Backcountry, a specialty outdoor retailer of gear and apparel, appointed Colby Black as chief product officer. Black will be responsible for leading the product development and strategy for Backcountry’s in-house brands, Backcountry Gear and Apparel, Stoic and Basin & Range, as well as third-party merchandising and collaborative partnership opportunities.
Priorities for Black include introducing new business units and implementing growth initiatives around key product categories, while also developing Backcountry’s third-party relationships and roster to further diversify its offering of outdoor gear and apparel.
Black also will be vital in the expansion and evolution of Backcountry’s brick-and-mortar retail store presence, which began with store openings in Colorado and Utah earlier this year, while providing a holistic omnichannel experience for its customers.
“Colby brings a wealth of blended experience to this role,” said Melanie Cox, Backcountry CEO. “In addition to his vast background in merchandising strategy and brand development, he has an innate creative ability that will breathe new life into our portfolio of owned brands. From our e-commerce platform to our evolving brick-and-mortar footprint, Colby will be a driving force in Backcountry’s growth within the outdoor community.”
Black most recently served as the first chief merchandising officer at NTWRK, a North America live video commerce platform, where he led the execution of daily product drops, digital festivals and new global initiatives.
Prior to that, he held several leadership and executive positions during his 17-year career with Urban Outfitters. As executive director of buying at Urban Outfitters, Black was instrumental in the launch of the retailer’s first digital marketplace integration.
