JUNE 16-18, 2025 NASHVILLE, TN
Switchback Spring 2025 Post-Event Report
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Switchback Spring 2025 Post-Event Report
OVERVIEW OF Switchback Spring 2025
THE DEBUT SWITCHBACK SPRING EVENT
TOOK PLACE JUNE 16-18, 2025, IN NASHVILLE, TN.
Designed with intention, Switchback Spring served as a gathering space for the outdoor industry community to conduct business, build relationships, learn, and get inspired—all to support and advance outdoor retailers, brands, media, non-profit organizations, and more.
As an inaugural event, there were no established traditions or formats to follow, allowing for innovative thinking and the opportunity to build an event that reflects today’s outdoor industry. Following is a quick breakdown of what that looked like.
DAY ONE: MONDAY, JUNE 16 | EDUCATION SESSIONS & WELCOME PARTY
The event kicked off with a full day of education, setting the tone for a dynamic and insightful gathering. Attendees filled seats at 26 education sessions led by 46 expert speakers, covering everything from data on today’s outdoor consumers to policy updates on tariffs and public lands. Day One was capped off with a celebratory Welcome Party, hosted by Merrell and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), where brands and retailers gathered to swap stories and gear up for the next two days of the event.
DAY TWO: TUESDAY, JUNE 17 | EXHIBIT HALL DEBUT & COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Featuring 194 exhibiting brands, the debut Switchback Spring show floor opened to hundreds of retailers, media professionals, non-profit organizations, and many other industry professionals. From pre-scheduled meetings to drop-bys, brands saw strong engagement across the board. Energy was high as attendees moved between booths and tuned in to additional learning opportunities, including a featured morning session and a variety of talks hosted at the Trailheads Theater. Community was also front and center, with crowds gathering for networking events throughout the evening, including an Exhibit Hall Happy Hour and The Rock Fight podcast, recorded live from the show floor.
DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 | MORNING HIKE & CONTINUED DISCOVERY
The final day opened with some fresh air during the Morning Hike - hosted by Merrell - at Shelby Bottoms Greenway, a local Nashville park. Later in the morning in the exhibit hall, momentum continued as attendees made more connections, placed orders, and explored product innovations in hiking, backpacking, camping, apparel, footwear, nutrition, and more. As the show wrapped up, it was clear that Switchback Spring created a space for ideas, business, partnerships, and connection.
Quick Facts & Figures
*Switchback post-event surveys and registration data
1,286
Total attendees, exhibitors, and media
290
Specialty retailers
194
Exhibiting companies
30,000+
Sq ft. of exhibit space
30 Qualified media professionals
26 Education sessions
46 industry speakers led by
Leading and emerging brands represented hard-and-soft good categories, including:
Footwear Apparel Hiking Camping Trail Running
Hydration Nutrition Accessories Technology First-Aid
THE SUCCESS OF SWITCHBACK SPRING WAS TRULY A TEAM EFFORT. CREDIT GOES TO OUR EVENT TEAM, OUR ADVISORY BOARD, OUR PARTNERS AT OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY. AS SUCCESSFUL AND ENERGIZING AS THIS DEBUT EVENT WAS, IT ALSO SHOWED US WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO LEAN IN AND FURTHER SUPPORT THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY.
– CHRISTINA HENDERSON, SWITCHBACK DIRECTOR
IT WAS FANTASTIC. WE CONNECTED WITH BRANDS THAT WE’VE ONLY KNOWN VIRTUALLY IN THE PAST AND MADE SOME NEW RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL. A LOT OF SHOWS ARE EITHER JUST FOCUSED ON BIG BRANDS OR SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE SMALL ONES, BUT SWITCHBACK HAD BOTH. THAT COMBINATION CREATED SOME GREAT ENTREPRENEURIAL ENERGY THAT YOU COULD FEEL THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. – CODY WHELAN, OWNER, TREELINE OUTFITTERS
Attendee
A closer look at Switchback Spring 2025 attendees
Attendee Information
MORE FUN FACTS:
Over 4 in 5
attendees plan to return to Switchback Spring 2026
8 out of 10
attendees felt their objectives of networking and builiding industry conections were met
72% of attendees said Switchback Spring was important to their business or organization
Nearly 3 in
5
attending retailers represent 1-2 storefronts; 30% represent 11+ storefronts How attendees rated the Switchback Spring exhibitor mix 4.5 out of 5
Two-thirds of attendees have either sole or joint buying power
Switchback Spring 2025 Attendee Comments:
THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS DID A GREAT JOB SELECTING THE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND TOPICS AS WELL AS LINING UP AN AMAZING SLATE OF EXHIBITORS. WELL DONE ALL THE WAY AROUND IN MAKING THIS A WORTHWHILE CONFERENCE FOR RETAILERS AND BRANDS IN THIS SPACE.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, WITH A LOT OF ENERGY AND PEOPLE WERE VERY EAGER TO CONNECT AND FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER. COOL TO SEE THE INDUSTRY COME TOGETHER IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, AND CREATE CONNECTIONS.
