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…
Category: Sustainability Regulation & Compliance
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,…
What’s New with REI Product Impact Standards (v4.0) in 2026?
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,…