Morrison Outdoors was built to keep parents in nature with their easy-to-pack sleeping bag for babies, but their latest efforts are helping to get new moms, Latinos, and marginalized youth to experience the more than 20 million acres of national forest and public lands New Mexico has to offer.
“It was one of the first things Tavis did,” said Sarah Candelaria, Deputy Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and founder of Nature Niños. “He said, ‘Let us support you.’”
In December 2023, Tavis Malcolm, owner and founder of Morrison Outdoors, relocated his family and his business to Albuquerque, New Mexico, from Washington State. Before the move was official, he already lined up the first Albuquerque-based organization the company would support: Nature Niños.
“We welcomed him out to our space and showed him where we do outdoor classrooms and introduced him to our different programs for nature-nervous families,” said Candelaria. “He fell in love with our Tiny Trees program.”
Tiny Trees is Nature Niños’ 100% outdoor classroom for four- to eight-year-olds that teaches little ones to explore, investigate, and play in nature. “We focus on the social and emotional benefits of nature, that connection to the outdoors and getting back to our roots,” said Candelaria. Lessons change weekly and focus on subjects that range from animal and flower identification to fishing and ecological facts.
Morrison Outdoors became Nature Niños’ first small business partnership, donating a portion of their proceeds to support their nature programs for marginalized kids.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Tavis Malcolm.
“Having Amazon for a business our size is essential,” said Malcolm. “It’s nearly doubled what we do in sales.” By leveraging Amazon’s tools and services to handle fulfillment and customer support, Malcolm has been able to focus extra efforts on his own website, turning his Albuquerque-based company international. Last year, Morrison Outdoors sold to more than 40 countries with staff based locally.
Candelaria said Malcolm is about creating community. “It’s more than a business for him,” she said, adding that Malcolm is using Morrison Outdoors to make a difference for his new home of New Mexico.
Since the company was founded, Morrison Outdoors has donated funds to support causes that align with their mission, like supporting postpartum moms with Hike It Baby. They have also partnered with Operation Warm and Latino Outdoors, and started a lending library that allows youth-focused groups to use their sleeping bags at no cost.
“Morrison Outdoors is the perfect confluence of my interests,” said Malcolm. The business, he said, combines his love for the outdoors with his background in marketing and his desire to give back. As a small business that sells online, it also means he’s able to be nimble for his family when needed.
Nearly half of Morrison Outdoors’ sales are through Amazon. Malcolm said he takes advantage of Amazon Global Logistics and Fulfillment by Amazon, saving him time and effort. “Instead of packing, labeling and shipping myself, Amazon takes it off my plate.” He said it’s allowed him to expand his business, while being more present in his daily life and more intentional with his time.
“Being here, having a presence here, is making an impact,” said Malcolm.
It’s a ripple effect, said Candelaria. “It’s benefiting everyone. It’s benefiting him, which in turn is going to benefit his community because he has that lens. It feels great knowing that there are for-profit businesses that see the benefit of supporting the nonprofits in our community.”