The Tailgate Podcast: Marketing for Hunting and Angling Brands
17 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 31 ratingsHosts Andy and Bill are two passionate outdoorsmen and marketers behind some of the world's largest brands. They’ve spent hours on the tailgate after long days in the wild comparing notes on ways hunting and angling brands show up in the world. Now Andy and Bill return to the tailgate with the best minds in the outdoor industry to tackle the big marketing questions. What are the best creative ideas re-shaping our industry? How can hunting and angling brands bridge the gap to larger outdoor audiences? What are some new insights into old problems that keep our industry up at night? And how can we all move past the dug-in or played-out thinking that blocks fresh voices, growth strategies, new audiences, and more inventive creative ideas? Together with their guests, Andy and Bill poke the industry bear to help brands build longer tables not taller fences. Are you in the marketing trenches building the next great outdoor brand? This is the jargon-free, straight-talking podcast you’re looking for. Learn more about their mission at thetailgatepodcast.com
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Episodes
Soraya Smith, President of Backpacker’s Pantry, on Reverence for Wild Animals and Wild Places
August 19, 2020 21:00 - 50 minutes - 35.1 MBSoraya Smith is President of Backpacker’s Pantry. A legendary brand that creates some of the healthiest and tastiest meals to help us thrive in the outdoors. We discuss everything from the quality of food to the reverence of the animals we pursue and our chosen way of life. Soraya and her talented team are continually innovating in the MRE space and they’re doing it with real ingredients that taste like real food. Something we can all appreciate when spending weeks in the backcountry. Ba...
Joe Genzel, Associate Editor at Outdoor Life, on the Current State of the Industry
July 29, 2020 23:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBJoe Genzel is a fresh voice for Outdoor Life, one of the most venerable publications in the world of hunting and angling. With his talented editorial team, Joe is working to evolve traditional hunting and angling narratives and reshape them for today’s modern audience. Joe shares his take on our industry, influencers, marketing, the role Outdoor Life plays in our world, and other forces shaping the future of hunting and angling for generations to come. Learn more about our mission at the...
Nicole Qualtieri of Gear Junkie on Inclusivity, New Voices, and Our Changing Industry
June 08, 2020 20:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBGiven the recent events in America, it’s time to address the issue of acceptance, inclusion, and openness within the hunting and angling industry. We have to accept new talent and new voices in the hunting and angling industry if we’re ever going to accept and grow with new consumers and new audiences. We already have a litany of rules and do’s and don’ts posted at every trailhead. So let’s not create any more when it comes to the outdoors. Nicole Qualtieri of Gear Junkie is a new, str...
Co-Founders Emily and Addison Edmonds on the Rise of Gunner Kennels
May 06, 2020 20:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBHunting and angling brands create some of the most innovative products in the world. Yet many brands still follow a fairly traditional marketing playbook. One brand that’s harnessing new ad technology in more inventive ways is Gunner Kennels. Sure, they make what is arguably the best dog kennel out there. But they also use augmented reality, inventive SEO/SEM strategies, and other progressive marketing tools to get the job done. And their results speak for themselves. The Tailgate Podcas...
Andrew Gritzbaugh of Gerber on his “Force Multiplier” Brand Building Mindset
April 23, 2020 15:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBWord on the street is that one of the strongest leaders across all marketing disciplines in our industry is Andrew Gritzbaugh, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Gerber. Andy and I luckily had a small window to sit down with Andrew to hear more about what he’s building at Gerber. And it’s pretty clear that he has a strong command of how modern advertising is structured, how to tie it all together at all levels inside an organization, and how to turn his team loose to develop some...
Wes Siler on Challenging Entrenched Industry Beliefs
March 30, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBEditors are some of the most powerful voices shaping our industry. Their far-reaching media platforms wield a strong influence on how we think, talk, look, and behave. That includes how brands show up in the world. Yet new voices that challenge entrenched beliefs and industry party line are often met with hostility. One editor who isn’t afraid to court controversy with strong, often contrarian opinions is Wes Siler, Editor of Indefinitely Wild for Outside Magazine. We recently sat down w...
Sim Whatley and James Elledge Hit All the Right Notes with Duck Camp
March 11, 2020 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBThere’s a deluge of new hunting and angling brands bursting onto the scene. Most fall either on the hunting side or the angling side and few bridge that stubborn gap between the two to win the hearts and minds of both. Let alone do it well. One brand that does gets it right is Duck Camp. A truly modern, direct-to-consumer brand out there on the racetrack. We recently sat down with the talented minds behind Duck Camp at their headquarters in Austin, TX and covered a lot of ground. Sim Whatl...
