Latest news with #ChristinaHenderson
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Takeaways From Switchback 2025, From Tariff Talk to Courting New Consumers
Switchback has wrapped its first standalone trade show, growing out of The Running Event to gather the outdoor industry over three days this week in Nashville. Nearly 1,300 attendees represented 194 brands and 290 retailers from 41 states and 9 countries. The trade show opened Monday with a series of educational panels and presentations, and the programming continued through Tuesday and Thursday while more than 30,000 feet of exhibition state was open for previews from brands. More from WWD Code Korea Project: 8 Brands to Check Out During Pitti Uomo The Couture Show 2025: Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty The Highlights and Events of Couture 2025 Nurture Relationships and Celebrate Design Excellence On Wednesday, Footwear News highlighted the top 17 shoes revealed at Switchback, and now we're taking a broader look at key business takeaways from the outdoor trade show. A prevailing sentiment throughout the trade show was that it was great to be back together in one place. With the disruption of COVID and Outdoor Retailer's profile diminished, brands and retailers relished the opportunity to once again meet face-to-face. 'I think this show is exactly what the industry needs,' Jessica Adler, vice president of sales for Merrell, told FN. 'It's great to have a national show that is relevant, gets everybody energized and excited about the future. I love the traffic, love the energy.' Although the list of exhibitors carried some heavy-hitters — including show sponsors Merrell and The North Face, as well as Asics, Arc'teryx, Birkenstock, and Skechers — the exhibition hall was intentionally kept intimate. Booth space was limited to 20 feet by 20 feet, with an exception made only for Merrell's double plot. 'We wanted to create this inclusive floor plan that would be easy to explore and easy for discovery, to really keep everyone connected and together,' said Christina Henderson, director of Switchback and The Running Event. 'We wanted something that we will build upon.' Lee Cox, vice president and general manager of Teva and Ahnu, appreciated the scope of Switchback and said it comes at an important time for Teva. 'It feels like a big regional show,' Cox said. 'Sometimes trade shows can get a little too big and it becomes more of a marketing tool versus a selling tool. For us, this is a selling tool.' Away from the business conducted in the exhibition hall, a full slate of educational panels and presentations offered insights on vendor-retailer relationships, tariffs, sustainability, and consumer profiles. Those at the front of the room spoke candidly on their respective topics, and the audiences weren't shy in their questioning and outlining some of their own difficulties. The next Switchback will return to its place within The Running Event in December in San Antonio, and next year's standalone spring show has already been announced for June in New Orleans. In a Monday afternoon panel on improving wholesale relationships between retailers and vendors, specialty retailers were in the spotlight. Direct-to-consumer sales have added competition, and one thing is clear: retailers want vendors to stop stepping on their toes. Minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies are a major point of contention, as specialty retailers are often unable to match the discounts offered by the brands themselves and operate with slimmer margins. 'We started trying to match and coordinate, and I've drifted more and more to I don't care, and I can't,' said Brian Mildenstein, owner of Fin & Feater in Iowa City, during the panel. 'It's impossible for me to do that, so we'll just focus on ourselves and do our own thing to make sure we're still relevant.' Adler acknowledged that Merrell has been strict about MAP pricing, sometimes even 'too diligent at times,' but said the brand is open to working with retailers if something's not working. 'We're trying to become more channel agnostic,' Adler said. 'DTC is a good test run for us to see what works — how do we connect [it] and see if it's worth scaling, how do we continue to build upon that faster with our wholesale channel. It's no longer about just having these transactional relationships in wholesale. It's really about partnerships and strategic partnership and understanding that alignment.' Specialty retailers have the advantage of being able to educate consumers in-person, and both sides of the panel expressed a desire to work together more on community-building events such as run clubs and pint nights. There's also a strong desire to return to more face-to-face interaction, which Switchback was able to provide. A Monday afternoon presentation from Kelly Davis, director of research for Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), put forth a new system of categorization for consumers: Core, Active and Casual. Whereas consumers were previously categorized purely based off of frequency of activity, this system also accounts for intensity of approach, spend levels and desired effect. Core consumers average an annual spend of $2,200 on gear and apparel, while Active and Casual come in $1,600 and $1,400 respectively. But the Core consumer, the hardcore participant so often the emphasis of marketing and product design, accounts for just 5.1 percent of the market. What remains is a vast majority falling into either Active (49.7 percent) or Casual (42 percent). Decreasing sales from 2021 to 2024 can be attributed to a misunderstanding of the Active and Casual consumers who account for the most purchases. Whereas the Core consumer is seeking excitement, the two other categories are motivated by something else. 