A New Era of Learning and Connection in Minneapolis

Welcome to the future of education at Outdoor Retailer. For 2026, we’ve completely reimagined our programming to deliver more value, practical skills, and unique experiences than ever before. With our move to Minneapolis, we’re introducing a powerful lineup designed to help you connect, learn, and grow your business.

This year, get ready for a full day of focused education on August 19th, starting with the all-new Retailer Playbook Lab, a hands-on conference created exclusively for retail owners and buyers. Immediately following, the expanded Industry Day will bring the entire community together for critical conversations on the forces shaping our future.

Beyond the conference rooms, we invite you to start your day with the Celebrate Minnesota Outdoors experiences. Join local guides and athletes for morning trail runs, bike rides, and climbing sessions that connect you with the incredible outdoor culture of our new host city. This is your path to discovery, and it starts here.

Outdoor Retailer 2026 Programming Schedule

Retailer Playbook Lab

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM | For Retail Owners, Buyers & Managers
A half-day, hands-on conference designed to deliver a practical curriculum for strengthening your operations and modernizing customer engagement. Choose from nine interactive workshops across four tracks.

Track 1: The People & Culture Playbook

• Workshop: The Living Wage Model: A finance-first clinic on P&L strategies and benefit models to support a career-focused retail team.
• Workshop: The Modern Manager: Tactical best practices for hiring, training, and retaining top talent in a competitive market.

Track 2: The Resilient Operations Playbook

• Workshop: The Small Business Shield: A focused session on the essentials of risk management and the specific insurance coverage outdoor retailers can’t afford to skip.
• Workshop: The Digital Fortress: A non-technical guide to cybersecurity essentials, protecting customer data, preventing e-commerce fraud, and securing your POS system.

Track 3: The Customer Growth Playbook

• Workshop: The Inclusive Storefront: A tactical guide to merchandising, marketing, and staffing to win the women’s market and authentically serve a more diverse customer base.
• Workshop: The Social Media Flywheel & E-Commerce: A practical, low-cost guide to developing a social media program that builds community and measurably drives sales.
• Workshop: The Event Engine: How to plan and execute in-store events and leverage local partnerships to create a loyal community hub.

Track 4: The Future-Proofing Playbook

• Workshop: The AI Co-Pilot (Hands-On): A live demo of affordable AI tools to automate marketing, manage inventory, and save 10 hours a week.
• Workshop: The Circularity Starter Kit: A “how-to” guide for launching a profitable resale, rental, or repair program in your store.

Lunch Keynote

• 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Join Eoin Comerford, founder of Outside Consulting and former CEO of Moosejaw, for an insightful keynote on “The Importance of New Brand Discovery.”

Industry Day: Outdoor Next

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Open to All Attendees
Join the entire industry for “Outdoor Next: Ideas That Move Us Forward,” a dynamic forum tackling our community’s biggest challenges and opportunities through a series of rapid-fire panels and debates.

• 1:00 PM – The Big Debate: Is the independent shop the future of the outdoor industry?
• 1:45 PM – The New Customer Code: Unlock growth with Gen Z and women, two of the most influential customer segments.
• 2:30 PM – The Gear of Tomorrow: Explore the next frontier of performance gear, from wearables to smart tech.
• 3:15 PM – The Tools of Tomorrow: Learn how AI and the circular economy will transform our business models.
• 4:00 PM – Closing Keynote: A summary of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Celebrate Minnesota Outdoors

August 20 & 21, 2026 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Start your mornings with unique outdoor experiences. Join local outfitters, brand partners, and professional athletes for guided climbing, biking, and trail running sessions throughout Minneapolis. Curate your own adventure through the Outdoor Retailer app.