Chase Heard and Rick Wittenbraker on Howler’s Secret Sauce Behind, “Heed the Call”
February 20, 2020 20:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBHunting and angling brands are putting out a lot of soulful, overly poetic work that turns every moment in the outdoors into a life-changing event. While we love a great emotional power-ballad now and then, it seems like our industry is losing a bit of the fun. Thankfully, there’s Howler Brothers. An antidote to the self-important and super-serious vibe found in a lot of outdoor brands. Andy and I recently visited Howler at their headquarters in Austin, TX to get to the bottom of how this ...
Ross Copperman and Kevin Harlander on First Lite’s “People as Brand” Approach
January 23, 2020 18:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBOutside of magazines and celebrity hunters and anglers, high-performance apparel brands are some of the most influential voices in the industry. Few show up with unwavering conviction and sense of purpose like First Lite. We recently sat down with Ross Copperman, President, and Kevin Harlander, Community Manager and Brand Partnership Lead, to get an inside look at the company and brand. In this special edition of The Tailgate Podcast, we’re coming to you from First Lite’s backyard in beaut...
K.C. Walsh, Executive Chairman of Simms Fishing, on Brand Values
January 13, 2020 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBSimms is a legendary brand that not only reinvented waders, their talented team gave professional guides and hardcore anglers the bomber gear needed to go further, stay out longer, in the toughest weather Mother Nature can dish out. They added more days to an angler’s season. Yet they’re a brand that means far more than the products they make. And today we hear that story. In this episode, we sit down with K.C. Walsh, Simms owner and Executive Chairman, to hear more about his company’s cul...
Jason Rolfe, Editor of the FlyFish Journal, on Finding Your Voice
December 20, 2019 21:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBThe FlyFish Journal elevates how we evaluate, “a great fishing story” through deeper insights, unexpected storytelling, and more artistic photography. Yet they make fly fishing accessible, more meaningful, and go far beyond tips-and-tricks to showcase a lifestyle unlike any other. We sit down with Jason Rolfe to hear more about his creative process and where The FlyFish Journal is heading. The Tailgate Podcast aims to inspire brand leaders to explore new ideas and strategies to re-i...
Jason Dyer on the Continuing Rise of Sportsman’s Warehouse
November 26, 2019 19:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBOutdoor retail is at an inflection point. Some retailers are locked in a race to the bottom on price while others are investing heavily in customer experience in-store and online. Sportsman’s Warehouse is a case study in the good that comes with staying true to yourself while putting the customer and the local community first. Today we are honored to sit down with Jason Dyer who leads all content marketing at Sportsman’s Warehouse. On this episode, we talk about what makes Sportsman’s so s...
Tom Rosenbauer on his Legendary 43-Year Career with Orvis
November 13, 2019 01:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBChances are that Tom Rosenbauer and his work at Orvis had a strong hand in shaping the angler and marketer you are today. His legendary 43-year career with Orvis touched on just about every inch of the brand. Tom is a school instructor, copywriter, public relations director, merchandise manager, and was editor of The Orvis News for 10 years. He is currently Marketing Director for Orvis Rod and Tackle. As merchandise manager, web merchandiser, and catalog director, the titles under his direct...
Jamie Reilly on Using Your Purpose to Build a Lifestyle Brand
November 05, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBYou make great products. Your audience knows you make great products. But how do you make the brave leap to become a true lifestyle brand? One that’s meaningful and authentic? On this episode, we’re joined by Jamie Reilly, VP Global Creative at Vans® to compare notes, share ideas on reaching the elusive youth audience, and hear more about what he’s building at Vans®. One of the most legendary lifestyle brands out there. If you’re looking to make the jump into more lifestyle-centric marketi...
Matt Evans on the Changing Size and State of Our Industry
October 18, 2019 19:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThe hunting and angling industry is a wild ride these days. New brands, new voices, and new ideas are elbowing their way toward the forefront of consumers’ hearts and minds. The first step in taking advantage of all the opportunities this new era provides? Take a step back and truly understand the current size and state of our industry. And know the specific reasons for any and all shifts, good or otherwise. Is our hunting audience shrinking while our angler audience is skyrocketing? Who are...
Tom McGuane on the Elements of a Great Story (and Brand Story)
September 23, 2019 19:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBAndy and Bill sit down with novelist, screenwriter, and angler Tom McGuane to reverse-engineer the elements of a great story. Where do you start? How can you find those deeper insights that land on a more emotional level with your audience? How do you craft a compelling narrative around a kickass idea? Who better to send us in the right direction than one of the greatest living storytellers and legendary voice of past and present outdoor generations? Tom even shares his candid and thoughtful...
Simon Roosevelt on New Ways Brands Can Talk about Conservation
September 12, 2019 14:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBEvery brand is on the hook to promote conservation. Yet throwing money behind the "hunting is conservation" angle isn't landing as hard as it used to. What are some less-expected thought-starters brands can dig into that no one can ignore? Andy and Bill sit down with Simon Roosevelt to explore glaring truths and courageous narratives brands could adopt to motivate, instigate and agitate. So our industry can mobilize the next generation of rabid conservationists and ethical hunters. Simon...