Shop Eat Surf Outdoor will host a free webinar on July 16 examining three forces reshaping margins and operations for surf, outdoor, and active lifestyle brands: tariff volatility, new sustainability legislation, and the rise of AI in supply chain management.
The session, “Tariffs, Tightening Margins, and the AI Advantage: What Brands and Retailers Need to Know Now,” is presented by RSM and goes live at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. If you can’t make the recording, feel free to register anyway and we can send a recording of the discussion.Â
The industry is navigating a difficult convergence right now. Trade policy uncertainty is squeezing margins and complicating sourcing, new sustainability legislation is reshaping end-of-life responsibilities for brands, and AI is transforming supply chain operations for the companies moving fastest.
The webinar is built for apparel brands managing California’s Extended Producer Responsibility and textile regulations, specialty retailers navigating tariff volatility and cash flow pressure, and active lifestyle brands evaluating where AI can deliver results in their operations.
Speakers will cover the current economic outlook and what it means for near-term planning, the latest tariff and trade developments including sourcing and landed cost implications, EPR and sustainability mandates with a focus on West Coast operators, and real-world examples of how outdoor and consumer goods brands are applying AI to demand forecasting and fulfillment. Attendees will leave with a prioritized action plan for the regulatory, operational, and financial pressures most likely to affect their business this year.
Speakers include Jake Winquist, Supply Chain and Operations Principal at RSM US LLP; Jodi Ader, Trade Advisory Services Senior Manager at RSM US LLP; Trish Beltran, ESG Advisory Services Director at RSM US LLP; and Samantha Rustja, Sustainability Associate at RSM Canada.Â
