenty to work through.
The afternoon session runs August 19 from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the day before the show starts.
The main Outdoor Retailer Show runs Aug. 20-21.
See the full rundown of day-by-day events here.
Outdoor Retailer Industry Day Sessions
Is the Independent Shop the Future of the Outdoor Industry?
The session likely to generate the most discussion puts the question directly to the people with the most at stake. “The Big Debate: Is the Independent Shop the Future of the Outdoor Industry?” puts competing perspectives in direct conversation, with Mike Massey, founder of Locally.com and a third-generation retailer who has spent years working to connect brand websites with local brick-and-mortar stores, moderating.
Brendan Madigan, who bought Alpenglow Sports in Lake Tahoe in 2011 and has spent 15 years building it into an events-driven community hub, founding the Broken Arrow Skyrace and raising more than $3 million for local nonprofits through his Winter Speaker Series, represents the case for what a specialty retailer can become when it commits fully to its community. Neil Fiske, Brand President of Black Diamond Equipment and a former leader of Bath & Body Works, Eddie Bauer, Billabong International, Gap, and Marquee Brands, brings the brand side. Dana Caraway, founder and owner of Caraway & Co., whose independent sales agency represents brands across national and regional markets, rounds out the panel.
Getting Gen Z and Winning with Women
“The New Customer Code: Getting Gen Z and Winning with Women” looks at how shifting purchasing power and generational change are reshaping retail strategy. Sara Lawhead, VP at ThackerNYC, joins Jamie Kvamme, Director of Marketing at Red Wing Shoe Company, and Nadah Feteih, founder of Ma’wa Collective, on a panel moderated by Kristin Hostetter. Hostetter spent 22 years as Gear Editor at Backpacker Magazine and later served as Editor-in-Chief of SNEWS and Outside Business Journal and Head of Sustainability at Outside Interactive. She co-founded the Plastic Impact Alliance and was named Sustainability Champion of the Year at the 2021 Outdoor Media Summit.
Wearables, Smart Tech and the Gear of Tomorrow
“The Gear of Tomorrow: Wearables, Smart Tech and Innovation” brings together Dustin English, Chief Customer Officer of VOORMI, whose work centers on apparel that senses and responds to human performance; Lucy Dunne, Co-director and Founder of the University of Minnesota Wearable Technology Lab; and Kristoffer Stokes, Co-founder of D-glue. Peter Sachs, who spent nearly 30 years as U.S. General Manager for LOWA Boots before retiring in 2025, moderates.
AI and the Circular Economy
“The Tools of Tomorrow: AI and the Circular Economy” examines how artificial intelligence, recommerce, and circular systems are reshaping supply chains and opening new business models. Ramiro Gomez, Co-founder of Alpaka, which ships to more than 90 countries, is joined by Barruch Ben-Zekry, Senior Director of New Business Models at VF Corporation, and Aaron Provine, President of Geartrade. Peter Whitcomb, CEO of Tersus Solutions, moderates.
Closing Keynote: Mirna Valerio on Belonging in the Outdoors
Closing the program is ultrarunner, author, and DEI consultant Mirna Valerio, whose keynote will focus on belonging and expanding who feels welcome in endurance sports and outdoor spaces. A former educator and cross country coach, Valerio is the author of “A Beautiful Work in Progress.” She recommitted to running after a health scare in 2008 and built a widely followed platform through her blog Fatgirlrunning, documenting her experience as a larger-bodied endurance athlete and advocate for inclusion.
“Mirna embodies resilience, inclusion, authenticity, and expanding who feels welcome in outdoor spaces,” said Matthew Mathiasen, Group Show Director at Emerald. “Her perspective and story will leave attendees inspired while reinforcing the importance of building an industry that reflects and serves a broader, more diverse community.”
Evening Rally: Save the Boundary Waters
The day concludes with an evening rally in partnership with Save the Boundary Waters, organized in response to renewed federal efforts to roll back protections on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and reopen the region to mining. The event features National Geographic adventurers Amy Freeman and Dave Freeman alongside ultrarunner and Minnesota State Rep. Alex Falconer. For a show returning to Minneapolis, the rally connects the outdoor industry directly to a conservation fight playing out in its own backyard.
Outdoor Retailer 2026 takes place August 19–21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Information is available at outdoorretailer.com.
