Grassroots Outdoor Alliance retains Verde for PR and communications support

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, retained Verde Brand Communications to help manage communications and public relations.

Moving forward, Verde will assist the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance team with strategy and communications support around how the organization is working to champion best practices, education and information sharing among independent specialty outdoor retailers, and between those retailers and outdoor brands.

Founded in 1996, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a member-owned organization consisting of 95 independent outdoor specialty retailers with 206 retail locations across the U.S. There are also 67 product manufacturers who are members of Grassroots.

The organization works to build relationships between its retailers and vendor partners through data sharing, education, ideas, insights, buying opportunities, community events and other activities, as well as advocating for independent specialty retail within the outdoor industry.

Grassroots also operates the invitation-only Connect tradeshow twice a year in Kansas City, Mo., and Reno, Nev. Its member network receives a higher level of service through Grassroots programs and events, including at Connect, but many retailers and vendors who are not members also attend Connect, which broadens the show’s effectiveness for member retailers and brands as well as with its resonance in the Outdoor Industry.

“Connect is the way we are most visible to the larger outdoor industry, but the work we do day in and day out to provide support to and information exchange among our members is at the core of what we do,” said Gabe Maier, President of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “Verde will help us communicate around the work we are doing to support the health of independent specialty retail and how that relates to the health of the overall Outdoor Industry.”

With its 32-year track record in the outdoor industry and principals who worked in the industry prior to that, Verde has the long-term industry experience and perspective around specialty outdoor retail, the broader outdoor industry, and the relationship between the two in order to effectively work with the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance team.

“Specialty retail is the heart and soul of the Outdoor Industry, but more importantly, it’s one of the most effective, productive and authentic channels for brands to reach consumers,” said Julie Evans, CEO of Verde. “What Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has built to serve independent retailers as a group is incredibly unique and impactful — exactly what you’d expect from such a group of strong leaders. We’re excited to help build on the work they are doing.”

The recent June Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect Show saw record attendance with 144 participating brands at Connect, 108 brands at Discovery Marketplace (hosted Day 0, Sunday, June 9), and 146 attending independent outdoor retail stores.

The next Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect show will take place in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 11-14, 2024.