Exhibitor Information
A closer look at Switchback Spring 2025 exhibitors
A Quick Look at 2025 Exhibitors:
Altra Liberty Mountain
Arc'teryx Lifestraw
BOGS Footwear Marmot Mountain
Cnoc Outdoors Merrell
Cotopaxi Mountain Hardwear
Chubbies PyreLogs
Eagle Creek RAINS
GCI Outdoor Rossignol
Helinox USA Sherpa Adventure Gear
Howler Brothers Smartwool
Norrøna Teton
OOFOS Teva
Paka Apparel The North Face
Picture Organic Clothing TOPO DESIGNS
Pingora UYN
EXHIBITOR FUN FACTS:
Over 70% of exhibitors met their objectives of building industry connections and relationships
83% of exhibitors listed “increasing brand awareness” as their main goal for Switchback Spring 2025
Two-thirds of exhibitors were satisfied with the quality of attendees
$70,000 was the average value of exhibiting sales
9 in 10
exhibitors agreed that the organizers made it easy for them to exhibit at the event
WE OPENED A FEW ACCOUNTS AND HAVE ORDERS IN HAND, WHICH IS REALLY VALIDATING FOR OUR YOUNG BRAND. WE EVEN HAD SOME LARGER ACCOUNTS COME BY, AS WELL AS SOME UNIQUE AND INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH STATE PARKS, CAMPGROUNDS, AND OTHER STATE-OWNED ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPENED OUR EYES TO THE POTENTIAL THAT’S AHEAD FOR OUR COMPANY.
– BETH STEELE, OUTDOOR SALES DIRECTOR, MIMIKAI
93% of exhibitors were U.S. based, with others traveling from Austria, Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom
50% of exhibitors were decision makers and 25% were sales representatives
Industry Education
Education is key to progress, which is why outdoor retailers and brands found a thoughtful lineup of sessions and expert speakers at Switchback Spring.
The 2025 education program was built around the outdoor industry’s current goals, needs, and challenges. Designed in close collaboration with OIA, the program covered outdoor trends and consumer behaviors, innovative business and marketing strategies, public lands advocacy, change management, and more.
Attendees left Switchback with ready-to-implement ideas and strategies for their business and career.
Conference Sessions
Led by a mix of industry experts, conference sessions took place in a classroom setting throughout Day One of the event. Featured sessions were held in a large ballroom, while more intimate breakout sessions took place in smaller rooms.
Day One: June 16
Keynote: A Conversation with Jim Weber: Leading with Agility and Purpose
Jim Weber, Former CEO, Brooks
Melanie “Mel” Strong, Founding Partner, NEXT VENTURES
Turn New Participation Data Into Retail Growth
Kelly Davis, Director of Research, OIA
Reduce Your Hassles, Improve Your Operations, Increase Your Profits
David Jones, Founder/President, The Excellence Advisory, Strengthening Retailer-Vendor Relations in Today’s Business Climate
Mark Sullivan (Moderator), Partnerships & Development Director, Switchback
Jessica Alder, Vice President of Sales, Merrell
Jon Frederick, Group Marketing Director, Equip Outdoor Technologies UK Ltd
Brian Mildenstein, Owner, Fin & Feather
Kerri Olson, Outdoor Apparel Senior Buyer, Piragis Northwoods Company
Cash Flow Strategies You Can Implement Right Now
Dan Jablons, President, Retail Smart Guys
Building Successful Wholesale Relationships with Emerging Brands
Katie Doherty (Moderator), Co-Founder, Founded Outdoors
Eoin Comerford, Principal, Outsize Consulting
Jen Loofbourrow, Founder/Owner, Alpine Fit
Mike Mojica, Founder/CEO, Outdoor Element
Lloyd Vogel, Co-Founder/CEO, Garage Grown Gear
Community and Authenticity in the History of Outdoor Retail
Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor of HIstory, University of Colorado Denver
The Impact of Trade on Retail – and How You Can Help Fight Back
Jaclyn Levy, Senior Director, Advocacy & Government Affairs, OIA
On the Horizon: What’s Next for Outdoor
Jeanine Pesce, Founder/Creative Director, RANGE
Built to Flex: Smarter Strategies for Retail Planning, Buying, and Merchandising
Carrie Watson, Founder, Outside Looks
Unlocking Outdoor Consumer Trends for Retailers
Kelly Davis, Director of Research, OIA
Day Two: June 17
Switch(back) Your Focus to the Customer, not the Market: How to Re-Engage Your Customer—with Intention and an Evidence-Based Retail Approach
Dan Mann, Founder/President, The Mann Group
Day Three: June 18
