His qualifications: He had been a clerk for outdoor retailer REI in Berkeley and had written two books about California bike trails.

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Outdoor goods retailer Giantnerd discovered that during the shopping weekend Facebook traffic produced an average order value 300% higher than its site average.

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Outdoor gear retailer REI recently decided to replenish its base of PCs only once every five years instead of three years, thanks to a switch to flat-panel screens that last longer.

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Obama picked Sally Jewell, the chief executive of outdoor-gear retailer REI, to head the Interior Department.

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In the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive year is the Washington-based retailer known for its sporting goods, outdoor gear and apparel.

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