'We are happiness dealers,' Davis said. 'We're not selling climate, we're not selling a running shoe, we're not selling any of that. We're selling experiences and beyond experiences, we're selling happiness, calm and balance.' Brands, retailers and consumers are all waiting to see where tariff policies land. The announcement of tariffs, the reversals and the ongoing windows for negotiations have made it hard to plan for the long-term. A presentation from Jaclyn Levy, senior directory of advocacy and government Affairs for OIA, zeroed in on what can actually be done in this period of uncertainty. Levy underlined the importance of reaching out to elected representatives to advocate and educate. Noise needs to be made to highlight how the outdoor business will be affected by tariffs, as 98 percent of apparel and 99 percent of footwear sold in the U.S. is imported. 'It's easy to close your eyes if somebody's not sitting in your office telling them exactly how many jobs were lost in their own constituency,' Levy said. Innovation is also at the core of the outdoor business, the expense of which becomes harder to tackle with the threats of tariffs. To help businesses communicate with their representatives, OIA has resources available including webinars and toolkits on top of the advocacy it's undertaking on its own. Even among the uncertainty, some brands such as Arc'teryx and Birkenstock made the point of noting that their prices are already set for spring 2026. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
14-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
21-Year-Old Caring for Siblings After Parents Detained by ICE, Deported - First Of All with Victor Blackwell - Podcast on CNN Audio
Flag Day is marked by 'No Kings' protests nationwide as President Trump hosts a massive military parade. DC Councilmember Christina Henderson, who is also the daughter of an Army veteran, joins Victor. Plus – Victor speaks to Black Marine veteran Phillip E. Thompson. He'll explain his recent article for the Washington Post saying young Americans of color should 'pause and reassess' service in the military. Later, you'll hear from a 21-year-old American whose undocumented mom is set to be deported as of Saturday morning. Her dad was deported to Guatemala just last week. Now Beverly Juarez is left to care for her three younger siblings and run her family's business. She shares her story, and a Father's Day plea addressed to President Trump. Victor also gets reaction to growing anti-ICE protests from Sarah Saldaña, a former director of the immigration enforcement agency during the Obama administration. 'Art is Life' this week has a superhero vibe. Victor shares the incredible yet largely unknown story of Civil War hero Robert Smalls, which is the subject of the new graphic novel 'DEFIANT'. Writer Rob Edwards explains why the story is so important to learn, especially ahead of Juneteenth. Also in time for the Juneteenth holiday, Victor speaks with apparel brand founder Lanny Smith and farmer Troy Bridgeforth about their special collaboration to 'reclaim cotton' and build a Black-owned supply chain amid President Trump's ongoing trade war.
Washington Post
14-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
D.C. Council members say stadium approval is likely, but they need more time
D.C. Council members are working toward approving a football stadium for the Washington Commanders at the shuttered RFK Stadium site — but probably not by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser's (D) July deadline, several lawmakers said this week. The prospect of the council delaying a vote on the $3.7 billion deal has the team 'outraged,' Bowser said this week, and 'sacrifices our exclusive seat at the table and $2.7 billion in private investment.' Bowser has wanted the council to approve the deal with the Commanders as part of the council's fiscal year 2026 budget process — and the Commanders said this week that any delay beyond that threatens the team's construction timeline. But council members argued it was only fair that they take more time to consider a deal that involves more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds — especially since they said they still lacked key information, such as a full explanation of the Bowser administration's revenue projections for the project and an analysis of how much the proposed tax exemptions for the Commanders will cost the city. 'The mayor thinks that her deal is perfect, and that's great for her,' said council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large). 'I feel like there are areas where we can certainly improve.' The timeline tensions came into public view Tuesday, after NBC Washington reported on a closed council meeting where members discussed the possibility of voting on the terms of the RFK deal separately from the overall budget, which lawmakers are expected to approve in late July. The council would still approve the capital funding Bowser has allocated for the development with the budget, two lawmakers said this week. The discussion of RFK was one part of a broader talk about separating some of Bowser's policy proposals from the council's budget vote, according to a person who was in the meeting but spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. Bowser's budget proposal included a host of changes to D.C. law, including a repeal of the city's 'sanctuary city' policy and amendments to eviction law. No final decision was made on RFK, the person said. Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) said members talked about keeping the money for the RFK deal in the budget while taking out the policy language around the deal so they could possibly amend it. 