The Business Imperative of Protecting Public Lands: Why Conservation is Critical to the Outdoor Industry’s Future
Adam Cramer, Executive Director/CEO, Outdoor Alliance
Kent Ebersole, President, OIA
Paul Hendricks, Executive Director, The Conservation Alliance
A packed room gained valuable insights during the keynote, including tips for strong leadership, managing change and disruption, and building an organization that can sustain and thrive through challenges. Jim Weber shared the formula that re-founded and transformed Brooks from a business on the brink of bankruptcy into a $1.4B global powerhouse and industry leader able to stand tall against world class brands. From leading with purpose and driving innovation to cultivating customer obsessions and building more trusting workplace cultures, Weber revealed the key decisions that fueled Brooks’ success.
We’re excited to be a part of this important new gathering in the outdoor sector. The energy and enthusiasm of the attendees has been fantastic.
– JIM WEBER, FORMER CEO, BROOKS
Industry Insights & Education
Trailheads Theater
Located in the exhibit hall, the Trailheads Theater was an engaging education space open to all. Attendees accessed impactful insights from a variety of presenters, which included partner organizations, brand and retail leaders, and other industry experts.
Day Two: June 17
Maximizing Apparel Sales Through Smart Merchandising
Holly Weise, Founder/Visual Visionary, 3 Dots Design
Inclusion Insights: Busting 4 Size Inclusion Myths to Boost Revenue and Market Share
Andrea Kelly, Founder/CEO, Make Plus Equal
Accelerating Impact with 1% for the Planet
Kiera Murphy, Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager, 1% for the Planet
The Outdoor Consumer Today: Who They Are, How They Get Outside, and How to Reach Them
Kelly Davis, Director of Research, OIA
The Value of Corporate Advocacy: Protecting Lands and Waters
Paul Hendricks (Moderator), Executive Director, The Conservation Alliance
Mark Deming, Chief Marketing Officer, Northwest River Supplies, Inc. (NRS)
Celia Camargo, Director of Community & Purpose, GU Energy Labs
Erik Lambert, Founder/CEO, Bonfire Collective
The Augmented Outdoors: Culture, Technology, and Nature
Harry Bainbridge, Head of Strategy, Highsnobiety
The Journey Behind the Brand: Why Origin Stories Matter
Dan Kihanya (Moderator), Director, REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures
Sara Chen, Founder/CEO, Pangoo Apparel
Michael Houston, Co-Founder, Shower Pouch
Mike Mojica, Founder/CEO, Outdoor Element
Day Three: June 18
Fueling Growth: Funding Strategies for Emerging Outdoor Brands
Enhao Li (Moderator), Co-Founder, Founded Outdoors
Steve Westover, Managing Partner, Digsbury Ventures
Georgia Grace Edwards, Founder/CEO, Gnara
Alexis Dulan, Investor, Capitalize VC
Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, Founder/CEO, LIVSN Designs
The Importance of Honoring Black History and Culture in Public Lands
Jocelyn Imani, Senior Director, Black History & Culture, Trust for Public Land
Industry Partnerships to Expand Youth Outdoor Participation
Lesford Duncan, Executive Director, Outdoor Foundation Kent Ebersole, President, OIA
Attracting the Eco-Conscious Consumer
Dean Ronzoni, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Leave No Trace
Jessica Bensley, Product Director, TEVA
Jake Lyons, Sales and Operations Lead, Send Bars
Jen Moreau, Founder/Co-Owner, The Landmark Project
Building a Mission-Driven Business: Defining, Communicating, and Living Your Purpose
Jenna Klein Jonsson, Managing Partner, Blaze Partners
Darren Brown, Head of Marketing, OOFOS
Emily Kwesell, Co-Founder, Treeline Outfitters
Yasmina Mokraoui, Vice President of Wholesale, Life is Good
The Outdoor Recreation Archive: Preserving the History of the Outdoor Industry
Clint Pumphrey, Outdoor Recreation Archive Curator, Utah State University
Chase Anderson, Industry Relations Manager, Utah State University
Networking & Activities
At Switchback, connection is key. From the Welcome Party and Morning Hike to interactive experiences like Speaker Office Hours, the goal was to create an environment that supported growth and conversation. Explore how attendees, exhibitors, media, and more came together - and had some funat Switchback Spring.
