Switchback at TRE, December 2-4, 2025 in San Antonio, TX
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Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2026 in New Orleans, LA
Today’s consumers interact with your store long before they walk through the door—and long after they leave. This workshop combines Dynamic Footwear Specialist training with strategies to meet the modern runner across all touchpoints: digital discovery, in-store experience, and post-purchase engagement. You’ll learn how to build a staff that’s confident in both biomechanics and relationship-building. Through hands-on demos and guided discussion, we’ll explore how service, science, and personalization intersect in the modern journey. Walk away with tools to strengthen your team and enhance every step of your customer’s path.
Speakers:
The Planning Your Best Buy workshop will walk buyers through how to properly define the category and role, establish targets, identify areas of growth and decline, determine strategies and tactics, and identify key needs. This workshop will include an introduction to the Retail Planning Cycle and the category strategy process. Participants will be provided with a template and will create a category strategy for a category of their choosing during the workshop.
Speakers:
Join the co-founders and co-creators of Take the Lead Retreat—Alison Mariella Désir, Martha Garcia, and Jessica Murphy—for a conversation on what it takes to build and sustain authentic community within the running and outdoor industries.
Together, they’ll explore how meaningful, equitable relationships can be a catalyst for both personal and professional growth. With deep experience spanning advocacy, strategy, brand leadership, and entrepreneurship, they bring a multidimensional perspective to community-building and leadership.
The panelists will share lessons learned from creating spaces that center belonging and offer reflections from past Take the Lead events, highlighting how the retreat has helped women in the industry feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead.
Speakers:
You started with a passion for running, but now you’re stuck in the weeds of doing the books, fighting the fires, even sweeping the floors. If it feels like you’re sprinting on a treadmill with no finish line, you’re not alone. This interactive session will help you tackle your biggest operational headaches using the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®). You’ll walk away with practical tools to regain control, boost profits, and build a healthier team.
Presented by Anne Schoolcraft, EOS Implementor, EOS Worldwide
In this dynamic 45-minute session, Joe Robinson of Werun313 and Cara Cross of Gazelle Sports delve into the essential elements that transform a simple run group into a thriving, impactful community. Drawing from the real-world success of Werun313 and their partnership with Gazelle Sports, this session will explore four ways to grow and sustain your running community: Socializing, Charity, Commerce, and Performance. Designed for run club leaders, aspiring organizers, and retail professionals, each attendee will walk away with strategies to drive engagement, cultivate collaboration and influence growth in their running networks.
Speakers:
Discover the blueprint for success in today’s evolving run specialty landscape. The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) returns with a dynamic session that brings together brands, retailers, and their community partners to discuss their impactful collaborations that redefine on-the-ground engagement and build long-term consumer loyalty.
Through a series of powerful, short-form presentations, presenting companies will share real-world examples of how community-centered collaborations have helped them reach new audiences, strengthen trust, and stay competitive in an increasingly values-driven market. Learn about what authentic partnership really means — and why it’s essential to the future of the industry.
This session will feature key speakers invited by the RIDC. Attendees will leave with actionable insights and inspiration to create or build upon their own impactful partnerships, ensuring a thriving future for the run specialty industry.
Presented by Running Industry Diversity Coalition
2025 focus areas will include running culture & community, consumer & customer behavior, leadership, money management strategies, apparel & accessories opportunities, buying & selling best practices, digital advancements & retail efficiencies, and more.
Located in the exhibit hall, the Training Camp Theater is an engaging and casual presentation space open to all. Attendees and exhibitors will access relevant and impactful education from a lineup of thoughtfully selected presenters. Stay tuned for the theater lineup, coming soon!
