Canadian mountain brand Arc’teryx put out a statement saying it is following Patagonia’s lead and pull from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The company said it will donate the money it would have spent on the show to the Conservation Alliance’s Public Lands Defense Fund.
The move follows Patagonia’s announcement that it would withdraw from the show in response to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s decision to rescind Bears Ears protection. According to reports, a handful of smaller brands also are backing out of the show, while Ibex Outdoor announced it would dramatically reduce its presence and spending at the show.
Ibex said it will travel to Salt Lake City with a smaller team and a significantly reduced trade show budget and take every measure to cut spending while at the show. Ibex also has made the hard decision as a company not to recreate in Utah during the show. Ibex will donate the $10,000 in anticipated savings to The Conservation Alliance Public Lands Defense Fund. In addition, Ibex will close its trade show booth early, at 1:30 p.m. on the second day of every show held in Utah, and use this time to collectively protest the threats to public lands.
Here is Arc’teryx’s full announcement:
Arc’teryx, a company that has long supported preservation of wild spaces, formally announces today its withdrawal from Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah due to the state’s efforts to rescind protection of Bears Ears National Monument and other public lands. The company stands in support of Patagonia’s move to leave Outdoor Retailer in Utah and is following suit. Funds that would have been spent to attend Outdoor Retailer in 2017 will be reallocated to the Conservation Alliance’s new Public Lands Defense Fund.
“The Outdoor Industry has an obligation to protect the wild places that are important to our consumers,” says Jon Hoerauf, president of Arc’teryx. “Arc’teryx is a member of the outdoor industry’s Conservation Alliance. Since 2014, we’ve been part of the efforts to protect Bears Ears, supporting local grassroots organizations working on a legislated solution. More recently Arc’teryx has helped to fund Friends of Cedar Mesa and Utah Dine Bike Yah, as they work on a national monument designation. I was proud to join my peers in the outdoor industry in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to protect this landscape in Southern Utah, which is cherished by our community of climbers, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. Protecting public lands for future generations is a critical part of our brand values and we will use our influence in a way that is consistent with those values.”
On March 6thth Jon Hoerauf will head to Washington DC with the Conservation Alliance and 21 other outdoor industry leaders to meet with key Congressional offices and representatives of the new Administration. The goal of this trip is to encourage all elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, to take action to protect important lands and waterways – including Bears Ears National Monument.
Arc’teryx will also be increasing its funding commitment to the Conservation Alliance by $150,000 over the next three years to support the protection of Bears Ears and other public lands at risk.
Here is Ibex’s statements:
“Outdoor Retailer cannot stay in Utah,” stated Ted Manning, CEO of Ibex Outdoor Clothing. “And until it moves out of the state, we as a company are taking decisive action to stand up for our public lands and conservation. There is no longer space for a business like Ibex to sit on the sidelines. Our goal has been, and will always be, to bring to bear all that this brand can muster in defense and amplification of our values.”
“We are confident that we will be joined and supported by many of the like-minded brands, retailers, non-profits and supporting businesses that make up our incredible industry,” said Keith Anderson, vice president of marketing for Ibex.
“Outdoor Retailer provides the opportunity and venue for us to engage relationships with our partners and the networks that we have in place, and together, affect change,” Manning said.
“We have a commitment to our customers to defend our core values,” said Scott Parr, vice president of sales for Ibex. “And we have to sacrifice to achieve our goals. One of those sacrifices will be less time to meet with our retail partners. We have always been a company that takes relationships seriously and we invite our dealers, suppliers, non-profit partners and other industry friends to join us in our actions. Together we are a powerful force.”
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