The portable, compact design seamlessly transforms into a multi-use travel pillow. Unpack and wrap into a luxurious, supportive neck pillow for sleeping on airplanes or unclip for a simple body pillow at short-term vacation rentals or hotels. Fold in half for a smaller, more compact travel pillow for a quick nap or an extended road trip. The enhanced memory foam will provide comfort, while the durable and integrated stow feature allows for a clean sleeping surface during travel and transport.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Pro Travel Pillow, a game-changer for anyone seeking comfort while traveling,” said Aaron Ambuske, founder of Hest. “At Hest, we are dedicated to enhancing the on-the-go experiences by providing products that offer exceptional comfort and versatility. This pillow is the perfect example of our commitment to innovation and quality.”

Key Features:

• 3-In-1 Pillow: Neck, body, and small travel pillow: designed for any way you sleep during travel; unpack and transform into a luxurious neck pillow, unclip for a simple, small body pillow, or stuff in half to create a small travel pillow on the go. 
• Integrated Stow with Zipper: The travel mode cover allows the pillow to be stuffed into a smaller size within the protected cover to keep the sleeping surface clean. 
• Blended Fill: Memory foam and polyester: Hest’s blend of shredded enhanced memory foam and polyester offers the support of a home pillow.
• Stretch Woven Nylon Sleep Surface: Super soft touch surface that conforms to all head sizes and sleeping positions.
• Customizable Loft: Zippered access to adjust desired fill from the standard medium plush loft.
• Carry Loop: Easy carry loop for clipping and hands-free movement during transport. 
• Removable & Washable Cover: Remove fill and liner from cover and machine wash the cover.

With a reputation for excellence and a dedication to innovation, Hest continues to elevate the standard of sleep products in the outdoor and travel industries, ensuring a restful and rejuvenating sleep experience for all. In addition to the new Pro Travel Pillow, Hest has consistently rolled out new products this season, including: Foamy Seat Cushion, expanded color ways for pillowcases, and most recently, Cooling Bedding. 

The Hest Pro Travel Pillow is available at www.Hest .com.

“Over the years, our team has worked diligently to create a range of products that combine comfort, style, and functionality – catering to the diverse needs of our customers,” said Aaron Ambuske, founder of Hest. “Sleeping in the outdoors can encounter a wide range of temperatures. Hest’s Cooling Bedding was created to help people sleep more comfortably during warmer conditions – or if they prefer a cooler environment for sleep. We are excited to now offer a product that not only enhances the camping experience, but also provides the comfort of home in the most convenient and portable form.”

Jade is known for its exceptional ability to dissipate heat. By integrating jade particles into the fabric, Hest’s Cooling Bedding absorbs heat, ensuring a consistently cool and comfortable sleeping environment, especially beneficial in warmer conditions. The stretch nylon fabric not only draws excess heat away from your body but also promotes efficient moisture wicking and air flow, keeping you dry and comfortable throughout the night. Designed to fit select Hest Mattresses and all Hest Pillows, the Cooling Bedding packs into itself for a portable outdoor-ready solution with both comfort and performance. 

Key Features:

• Jade Cooling Fabric: Through thermal effusivity, integrated jade particles in the fabric absorb heat from the environment.  Similar to touching metal, Jade’s high thermal conductivity quickly extracts heat upon contact providing more comfort and cooling, especially in warmer environments.
• Packable and Portable: True to Hest’s commitment to adventure-ready gear, the Cooling Bedding is highly packable and portable. It stows away easily in a compact form, making it a breeze to carry along on any trip.
• Comfortable and Easy to Use: Combining the luxurious feel of home sheets with the ruggedness needed for the outdoors, Hest’s Cooling Bedding is designed to provide maximum comfort. The user-friendly design ensures it is easy to set up and stow away, allowing more time to enjoy the outdoors.
• Home Sheet Comfort in the Outdoors: Enjoy the comfort of home no matter where your adventures take you. The Cooling Bedding brings the familiar comfort of your bed sheets to the wild, enhancing your outdoor sleeping experience.
• Washable: Practicality is key with all Hest products. The Cooling Bedding is fully washable, ensuring easy maintenance and long-lasting freshness, trip after trip.

Hest’s Cooling Bedding is available in Hest’s best selling fitted sheet sizes and all pillowcases sizes – now available at Hest.com.

