Meet Devaki Murch | Expert at Connecting the Dots

We had the good fortune of connecting with Devaki Murch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Devaki, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my work is the people and communities I have been able to engage with. The magic of the secret sauce is the people. I just create a space for that magic to happen.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up in the Outdoor Industry from the ground up- starting on the retail floor and working warranty at Sierra Designs then Prana: think stinky tents and leggings. Outdoor Retailer gave me the opportunity to develop innovative programs like Park and Pedal: a bike share and bike rental specifically for show attendees. I produced ORART, a gallery that showcased emerging artists such as Renan Ozturk, Jeremy Collins, Nate Rifke, Kate Rutherford and others. I had been bringing their work to all of the events that I had hosted when I was a Prana. I had VERY talented friends. Artists are not always good at promoting or marketing themselves. They need someone to believe in them. I did that. With the question: How big to you want to go? For many of them, commercial work did NOT work for them. They could not create on demand. For others, they flourished. They were picked up by brands and got work that surpasses anything we had dreamed of.

My greatest achievement has been at Grassroots Outdoor Alliance as the Tradeshow Director where I created the Discovery Marketplace. It began as the “Pink Flamingo Project” an incubator for new brands entering the outdoors space. I culled through Kickstarter and Indigogo. I went to other tradeshows, farmers markets, scouted out brands through different organizations fundraisers, networked with reps and retailers to see who they were picking up. A friend recommended Kates Real Food. I brought her in to Park N Pedal when she had these insanely delicious bars she prepared in her garage in Jackson, WY and delivered them in saran wrap with ink jet labels – now you can find her bars on Delta flights.

The Pink Flamingo Project was launched in 2018 as the Mystery Booth. The criteria: Product that when you find it – you want to buy one for EVERY PERSON you know. I had found Matador at Mikes Camera Shop in Boulder, CO when they were first starting. As a photographer, this new brand (2017) was Peak Design, and their stuff was RAD. Kokopelli, Skout Bars, RinseKit, Aftershokz headphones, NoSo Patches, Fido Dog Rescue Harnesses and more. I was able to support Goal Zero who I had worked for in 2008 at the Ogden farmers market when they first started.

The success of the Mystery Booth led to the Discovery Marketplace. The first Discovery Marketplace was integrated into the existing Connect show. My goal was to bring in emerging brands, that just happen to be owned and operated by women. Several of them had never participated in tradeshows before. The new vendors participated in pre show calls with some of the strongest, independent and brilliant women in the Industry, Bronwyn Lodato from Bronwyn Jewelry, Kelli Jones, NoSo, Maura Kistler, Waterstone Outdoors, Shannon Walton, Redside Foundation. The women shared their seasoned stories, advice and supported the new founders and entrepreneurs as they prepared for their first show. These brands, Alpine Parrot, Tough Cutie Socks, Fun Luvin’ Fleece are magical. They bring so much life and energy into the outdoor space. They break the barriers of different business models, methods of engagement and unique products.

The success of the initial Discovery Marketplaces led to an independent pre-show bringing in 70 new brands. This infusion of new brands and new energy was exactly what the show needed. Working with Maine Outdoors and other incubators brought in small brands like Flyn Hats and Solmate Socks.

I have stepped away from the show world but continue to see awesome collabs between these brands that I brought together. The collective stoke and desire to support one another is a beautiful thing. Thats what I do. I create space for magic to happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My Favorite spots in the City?
As a Utah Boulder-ite and not a Colorado Boulder-ite. It is always a treat for me to do a tour de cuisine around Boulder. Sherpas. Hand down is. my favorite. Aloy Thai is up there too. The Farmers Markets in the summer are always great. My favorite place. Back yard hang out. Cooking dinner and just being with friends watching the squirrels run up and down the trees.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shout out to several people who have continually believed and trusted me throughout the years and supported my wild, unusual ideas: Beaver Theodosakis, founder of Prana, Sally McCoy, Helinox, Kenji Haroutunian, The Big Gear Show and Rich Hill. They have not only trusted me but unconditionally supported me through success and failures. They understood that I operated differently. I needed to be managed in a different way to be productive and creative. This recognition gave me the confidence to develop projects WAAAAY outside of the box and yet, also taught me to listen, observe, synthesize, and act accordingly.

Website: www.devaki,me

Instagram: #devaki

Linkedin: @devakimurch

Twitter: @devaki