Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a Re/Supply store dedicated to used gear and apparel in Clackamas, Oregon in late August 2023, according to a recent press release.
Located in Clackamas Town Center, the 16,113 square-foot store will open a few doors down from the co-op’s existing store that has served the outdoor community since 2007. The new location will join the co-op’s Re/Supply store in Manhattan Beach, California, which opened in 2020.
“As a member-owned co-op, we have a responsibility to preserve the long-term health of the planet,” Bob Cagle, REI regional director, said in the release. “Our Re/Supply offering reimagines the lifecycle of outdoor products and helps keep gear where it belongs — out on trails, waterways and other natural places. Opening a Re/Supply store in the community builds on the popularity of our used program that is enjoyed by many Oregonians.”
Access to the program is a benefit of co-op membership. In the Portland market there are more than 303,000 active members. Anyone can purchase a lifetime membership to the co-op for a one-time fee of $30, which grants access to not just the Re/Supply program, but discounts on shop services and experiences, free flat-tire repair (labor only) and ski waxing, an annual Co-op Member Reward of 10% back on eligible purchases, and more.
The selection at REI Clackamas Re/Supply will be focused on providing members with access to high-quality, used, outdoor gear and apparel at great prices. The selection will change frequently and be made up of lightly used products that the company receives through the typical returns process as well as items received through trade-in programs.
This store builds upon the co-op’s long history of encouraging the exchange of used gear amongst its members. REI offered used outdoor gear to co-op members for more than 60 years through its well-known “garage sale” events at retail stores across the country. In 2018, REI innovated within its used business to launch a used-specific e-commerce site, trade-in program, and used gear offering for sale in most retail locations. In 2022, more than one million used products were sold through REI’s Re/Supply omni-channel offering. REI’s investment in Re/Supply aligns with the co-op’s 2030 climate goals to de-couple business growth from carbon impact. Buying used instead of new typically avoids carbon emissions of 50% or more based on REI’s estimate of preparing used gear for sale versus making new gear.
