Update May 2, 2018
Vista Outdoor Inc. announced a “Strategic Business Transformation Plan” via a press release yesterday. Part of this plan includes options for selling the firearms manufacturer, Savage Arms.
This follows the major boycott led by MEC and REI.
The outdoor brand behemoth is looking to focus more on, “its market-leading brands in ammunition, hunting and shooting accessories, hydration bottles and packs, and outdoor cooking products.”
Additional brands that they are looking to sell are Giro, Blackburn, and Jimmy Styks paddle boards.
Original Article Posted March 2, 2018.
In the wake of the recent Florida shooting, outdoor sporting goods retailer REI will indefinitely pause purchasing of brands from Vista Outdoor. This comes as the result of Vista Outdoor’s failure to issue a public statement about the shooting, “outlining a clear plan of action.”
Vista Outdoor has a large portfolio of companies under their belt including Giro, Bell, Camelbak, Camp Chef and Blackburn. Also in that portfolio is Savage Arms, a manufacturer of guns and ammunition, including “modern sporting rifles.”
REI shared the news late yesterday via their website while giving a nod to Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart for their proactive approach to gun law reform.
They are the second major retailer to take action following an open letter from David Labistour, CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-Op. MEC is the Canadian equivalent of REI. In similar fashion, many smaller retailers are also pausing purchases from Vista Outdoor until they come to a resolution on the matter.
“It is the job of companies that manufacture and sell guns and ammunition to work towards common sense solutions that prevent the type of violence that happened in Florida”
As you may already know, REI doesn’t sell guns or ammunition, but that isn’t stopping them from taking a stand in the wake of the recent Florida shooting. The decision is also been swayed by a sea of support on petitions like this one with over 18,000 signatures. The petition for MEC has received over 53,000.
