Altra, REI, and the Cost of Exclusivity

Today on the show, outdoor retailer Wes Allen returns to talk about the article he wrote for Rock Fight about the fallout of Altra giving REI exclusivity on the newest version of the popular Lone Peak trail running shoe.The Altra Lone Peak Plus is the first version of the iconic trail runner to feature a Vibram outsole, and will be available exclusively at REI for five months. This move has sparked significant discussion among outdoor specialty retailers, as it raises concerns about the impact of exclusivity on independent shops and the overall dynamics in the outdoor retail market. Wes joins Colin, outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave to share his perspective on this move by Altra. The conversation then turns towards the recent CEO shakeup at REI as well as thoughts on gray marketed Cotopaxi products turning up at Costco.The show of course wraps up with The Parting Shot!Read Wes's piece on the Lone Peak exclusive by clicking here.Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!Help those who have been impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires by clicking here.Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to [email protected].