Mid-Year Update from the RIA: Steady Progress, Strong Community

Despite the broader uncertainty in the economy, the run specialty channel continues to hold steady. First half numbers show the channel up mid-single digits, and that’s no accident. It’s a testament to the strength and resilience of our channel, built on the strong community connections that our retailers foster every day. Your ability to engage customers at a human level remains one of the most powerful drivers of consumer loyalty and long-term growth.

At the RIA, our mission is to support and amplify those efforts. Following the high-energy and impact of the RIA Summit in May, we’ve hit the ground running with a full slate of deliverables for the rest of 2025.

At the top of the list is a major evolution of the Product Data Collaborative. We’re upgrading to a more powerful and user-friendly system—one that our retailers can confidently rely on. Enhancements include:

• A new automated communications system for data collection. 
• AI-assisted data import for faster and cleaner integration
• Improved filtering tools
• Cleaner, more reliable exports that save time and reduce friction

We’re also ramping up member engagement across the board. That includes:

• Annual one-on-one benefit reviews with our members
  
  
• Expanded social media outreach to share insights, updates, and successes
  
  
• A strong and growing turnout for our quarterly RIA Huddles
  

On the topic of RIA Huddles, if you have yet to participate, I encourage you to do so. These small-group sessions are led by RIA board members and focus on practical, member-driven topics. Our most recent discussion covered staffing and organizational planning and included actionable takeaways for attendees. Look out for sign up info for our next planned huddles in October.  Finally, stay tuned for the upcoming launch of our enhanced freight discount program. This initiative will raise your potential savings even higher, and we’ll be hosting webinars to walk you through the benefits and onboarding process.

As always, thank you for the work you do every day to strengthen our industry and serve your communities. We’re proud to support you—and even more excited for what’s ahead.

Terry Schalow
Executive Director
Running Industry Association

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