Switchback Spring educational programming emphasizes retail strategies, consumer trends, and public lands advocacy.

March 26, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 26, 2025) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Switchback Spring, with a nearly sold out show floor and rising retailer numbers, has released its initial slate of educational sessions for the inaugural event taking place June 16-18, 2025, in Nashville, TN.

The program features a balanced variety of topics designed to support specialty retailers and enhance the business being done at the show. The dynamic speaker lineup includes industry and trend experts and organizations long known for their contributions to the outdoor sector.

“As retailer and brand anticipation continues to rise around the business opportunities at the first Switchback Spring, we’re striving to support this community in every way we can, including developing educational programing that is applicable at every level of the outdoor retail market,” said Christina Henderson, Switchback event director. “We want to arm attendees with information and ideas that can be implemented into their business as soon as they return from the event.”

Developed in close collaboration with Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Switchback’s official event partner, the program was built around the goals, needs, and challenges facing the outdoor industry in 2025 and beyond. The sessions are designed to offer specialty retailers and industry members actionable insights relevant to their businesses and careers, covering topics like outdoor trends and consumer behaviors, business and marketing strategies, change management, conservation, lifestyle and fashion, and more.

“While there are some complex topics facing the outdoor industry this spring, they come on top of the long list of existing priorities our business owners think about every day, all year long. At Switchback, we’re excited to tackle these challenges head on—reminding everyone of the power of gathering, learning, and moving forward together,” said Kent Ebersole, Outdoor Industry Association president.

The first day of the event, Monday, June 16, features a full day of programming geared towards specialty retailers, followed by two days in the exhibit hall where Switchback will host various sessions led by brand experts and partner organizations in the Trailheads Theater.

A highlight of the program is OIA’s presentation Unlocking Outdoor Consumer Trends for Retailers. The session will focus on findings from an OIA study commissioned by Switchback that includes details on spending trends across multiple demographics and activities as well as what motivates consumers to support small, local, and independent retailers. In other sessions, OIA will present findings from its most recent participation study and cover the impact of trade on specialty outdoor retail.

On the second day, Ebersole, Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, and Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance, will kick off the show with The Business Imperative of Protecting Public Lands: Why Conservation is Critical to the Outdoor Industry’s Future. This panel of industry leaders will discuss the business case for conservation and how the industry can take collective action to drive lasting change.

Other Switchback Spring sessions and speakers include:

Strengthening Retailer-Vendor Relations in Today’s Business Climate

This panel discussion will explore the relationship between specialty retailers and brands and why these relationships matter. The panel will be moderated by Switchback’s Mark Sullivan and feature leading brand and retail representatives including Brian Mildenstein, Owner of Fin & Feather in Iowa City, IA, Kerri Olson, Senior Apparel Buyer of Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely, MN, and Jon Frederick, Group Marketing Director of Equip Outdoor Technologies, parent of Rab and Lowe Alpine.

Community and Authenticity in the History of Outdoor Retail

Led by environmental and cultural historian Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor of History at University of Colorado Denver, the session will trace the history of outdoor retail. From its humble origins to the modern day, Gross believes that in order to understand where outdoor retail is going we must also understand its history.

On the Horizon: What’s Next for Outdoor

Jeanine Pesce, trend forecasting and brand strategy expert and founder of RANGE, will explore the key ideas shaping the outdoor and active markets for Spring 2025 and beyond. From evolving consumer mindsets to market intelligence, brand experience, and retail strategies, she’ll dive into what to watch, why it matters, and how to take action.

All Switchback Spring events will be hosted within a dedicated portion of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a spacious venue with 12 restaurants and an attached premium hotel. With all attendees staying and meeting in a single location, the focused environment will enable both private planned meetings as well as organic meetups and run-ins.

For more information about Switchback Spring education sessions, visit www.switchbackevent.com/education-program.

Brands interested in exploring exhibiting opportunities can contact Switchback Event Director Christina Henderson at chenderson@divcom.com.

More

Registration for retailers, media, and outdoor industry professionals is available here.

For more information about Switchback, please visit www.switchbackevent.com.

About Switchback

Switchback is the twice-a-year business and education gathering for the outdoor industry owned and operated by Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. Scheduled at optimal times for discovery and buying conversations, Switchback is held each fall in conjunction with The Running Event and each spring as a standalone event. Blending an accessible format with a schedule of education, peer connection opportunities, and business meetings, Switchback is a dedicated gathering place for all sectors of the outdoor industry community. Upcoming dates for the event include Switchback Spring (Nashville, TN; June 16-18, 2025) and Switchback at TRE (Dec. 2-4, 2025; San Antonio, TX). To learn more about Switchback, please contact Michael Collin (michael@palemorning.com) or visit www.switchbackevent.com.

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Media contact:

Michael Collin
Pale Morning Media
michael@palemorning.com