REI

Ownership

REI is a consumer cooperative owned by its members, distinguishing it from a pure corporate chain. However, it is a company that was formerly governed as a cooperative but continues to brand itself as one, and workers have organized around workplace issues and the company has been accused of union busting, suggesting the cooperative structure is not fully democratic at the worker level.

Local Sourcing

REI's list of factory partners identifies locations around the world where they source gear and apparel, indicating global rather than local sourcing. While REI seeks local brands and activity-driven, sustainability-minded brands, the vast majority of sourcing comes through international supply chains with centralized oversight.

Community Involvement

REI emphasizes community and environmental efforts through the REI Cooperative Action Fund and Action Network, which aim to enhance outdoor health, recreation and green space protection with support for local organizations. The Madison store has held community events like Community Day, but engagement appears sporadic rather than deeply integrated.

Local Workforce

REI has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, in line with the average for retail employers. REI contributes 5% of earnings for every eligible employee with additional contributions based on profitability, but some employees report pay is not livable, with long-term workers earning less than $30k annually.

Revenue Retention

In 2023 REI invested nearly $270 million back into the co-op community from $3.76 billion in sales, suggesting modest local reinvestment. However, the co-op reported a $311 million net loss in 2023 and REI is headquartered in Washington state, meaning most revenue and profits flow out of Madison and Wisconsin.

Local Presence

No website available to analyze.