Outdoor Research customers #OptOutside on Black Friday, give back via Instagram challenge

December 3, 2015

After closing its doors on Black Friday, OR donates $5,000 to Paradox Sports, with customers rising to challenge.

SEATTLE, Wash. (Dec. 3, 2015) – Following an Instagram challenge in which it encouraged its customers to get outside instead of shopping on Black Friday, Outdoor Research, the manufacturer of industry leading outdoor apparel and accessories, this week donated $5,000 to Paradox Sports, a Seattle non-profit that helps create adaptive sports communities.

Joining the ranks of outdoor retailer REI, Outdoor Research opted to close its doors on Black Friday and encouraged its employees and consumers to get outside instead. OR asked them to post their adventures on Instagram using REI’s #OptOutside as well as the #OutdoorResearch tags. Over the course of the campaign, Black Friday and the following weekend, OR pledged to donate $10 to Paradox Sports for every post using both hash tags, up to $5,000.

Nearly 1,000 people posted using #OptOutside and #OutdoorResearch. Instagram highlights from the campaign included skiing in Breckenridge, Colo.; ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon, Mont.; and backpacking in Zion National Park, Utah.

“Inspiring people to get outside, have fun, and, through that, better understand themselves and our planet is a core value at Outdoor Research. That’s why we felt it was so important to support REI in its #OptOutside campaign,” said Dan Nordstrom, CEO of Outdoor Research. “A huge thank you goes out to those who joined Outdoor Research in opting outside and giving back.”

For more information on the campaign and to view some of best shots, visit OR’s Verticulture blog.

About Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research® is Designed by Adventure®. We provide Innovation and Inspiration for the Relentless Adventurer. Based in Seattle, Outdoor Research was founded in 1981. We are dedicated to building better outdoor apparel, gloves, hats and an array of other outdoor accessories informed by real-world testing. We develop innovative, functional, bomb-proof products that are beautiful in their simplicity. We strive to provide the best value to our customers, not shareholders. We are committed to our core sports: alpinism, rock and ice climbing, hiking, backpacking, paddling, trail running, and skiing and snowboarding. And we’re having fun along the way.