Welcome Party
Day One concluded with the Welcome Party, hosted by Merrell and OIA. Open to all, industry members gathered to swap stories and connect with friends new and old. Attendees had ample opportunities to catch up while enjoying food, drinks, live music, industry bingo, and a crowd-favorite activity—riverboat rides inside the Gaylord Opryland!
Speaker Office Hours
Attendees continued their learnings by participating in office hours with four Switchback speakers. These meetings aimed to provide candid advice and actionable insights tailored to individuals’ unique challenges and questions. Participating speakers included:
Carrie Watson Founder, Outside Looks
David Jones Founder / President, The Excellence Advisory
Mann Founder / President, The Mann Group
Holly Wiese Founder / Visual Visionary, 3 Dots Design
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour
Attendees celebrated the first-ever Switchback exhibit hall with the Exhibit Hall Happy Hour, held on the show floor. Snacks and drinks were provided as retailers mingled with exhibitors, media, partner organizations, and other industry members. A special thank you to participating brands for hosting gatherings at their booths:
Morning Hike
Attendees kicked off Day Three with fresh air during the Morning Hike at one of Nashville’s local parks, Shelby Bottoms Greenway. Hosted by Merrell, attendees hit the trails in some of the brand’s newest footwear. Once at the park, participants joined a group run or took a leisurely walk to soak in the wildflowers and enjoy scenic views of the greenway.
Dan
Hosted by:
Hosted by:
Networking & Activities
Last Call In The Hall
Last Call in the Hall wrapped up Switchback Spring on a high note. Attendees celebrated the conclusion of the debut Switchback Spring with snacks, drinks, and good vibes.
Switchback Library
Available throughout the event at various Switchback Library locations, a variety of books were free to take home:
Rachel Gross: Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America
Outdoor Recreation Archive: The Outdoor Archive: The Ultimate Collection of Adventure & Sporting Graphics, Illustrations and Gear
Jim Weber: Running With Purpose: How Brooks Outpaces Goliath Competitors to Lead the Pack
Dan Mann: Leading Change: How to Achieve Superior Results with Gentle Pressure Relentlessly Applied | ORBiT: The Art and Science of Influence
Marcus Woolf: Hiking Huntsville Vol. 1: A Guide to 80 Trails on Monte Sano Mountain, Huntsville Mountain | Green Mountain and Hiking Huntsville Vol. 2: A Guide to More Than 70 Trails and Greenways in the Huntsville Metro Area
Live Recording of The Rock Fight
A live recording of The Rock Fight took place during the Exhibit Hall Happy Hour. Host Colin True and co-hosts Eoin Comerford, Shawnté Salabert, and Producer Dave welcomed guests to discuss event highlights, including Christina Henderson, Switchback Director, Kent Ebersole, OIA President, Troy Sicotte, Mountain Hardwear President, and Jason Theinel, Cumberland Transit General Manager.
Attendee Bags
Switchback retail attendees received a bag filled with products and giveaways from participating brands! Check out the featured photo for a peek at what was included—and thank you to the following brands who participated:
#SwitchbackSpring25 Pins
Attendees got creative and decorated their bags, lanyards and more with custom Switchback pins.
HERE TO LISTEN NOW: THE ROCK FIGHT LIVE AT SWITCHBACK SPRING 2025!
Exhibit Hall: Featured Areas
Not only was the Switchback exhibit hall packed with brands, it was also home to a variety of featured areas that sparked business, discovery, and inspiration.
Retail Innovation Lab
Created by 3 Dots Design, a leading retail merchandising firm, the Retail Innovation Lab was an interactive space in the exhibit hall. The Lab showcased versatile displays that encouraged retailers to present merchandise in unique and engaging ways. Products ranged from apparel and socks to camping gear, footwear, displays, and eyewear.