Sea Bags, the designer and maker of stylish and durable totes, accessories, and home goods handcrafted from recycled sailcloth, today launches a collection of products that showcase the logos for 11 NFL teams. From large and medium tote bags to beverage buckets and crossbody bags, fans have a variety of options to choose from to complement their gameday and tailgating attire in time for the playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII.

“After months of hard work behind the scenes, I’m proud to announce we are now an official licensee of the NFL,” said Don Oakes, CEO of Sea Bags. “In the coming months, we’ll be producing bags featuring all 32 team logos so our customers can represent their favorite team on gameday and every day. Our totes and accessories are uniquely positioned among the NFL-licensed assortment and underscore the demand among fans to choose sustainable, Made-in-USA products.” 

Each item in the NFL-licensed collection is handcrafted in Maine using recycled sailcloth, highlighting the brand’s commitment to sustainability. The initial launch is intended to include 11 teams: Buffalo Bills, ​Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers,​​ Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, ​New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and the Cleveland Browns. The full team roster is slated to launch during the 2024 NFL preseason. 

With a reputation for creating durable and timeless products, Sea Bags has become a go-to brand for those seeking sustainable, high-quality, and stylish accessories–made in the USA. The addition of the NFL Collection is a natural progression to adding lifestyle products to their portfolio. 

This first rollout of its NFL collection is available online at www.seabags.com and a limited assortment at select Sea Bags retail locations, just in time for the upcoming NFL playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII. 

Monti Coolers currently come in two sizes and three colorways – all of which are lightweight, waterproof, and convenient. Monti Coolers are both highly collapsible and readily adaptable: put the contents in and you can roll, scrunch, and squeeze the rest of it into whatever space you have left in your pack – quite unlike firmer, soft-sided coolers. When not in use, each cooler packs down to a fraction of its full size inside an integrated stuff sack, small enough to fit into a backpack pocket, tote bag or tackle box.

“We are incredibly excited to introduce Monti Coolers to the market on a large scale,” said Sam McChesney, founder of Monti Coolers. “Our goal was to create portable coolers that offer convenience, durability, and style. Whether you’re going on a skiing trip, hosting a tailgate, or simply enjoying a day outside with friends and family, Monti Coolers will be there to keep your drinks cold. We believe our customers will love the functionality and versatility provided by our coolers and future products.”  

Monti Coolers soft launched as a proof of concept in 2019 to validate a personal need the founder had while working as fly-fishing guide in Wyoming and Alaska. He found that no cooler on the market met the needs of outdoor guides hiking deep into the backcountry with other gear, so he began prototyping to make a lightweight, leak-proof cooler that he could personally carry while guiding and hiking, pack away when traveling, and simply have on hand for local outings. Following a successful soft-launch earlier this year and further validating the market’s need for something completely new in the cooler space, McChesney perfected the product’s design to launch to the public this fall. 

Monti Coolers’ launch focuses on its two core products — the Shasta and the MayFly. The Shasta and the MayFly Coolers have the same technical specifications and are made of the same materials, except that the Shasta holds a 23L capacity and the MayFly’s is 14L.

• Compresses into its own integrated stuff sack for ultimate portability 
• Essentials Pocket – exterior, zippered
• Keeps drinks cold for up to 30 hours
• Easy-carry strap included
• Easily turn inside out to clean
• Materials: Ripstop Nylon; Hydrophobic Synthetic Insulation; Waterproof YKK Zippers
• Shasta 23L 
• MayFly 14L 
• Three colorways: Sky Blue, Coral, Black

Designed to make daily adventures easier and more enjoyable for all, both sizes of the Monti Coolers are now available on monticoolers.com. 

The new Comforter comes in two sizes: single and double. It features premium insulation of hydrophobic down paired with outdoor-ready, non-slip premium fabric. Smart features like Cinch & Tuck Footbox, top sheet loops, a tote storage bag, and a compression sack make the comforter easy to store, pack, and clean. 