'It is my belief that the deal will get done,' Parker said in a video he posted on social media in which he described the meeting. 'We will safeguard the money, and vote on this project sometime this fall.' But voting on the deal in the fall would violate a deadline that Bowser negotiated with the Commanders; a term sheet between the two parties set July 15 as a deadline for a council vote and says the team would no longer exclusively negotiate with the city if the council did not vote on the deal by then, or if the council 'materially changes' the deal's terms. And Bowser said in an interview Friday that even if the council voted to approve the capital funds, that would mean little without them also approving the terms. 'The team can't take that to the bank,' she said. The deal, which Bowser and the Commanders announced at the end of April, would involve $2.7 billion from the Commanders and more than $1 billion in city funds, some of which would help with stadium infrastructure and parking facilities for the stadium along with recreation improvements and other water and electric infrastructure. In recent weeks, council members have floated possible changes to the deal — including altering the placement and amount of parking, asking the Commanders to pay more than the proposed $1 per year in rent on the stadium and parking land, and exacting firmer labor commitments from the team. Henderson cast some doubt on the idea that an additional couple of months of council consideration would cause the Commanders to walk away from the city. 'Every indication that I have from them, from the NFL, from their extraordinary involvement,' she said, 'is that they want to be here, which is great.' Henderson has said she would support a stadium deal, but only if it is improved for taxpayers and has a stronger labor agreement. But Bowser said at a news conference Wednesday that the Commanders have 'very, very specific timelines' that would be upset by a council delay. 'I think they feel blindsided by the discussion,' she said of the team. The Commanders said they would be willing to work 'morning and night' with the council to get the deal passed in July. 'Throughout the process we have been clear: the Commanders need a new home by 2030. Any delay will make us unable to deliver on that timeline as well as prevent us from attracting major concerts, performers, and international events such as the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup to D.C.,' a team spokesperson said in a statement. Council member Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), whose ward encompasses the RFK site, took to social media to call the delay 'a direct hit to Ward 7' and say he 'won't stand for it.' Other lawmakers said they are missing key information they need to analyze the deal and noted that the council took months to consider past stadium deals like Audi Field and Nationals Park and approved them after adding cost-saving measures for the city. The council is paying an outside consultant to evaluate the term sheet and proposed legislation and is awaiting that report. After requests from reporters and council members, the Bowser administration posted a slide deck summarizing revenue projections for the RFK project, which included a prediction that it would generate $5.1 billion in tax revenue over a 33-year period, but lawmakers have been seeking a more detailed explanation of how the firm hired by the administration arrived at those numbers. That additional understanding did not come until Friday, said council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), when the company the city hired to develop revenue projections met with the council's budget office. 'What I'm told is that we got all the information we needed today,' he said in a brief interview Friday evening. Also missing, lawmakers said, is a tax abatement financial analysis from the city's chief financial officer, which D.C. law requires ahead of a council hearing on any bill that would include a tax abatement or exemption. That analysis would explain how much tax money the city would miss out on because of the exemptions it is offering the Commanders. The council has requested one, said a spokesman for the chief financial officer, but the spokesman said he did not know how long it would take to complete. Bowser, in an interview Friday, rebutted the idea that the council lacks the information it needs to deliberate on the deal. She said her team and the Commanders were 'ready to work with the council,' provided they say exactly what they want to change. 'I recognize that the council members feel like this is a lot all at once, and it is a lot all at once, but this is our opportunity,' said Bowser. 'This is when the opportunity has presented itself.' Even as the council's timeline has irked Bowser and the team, Mendelson this week gave a forceful indication that the council would approve the stadium in the end. Mendelson, who has been vocal about his personal opposition to public funds for football stadiums, said in a statement Wednesday evening that the council will 'move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor's terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium.' 'I can't guarantee votes, but I'm working toward understanding or improving the proposal to a point where a majority can vote yes,' Mendelson added in an interview Thursday, though he said it was 'way too soon' for him to provide specific changes to the deal and he planned to wait for the evaluation the council had commissioned. Even Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large), among the stadium's most vocal supporters on the council, said he wanted more answers from Bowser officials and the team before a vote. 'I plan to hold a hearing, hopefully working with the chairman,' said McDuffie. 'I think time is of the essence. The deal does need to happen. And the council has experience and history in making modifications that improve on these types of deals.' Meagan Flynn contributed to this report.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Next Big Thing? Debut ‘Switchback' Show Rallies Big Outdoor Industry Support
