HikeArizona.COM

Not to take this too far off course, but traffic is down on Old Baldy this summer as well. Finished up my hike this morning around 10 AM and you could still find a handful of parking spots. 4-5 years ago at 10 AM you'd be circling around in hopes of finding an elusive spot. Saw an earnings report from REI and it wasn't pretty, their CEO said the two demographics that bought outdoor gear in the past have stopped shopping there the past two years. Baby Boomers are aging out and Millennials are buying houses & baby clothes, not outdoor gear according to REI.

@TooOld2Hike_EP
No, you are not alone. I had 3 hiking partners form the Saddle Brooke Hiking Club that opted out as well at that same time and for the same reasons. One of them was actually a steward for a number of years. Fortunately, if you leave the TV unplugged and stay off of the social media for a day or two, you can hear the street level sentiment turning against wokeism. Turns out most of us can't get by on unicorn farts and rainbows. Some of us still live in the real world.

Some people are going to be real upset in 57 days!

Mountain_Rat wrote: you can hear the street level sentiment turning against wokeism

When is the last time you talked to someone under 45?

cactuscat wrote:Some people are going to be real upset in 57 days!

While I take your point, I think realistically it will be at least 60 days — and maybe over 100! — because at least for now, it's unclear exactly which people are the ones who will be upset! Regardless, I bet some of them won't be shopping at REI.

@ShatteredArm
Yesterday, when I went shooting with all three of my kids and my son-in-law. When was the last time you had face to face with another human?

I do very little shopping anymore at REI and if I do buy something it's online. Their stores have been a joke for years. Their women's clothing line looks like it caters more to Yoga and Influencers who take a lot of selfies. I feel like I have to wade through several aisles and displays of 50 different styles of water bottles and flip flops to get to any decent outdoor gear. When the Chandler store opened I checked it out and I absolutely hated it. And don't get me started on their hiking pants. I ordered a couple of pair recently and what a huge disappointment for the price. Not going to buy those anymore for sure. It's pretty sad, they used to be a decent store. I hate buying some things online, as I like to try them on/out first, but that's how I'm leaning anymore too.

I miss the old "Popular" stores. Had basic stuff at ok prices. Like a lot of things REI was pretty good when new on the scene. Then marketing and circumstances took them in a new direction. I've been in the Tucson REI twice a few years back when first opened. I've been to Sportsman Warehouse a couple of times for sales. They don't do it for me either. Now mostly online unless I feel I have to see it first and can find locally. Clothing--ebay or poshmark. I know what brands of hiking clothing I like and seem to stand up to abuse and buy that stuff used because I'm just gonna trash it anyway! Sometimes Amazon if I can find it cheaper. Summit Hut is also pretty expensive now and their stores seem to be following the REI model.

It's really heart warming to see the old HAZ group getting together to discuss the REI financials. This brings a warm fuzzy feeling to my heart.

We buy boots and pants, stuff that I like to try on. But really if it wasn't for the fact that it is on our way home from work we'd be going to Sportsmans. As a person who loves demographics, the parking lot at Sportsmans is quite a bit different than at the PV REI. One has more lifted Dodge Rams, the other Subarus.

50+ yrs ago as a kid in Boulder, REI mail order gear was the way to beat the sky high prices at the (many) local mountaineering shops.

Nowadays I find REI is the expensive shop and I'm too cheap to buy stuff there.

@chumley
I always wonder who, in these sorts of companies (as they sit around the conference table with all like-minded folks) would they ask as to comment on potential pitfalls of their woke-ish misstep(s)? Especially as quickly as folks get 'canceled' in the 'new, 'modern' work-place.

https://www.rei.com/newsroom/article/re ... s-business

REI shuttering it's guided trips and classes services.

@Grimey
Interesting that they've run the Experience business for 40 years and it has never turned a profit. That's not related to any modern political BS, that's just stupid.