Key features highlighting home comfort, built for adventure of the Hest Comforter include: 

• Hydrophobic Responsible Down – Made with hydrophobic duck down with 650 fill to provide maximum insulation and warmth. The down meets the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). Recommended for 40 degrees fahrenheit and above.  
• Premium Fabric – Not a sleeping bag and more than a blanket: the washable, soft fabric is chosen for its comfort features that are quiet to the touch and movement, while slightly textured to avoid slipping off you constantly throughout the night.
• Cinch & Tuck Footbox – Simple toggle system to keep things tucked and tidy while providing draft protection and prevents one partner hogging too much as they shift positions throughout the night.   
• Outdoor Ready – The 40D Polyester fabric is coated with a PFC free finish, so it’s dirt & water resistant.
• Single Specs: Open Dimensions – 58 x 88″ / Stuffed – 8 x 12” / Weight: 2.6 lbs. 
• Double Specs: Open Dimensions – 80 x 88″ / Stuffed – 9 x 14″ / Weight: 3.8 lbs.

“We’ve been working on this idea since we launched the original Sleep System in 2019, which offered new benefits to the outdoors with unparalleled temperature regulation, pressure point relief, and insulation from the ground. We knew we needed something better than a sleeping bag to complement and maximize our mattress’s benefits. The Hest Comforter was designed to do just that: provide unmatched comfort, warmth, and portability for a more comfortable sleep experience,” says Hest Founder & CEO, Aaron Ambuske.  

While it was designed to further enhance entire sleep set-up solutions for the outdoors, the Hest Comforter has key, integral technologies that are based on the science of better sleep:

• The Hest Comforter supports thermoregulation during the night by allowing glabrous skin (hands and feet) to be exposed to reduce temperatures – the body should reach the lowest temperature three hours before waking. 
• The Footbox helps keep the comforter in place during the night, especially with partners who typically hog the bedding.
• The Hest Comforter enables Hest mattress benefits – stretch nylon conforms to foam to offer pressure point relief, body alignment and temperature regulation.

Hest announced its launch into bedding (fitted sheets and pillow cases) this spring to help make sleep even more comfortable with its portable, adventure-ready fitted sheets and pillow cases. To further enhance this category, Hest is simultaneously introducing top sheets with the Comforter launch. Just like all of Hest’s products, the HestTop Sheet is crafted to withstand outdoor elements such as dirt, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, making them ideal for camping trips, beach outings, or simply enjoying a peaceful afternoon nap in the backyard. The Top Sheet integrates with the Down Comforter and boasts a breathable soft stretch fabric that provides extra comfort and convenience to the Hest Down Comforter. 

The Hest Comforter is now available for purchase in both sizes on Hest’s website. The HestTop Sheets are also now available. For more information, visit www.hest.com. 

Governor Janet Mills was in attendance and spoke specifically about the state’s commitment to furthering the outdoor economy, demonstrated by the recent signing of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords and the establishment of the Office of Outdoor Recreation for the state of Maine.

“Maine people and visitors have enjoyed our vast natural resources for generations. From hunting to fishing to hiking and many other activities in between, experiencing and protecting the outdoors is an integral part of our heritage, it is who we are as a people, and it is a cornerstone of our state’s economy,” said Governor Janet Mills. “By joining this partnership of states, Maine will continue to build on its strong outdoor recreation tradition to attract new businesses, encourage healthy lifestyles, create jobs and strengthen our rural economy.”

Maine joined 12 other states and is the second state in New England to sign the Confluence Accords, committing to advance the areas of conservation and stewardship, education and workforce training, economic development and public health and wellness.

“New government data shows that Maine is one of the top outdoor recreation leaders in the country, and we believe there is even more room for growth,” said Jenny Kordick, Executive Director of Maine Outdoor Brands. “By promoting our outdoor businesses and investing in trails and other outdoor recreation infrastructure, we can further establish Maine as a national leader, create new jobs in the outdoor industry and boost the state’s economy.”

Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Industry a National Leader

According to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, Maine’s outdoor recreation industry makes up a larger percentage of the state’s economy than in almost any other state, ranking third only behind Hawaii and Montana. Outdoor recreation supports more than 40 thousand jobs in Maine, accounting for 6.4% of employment. Additionally, manufacturing of outdoor recreation goods contributed $328 million to Maine’s economy in 2017, an increase of 47% in the last five years.

How the Industry Can Work Together to Remove Barriers to the Outdoors

Carolann Ouellette, Director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, joined industry leaders and introduced the panel to discuss the state of Maine’s outdoor recreation economy. The panel discussion centered on how Maine is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the outdoor recreation space and what the state brings to the national effort to grow the outdoor recreation economy.

