Who is a Grassroots vendor partner?
Our Vendor Partners recognize the importance of the specialty retailer community. They know that these retailers are where the enthusiast goes to outfit their passions, trends are started, tribes created, and customers made for life. Becoming a Grassroots Vendor Partner provides brands with the opportunity to support and evolve the industry, optimizing products and initiatives to help everyone succeed.
We seek industry leaders who realize that access to a network of 200+ specialty store locations adds value to their brand, and the long-term dividends that live beyond the transaction.
Benefits of Vendor Membership
Value
The collaborative relationship we offer is our organization’s greatest value. We are the catalyst for communication between vendor and retailer, helping them work together to each other’s benefit. We also help our vendor partners develop effective programs that sync with the needs of the industry and contribute to profitability, including marketing opportunities, programs that move closeouts at higher prices with little impact on the overall market, and data-sharing to optimize product offerings.
opportunity
Vendor partners receive a guaranteed invitation to Connect, our efficient, twice-yearly buying show that brings top specialty outdoor retailers right to them. Connect offers a confirmed attendance list that includes a cross-section of specialty retailers, education opportunities to help vendor partners become better at servicing the industry, and provides access to data and early ordering deadlines to help them make informed decisions for better forecasting and purchasing.
access
A top perk for our Vendor Partners is the direct link to our retailers, enabling them to optimize offerings and understand store needs with data and market knowledge. Other advantages from a Grassroots partnership include regular planning meetings between retailers and brand management, and access to our staff, who help our vendors identify potential opportunities or concerns within our membership.
identification
With specialty retailers as the backbone of the outdoor industry, products and brands carried in these stores lend credibility to the gear, putting it in the hands of enthusiasts who are likely to influence the purchasing habits of the more casual outdoor aficionado. Our vendor partners contribute to the strength of these retailers, providing a shopping experience that leads to return visits.
The Path to Vendor Partnership
Please know that we are not actively seeking new vendor partners at this time.
We pride ourselves on choosing vendor partners that build relationships and help our members be successful. We aim to fill our partner portfolio with a well-rounded assortment of established companies who are already contributing significantly to the profitability of at least 1/3 of our current membership.