Participating brands included:
Product Spotlight
The Product Spotlight was exactly that—a display of the latest products from outdoor brands. Attendees had the opportunity to stop by and check out the latest gear before visiting each brand’s booth to learn more about their new offerings.
Participating brands included:
Mannequins
Exhibit Hall: Featured Areas
The Campground
The Campground featured a hands-on tent display in the exhibit hall, allowing retailers to explore the newest tents from various brands. Participants could examine the tents' full functionality, size, and materials, mirroring real-life usage.
Participating brands included:
The Outdoor Recreation Archive
Switchback was excited to showcase the Outdoor Recreation Archive—an organization with a mission to document the history of people, products, and brands in the outdoor industry. Through unpublished documents, published materials, and audio/visual materials, attendees had the chance to interact with archival materials throughout the event. The Outdoor Recreation Archive includes:
• 8,000 outdoor clothing and gear catalogs representing 1,000 brands dating from 1900-present
• 8,000 outdoor industry recreation magazines across 300 titles dating from 1907-present
• 32 collections of documents, photographs, sketches, and other unique materials from gear innovators, brand founders, and other outdoor industry employees
Trailheads Theater
The Trailheads Theater was a fan favorite and exhibit hall highlight, featuring education sessions and panels featuring industry experts and pioneers. Presenters shared valuable data, led timely discussions, and fostered community engagement during engaging 30-minute sessions. Check page 9 for the full Trailheads Theater lineup.
Trailheads , published by Switchback, is an online resource featuring content that speaks directly to the needs, goals, and concerns of outdoor specialty retailers, brands, and organizations.
Built on a foundation of education, connection, and business, Trailheads features content focused on merchandising, inventory management, outdoor trends, brand updates, and more. The publication shares best practices from innovative retailers and provides tips to help stores incorporate new, creative ideas and products.
Check out Trailheads' Switchback Spring Coverage:
Switchback Spring Debuts Research Showing More Diverse and Casual Outdoor Participants
Switchback Spring Delivers Diverse Education Sessions, Covering Retail Operations, Industry Trends and Leadership Skills
Make Plus Equal Enables Outdoor Companies to offer Plus-Sized Apparel
4 Merchandising Tips for Specialty Retailers
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE AND GET THE LATEST TRAILHEADS ARTICLES
Partner Organizations
Partnerships and collaboration are essential to the success of the outdoor industry, as well as Switchback. Trusted for their expertise, experience, and leadership, Switchback partner organizations helped guide initiatives, education, and more at the debut gathering.
Official Event Partner Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a member-based collective and passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers, and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting–and growing access to–the benefits of the outdoors for everyone.
In 2024, Switchback and OIA formed a strategic, year-round partnership—a key tool in supporting industry connections and growth at the event and beyond. Switchback and OIA will continue to collaborate in welcoming specialty retailers, brands, organizations, and media with a vested interest in foundational outdoor experiences.
The outdoor industry is at a crossroads. Many businesses are navigating uncertainty and rapid change, and they shouldn’t have to face it alone. Coming together to tackle tough challenges, whether on the trail or in business, has always defined this community. We’re proud to carry that legacy forward at Switchback Spring as we learn and grow together.
– KENT EBERSOLE, PRESIDENT, OIA
THANK YOU to our 2025 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
These organizations represented a wide range of outdoor focus areas, including conservation, participation, education, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
Media Coverage
Switchback Spring 2025 welcomed media professionals from
Social Media Higlights
Thank you to everyone who used the event hashtag #SwitchbackSpring25! Check it out on social platforms (@SWITCHBACKEVENT) to catch what you missed.
Switchback at The Running Event 2025
December 2-4, 2025
San Antonio, TX
Henry B. González Convention Center
Back for Year Four, Switchback at The Running Event (TRE) 2025 will be a one-stop opportunity to access top run and outdoor brands under one roof, connect with industry peers, and gain valuable, actionable education to advance your business.
Switchback Spring 2026
June 16-18, 2026
New Orleans, LA
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The second annual Switchback Spring will be held in New Orleans
June 16-18, 2026. The venue will offer flexibility for innovative ideas, new initiatives, and vibrant energy.
Interested in Exhibiting?
LEARN MORE ABOUT SWITCHBACK AT TRE 2025
Interested in
LEARN MORE ABOUT SWITCHBACK SPRING 2026