Although the outdoor industry has had continued growth over the past 30 years, something has faded. The reason I was drawn to the lifestyle in the first place was the sense of community. Growth in any industry will create deviations. However, I don't see why we can't bridge the gap. Given the current state of affairs, this will be CREAG's most significant challenge since our country is more divided now than ever. How can I make this change? I can't. It will take an enormous amount of effort from everyone to bring people back together.
I have always tried to remain politically neutral. The challenge is that as a brand owner, people will make a decision based on my political stance. Don't get me wrong; there are specific issues that I think are very important, like protecting our environment. Although we have other more pressing concerns, we need to address this issue now, or our predecessors will struggle down the road.
Secondly, CREAG does not, and will not, EVER judge anyone based on color, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. We are all born into this world free, and it should remain that way. The sad truth is that there are still inequalities in our country and that goes for all minority groups. We have been at this for far too long, and it’s time we see everyone prosper.