Outdoor University
Outdoor University® is one of the best opportunities to conveniently augment industry education and advancement — providing workshops and online sessions that break down complex challenges and issues specific to outdoor industry businesses.
Led by industry experts and business influencers, Outdoor University sessions give participants the option to join live workshops or online discussions or access recorded curriculum online, on-demand.
OIA fosters the growth of the industry through professional opportunities that educate, develop skills and share core knowledge across six key categories: retail innovation, research, sustainability, best practices, trade and supply chains and current issues.
Retail Innovation
Dozens of retail-focused programs bring management skills and the latest thinking in marketing and merchandising to thousands of retail employees each year.
Research
From global benchmarking and profit analysis to timely business performance data, OIA shares the insights behind critical market intelligence to increase your business I.Q.
Sustainability
Cutting edge tools and information to help brand leaders and the entire outdoor industry move toward more responsible business practices — with resources for suppliers, brands and retailers.
Best Practices
Insights in numerous forums — developed and selected by OIA — to stimulate growth in your business and to encourage the expansion of best practices across the outdoor industry and company lines.
Trade and Supply Chains
Complex federal trade policy affects your business and influences your decisions every day — learn to better understand the policies in play and how they impact you.
Current Issues
Explore the hot topics on the front burner of the outdoor industry, including the simmering issues to watch and the timely, critical issues that inspire immediate action.
Complete 2011 Schedule Coming Soon!
Upcoming Outdoor University Sessions
- The Human Equation: Design, Hire and Maximize Your Retail Team, six-session online course presented by Dan Mann for specialty outdoor retailers focused on successfully managing human resources activities:
- The “Special” Approach to Hiring for Outdoor Retailers – March 3
- Recruiting and Hiring Strategies – March 10
- Job Design – March 17
- Achieving Store Goals, Part One – March 24
- Achieving Store Goals, Part Two – March 31
- Establishing Policy and Procedure – April 7
- Promotional Pros and Legal Pitfalls of Social Media Campaigns and Online Advertising?, presented by Matti Neustadt Storie, Stoel Rives LLP, and Jim Lahren, strategic marketing specialist – March 8
- Benefits of OIA Membership – March 10
- How to Find Opportunities in a Volatile Supply Chain, moderated by Alex Boian, OIA Director of Trade Policy – March 22
- The Talent Dilemma: Develop from Within or Seek New Blood? (Part Two), presented by Enrique Washington and Elaine Lees, Generator Group – April 6
