Wes Allen owns Sunlight Sports in Cody, Wyoming with his wife, Melissa and both are advocates for strengthening the outdoor industry through independently owned retailers and brands. Wes has enjoyed a wide-ranging career in the outdoor industry: he's worked in sales at REI and Chaco and he's president of the US-based Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, a community of independent outdoor specialty retailers and brands. This episode is full of actionable advice for smaller brands looking to grow in the outdoor industry. Wes explains omni-channel selling, which is using all channels and platforms to offer products and services to prospective clients, and why he believes it is the best way for both brands and retailers to succeed. He also tells us why we should be cynical about big, publicly-traded companies if we want the outdoor industry to survive, and he gives us some excellent tips brands can incorporate to improve their selling to retailers. Aside from appearing in this podcast, Wes regularly shares his experiential insights through industry publications and public speaking events. You can find his writing and follow him on LinkedIn . The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ KORE Outdoors gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. #koreoutdoors #craftgearfromhere
