What happens when a fly fishing lodge co-founder decides the community needs more than just great water and great guides? You get Soul Fly Co. — and an event that might just change how the fly fishing world thinks about gathering. In this episode, I sit down with Alec “Griz” Griswold, co-founder of Soul Fly Co. and Soul…
Category: Sustainability Assessment
Your Retailer Is Asking About Sustainability. Here’s Why Your Answer Could Make or Break Your Next Purchase Order.
You built a brand that earns shelf space the hard way — with great products, strong sell-through, and years of relationship-building. But if you’ve started receiving sustainability questionnaires from Walmart, REI, or Bass Pro Shops — or you’re worried about what happens when those questions arrive — you already know the rules of retail are…
What Is It Costing Your Brand to NOT Have a Sustainability Strategy?
The hidden price tag of inaction — and why Emerger Strategies is the smartest investment your business isn’t making yet. Most brands don’t wake up thinking, “We should hire a sustainability consultant” and most CFO’s know the costs of the business. But the most dangerous number on your balance sheet is the one that never…
Journal Entry: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at What it’s Like Being a Sustainability Consultant for Fly Fishing Brands
Telling Credible Sustainability Stories with Mayfly Outdoors April 23-27, 2026 Last week, I spent the week in Montrose, CO for Mayfly Outdoors‘ Dealer Days. It was an inspiring week learning more about brands like Abel Reels, Airlite, Airflo, Dyna-King, Renzetti and Ross Reels are made, and the efforts they are making to support conservation and…
How Emerger Strategies Helps Brands Selling to Walmart, REI, Bass Pro & Dick’s Stay on the Shelf — and Ahead of the Curve
Retailer sustainability requirements aren’t coming — they’re already here. Here’s how Emerger Strategies’ three core services help fishing and outdoor brands manage regulatory risk, exceed retailer expectations, and turn sustainability into a genuine competitive advantage. If your brand sells — or wants to sell — into major retailers like Walmart, REI, Bass Pro Shops, or…
Why Your Brand Should Become a Walmart Giga Guru
Retailers like Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops, REI, and even specialty retailers now expect brands to measure and improve their social & environmental performance. Why? Because these retailers have their own sustainability goals they are trying to achieve, such as: Net-Zero by 2050, Zero Waste, and others focused on climate, nature, waste reduction,…