We are back from GOA Connect (even if the show isn't over yet) and today Colin is joined by Eoin Comerford to offer their thoughts on what they saw and more importantly highlight their favorite brands from the show's Discovery Marketplace.

At Connect, before the big show begins they hold a 5 hour mini-show called the Discovery Marketplace to highlight brands that don't have the required retailer appointments necessary to earn a spot at the main event. This part of the show features lots of brands you've heard of and even more that you haven't.

On this episode Colin & Eoin highlight 16 of the brands that they spoke to during the Discovery Marketplace.

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Today on the show Colin is joined by the regular Monday crew of Eoin Comerford and Producer Dave to kick off their coverage of the summer 2025 Trade Show Season. Here's the run down!

• What have learned from the past 10 years tumultuous trade show scene and shows do we actually need? (05:50)
• On the eve of GOA Connect and with Portland's Next Adventure closing up, what do we make of the broader specialty landscape as we head to a show focused on independent dealers? (20:55)
• GOA Connect Preview and Predictions! This episode comes out on the first day of exhibition at GOA Connect, what are we expecting? (34:30)
• The Parting Shot: Producer Dave has some feelings about threats to outdoor schools and Eoin highlights some new dealers who have joined GOA's ranks. (47:17)

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.

Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Today Colin is joined by Marmot's Vice President & GM of Technical Apparel, Jon Graden.

Marmot has been the poster child of what we've been calling the 'zombie brand' here on The Rock Fight. Not quite what it once was but not entirely irrelevant either, a zombie brand is a former 'it' brand that has fallen out of favor with retailers and doesn't have the juice it once did.

Marmot is one of the OG outdoor brands that the outdoor industry was built upon but after a series of acquisitions and big swings that didn't pay off, they've lost some of their clout. Jon, who comes from the fashion side of the apparel industry, has been working for the past 18 months to change that. And as the Marmot team heads out to sell for Spring 2026, Jon has something to say about where Marmot is today and where he thinks the brand is heading.

Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.

Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.