Panelists included: Maria Povec, Senior Policy Analyst, Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; John Judge, President and CEO, Appalachian Mountain Club; Russell Walters, President, Northern Outdoors and Dr. Tory Rogers, Medical Director, Let’s Go, MaineHealth.

One of the primary themes to emerge from the discussion was how the various sectors can work to bring people together, making the outdoors more accessible for all.

“By coming together, we’re able to advance both conversation and action required to expand our industry and its many associated benefits. These include economic development, job growth, improved public health, and greater awareness around conservation and sustainability,” said Shawn Gorman, Executive Chairman and great-grandson of L.L. Bean. “Pledging to support these four pillars is only the beginning. It’s the action that follows that is most important.”

Learn more about Maine’s outdoor recreation economy and impact.

“We have been running this show for years, and I can confidently say that the 2019 event is tracking to be the best one yet – in attendance and in format,” said Christina Henderson, event manager for The Running Event. “This year, we really honed in on the feedback provided by our exhibitors and retailers, and we made some significant changes to The Running Event that we are all very excited about.”

The newly adjusted three-day event is comprised of breakout conference sessions for both retailers and race directors, two days of exhibitions, demos and much more. The 2019 show will also debut new opportunities to learn, share ideas and even engage in friendly competition. 

Noteworthy to The Running Event in 2019 include:

• New Product Showcase – set up on the trade show floor, attendees can scope out what’s new and vote on their favorite product. One winner will be announced at the Industry Awards Party and will be gifted $1,000 to the charity of their choice.

• The Big Pitch – attending retailers have a chance to win up to $5,000 for presenting a winning idea to some of the best in the running business. The challenge: develop and share a campaign that would attract younger customers to their stores.

• Training Camp at TRE – an area on the trade show floor will be dedicated to bite-sized learning opportunities and product demos. Wednesday will be all about the Wide World of Run, and Thursday will focus on all things trail running.

New sustainability initiatives will also be taken at The Running Event in 2019 and moving forward to reduce the carbon footprint that trade shows leave behind. Some notable practices include no more aisle carpet as well as no longer providing carpet for booths in the standard booth packages. The Running Event concessions will no longer be selling single-use plastic cups and water bottles, and everyone will now receive a reusable water bottle courtesy of Nathan to use during the event and beyond. There will be various water “Filling Stations” strategically placed throughout the Austin Convention Center. Additionally, two new education sessions will highlight sustainability from a business standpoint as well as for race directors and the future of diminishing environmental impact at races. 

“It is at our core to improve and curate The Running Event to be so much more than just another trade show, but rather a platform to share best practices and learn new techniques that can benefit those in the running industry for many years to come,” said Anne Gray, event director for Diversified Communications. “We look forward to seeing all the familiar faces and meeting the news ones at The Running Event next month!”

For retailer or exhibitor questions and information, contact Christina Henderson, TRE event manager, chenderson@divcom.com or visit therunningevent.com/register. 

For attending media registration, visit here.

Portland, ME, October 24, 2019 – Due to the increase of interest and submissions, The Running Event has extended its deadline for The Big Pitch to Friday, November 8, 2019. The Big Pitch is the Shark Tank-like competition presented by Brooks and taking place during the 14th annual Running Event in Austin from December 3-5, 2019. The Big Pitch is open to stores with sales of less than $2 million annually and provides the opportunity to win up to $5,000 for presenting a winning idea to some of the best in the running business. The challenge: develop and share a campaign that would attract younger customers to their stores.

The Running Event is North America’s largest running specialty trade show, hosting 260 exhibitors and over 2,500 total attendees. The newly adjusted three-day event is comprised of breakout conference sessions for both retailers and race directors, two days of exhibitions, demos and more. 

“One of our favorite new components to this year’s show is The Big Pitch, which will award a retailer for a fantastic idea for driving new, younger runners into their stores. Presenting this event gives us the chance to further engage with and support specialty retail, and we’re looking forward to hearing some amazing pitches.”

To submit, use the form on The Running Event’s website and in 350 words (or less), present a high-level idea on how your store would use $5,000 for a promotional campaign to drive new consumers to your store. The Running Event will reach out to the three finalists with next steps for presenting the idea in more detail at The Running Event on the keynote stage on Tuesday, December 2. Finalists will get five minutes to present their idea and then answer questions from the panel of sponsoring judges from Brooks, Balega, Body Glide and amphipod. 

