Recent news stories have been flooding my inbox about the decline of flagship outdoor brands. Orvis is closing a significant number of stores, REI is reducing member benefits, LLBean is changing its marketing strategies, Dick’s is closing stores and going bankrupt, and the latest addition to this mess is Eddie Bauer’s bankruptcy.
The decline of these brands is attributed to increased costs due to tariffs and venture capitalists buying and selling assets to maximize profits. Orvis, a family business, admitted that tariffs have severely impacted them. The sad news has affected Simms, which was bought by an investor group and immediately outsourced the manufacture of its waders from the US, resulting in poor quality. Perhaps the decline in the quality of our favorite products is a sign of the decline in our country’s economic status.
However, one brand stands out: Patagonia. Yvon Chouinard is uncompromising and stands for what we all believe in—preservation of public lands, clean air, and free-flowing wild rivers. Patagonia now reinvests in preservation rather than profit for profit’s sake. It’s time for us to stand up for what truly matters.
Let the wild river flow clean and dam free!
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