What many consumers and newcomers to the outdoor industry might not know (but intuitively sense) is that the outdoor industry developed a large vacuum in the wake of the pandemic. It's not only reflected in the very painful vacancies left by specialty retail closures and supply chain craters that spelled doom for manufacturers, but also in the conspicuous and jarring absence of a marquee gathering place. For years, Outdoor Retailer attracted almost every single person, brand, and business to palatial convention halls that, when all attendees were accounted for, had less elbow room left over than a bivy sack. Those days seem long gone (though the show has promise with a reimagined purpose). But after 5 years of Zoom meetings, virtual showrooms, and a smattering of smaller niche shows, a flicker of anticipation has quickly spread among industry vets over a potential new 'big thing.' Debuting for the first time as a standalone event, Switchback — previously a segment within the annual The Running Event show — will take place in Nashville, Tenn., at the Gaylord Opryland from June 16 to 18. Already, Switchback has revealed a surprising lineup of heavy-hitting brands and attendees. When I spoke to Christina Henderson, director of both The Running Event and Switchback, she confirmed that the response to the show has been quite a surprise. 'We have 170 brands committed — that's 30,000 square feet of exhibit space,' Henderson told me last week. 'We didn't realize how big of a deal this would be.' What led to this response? To be sure, every vacuum creates opportunity. But Switchback has also deliberately taken certain pages from the big trade show playbook, while ripping out others in favor of a new paradigm. Among the 170 confirmed brands are industry titans like The North Face, Arc'teryx, and Cotopaxi, all of which had stopped attending OR. However, Switchback will also have a large contingent of small, independent brands and specialty retailers. According to Henderson, the show will ensure nobody has to play second fiddle to companies with deeper pockets. 'We limited the booth size at Switchback Spring, so the largest booth you can get is 400 square feet,' she said. 'That concept has been really well received; you'll have category leaders next to emerging brands, and you won't have these 'Taj Mahal'-type booths. It has really created an inclusive and welcoming floor plan.' Additionally, Switchback will dedicate an exhibit to assist specialty retailers. Show organizers hired a merchandising agency to design and assemble an 'innovation lab.' A veritable concept store within the show, this lab will demonstrate how retailers can assemble and curate pillar products, like camping gear, footwear, and backpacks, differently. Even though it's all just 'on paper' at this point, Henderson and her team have already received good feedback. 'I'm most looking forward to seeing the turnout from outdoor specialty buyers,' Mason Brent, wholesale director at Howler Brothers, told GearJunkie. 'We haven't been to OR in years, so this type of networking in an open floor plan format will be fun to experience again.' Beyond some retooled approaches, Switchback will have a little old, a little new, a little borrowed, and a little … blue. 'There's a river that goes all around the property!' Henderson said cheerfully of the event venue, the Gaylord Opryland. 'So we have 'Switchback'-branded boats. You can get in a boat and go around the river within this property.' Novelty aside, Switchback will adhere to some familiar structure. Expect jam-packed days one and two, with an opening reception on the first evening for brands, buyers, and media. A robust slate of educational sessions, much of it tailored to small business strategy, will take place in an on-site theater. Jim Weber, former CEO of Brooks Running, will deliver the opening keynote, addressing what Henderson described as 'the current moment of change' throughout the outdoor industry. And of course, attendees will be sure to scurry away to all manner of after-hours gatherings, parties, and extracurriculars. So far, as a concept, Switchback is on track to fill the demand left in the wake of 2020. 'Switchback feels like it has good energy,' Ross Herr, Rab's vice president of sales for the U.S., said. 'They've listened to feedback, kept prices low, and the timeframe tight. Everyone sounds like they're bringing more modest footprints than the national events of the past, so it will hopefully be about connecting with our retailers and talking about great new products.' The early buy-in is promising, but the success of Switchback — and whether it can rise to the level of an Outdoor Retailer — will hinge on the experience. Henderson acknowledged there will be follow-up surveys to gauge attendee satisfaction and find room for improvement. But she also confirmed that what will ultimately win (or lose) the day is not so tangible. 'How I could put it into words — the vibe or the energy. That is how I knew The Running Event was successful beyond the numbers or the record-breaking attendance, it's the energy,' she said. 'If you're there, you feel it.' You can sign up to attend the debut Switchback Spring show — but act fast. Exhibit space for the show has already surpassed 96% capacity. Editors' Top Gear Picks From Outdoor Retailer 2024
