Geartrade Wins OR Innovation Award

Geartrade, a Climate Neutral Certified marketplace for previously owned (“UnNew”) outdoor gear and apparel, was honored as a winner of a 2023 Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award for its national consignment service.

The winners of the fifth annual award were announced during the second night of the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, Jan. 11, in Salt Lake City. An independent judging panel also selected 14 product and service winners for their overall innovation and achievement in outdoor product and program development.

“It’s been an incredible year of growth for Geartrade, as well as for the broader marketplace for used gear and apparel. To be named among the finalists for the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards is incredibly satisfying, as it shows that the idea of ‘UnNew’ is emerging as a primary consideration of outdoor consumers,” said Aaron Provine, president of Geartrade.

The Geartrade Consignment Service was launched in late 2021 after 18 months of research and development. This ‘easy button’ for sellers of used gear includes free shipping and an in-house concierge service that receives, evaluates, photographs and posts all products on behalf of the seller.

This category of service combines a robust and proven peer-to-peer sales platform with an overlay of sophisticated shipping and logistics as well as expert human elements needed to accurately price an item and communicate that information to the seller. An essential element of the Geartrade Consignment Service is that it gives the seller full transparency and control of the process, from the power to adjust the price to the decision on whether to have unsold products returned or donated to a charitable cause.

The success of the Geartrade Consignment Service has been significant in three areas: overall sales growth, the establishment of economic viability as gross margin dollars have also increased; and a sizable increase in consumer participation in the used gear and apparel marketplace.

“For the outdoor industry to achieve the goal of a fully circular economy – one in which every product made is used to its fullest potential for its complete lifespan – it is essential to have a healthy and growing community of used gear buyers and sellers,” said Provine.

According to the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, an independent panel of expert judges evaluated 132 entries to determine 29 finalists, which include innovative new outdoor and winter sports products, fabrics and materials, digital and retail services. The judging panel rated all entries based on four criteria to determine the finalists: Spark: concept, design, appeal; Desire: opportunity, differentiation; Function: innovation, functionality, insight; and Impact: cultural, environmental, business.

For more information visit Geartrade.com.