Join the RIA - Working Together to Keeping You Running
The running industry is continually adapting to the challenges presented by the industry and economy, and have found new ways of connecting to our customers. The RIA community has grown stronger and so has our support to ensure you keep running smoothly and effectively.
The RIA’s mission is to foster collaboration between brands and retailers. So naturally, it makes sense to include the group that creates the strongest connection between retail and brand members: Independent sales reps and agencies.
The Running Industry Association (RIA) is a non-profit organization that supports the brick and mortar running retail channel throughout the United States and Canada. Our members are independently owned stores, the brands that sell within the channel, and the companies that provide services and support to the channel.
Founded in 2006 as the Independent Running Retailers Association, the organization has undergone consistent growth and evolution, leading to the transition in 2015 to a 501c6 non-profit, and in 2017, our members' decision to re-brand as the Running Industry Association. The name change reflects the understanding that for the independent running specialty channel to remain competitive, a new, inclusive culture must be fostered. With all stakeholders working collaboratively together, the channel can remain robust and meet the challenges of an increasingly complex market. As the RIA moves forward, our mission will remain focused on serving the channel with resources and advocacy. In doing so, RIA will position itself as the progressive thought and business leader for the entire running industry.
The RIA Mission
The RIA’s sole purpose is to drive the running industry forward. We do this by helping members maintain healthy, profitable businesses through financial benefits, innovative commerce tools, advocacy, strategic partnerships, and peer support.
RIA Retailer Support
Kick Show Partnership Development
RIA Member Benefits
The RIA Plan
Check out our interactive guide for members and non-members alike that takes you through our plan to support the run specialty retail channel.
The RIA staff works to connect and engage members with valuable resources in order to advance the specialty running channel.
Contact Us
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2024 Board of Directors
The Running Industry Association’s Board represents our membership with the express purpose of supporting the organization’s mission to create a collaborative, dynamic specialty run community. The board consists of 13 members who represent our 3 levels of membership. There are 9 retail seats, 3 brand seats, and 1 associate seat.
Board Officers
President - Andrea Lehmkuhler - Point 2 Running Company
Vice President - Harry Chandler - Charlotte Running Company
The RIA’s sole purpose is to drive the running industry forward. We do this by helping members maintain healthy, profitable businesses through financial benefits, innovative commerce tools, advocacy, strategic partnerships, and peer support.
Gain industry insights by subscribing to the Pulse, a monthly email that provides the latest from the Running Industry Association and the specialty run sector.
NEW!
If time is money, how much are you losing managing brand product data? Get seamless data sharing across the entire run specialty channel - for brands, retailers and business partners.
Start using RIA’s newest member benefit - The RIA Product Data Collaborative
"We are laser-focused on member value. Our goal is to consistently deliver the resources our members need to maintain healthy, profitable businesses through financial benefits, education, advocacy, strategic partnerships, and peer support. We also recognize that a key facet to providing member value is to fully understand the environment in which our members compete. Putting this insight to work through innovative new tools, resources and initiatives will allow our members to remain vibrant within their local communities and the running industry as a whole."
Channel News
The latest in news and updates from the specialty run channel.
The Running Industry Association benefits from an incredible network of the industry's top brands - all supporting our mission to advance the specialty run channel.
Supporting Brands
The RIA would like to acknowledge the following brands as supporting members who have provided additional financial support to the organization.
The RIA’s sole purpose is to drive the running industry forward. We do this by helping members maintain healthy, profitable businesses through financial benefits, innovative commerce tools, advocacy, strategic partnerships, and peer support.
