Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2016 - 38

04.

06.

07.

05.
HALF-MOON

OUTFITTERS ACOUSTIC
ROCK SERIES

WHY IT'S HOT: Created as a partnership with a local radio station
that shares a parking lot with
Half-Moon Outfitters, this series
has become an institution for
the South Carolina retailer. On

38 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ Winter 2016

most occasions, when recording artists step onto the bouldering mats that double as the stage,
they comment on the unique
nature of the gig. From Warren
Haynes to Michael Franti to the
Infamous Stringdusters, these
in-store performances by national acts bring out shoppers,
build a sense of community and
provide hundreds of thousands
of impressions through the dedicated YouTube channel. "As G.
Love said, 'this is the weirdest gig
I have ever played,'" says owner
Beezer Moulton. "Bringing music in on busy days is a great way
to give the store a lift and perhaps
give a local band a little exposure
along with an easy daytime gig.
Live music in our stores, whether
local or national talent, is another
way that we try and make the retail experience entertaining."

06.
CHRISTINA SABOE

WHY SHE'S HOT: The owner
of Fireside Camp Supply in
Philadelphia, isn't your typical
outdoor retailer. Not only is she
a woman in a notoriously male-

dominated space, she has also
mashed up her degree in decorative arts with a lifetime love of
camping to create a store that's
attractive to both the core outdoors and "outsidesy" fashionoriented browsers. "Fireside
Camp Supply is a dual store," she
says. "It's half legitimate camping
supplies for people who are curious about new gadgets or need to
refuel and half gifty goods for the
aspiring camper."

07.
OUTERKNOWN

WHY IT'S HOT: Honestly, what's
hotter than 11-time World Surf
League champion Kelly Slater?
How about his own line of apparel? Appealing to dudes with
youthful spirits who still want to
dress like grownups, the brand
provides sophisticated and modern silhouettes in comfortable
fabrics with a no-guilt supply
chain. Not all manufacturers who
take a sustainable approach to
business can deliver on all fronts,
but after a long development period and smart partnerships with
the Fair Labor Association and

Bluesign, Kelly Slater has created
a business model that is conscious from start to finish.

08.
JAMIE ABISH

WHY SHE'S HOT: Jamie Abish,
coowner of Tents & Trails in New
York City, has been in the outdoor
retail business for over 20 years.
While Tents & Trails is known for
exceptional customer service,
the decision to hire Sherpas has
set the shop apart in the industry.
Abish began hiring Sherpas in
the late 1990s and her staff now
fluctuates between one third
and one half of full-time Sherpa
employees. By adding Sherpas
to her team, Abish has not only
extended a hand to Nepal, but the
practical knowledge of her team
has also increased, ultimately
providing a more valuable experience for her customers.

09.
CAROLINE GLEICH

WHY SHE'S HOT: Because every
time we check our Facebook
and Instagram feeds we see her

Photos by Josh Hejl, courtesy Christina Saboe, courtesy Outerknown

adventures. This year's winter
edition convenes on February 20
and it promises to include clinics, events, excursions and presentations all targeted towards
the beginning to intermediate
adventurer. By providing a free
"plugin" to backcountry events,
the festival not only offers up a
safe opportunity for newbies to
try something different, it also
expands the growing community of outdoor enthusiasts, and
ultimately customers, for years
to come. With over 25 events, last
summer's festival lured approximately 1,800 participants, with
75 percent of them coming from
outside the Tahoe area. This winter's festival is expected to draw
2,000 funseekers.

Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2016

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