REI's Experiences program, which had provided co-op members with outdoor skills training for decades, has been terminated due to its continual unprofitability, affecting 428 jobs.
REI CEO Eric Artz stated, "We've held out as long as possible, but the fact remains that Experiences is an unprofitable business for the co-op, and we must adjust course."
Despite 40,000 customers utilizing the Experiences program in 2024, it represented less than 0.4% of all co-op customers and had not turned a profit since 2019.
A guide expressed the emotional toll of the layoffs, saying, "They were all distraught and crying on the call," highlighting the impact on employees.
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