Or alternately, REI, having been a member owned Co-op that existed primarily or originally, to serve it's members and their interests, viewed the member experience organized events as a service it offered to those members to foster outdoor enjoyment and ways to use the gear they bought, or might be considering buying. I never knew these events existed until very recently, so I suspect that they didn't promote them very well. After the internet and things like meetup, I don't even know the service was all that necessary.

Either way, yes, while it wasn't political in nature, it does show the changing nature of the organization, and basically is another indicator that REI is now just another Wall Street type company, even if not completely there, yet.

New CEO at REI, you probably got the same email I got this morning, which I will copy and paste here:

Dear REI employees and co-op members,

After twelve years with REI, including six as president and CEO, Eric Artz has this morning announced to our employees that he will retire at the end of March. Eric shared his intentions to retire with the board of directors as part of a planned succession process and will actively support REI’s next CEO during the transition.

The board is pleased to announce that Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI board director, has accepted our invitation to become REI’s next president & CEO. Mary Beth’s first day with the co-op will be on February 3. Initially, she will join REI as president, giving her time to focus on getting to know our people and our membership before stepping into the responsibility of CEO and the day-to-day running of the co-op on March 31.

I would like to thank Eric on behalf of the board for his service. REI is in a strong position today because he always kept our purpose, values, and people as his north star. Since joining REI in 2012, he carried forward the long traditions of the co-op while pushing us to embrace new opportunities. As CEO since 2019, Eric has been a true steward, navigating some of the most challenging times in retail and our industry. Through it all, he put the co-op first and never lost sight of harnessing our co-operative spirit to do what’s right for the planet, our people and the long-term health of the outdoors.

As we look to the future, I am confident that Mary Beth has the right experience to lead REI into its next chapter. She is a highly accomplished and innovative retail and digital leader, known for her collaborative approach and steadfast dedication to aligning business success with purpose and values. As an avid hiker, she has a deep passion for the outdoors and believes strongly in the role that nature has in grounding us mentally and physically.

Mary Beth grew up outside Chicago and is currently living in the Portland area with her husband, Brad, two teenaged children and two dogs, Bodie and Stella. She will be based in the REI office in Issaquah, WA, when she is not visiting stores, distribution facilities and spending time with employees, members, partners and advocates for the outdoors.

Most recently, Mary Beth led Nike's global retail and digital direct-to-consumer business. Previously, as CEO of Athleta, a certified B Corp, Mary Beth led the company through a period of significant revenue growth. Earlier in her career, she ran Sephora’s North America stores and digital, with a focus on customer experience and operational excellence. In addition to her previous service as a board director for REI, today she serves on the board of directors of Instacart, an innovative grocery retailer and was formerly a board director of Impossible Foods.

While leadership transitions naturally bring change, REI’s purpose and commitment to the fight for life outdoors will not waver. Thank you for your commitment to REI and our community.

With gratitude,
Chris Carr
Chair, Board of Directors
REI Co-op

Why outdoor retailers REI and Patagonia continue to struggle.
https://www.modernretail.co/operations/ ... =flipboard

@Pivo
"Between 2022 and 2023... sales of insulated cups, mugs and tumblers grew 84%"
Sheesh! I have not purchased any of those items in the last 10-12 years... but then I don't feel the need to hop on the latest fad.

So... after that extra 84% of drinking containers were purchased, if those same folks have already reached their fill so-to-speak, REI, et al, may find themselves in an overstock situation. Oh, the joys of anticipating retail trends... and going off the rails when failing to respond soon enough.

CannondaleKid wrote:Oh, the joys of anticipating retail trends... and going off the rails when failing to respond soon enough.

My Ex-Wife was a clothing buyer for a Federated Department store, one of her colleagues 'stuck the landing' on buying men's leisure suits back in the early '80's. He was a king after that! There's no accounting for taste.

Pivo wrote:There's no accounting for taste.

I got confused. Still talking ex-wife, or moved on to the buyer guy?

@chumley
You’re easily confused.