The Big Pitch will also distribute prize money to second and third place winners. Learn more about The Big Pitch submission and process by visiting therunningevent.com/the-big-pitch/. 

The Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team (SBWST) is a group of focused, experienced and passionate racing champions who take the thrills and incredible challenges of J/24 sailboat racing to new heights.  Campaigning their J/24 for the past five years, the team is comprised of 11 sailors ages 16 to 57 and is led by co-captains Erica Beck Spencer and Jess Harris. Co-captain Spencer received the 2018 J/24 World Championship Top Female Skipper Award, and the SBWST won the prestigious Jaeger Women’s Trophy in 2017 at the J/24 World Championship in Ontario, Canada. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. We have had an excellent season with strong finishes at North Americans in Mexico, Nationals in Rochester and a win at the Marblehead NOOD,” said Erica Beck Spencer, Skipper and Co-Captain of the SBWST. “Our team has excellent boat speed—going as fast as several world champions at Nationals. If we can get off the starting line consistently, I think we could have an even stronger finish than we did at the 2017 Worlds in Toronto. There are over 80 boats competing at this event, our largest fleet ever, so any finish in the top half is good, top twenty is exciting, and top ten, if we can pull it off, will feel like a victory.”

On the heels of the U.S. Women’s World Cup victory, Allyson Felix beating the record for most gold medals at the track and field World Championships, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers becoming the first NFL team to hire two full-time female coaches, the energy and vigor around women persevering in sports in 2019 has never been more palpable. This group of all-female champion sailors is ready to show they are a force to be reckoned with and claim their stake in Florida. 

The Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team is sponsored by Sea Bags, the Maine-based designer and manufacturer of bags and accessories from recycled sails. As ambassadors of Sea Bags and stewards to the company’s sustainability mission, the SBWST actively collects seasoned sails along their journey. Sea Bags upcycles the sail cloth and uses the material to design and create new products. Through its donation and Sail Trade program, Sea Bags has saved over 700 tons of material from ending up back in the ocean and landfills.

“These women are role models, competitive sailors and true advocates for everything we believe in at Sea Bags,” said Beth Shissler, President and COO of Sea Bags. “Their authenticity and love of sailing make us natural partners, and we are beyond thrilled to support them as they show the world they have the determination and drive to succeed in the J/24 World Championship this month.” 

This short video shows behind-the-scenes footage of the team and their story. Show your support for the team from Maine with a Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team Tote. Twenty percent of sales from this collection are donated to the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team to support their racing efforts. Follow along the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team journey as they compete at Worlds and beyond at seabagssailingteam.com.

Highlights from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows:

• Outdoor recreation makes up 4.8% of Maine’s economy – more than double the national average. 
• Outdoor recreation supports more than 40 thousand jobs in Maine, accounting for 6.4% of employment.
• Manufacturing of outdoor recreation goods contributed $328 million dollars to Maine’s economy in 2017, an increase of 47% in the last five years. 
• In terms of economic output, boating and fishing were the largest conventional outdoor recreation activities in Maine.

“Outdoor recreation is vital to Maine’s economy – from outdoor guides to retail, to the manufacturing of outdoor products and apparel,” said Jenny Kordick, Executive Director of Maine Outdoor Brands. “With the right support, promotion and investment, outdoor recreation has the opportunity to play an even bigger role in attracting businesses and creating jobs across the state.”

The outdoor recreation data was compiled from existing statistics on the state and national economy and includes the economic impact of conventional outdoor activities, defined as hiking, skiing and snowboarding, hiking, ATV riding, hunting and fishing. It also covers other parts of the economy like amusement parks, gardening, golfing and tennis, and outdoor festivals, as well as construction, shopping and lodging that support the above activities.

“It’s great to see the state of Maine recognized for something that we at L.L.Bean have known for more than 100 years,” said Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean’s Executive Chairman and great-grandson of L.L. Bean. “Maine is unmatched in terms of its outdoor beauty, four-season recreation and countless natural resources. As a company, we’re proud to be part of Maine’s growing outdoor recreation economy and excited to see more people coming to Maine for their outdoor adventures.”

Seventy percent of Maine residents participate in outdoor recreation activities each year, which is at higher rates than both national and regional averages. Jobs in the outdoor sector can also attract active and healthy workers to help address Maine’s aging workforce. 

