Olympia , Wash.

SEATTLE , March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- REI ( Recreational Equipment, Inc .), a national retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel, today announced 2011 sales of $1.80 billion , up 8.4 percent from $1.66 billion the previous year. Operating income was $116.2 million , down slightly from $116.6 million in 2010. Net income was $30.2 million , relatively flat to 2010. As the country's largest consumer cooperative with a significant membership base, REI welcomed nearly 842,000 new members in 2011, up 7 percent from 2010.  (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120306/SF65403LOGO ) "We experienced strong sales