How Sustainability Can Elevate the Retail Customer Experience — and Drive Sales
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Charleston, SC — May 2026
Emerger Strategies, a leading sustainability consulting firm for the fishing & outdoor and specialty retail industry, announces that founder Rick Crawford will co-present a featured breakout session at Switchback Spring 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Joining Crawford is Alex Lauver, founder of Douglas Strategies, for a session titled:
“Selling What Matters: Using Sustainability to Elevate the Customer Experience“
The session takes place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, from 2:30–3:15 PM in Breakout Room 266.
What the Session Covers
As consumer demand for more sustainable products and purpose-driven brands continues to grow, retail sales reps and retail sales staff are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between a brand’s environmental and social commitments and the customer standing on the shop floor.
This session explores how sales professionals can use sustainability as a tool — not just a talking point — to build trust, deepen customer relationships, and meaningfully influence purchasing decisions.
Attendees will learn:
- How sustainability-driven purchasing behaviors are reshaping retail — and what that means for the frontline sales experience
- How to use open-ended questions to uncover customer values, motivations, and purchasing priorities
- Five practical, ready-to-use questions that retail staff can implement immediately to strengthen point-of-sale conversations and elevate the customer experience
- How to translate brand sustainability stories — from environmental initiatives to social impact programs — into compelling, confidence-building customer interactions
Why This Session Matters
Sustainability is no longer a niche selling point. Today’s outdoor and specialty retail customers are making purchasing decisions based on a brand’s environmental commitments, social responsibility, and alignment with their personal values. Yet many retail teams lack the tools and language to connect those brand stories to what matters most to the customer in front of them.
“Sales reps are the critical link between a brand’s sustainability efforts and a meaningful customer experience,” said Rick Crawford, founder of Emerger Strategies. “When we equip retail staff with the right questions and the right framing, sustainability stops being a label on a hang tag and starts becoming a genuine conversation — one that builds loyalty and drives sales.”
About the Presenters
Rick Crawford is the founder of Emerger Strategies, a consultancy helping fishing & outdoor brands integrate sustainability into their business strategy, sales education, and retail partnerships. Rick is a recognized voice in sustainability and has worked with brands across the fly fishing, fishing, outdoor, and specialty lifestyle industries by helping them make the business case for sustainability.
Alex Lauver is the founder of Douglas Strategies, and a 20-year outdoor industry veteran (formerly the Sr. Director of Materials, Innovation, and Sustainability at Outdoor Research) bringing deep expertise in product development, materials, sourcing, sustainability, merchandising, and business strategy.
Together, Crawford and Lauver combine sustainability fluency with practical sales methodology to deliver actionable insights for retail professionals.
Event Details
| Switchback Spring 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Switchback Spring 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, June 16, 2026 |
| Session Time | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM |
| Location | Breakout Room 266, New Orleans, LA |
| Session Title | Selling What Matters: Using Sustainability to Elevate the Customer Experience |
| Presenters | Rick Crawford, Emerger Strategies & Alex Lauver, Douglas Strategies |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend this session? This session is ideal for brand sales representatives, retail store managers, specialty retail buyers, and anyone working at the intersection of sustainability and the retail customer experience.
What will attendees walk away with? Attendees will leave with five practical, conversation-starting questions they can use immediately on the retail floor, plus a deeper understanding of how to connect brand sustainability efforts to customer values and purchasing decisions.
What is Switchback Spring? Switchback Spring is an annual gathering for the outdoor and specialty retail industry, bringing together brands, retailers, and industry leaders for education, connection, and commerce.
How does sustainability influence purchasing decisions? Research consistently shows that a growing segment of consumers — particularly in the outdoor and specialty retail market — factor environmental and social impact into their purchasing decisions. When retail staff can speak authentically to those values, they build trust and reduce purchase hesitation.
About Emerger Strategies
Emerger Strategies helps fishing & outdoor brands and retailers make the business case for sustainability by turning sustainability from a corporate commitment into a competitive advantage. Through training, strategy, and retail education, Emerger equips sales teams with the knowledge and tools to authentically communicate their brand’s environmental and social impact — and connect those stories to the customers who care.
Learn more: www.emergerstrategies.com
Media Contact: Rick Crawford Founder, Emerger Strategies rcrawford@emergerstrategies.com