Maine recently became the 12th state to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation. MOB worked with Maine’s Department of Economic & Community Development to encourage creation of the office to advance Maine’s outdoor recreation economy. The Office of Outdoor Recreation became permanent on July 1, 2019.  Maine will be one of the next states to join the Confluence of States later this year.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear HQ in Biddeford, Maine. Photo Credit: Matt Morelli.

“Whether it’s on the Appalachian Trail or adventuring to the farthest reaches of the globe, when people carry Hyperlite Mountain Gear backpacks and shelters, outdoor athletes are carrying with them a little piece of Maine,” said Mike St. Pierre, CEO of Hyperlite Mountain Gear. “As part of the Pepperell Mill revitalization in Biddeford, we have seen firsthand the direct and indirect benefits the outdoor industry delivers to our state. In Biddeford, we are creating manufacturing jobs and providing on-the-job training for a new generation of skilled textile workers. Outdoor recreation not only delivers real, direct economic value to our state, but the success of companies like Hyperlite Mountain Gear also fuels the growth of vibrant economic hubs and creative centers across Maine.”

Fore more information about the businesses and organizations supporting outdoor recreation growth in Maine, visit www.maineoutdoorbrands.com.

Demos at The Running Event in Austin, TX

The Running Event is North America’s largest running specialty trade show, hosting 260 exhibitors and over 2,500 total attendees. The newly adjusted three-day event is comprised of breakout conference sessions for both retailers and race directors, two days of exhibitions, demos and more. The 2019 show will debut new opportunities to learn, share ideas and even engage in friendly competition.

Noteworthy to The Running Event in 2019 include:

• New Product Showcase – set up on the trade show floor, attendees can scope out what’s new and vote on their favorite product. One winner will be announced at the Industry Awards Party and will be gifted $1,000 to the charity of their choice.
• The Big Pitch – attending retailers have a chance to win up to $5,000 for presenting a winning idea to some of the best in the running business. The challenge: develop and share a campaign that would attract younger customers to their stores.
• Training Camp at TRE – an area on the trade show floor will be dedicated to bite-sized learning opportunities and product demos. Wednesday will be all about the Wide World of Run, and Thursday will focus on all things trail running.

“We listened to the feedback from our exhibitors and retailers, and we’ve made some significant changes this year – we are excited to add more peer-to-peer networking time, more interactive learning and a diverse education program,” said Christina Henderson, event manager for The Running Event. “It is our mission to improve and curate The Running Event to be much more than just another trade show, but rather a platform to share best practices and learn new techniques that can benefit everyone in the running industry today and in years to come.”

The Big Pitch, which will debut this year at TRE, is a Shark Tank-like competition presented by Brooks and sponsored by Balega, BodyGlide and Amphipod. The Big Pitch is open to stores with sales of less than $1.5 million annually. To enter The Big Pitch competition, stores must submit entries of 350 words or less addressing how they would use the prize money to drive a new, younger consumer into their stores.

“We’re excited to be back at The Running Event celebrating another year of Running Happy with the industry. Each year, we leave this event energized and excited to come back,” said Matt Weiss, Brooks director of marketing, retail, events and sports marketing. “One of our favorite new components to this year’s show is The Big Pitch, which will award a retailer for a fantastic idea for driving new, younger runners into their stores. Presenting this event gives us the chance to further engage with and support specialty retail, and we’re looking forward to hearing some amazing pitches.”

With a background in outdoor retail and direct marketing at L.L. Bean, including a strong focus in new store design, merchandising, advertising and events, the appointment of Anne Gray brings a wealth of experience in marketing, event planning, logistics and project management to The Running Event’s future success. Gray has been tasked with overseeing new opportunities for TRE, Best Running Stores, and Running Insight and to maximize growth for years to come. 

“I am thrilled to join the talented Diversified team in producing The Running Event, Best Running Stores and Running Insight Magazine serving the running industry,” said Anne Gray, event director for Diversified Communications. “The specialty run community is an engaged and motivated group that uniquely supports their customers and promotes healthy living in their communities, making it an exciting industry to be part of.”

For retailer or exhibitor questions and information, contact Christina Henderson, TRE event manager, chenderson@divcom.com or visit therunningevent.com/register. 

For attending media registration, visit here.