Post #2 on The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

I think it's clear that we at The Piton are huge supporters of independent specialty retail, and not just outdoor shops. We feel the best coffee, dog food, music, clothes, and reading seems to come from our locally owned retailers. We also feel it is important to stress that in no way do we vilify Big Box retail. Over the last two decades the consumer has clearly chosen large format retail stores as their preferred place to shop and the customer is king.

So what's our point?

Today, these Big Box stores are the dominant paradigm. That customers are once again (and always) looking for something new and different. That today's surviving specialty shops are smarter, starting to organize, and offer an experience that customers are craving. So, for those of you that think about this kind of stuff, here is an overview from the Executive Director Dave Matz and the second in a series on The Grassroots Alliance.
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The mission statement for the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is:

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a group of independent outdoor shops dedicated to the sustainability of the specialty outdoor channel and the quality of the outdoor enthusiast’s experience. We stand together to help facilitate a market for performance-oriented, revolutionary products, create a unified marketing presence for high quality, local outdoor specialists, and help protect and sustain the quality and access to the environment on a local, national and global level.

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance believes that specialty outdoor retailers provide the best customer service, and a high-quality shopping experience.

Additionally, each member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is 100-percent committed to their local communities and to advocating for the environment.

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has worked extensively in the past to ensure the success of outdoor retailers. We are now committing ourselves to raising the market's awareness of the impact of specialty retail on their local communities.

To that end:

•    We sponsor events that enrich the health and well being of our customers and encourage community involvement. Our members sponsor a wide range of events from slide shows, free demos of equipment, races, and lectures, encouraging an active outdoor lifestyle and appreciation of the environment.
•    We are some of the front line defenders of local outdoor recreational areas and we work hands on and fund many local environmental groups and recreational area projects.

Here is a study that underscores the point we are trying to get across nationally. In 2003 the Civic Economics (a group of economists) did a study in Austin, Texas, comparing two bookstores. One of the stores was a large chain store, the other, an independent, local store.

The study found that every $100 spent at the national store circulated $13 in the Austin economy. The same $100 spent at the local store circulated $45, roughly three times as much, in the Austin economy. (Economic Impact Analysis: A Case Study, Civic Economics, Austin, TX 2002, free for download at www.civiceconomics.com <http://www.civiceconomics.com/>).

Our point is: Small local businesses are huge economic engines and also create a strong impact as environmental stewards.

The large chains often have more horsepower but the local business have more torque, economically and environmentally. This is a fascinating analysis of local business and if you are interested there is a wealth of information at www.smallmart.org <http://www.smallmart.org/> .

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is going to highlight some of the major events our members promote throughout the year.  Our members put on some incredible events.

•    The Outdoors Tour de Wolf Mountain Bike race in Memphis, Tenn., which is one of the top ten NORBA Classic races in the nation
•    The Golden Leaf Half Marathon in Aspen, which has been going on for almost 30 years
•    The Banff Mountain Film Festival

These events get the community active and inspired by giving them a chance to be involved as a participant, volunteer or spectator.

We are also active in preserving and protecting the recreational areas. 

•    Rock Creek Outfitters in Chattanooga, Tenn., has partnered with Chaco sandals to protect and maintain access to The Stone Fort formerly known as Little Rock City, one of the premiere bouldering sites in the U.S. and home of the finale of the Triple Crown Bouldering series.
•    Champaign Surplus in Champaign, IL has long supported the Prairie Rivers Network, www.prairierivers.org, which has been able to secure Scenic status for the Vermillion River, the only river with this designation in the state of Illinois. Champaign Surplus has been able to get support for the PRN from Camelbak, Patagonia, Smartwool and Wigwam.
•    The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance membership is also a member of the Conservation Alliance, www.conservationalliance.com , which as contributed $560,000 to environmental organizations throughout North America.

Next week we'll talk more about BALLE, Business Alliance for Living Local Economies, www.livingeconomies.org. They have a chapter in Salt Lake and I would like to see Outdoor Retailer reach out to them at the trade show.

Comments

[Mark McKnight]

Thanks for another great post on the value of specialty retail. Just wanted to point out that we're actually "Rock/Creek Outfitters." Looks like "Rock" was deleted somehow. I'm sure we can just blame it on Dave.

Oh, and the Crocs video post is absolutely genius. We just had a dysfunctional moment here in the office thanks to that.