The Outdoor School is a series of one-day outings in the local area and in store classes. In 2006, REI started the Outdoor School in selected markets. REI Adventures offers vacations for active travelers all over the world. REI has diversified its offerings into global adventure vacations through the REI Adventures branch, which began in 1987. Eric Artz, previously COO of the company, was named CEO and president of REI in May 2019. Jerry Stritzke, former president and COO of Coach New York, was named president and CEO of REI in August 2013. They continued the initiative through the 2020 holiday season. REI is the first major retailer to forgo operations on Black Friday. Although Black Friday has been one of REI's top 10 days for annual sales, the company abstained from Black Friday and launched an #OptOutside marketing campaign, urging people to spend their time outside. On Black Friday 2015, REI closed all of its stores, halted the processing of orders on its website, and gave all employees a paid day off. In October 2015, the company launched a redesigned logo, which includes the word "co-op" for the first time since 1983. īeginning in 2014, with the introduction of the REI Co-Op line of clothing, REI publicly re-emphasized the cooperative aspect of its business model. Jewell remained CEO of REI until she was named United States Secretary of the Interior in April 2013. Sally Jewell joined the board of REI in 1996 and in 2000 was named chief operating officer. Although the company remained a co-operative, providing special services to its members, the "co-op" moniker was dropped from much of its literature and advertising. REI kept MSR until 2001, when it exited the manufacturing business, selling the operation to Cascade Designs, another successful outdoor gear company in the Seattle area.Ĭlothing, particularly "sport casual" clothes, also became a greater part of the company's product line. It acquired nearby outdoor gear firm Mountain Safety Research in 1981, which later bought tent-maker Edgeworks and produced tents with the MSR brand. However, in the 1980s, with changes to its board of directors, the emphasis shifted toward family camping and branched out into kayaking, bicycling, and other outdoor sports. Through the 1970s, it identified itself prominently as REI Co-op, focusing primarily on equipment for serious climbers, backpackers, and mountaineering expeditions. When Whittaker climbed Mount Everest, it provided REI with so much free advertising that the following year, 1964, its gross income topped $1mil for the first time. Whittaker served as CEO during the 1960s and was an early board member with American Alpine Club president Nicholas Clinch. In 1956, Recreational Equipment Cooperative was incorporated. Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest (in 1963), was hired as the first full-time employee of REI on July 25, 1955. In 1942, Lloyd moved to a new space down the hall from The Mountaineers club rooms on Pike Street. Flagship store (1962–1996) in Seattle, circa 1980 11th & Pine on Capitol Hillĭuring the first year, Recreational Equipment was nothing more than a shelf at the Puget Sound Cooperative Store, a farmer's co-op near Pike Place Market in Seattle.
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