Maine Outdoor Brands Heads to Minneapolis for Outdoor Retailer
Maine Outdoor Brands Heads to Minneapolis for Outdoor Retailer
By Kate Robertson
After forming at Outdoor Retailer in 2017, Maine Outdoor Brands now represents more than 200 brands, including Hyperlite, Hüga, Flowfold and others who will be at the Minneapolis show in August.
At Outdoor Retailer in 2017 in Salt Lake City, a handful of Maine-based exhibitors and attendees got together for a beer after the show. The group recognized that while the trade show environment was heavily western-centric, Maine ranked among the top states nationally in terms of the value outdoor recreation adds to the state GDP.
Recognizing a shared goal, Maine Outdoor Brands (MOB) founding president Jim Hauptman and his colleagues discussed ways to support small and emerging companies back home.
“They said, ‘What if we go back to Maine and start to meet up more regularly in state, start to advocate to have an office of outdoor recreation at the state level in Maine, and work to get more Maine brands to shows?’” said Jenny Kordick, executive director of MOB, who joined the group in 2019, in an interview with SESO.
The initial concept involved meeting regularly, advocating for a state-level office of outdoor recreation, and helping smaller companies pool resources to attend large national shows. One of the attendees even sketched the first logo for the organization on the flight back to Maine.
From an initial cohort of roughly 25 companies, the organization has grown to include more than 200 members. They successfully advocated for the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation and established a collaborative booth model that allows emerging gear makers to exhibit under a unified banner.
“We became one of the first states to have an Office of Outdoor Recreation within Economic and Community Development,” Kordick said. “And we’ve gone back to these shows and have had a Maine Outdoor Brands booth at Outdoor Retailer that is allowing smaller brands that wouldn’t be able to access the show alone to have a presence there.”
MOB will return this year to Outdoor Retailer, which runs from Aug. 19-21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, bringing a fresh slate of brands such as Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Hüga, Flyn and more. See the full list of confirmed brands below.
Navigating Economic Headwinds Together
The outdoor industry has faced a complex landscape this year. Brands and retailers are dealing with shifting consumer behavior, supply chain adjustments and the ongoing uncertainty related to tariffs.
“This past year honestly felt like a post-pandemic scenario where we have had to be resilient as an industry,” Kordick said.
Maine Outdoor Brands’ members are using their collective network to navigate these market fluctuations together. Acting as a trade association, the group hosts networking events, facilitates workforce development and shares critical market information among its members. The group has also advocated at the state and federal level.
“That’s been a huge value-add that we’ve been able to provide, is just having this supported network that knows that we’re going to get through this together,” Kordick said.
Looking Ahead to Minneapolis
Outdoor Retailer’s Minneapolis debut in August introduces a new dynamic for exhibitors. The shift away from the Mountain West places the show closer to the Great Lakes and the upper Midwest, a region with weather patterns and seasonal recreation habits that closely mirror New England.
For Maine companies, this presents a strategic opportunity to connect with a different demographic of retailers.
“We’re intrigued by the move,” Kordick said. “I think for us, it’s certainly a region that we haven’t been in before, and so we’re excited about the prospect of meeting with more regional buyers in the Upper Midwest. It’s a similar climate to Maine, and I think for some of the regional buyers there, we hope the Maine brands will resonate with them.”
Beyond the exhibit floor, the show provides a forum for education and plenty of shoptalk.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to go and just take stock of where things are at, where others are at, and again, I think feel like we’re part of something that’s bigger than just what we’re working on here in the state of Maine,” Kordick said. That bigger community aspect is important and has always been important.”
Featured Maine Brands to Watch
Maine Outdoor Brands is bringing a diverse roster of equipment makers, apparel designers and heritage manufacturers to the show. Here are the confirmed companies exhibiting under the state’s banner this August:
Based in Biddeford, Hyperlite Mountain Gear manufactures ultralight backpacks, tents and accessories using Dyneema composite fabrics. The company focuses on stripping away unnecessary features to provide functional, durable gear for long-distance backpackers and alpinists.
Hüga produces heated outdoor seat cushions designed to extend the usability of outdoor seating areas in cold climates. The portable, rechargeable cushions are used by restaurants, event venues and individual consumers who spend extended time outdoors in the winter.
Flyn is a specialized apparel brand creating functional, weather-resistant clothing. The company designs pieces intended for both outdoor recreation and everyday wear, utilizing technical fabrics that can withstand unpredictable coastal weather.
Located in South Portland, Brant & Cochran is dedicated to the revival of traditional Maine axe making. The company forges custom, heirloom-quality axes using traditional patterns, supplying campers, woodworkers, and forestry professionals with durable hand tools.
SamBob operates out of Portland focusing on custom, made-to-order outdoor apparel. The brand frequently uses deadstock and upcycled fleece to create colorful, highly customized hoodies and pullovers, reducing textile waste in the manufacturing process.
Flowfold builds wallets, bags and travel gear using recycled sailcloth and other lightweight, durable materials. Manufactured in Maine, their products are designed for everyday carry, offering a minimalist aesthetic combined with long-lasting weather resistance.
Mainers manufactures specialized winter gear, particularly heavy-duty outdoor gloves and mittens. Built for extreme cold, their products are tested against the state’s harsh winter conditions, offering high levels of insulation for winter sports and cold-weather labor.
Connecting with the Community in August
The showcase in Minneapolis serves as a testament to the region’s manufacturing heritage and its ongoing adaptation to the modern outdoor market. By pooling resources, these companies are able to reach national audiences while maintaining their local operations.
“Maine Outdoor Brands has been a grassroots effort that’s just really grown,” Kordick said. “But the foundation has always stayed true to what happened there at Outdoor Retailer, which is, let’s work together and let’s collaborate and see what we can do.”
Attendees heading to Outdoor Retailer in August can visit the group’s booth to see these products firsthand and learn more about what Maine Outdoor Brands has been working on.