One of the biggest issues facing our planet is climate change. It’s a huge topic covering almost every aspect of daily life, and even for business owners in the outdoor industry, it’s something that simply cannot be ignored. According to the USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the year 2023 was recognised as the warmest year since global records began in 1850, and it has been 47 years since Earth had a colder-than-average year. It’s hard to imagine that such a pattern would not influence an industry that relies on its customers enjoying time in the outdoors. Whether it’s shooting, bushcraft, trekking, camping, stalking, or nature watching – the changing patterns of the planet’s climate are bound to change how people enjoy outdoor pastimes. It’s impossible to cover everything in one article, but here are just a few of the ways in which a changing global climate is affecting the outdoor industry – they may not all apply to your home location, but they are certainly worth being in your thought process as you plan for the future.
Damage to habitats and environments
The most glaring aspect of climate change and its impact on the outdoor industry is the destruction or degradation of habitats and environments. Disasters such as flooding, droughts, wildfires, and more violent storms can cause long-lasting damage to the places where outdoor enthusiasts love to enjoy their chosen crafts. The obvious effect of this is that people may not be able to partake in their chosen outdoor hobby as frequently as they usually do, which could impact sales of products in outdoor sectors. This decrease in revenue may last for a short period, but in particular bad instances of habitat destruction (think the recent wildfires in Greece or Australia of the last few years) you could lose an entire hunting or outdoor season altogether. As a retailer, there isn’t much you can do about this kind of thing besides trying to spread yourself into many different markets, so you don’t become too dependent on one sector of the outdoor industry.
Invasive species and migration pattern changes
As habitats change or are damaged, the animals that live within them may change their own behaviours in order to survive or live more comfortably. How does this affect the outdoor industry? Well, just one example is that pest insects such as mosquitos are becoming a more common sight in countries where they perhaps didn’t used to be, such as the tiger mosquito. More mosquitos, ticks, and other irritating insects not only interfere with an outdoor enthusiast’s time enjoying their hobby, but they could also make it more dangerous by being carriers of diseases. We can also see invasive species taking over native species of animals and putting them into decline. Another way in which animals may change their habits is with migration. Birds especially use cues such as food availability, temperature, and weather to determine when it is time to migrate. Changes in the climate mean that these migrations are often happening earlier or later than usual, which can affect hunting, bird watching, and other outdoor pursuits.
Product demand shifting
A warming world means that the kinds of products people buy to enjoy the outdoors could well be changing too. Will outdoor enthusiasts still need to buy serious winter gear for doing their hobbies in the colder months when those colder months are actually becoming increasingly mild? Will they need outdoor equipment that better protects them against the wet if milder winters bring with them much more rain and less snow? These things may or may not be happening severely in your part of the world, but they are certainly worth examining. Even subtle changes in climate could have a knock-on effect on your forward planning – you don’t want to end up with a pile of stock that you can’t sell because the conditions they are best for only happen infrequently compared to the past.
Travel trends could change
In the more general travel and tourism trade, there has been a boost of interest in locations that have traditionally not always been the ‘go-to’ place. When countries such as Greece and Spain endure increasingly hot summers, travellers have been exploring northern European destinations such as Scandinavia or the UK, which still have nice summers but not the same ferocious heat. This general example could also be applied to the outdoor industry – people are considering different locations to head to when they travel to enjoy their pastime. You may even see people want to travel much less to reduce their environmental impact. These kinds of trends are hard to keep track of and react to as a business in the outdoor industry, but if you are at least aware of them you can respond accordingly. If more people are staying local, then perhaps it would pay dividends to promote the outdoor activities that are local to your area. If you’re a retailer, try creating literature with some local hidden gems, or even consider hosting an event with food, drink, and Q&As with local outdoor enthusiasts to promote the great stuff that is right on the doorstep of your customers.
Changing attitudes of consumers
One aspect that cannot be overlooked when it comes to climate change and its impact on the market is how it’s changing the attitudes of consumers, especially those who love the outdoors such as hunters and shooters. Making sustainable choices is of increasing importance to the average outdoor enthusiast – they are looking for products that are made in more sustainable ways with less overall impact on the environment. They may even consider buying brands from their home country more often than ones shipped from far-flung corners of the world. This does not have to be viewed as a negative change in the industry, it could actually be considered an opportunity. As a retailer, you could focus on having a ‘green corner’ in your store where you showcase products that are made more sustainably or have a ‘homegrown section’ with only local brands. This, or any other way of showing that you consider your impact on the environment when it comes to the products you stock could help strike a chord with some customers.
Climate change is, by its very nature, a complex subject. The above is designed to be thought-provoking and help you come up with ways to future-proof your business as much as possible. Like any external influence on the market, climate change is something you need to monitor and have in your thought process when it comes to strategizing. But it’s also unpredictable, and so are its effects on the market. Engage with local authorities, stay in contact with your industry peers, and perhaps most importantly of all, talk to your customers to find out what is important to them and how they view their plans in light of a changing planet.
