Backcountry's Latest Acquisition & Retail's AI Future with Anne Mezzenga
Outdoor Unfiltered · Sep 28, 2026 · 55:44
Outdoor Unfiltered · Sep 28, 2026 · 55:44
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This week on Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin Comerford breaks down Backcountry's acquisition of Velofix and what it means for online bike sales, mobile bike service, and parent company CSC Generation's value-driven playbook.
Then, it's a footwear industry roundup covering the haves and have-nots: On's plan to hit $7 billion by 2029 with category expansions into football, golf, and premium sportswear; Salomon's target of $5 billion within five years and plans to quadruple North American brand stores; Under Armour's new hybrid store concept; JD Sports' 20% profit decline amid North American softness; and Academy Sports adding Hoka alongside Nike and Jordan. In the Unfiltered Upside, a look at GearTrade's explosive 47% year-to-date growth in the used gear market under Aaron Provine.
Eoin is then joined by Anne Mezzenga, retail technology expert, former OmniTalk Retail co-host, and founder of Retail Field Report, to discuss her store "staging" series working retail shifts through the Reflex gig work app, the real and unsexy applications of AI in retail, like AI agents negotiating wholesale prices, the rise of agentic commerce, and practical AI advice for independent outdoor specialty retailers.
SHOW NOTES
[0:00] Welcome to Outdoor Unfiltered -- Eoin Comerford previews Backcountry's Velofix acquisition, a footwear industry roundup, and a deep dive into retail tech and AI with Anne Mezzenga.
[0:39] Backcountry acquires Velofix -- what the deal means for online bike sales, mobile bike service, CSC Generation's playbook, and how it follows Backcountry's earlier Beeline Bikes investment.
[4:35] Sponsor: Crux Retail -- bold retail displays for bold outdoor-active brands, featuring work with Wahoo.
[5:30] Footwear roundup: On targets $7 billion by 2029 -- category expansion into football with Mbappe, golf, and premium sportswear as the running brand leans into "premiumization."
[8:19] Salomon plans to reach $5 billion within five years -- quadrupling North American brand stores from 8 to 40 and what that means for independent specialty retail.
[10:15] Under Armour launches hybrid store concept -- premium storytelling in the front, broader price points in the back, or as Eoin puts it, brand business in the front, clearance party in the back.
[11:28] JD Sports reports 20% profit decline -- margin pressures, 2.8% same-store sales drop, and US as the worst-performing region across Hibbett, DTLR, and Finish Line.
[13:05] Academy Sports adds Hoka -- following expanded Nike and Jordan assortments, and what it signals about distribution strategy for both Hoka and Nike.
[14:05] Sponsor: Aarn Packs -- balance pockets, the U-Flow harness, and the science behind a more comfortable backpacking experience.
[15:40] Unfiltered Upside: GearTrade -- 47% year-to-date growth in the used gear market, doubling in two years, and why every specialty retailer should consider a used gear section.
[17:48] Sponsor: ISPO Amsterdam -- relaunching November 3-5 under new owner Raccoon Media Group with brands including Rab, DB, Hestra, and Fabletics.
[18:52] Guest: Anne Mezzenga -- from OmniTalk Retail to Moosejaw memories to her new venture Retail Field Report, and the retail execs who shaped her thinking including Mary Beth Lawton at REI and John Furner at Walmart.
[24:33] Launching Retail Field Report -- why Anne left podcasting to get back inside stores and understand AI adoption from the frontline.
[26:16] Inside the store staging series -- working retail shifts through the Reflex gig work app across the country, from luxury brands like Ralph Lauren and Farm Rio to everyday retail.
[30:17] Could gig work work for outdoor specialty retail -- how flex employees can support peak traffic, greet customers, and complement expert staff during busy seasons.
[36:30] AI in retail: the unsexy applications that matter -- consolidating feedback for store manager meetings, personalization with Genesis X, and AI agents negotiating wholesale prices between manufacturers and retailers.
[43:34] The concern with AI -- backward-looking data, the sea of sameness in retail assortments, and why AI can't sleep in a sleeping bag on a mountain.
[46:41] Agentic commerce -- when AI does your shopping for you, from grocery list optimization today to full autonomous purchasing tomorrow.
[49:53] Practical AI advice for independent outdoor retailers
[54:11] Wrap-up -- where to find Anne Mezzenga at retailfieldreport.com, how to follow and review the pod, and how to reach out.
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