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  4. The Trail Ahead

The Trail Ahead

Adult and child sit in a field.

For our 40th birthday and beyond, we’re looking ahead to the next 40 years by welcoming new people to the outdoors, whether that be their local park, front yard, or places off the beaten path.

We shared our long-term action plan, The Trail Ahead,
in 2020 and it includes four key pillars:

  • Engaging our
    Team & Culture

  • Amplifying Voices

  • Creating Welcoming
    Outdoor Spaces

  • Transforming Retail
    and Our Industry

Since Fall 2020

  • Runner with an artificial leg wearing one shoe.

    We were the first outdoor brand to sell
    mixed size pairs of shoes with Zappos
    Adaptive in Nov. 2020

  • Jenny Brusso stands with hands on hips.

    We launched our Unlikely Hikers boot collaboration designed in an ungendered colorway and available in wide widths and hard-to-find sizes. This collaboration further welcomes the underrepresented outdoorsperson to explore confidently.

  • Younger and older pair walk through scrub deep in conversation.

    Our new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters will bring more awareness and increase equity for all youth, who may not have adequate access to nature, natural parks, or public trails.

  • Mirna Valerio stands on a deck with the sun behind.

    Merrell Ambassador and 18-year career educator, Mirna Valerio, led a half-day session for our team on Identity, Social Justice, and Antiracism.

Moving Forward

  • Painting a colorful mural.

    We completed an Internal Culture Audit to help us understand where we should focus our DEI trainings as well as new processes and protocol to build a more inclusive culture at Merrell.

  • Three people stand on a hill above a small lake.

    We completed a marketing audit to assess and benchmark our current assets to ensure future materials are reflective of diverse communities as relative to regional populations. We plan to repeat this Audit annually to gauge progress and use 2020 as a benchmark year.

  • Squatting on the prairie.

    In Q1 2021 we launched a Paid Jedi Advisory Council to guide our efforts and add authenticity to the work we're looking to accomplish.