As predicted in OCC Outdoor in January last year, climbing and outdoor brand, Black Diamond has announced that it is to cease working with agent/distributor, First Ascent, from June of 2013 After failing to answer this question at the Plas Y Brenin launch early last month, OCC Outdoor approached WL Gore for a clarification on this point and a further answer as to whether or not the supplier expected to raise its prices for its other products during 2013 An OCC Outdoor survey of independent retailers has revealed that whilst for some, the exceptional rainfall of November and December brought with it an improvement in trade, for others it only served to make already difficult trading conditions worse Get inside the outdoor business by signing up to receive our free industry news update