Kelly and Patrick discuss the current state of product inventory and sales in the market, exploring the remaining effects of the bullwhip effect. While market sales of many outdoor products waned in 2022, some categories (including bicycles) are expected to recover relatively quickly. How have macroeconomic trends affected our markets? What can we expect in the next few months? How can dealers, distributors, and brands ensure a quick recovery? 

Follow this link to see the Lifestyle/Leisure bicycle sales and inventory estimates which Patrick describes.  

Members of PeopleForBikes can find the Global Risk & Opportunity Forecast from S&P Global here and an archive of monthly NPD sell-through reports here. 

Kelly and Patrick get very excited about consumer segmentation research. Not every participant is looking for the same experience when they participate in outdoor recreation, and not every consumer of a given product is buying it for the same reason. How can consumer segmentation help organizations better understand their target audience so that they can successfully communicate with and sell to the right people? 

Kelly and Patrick build upon the Zoom Town discussion by describing recent trends of small businesses opening up in small towns. Many new small businesses are bringing unique offerings to niche markets, offering products which larger organizations are not able to. What function do small operations serve when it comes to outdoor recreation participation? How have social media trends allowed small businesses to find niche audiences and successfully sell unique products? 

Kelly and Patrick describe recent population trends in rural areas and small towns growing as remote work has allowed Americans the freedom to live wherever they would like. This trend, which we describe as the growth of ‘Zoom Towns’, has allowed Americans to live in areas where they can more easily access outdoor recreation activities, allowing for greater participation and unique experiences. How are local areas affected by the population shifts? What challenges might this trend pose?

Kelly and Patrick describe employer sponsored outdoor recreation benefits, exploring the benefits of getting employees outside. We know that outdoor recreation serves many functions - maintains mental health, ensures an active lifestyle. Why else might employers be keen on spending money to encourage outdoor recreation?

Access information about creating a bike benefits program by following this link: https://enterprise.ridespot.org/

Learn more about Thrive Outside, OIA’s initiative to get people outside for their health, the health of communities and the health of the outdoor industry: https://outdoorindustry.org/participation/ 

See the January 2023 jobs report by the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics here: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf. 

Kelly and Patrick discuss expectations for outdoor recreation participation in 2023. How will participation rates continue to be affected by changes in remote work, the rising cost of outdoor related hardgoods, and potential shifts back to pre-pandemic activities? What trends do we think we will see in the coming year? 

Members of PeopleForBikes can find the 2022 US Bicycling Participation Study here: https://www.peopleforbikes.org/reports/us-bicycling-participation-report 

Use the following link to see OIA’s ‘State of the Outdoor Market’ report: https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/OIA-State-of-the-Outdoor-Market-Report-Fall-2022.pdf

Kelly and Patrick discuss market expectations for 2023. What trends do we think we will see in the coming year? How will macroeconomic trends, such as inflation and transportation cost, and shifting consumer preferences for purchase methods and participation affect the market for outdoor recreation related products? 

Members of PeopleForBikes can find the Global Risk & Opportunity Forecast from S&P Global here: https://www.peopleforbikes.org/log-in?redirect=sp-global-risk-opportunity-forecast

Use the following link to see OIA’s ‘State of the Outdoor Market’ report: https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/OIA-State-of-the-Outdoor-Market-Report-Fall-2022.pdf

Kelly and Patrick describe how current macroeconomic trends are affecting the market for outdoor products. As we enter 2023 the US economy is seeing low unemployment, high inflation, and a potential recession on the horizon. How will this mix of economic indicators affect the ability of our respective industries to bring products to market and successfully compete? How are consumers reacting to these macroeconomic trends? 

Kelly and Patrick start the new year by discussing renewed enthusiasm for activities. Many of us will often start the new year by setting goals for fitness activities and other hobbies, which create a seasonal surge in demand for related products and services. Similarly, there are periods of spontaneous, organic increases in demand, such as The Hunger Games influencing archery participation and Stranger Things increasing bicycling among youth. How can the industry harness periods of ‘increased stoke’ to maximize on participation and sales? 

Kelly and Patrick describe how apps have changed the way that many of us participate in our outdoor recreation activities. How can apps enhance our experience by cataloging our recreation activity and sharing our stories? What forms of gamification, like in-app challenges, can push us to achieve new goals?