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Point of View

The RIA Point of View is an initiative that encourages members to share perspectives about emerging trends, exciting ideas and unique ideas in order to educate and share insights with other RIA members. It's simple, open and honest conversations with the driving force behind the specialty run sector: RIA members.

A skeptic's view on the channel.

| Jeff Metzdorff | Point of View
‍By Jeff Metzdorff, RIA Board Member Owner, Mill City Running, St. Paul, Minnesota Let’s lay the groundwork.  We have what they want.   ‘We’ meaning Run Specialty retailers and ‘they’ meaning every other small business in the US. Hardly a week goes by that we’re not sent a link to a Business of Fashion or Buzzfeed article proclaiming that Marathons are the New Fashion Runways or that Gen Z are Finding Love in the (Run) Club.   I get it Aunt Carol, we’re in the cultural ...
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What's on your mind?

Have you been thinking about issues or ideas that would spur innovation and collaboration in the running industry? Do you know of a topic that has people concerned or excited, or keeps coming up in conversations about industry practices?

Share your thoughts about important topics from your unique point of view with RIA members. Any of these POV columns could become the impetus for new relationships and unexpected solutions, and RIA believes member contributions are the key to mutual understanding that leads to more success for all of us including retailer owners and employees, brands, customers, and everyone the running industry touches.

If you have a point of view to share with the RIA membership, we welcome you to submit a column for future distribution in the Pulse newsletter.

Share your point of view

My Realizations about Shop and Family

| Jess Reid | Point of View
I could fill a book with the things that owning and operating a small run specialty store have brought to my life that I never anticipated. Together with my husband, Colin, we opened Lex Running Sh...
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A Spirit of Openness for Mutual Benefit

| Lance Muzslay | Point of View
By Lance Muzslay, RIA Board Member Optio Owner & Sole Sports Running Zone Co-owner As a retail RIA member, I believe there are substantial benefits to sharing our inventory and sales data with...
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Discussing Direct to Consumer at the Summit

| RIA | Point of View
By Eric Petrek, Global Ecommerce Director at Altra Running Brand Perspective Attending the RIA Summit as a brand representative with direct to consumer (DTC) as my day-to-day focus, I’d be lying ...
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Understanding Direct to Consumer Issues, Part Three: Defining the Issues and Presenting Solutions

| RIA | Point of View
In this month's issue of the Pulse, the Running Industry Association (RIA) presents the final installment of a three-part series exploring brands' direct to consumer (DTC) sales policies. The discu...
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