Trail Mix: Both MEC & REI Are Facing Some Upcoming Changes

On the other side of the outdoors boom following COVID, it looks like retail might be slowing down a little. Facing the crunch, REI has shut down their “Experiences” adventure travel offerings (which has operated for over 40 years) to “prioritize the core retail business” and is also about to lay off staff. REI’s current CEO Eric Artz has just announced his retirement, so here’s hoping new CEO Mary Beth Laughton (a former REI Board Director and seasoned retail leader) can help right the ship.

North of the border MEC looks to be back up for sale again. Back in 2021 MEC was purchased by an investment firm, rebranded, and ceased to be a Co-Op. While MEC doesn’t have any official news to share, we are hopeful that any changes to come still keep it honest to the original dream.

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Trail Mix is an assortment of outdoors related blog posts that can be fun, quirky or just thought provoking.