08/24/2026

Outdoor Retailer Drives Industry Reset in Minneapolis, Igniting Focus on Emerging Brands and Creator Reach (8/24/26)

Outdoor Retailer, owned and produced by Forge, wrapped its Minneapolis debut with more than 1,800 attendees, 275-plus brands and 150-plus media and creators from 45 states and 20 countries. The event marked a meaningful reset for the outdoor industry, reinforcing Outdoor Retailer’s role as a platform for connection, learning and innovation. The three-day show also surpassed its goal of 400 qualified retailers, established when Outdoor Retailer announced its new direction in October 2025. Through more than 850 onsite connections, creators engaged with new and emerging brands while reaching a combined audience of 21.2 million outdoor consumers. “Moving a legacy event to a new city while navigating significant change is no small undertaking,” said Matthew Mathiasen, group show director, Outdoor Retailer. “It takes trust, patience, curiosity and a willingness to believe in what’s possible. Our buyers, exhibitors, partners, brands, retailers, media and friends across the industry brought all of that to Minneapolis. Most importantly, they reminded us why this industry comes together: to discover what’s next, champion great ideas, make connections and move the outdoor industry forward, together.” Day one drew more than 600 founders, retailers and industry professionals for a full slate of programming, anchored by the new Retailer Playbook Lab workshop series and an Industry Day featuring keynotes from Eoin Comerford (principal, Outsize Consulting and former CEO of Moosejaw), Neil Fiske (brand president, Black Diamond Equipment), and author and endurance athlete Mirna Valerio. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the most surprising part was the level of buyer activity,” said Comerford. “Booths were busy with exhibitors taking orders onsite.” Exhibitors and attendees noted a decisive turnaround, with a sold-out show floor and strong buyer activity. Specialty and regional retailers from six continents attended, supported in part by Outdoor Retailer’s Specialty Scholarship and Hosted Buyer Program. Minneapolis and Minnesota welcomed the show with a civic reception led by Mayor Jacob Frey, who opened the event with a ceremonial ribbon cutting alongside the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, one of Minnesota’s sovereign tribal nations and longtime stewards of the land. The Mille Lacs Honor Guard completed the ceremony, marking Outdoor Retailer’s arrival in its new home. “Outdoor Retailer got three days to prove whether a year of hard conversations and decisions mattered,” said Lindsay Hubley, senior vice president, Sports and Outdoor Division. “Rebuilding the show meant asking the industry to believe again, one courageous yes at a time. In Minneapolis, brands could launch products, reach more than 20 million followers through structured creator matching, meet with Backcountry and REI buying teams, access more than 400 specialty retail accounts and leave with a content library - all in three days.”