ISPO Rebooted: The New Amsterdam Show & How European Brands Can Crack the U.S.

Eoin Comerford reports from the reinvented ISPO in Amsterdam, now under Raccoon Media Group ownership after relocating from Munich. With 25,000 registered attendees, the outdoor section featured the Scandinavian village plus a new British section with Rab, Berghaus, and more. Notable absences included The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, and Patagonia, though US buyers from REI and Backcountry were active on the floor. The snow sports section featured a Snowfest Village rail jam, though many snow brands have migrated to Pro Winter in Bolzano. The co-located run event lacked the major footwear players that dominate The Running Event in the U.S. Then, recorded live from the ISPO podcast studio, Eoin sits down with Drew Eakins of Reima, the Finnish kids' outerwear brand founded in 1944, and Charlie Pym of Berghaus, the British brand founded in 1966 and now part of Pentland Brands. They dig into the European brand playbook for cracking the US market: channel strategy, product curation, D2C vs. wholesale, fulfillment strategies, brick-and-mortar strategy, and more. Brought to you by Royal Robbins, and Aarn Packs. SHOW NOTES 2:38 -- ISPO Amsterdam first impressions and 25,000 attendees 7:30 -- ISPO after party and overall verdict on the show 10:27 -- Live from ISPO: Drew Eakins (Reima) and Charlie Pim (Berghaus) 13:36 -- Berghaus previous US market entry and withdrawal 14:38 -- Reima's 20 percent US business at 30-40 percent growth 16:12 -- Why European brands target the US market 18:09 -- Channel split surprises and the D2C-first reality 46:45 -- Amazon strategy: Reima pulls back, Berghaus bides time 50:17 -- Final advice: have a plan and hold it loosely 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 LinkedIn: Eoin Comerford -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/ Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rockfight LLC. OUR SPONSORS ISPO -- Unites the sporting and outdoor goods industry - inspiring global movement, protecting the places we play and providing a single, streamlined platform for the brands, athletes, buyers and innovators who shape the future of sport. www.ispo.com Royal Robbins -- We're building on a legacy and belief that nature and adventure can feed the soul. In the world of digital screens and AI, that idea is more relevant now than ever. And we're seeing it resonate with a new generation of outdoor consumers who are looking for experiences, connection, and versatile products that support the way they want to live. https://www.royalrobbins.com/ Aarn Packs -- Aarn Packs give you a more comfortable backpacking experience by using Balance Pockets that help you spread your pack weight around your center of gravity and allow you to keep your posture natural. https://www.aarnpacks.com/