Episode Details

Join host Eoin Comerford on Outdoor Unfiltered for an inside look at the business of the outdoors. In this episode, we tackle the viral news of Allbirds pivoting toward AI infrastructure and GPU-as-a-service, and what that really means for the brand. We also dive into Backcountry.com’s launch of Backcountry Garage, a new outdoor brand incubator and fund that kicked off with the acquisition of Salt Lake City-based CoalaTree.

Later, we review the innovative Universal Collection from The North Face, featuring adaptive camping gear like the Universal One Sleeping Bag, the Wawona 3 Tent, the Universal Daypack, and Traction Mules. Finally, Eoin sits down with Eric Haberman, President and Founder of Mountain High Sales & Marketing, to discuss the evolving role of the outdoor sales rep and the critical relationship between brands and retailers.

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 00:54 – Allbirds’ surprising pivot to AI computing infrastructure and GPU-as-a-service.
• 08:31 – Backcountry.com launches Backcountry Garage and acquires CoalaTree.
• 10:50 – A look at past outdoor incubators: Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator and REI’s Path Ahead Ventures.
• 16:03 – The North Face Universal Collection: A deep dive into adaptive design for the Wawona 3 Tent, Universal One Sleeping Bag, and more.
• 21:50 – Interview with Eric Haberman, President of Mountain High Sales & Marketing, on the modern role of the sales rep.
• 27:10 – The importance of trust and the "balancing act" between brands and retailers.
• 33:20 – Advice for emerging brands on navigating the wholesale landscape and working with reps.

Connect With Us

We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind:

• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: Eoin Comerford