I met Lillian Hoodes from Trail Fork recently at the Outdoor Retailer Show and in this episode we talk about how she built Trail Fork, her focus on cooking real food, how REI became one of her first customers and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents were just into it. I grew up in a big family and our family vacations, weekends, trips and things were always camping. My grandparents lived in Wyoming, so we would go up there and fish, hike, canoe and all this stuff. So it was just kind of part of who I was growing up. Things we talked about TrailFork Announces First Round of Fundraising with SeedInvest Trail Fork Outdoor Retailer The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan Pearl Street Mall Neptune Mountaineering REI Episode Sponsor Tribe Alpha Advice If somebody just wants to get into the industry period, just reach out to people and start having conversations. I think the reason that we were able to get where we did as quickly as we did, was that I was, for lack of a better word, networking like crazy. Like just going and having conversations with people and getting in front of people. So whether you're interested in the marketing side or the finance side, reach out to people and ask if you can buy them coffee. More often than not, people are willing to kind of point you in the right direction. In terms of being interested in starting a business, I would just say really do your homework. Research the industry that you're trying to get into, research the product that you're trying to launch. There's so many things that you don't know, you don't know. A certain amount of that is unavoidable, but the more information you can gather, the better. Other Outdoor Activities Mountain Biking Backpacking Favorite Books/Podcasts Insight Timer You are a Badass by Jen Sincero A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki Favorite Piece of Gear under $100 Headlamp Connect with Lillian LinkedIn Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.